Team USA Wins Gold in 4×100 Relay
Melissa Jefferson, Twanisha Terry, Gabrielle Thomas, and Sha’Carri Richardson are gold medalists! When Thomas handed off the baton to Richardson, Team USA was in fourth place. However, as soon as Richardson had that baton in her hand, she took off, winning the race with a team time of 41.78, ahead of Great Britain and Germany, who won silver and bronze, respectively. As she crossed the finish line, Richardson threw the iciest stare over her shoulder to competitors as if to say, “You could never catch me.”
Team USA Wins 4×400 Relay By a Long Shot
Shamier Little, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, Gabby Thomas and Alexis Holmes broke a 36-year-old American record crossing the finish line in 3:15.27, more than 4 seconds ahead of their competition, winning USA’s 8th gold medal in this event in a row. This run by the US is the second-fastest time ever behind only the Soviet Union’s 3:15.17 at the 1988 Seoul Games. The men also won the 4×400, making it a USA sweep.
Boxers Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting Win Gold Despite Gender Scrutiny
Algeria’s Imane Khelif and Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting face worldwide criticism based on their gender. Last year, the Russian-controlled International Boxing Association disqualified Khelif and Li Yu-ting from the world championships over an eligibility test but has not provided any explanation for their decision. Despite the fact that both athletes cleared the IOC’s standards, there was a violent backlash over their participation. Instead of submitting to the public, both athletes kept their heads down and showed the world what they could do, coming out on top in their respective weight classes. Khelif’s victory marked Algeria’s second boxing gold medal, while Lin’s was Taiwan’s first gold in the event. Khelif’s attorney has filed an official complaint to the IOC for the “misogynistic, racist, and sexist campaign” against Khelif.
USWNT Wins Redemption Gold
After a huge heartbreak in Tokyo, Team USA has come back to claim their spot as the best soccer team in the world. In a nail-biting game against Brazil on Saturday, Mallory Swanson made a goal to finish the game 1-0 to win the gold medal. Soccer and lesbian icon Marta of Brazil played her final game, ending her 24-year career.
Team USA Women’s Basketball Wins 8th Gold Medal in a Row, Remains Undefeated
There’s no domination quite like USA women’s basketball. In the final against France, USA maintained their untouched 61 Olympic game-winning streak to clinch their 8th straight gold medal. Lesbian icon Diana Taurasi won her 6th Olympic gold, making her the most decorated basketball Olympian, breaking the tie with teammate and fellow lesbian icon Sue Bird.
Team USA Wins The Most Medals Since 1986, Women Won Over Half of the Gold Medals
The United States dominated the Paris Olympics, winning the most overall medals for the eighth consecutive Games with a total of 126. Team USA earned 40 gold, 42 silver, and 44 bronze medals. The U.S. tied with China for the most gold medals, securing their final gold in women’s basketball. The women of Team USA contributed 26 of the 40 golds, setting a new record for the most golds won by a women’s team in a single Olympics.
