The first week of the Olympics in Paris: 7 moments that captured the spirit of the games

It seems almost unethical that Americans are expected to work during the Olympic Games. One has to cheer for Team USA, and that’s their full-time job. The first week of the 16-day competition is coming to an end, and plenty of action has been packed over the past seven days. Here are some Olympics highlights you might not have missed while you were secretly streaming NBC and Peacock in the office between conference calls.

America’s first medal kicks things off

The opening ceremony began on July 26. The next day, Team USA won its first medal. Divers Sarah Bacon and Kassidy Cook gained momentum by winning silver in the synchronized 3m springboard event. This is also Bacon and Cook’s first award.

Bacon made his Olympic debut while Cook participated in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. The United States has not won the event since 2012. Outside of the diving board, the ladies are best friends, which makes this time even more special.

Superman and Team USA men’s gymnastics

Women’s gymnastics is usually in the headlines—but this year the boys are back in the news and on the podium. Brody Malone, Frederick Richard, Asher Hong, Paul Juda, and Stephen Nedoroscik ended a 16-year drought by winning team bronze.

Nedoroscik brought his team to the finish line with his perfect pommel horse routine. While doing so, he also captured the hearts of the internet. You are a professional and only compete in one event. While he was waiting, he was seen to close his eyes and meditate on the side. He is also happy with his colleagues. Then, he took off his glasses and led the men to victory in third place—as Superman. On Saturday, he will compete in the pommel horse final.

Olympic rescue mission

At the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, the women’s gymnastics team took silver after Simone Biles withdrew from the competition for mental health reasons. This year, Biles, Jade Carey, Jordan Chiles, and Suni Lee are looking for a second chance at gold and are joined by rookie Hezly Rivera.

“This is definitely our redemption trip,” Biles promised the media before the Paris games. “I feel that we all have a lot to do, and our games in Tokyo were not very good. We weren’t in the best of circumstances either. But I feel like we have a lot of weight on our shoulders to go out there and show that we’re better athletes, we’re more mature, we’re smarter, we’re more flexible.”

The ladies delivered and took home the team gold, but they didn’t stop there. Biles also took home gold in the all-around competition and Lee took home bronze.

First US women’s rugby medal

Alex Sedrick led the US women’s rugby sevens team to its first medal with less than a minute left on the clock. The team was trailing Australia 12-7, when Alex caught the ball and ran down the field to tie things up. The conversion tipped the scale and ensured victory. Expect to see more of this team in the upcoming Olympics. Jason Kelce is already a big fan.

Katie Ledecky is making Olympic history

Swimmer Katie Ledecky won her first Olympic gold medal in the 800-meter freestyle at age 15 at the 2012 London games. Flash forward to 2024, and he now has 13 medals to his name. She is the most decorated female swimmer in Olympic history.

She tied Jenny Thompson, Emma McKeon, and Dara Torres for the record on Wednesday by winning the 1500 meter event. He was so far ahead of his rivals that the cameras had to slow down to show more of the pool. Ledecky broke the record Thursday as part of the women’s 4×200-meter freestyle relay. The US took home silver and Australia took home gold.

The first US fencing medal is gold

Lee Kiefer, Lauren Scruggs, Jacqueline Dubrovich, and Maia Weintraub made Olympic history as the first team to take home a fencing medal—and it was gold. The women beat Italy 45-39 in the final. Scruggs served as the team’s anchor and delivered the finishing touches.

The sixteen-year Olympic drought ends

Liam Corrigan, Justin Best, Michael Grady, and Nick Mead ended a 64-year drought in men’s rowing class four when they rowed their way to gold. As a bonus, it was the first US rowing gold in Paris for Team USA. All four competed in Tokyo but left empty-handed. These men teamed up last season and won this year.