The United States won its first gold medal at the Paris Olympics in the 4×100 meter freestyle relay, with the team finishing ahead of Australia and Italy to secure the top spot on the podium. This victory marked the team’s tenth gold in this event in the last 13 Olympics, with Caeleb Dressel earning his eighth Olympic gold overall. The American team, comprised of Jack Alexy, Chris Guiliano, Hunter Armstrong, and Dressel, showed impressive strength and speed in the relay to come out on top.
Earlier in the day, the U.S. earned its first medal of the Paris Olympics when Sarah Bacon and Kassidy Cook won silver in the 3-meter synchronized springboard competition. This duo scored 314.64 points, securing second place behind the Chinese team of Chang Yani and Chen Yiwen. Despite narrowly missing out on gold, Bacon and Cook’s performance was a strong start for the American team at the Olympics.
In the women’s 400-meter freestyle, Katie Ledecky faced tough competition from Australian swimmer Ariarne Titmus, who successfully defended her Olympic title in the event. Ledecky, a highly decorated American swimmer, settled for bronze in this race, adding to her impressive collection of 11 Olympic medals. Meanwhile, Titmus claimed her third individual Olympic victory, building on her success in Tokyo and establishing herself as a dominant force in freestyle swimming.
The U.S. also secured a silver medal in the women’s 4×100-meter swimming relay, with the team of Kate Douglass, Gretchen Walsh, Torri Huske, and Simone Manuel setting a new American record in the event. Although they fell short of Australia’s Olympic record-setting performance, the American relay team put up a strong fight and took home silver as a result. This was an encouraging result for the U.S. team, which had already secured five medals at the Paris Olympics, including one gold, two silver, and two bronze.
Overall, the American team’s performance at the Paris Olympics showcased their strength and competitiveness in various swimming events, with athletes like Dressel, Ledecky, Bacon, Cook, and others delivering strong performances. While there were some tough battles and close finishes, the U.S. team demonstrated resilience and determination in their pursuit of Olympic success. As the games continue, the American athletes will look to build on their early successes and continue to compete at a high level in pursuit of more medals and victories.
