The US, the first country to top 3,000 olympic medals won more medals at the 2024 Summer Games in Paris than in Tokyo.
Athletes from the US took home the win 126 medals in total this yearr, with China (91), Great Britain (65) and France (64). China had led the race for gold for much of the Games, but China and the US both had earned 40 by the end of the Games. In addition to 40 gold medals, the US won 42 silver and 44 bronze medals.
Although the U.S. won the most medals, it is not home to this year’s winningest athlete. China’s Zhang Yufei won six medals: five bronze and one silver. France’s Leon Marchand took home five victories: four gold and one bronze.
US wins big in history
It is the most wins ever by the Americans at a non-boycotted Olympic Games outside the U.S., surpassing the previous record of 121 wins set in Rio in 2016, according to TThe United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC). The U.S. has twice surpassed its Paris wins, both at home. Team USA won 174 medals in Los Angeles in 1984 and won a whopping 239 medals in St. Louis in 1904.
The U.S. took home 39 gold, 41 silver and 33 bronze medals for a total of 113 at the Tokyo Games. Team USA took home 121 Olympic medals in Rio 2016.
According to the USOPC, the US has topped the medal list since 1996. That year, the US won 101 medals.
Analysis of the victories in Paris
According to the USOPC, Team USA’s 126 medals this year were won by 257 medalists. Approximately 10,500 athletes competed in 48 sports during the Games. The U.S. competed in all but one of the sports, which is the most, except for host France. The USOPC did not specify which sports the U.S. did not compete in, but the U.S. was not on the Olympic program for handball. Team USA won medals in 34 disciplines in which it competed.
Thirteen athletes won multiple gold medals and 44 athletes won multiple medals. Swimmers Torri Huske and Regan Smith won the most medals, with five each.
According to the USOPC, 65 percent of U.S. winners were first-time medalists. Women earned 67 of the U.S. medals this year. Many of the victories came in swimming and track and field.
