PARIS — At the end of the 13th day of competition at the 2024 Paris Olympics, the U.S. team celebrated reaching the 100-medal milestone, firmly leading the overall medal table.
In the track and field, sprinter Noah Lyles, who had just revealed his recent battle with COVID-19, secured a bronze medal in the 100 meters. Despite the illness, Lyles raced bravely but finished behind Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo and fellow American Kenneth Bednarek at the Stade de France. Lyles, visibly exhausted, sought medical attention after the race and confirmed his diagnosis to reporters while wearing a face mask. “It definitely had an impact on my ability to perform at my best,” Lyles said, after being cleared to compete under strict Olympic and CDC health guidelines.
In basketball, French sensation Victor Wembanyama, the reigning NBA Rookie of the Year, pushed his team to a final showdown with the United States after defeating Germany at the Bercy Arena. Wembanyama and his teammates are set to face an American team that staged a stunning comeback against Serbia, overcoming a significant halftime deficit to secure a spot in the final.
In the same venue, NBA legends Dirk Nowitzki and Tony Parker watched their national teams battle it out, with Wembanyama sealing a victorious moment by signaling the triumph at the end of the game.
On the American side, track and field continued to be a source of gold with Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone breaking her own world record in the women's 400-meter hurdles and Grant Holloway taking the men's 110-meter hurdles. The long jump events contributed to the U.S. medal haul with Tara Davis-Woodhall winning gold and Jasmine Moore taking bronze.
In diving, China's dominance was evident: Xie Siyi won the 3m springboard, continuing a formidable run of success at the Games, while Wang Zongyuan took silver and expressed emotional disappointment at his rare second-place finish.
In sport climbing, American Sam Watson set a new world speed record, although he finished with a bronze, while Canadian weightlifter Maude Charron added a silver medal to her collection in the 59-kilogram category.
The Moroccan national football team, led by the stellar performance of Soufiane Rahimi, celebrated a significant 6-0 victory over Egypt, securing a bronze medal and marking a historic moment for Moroccan sport.
As the Games near their conclusion, the U.S. team’s strong medal haul and stellar performances across multiple sports underscore their dominant presence at this year’s Olympics, setting the stage for further success and memorable moments in Paris.