Medal Count 2024 Olympics: Updated Standings, Highlights After Day 1
The first day of the 2024 Olympics featured medals awarded, history made, and United States athletes show out on the world stage.
The USMNT sent an emphatic message to the soccer world with a one-sided victory over New Zealand that suggested the disappointing performance in the Copa America was an anomaly and not the rule when it comes to international competition.
From there, seven-time gold medalist Katie Ledecky took to the pool in her first final of the games, her focus on winning and entering the history books with another gold medal.
Did she succeed and what tone did it set for her 2024 Olympic games?
Find out with this recap of Saturday's action.
Updated Medal Standings
Saturday's updated medal standings are as follows:
- Australia: Gold (2), Silver (1), Bronze (0)
- France: Gold (1), Silver (1), Bronze (1)
- United States: Gold (0), Silver (1), Bronze (2)
- China: Gold (2), Silver (0), Bronze (0)
- Belgium: Gold (1), Silver (0), Bronze (1)
- Japan: Gold (1), Silver (0), Bronze (1)
- Kazakhstan: Gold (1), Silver (0), Bronze (1)
- Great Britain: Gold (0), Silver (1), Bronze (1)
Full up-to-date medal standings can be found at NBCOlympics.com.
US Men's Soccer's Emphatic Statement
"The whole complexion of Group A is shifting as we speak," commentator Joe Speight said at the start of the second half as the United States under-23 men held a 3-0 lead over New Zealand.
It was a dominant start to the team's Olympic efforts, which started with a historic goal from Djordje Mihailovic.
In the seventh minute of the first half, Mihailovic put the ball in the net on a penalty kick, scoring the team's first Olympic goal in 16 years.
Shortly after, an alert Walker Zimmerman followed a missed shot, knocking it in and taking a two-nil lead.
Gianluca Busio added a third goal in 30 minutes and Paxten Aaronson made history with the fourth goal of the game, the first time the American men have ever scored four goals in a single game in an Olympic competition.
New Zealand added a goal late, ruining the United States' clean sheet and frustrating head coach Marko Mitrović.
On the heels of a disappointing Copa America performance that saw the home country eliminated in an ugly loss to Uruguay, it was an encouraging sight to see the Americans operating at a high level.
The team responded, never letting its foot off the proverbial gas pedal, no matter the deficit on the scoreboard.
It was an encouraging sight for a team potentially facing an early exit if it faltered.
Katie Ledecky Strikes Bronze
Katie Ledecky is one of the most decorated women's athletes of all time for the United States and is expected to add to her already brimming resume.
She kicked things off Saturday with the 400M Freestyle final, entering as the underdog to Australia's Ariarne Titmus, who was the first swimmer to defeat Ledecky on a world stage.
Titmus went 2-0 against Ledecky, smoothly gliding to a victory over her opponent and igniting this Olympic chapter of their rivalry.
It was a successful defense of her Olympic gold medal and an announcement to viewers around the globe that Ledecky is not the only women's swimming star to keep their eyes on in these games.
Canadian Summer McIntosh also bested Ledecky, winning her first Olympic medal with one of the best times of her young career.
Ledecky earned the bronze medal, her 11th in Olympic competition.
She will have an opportunity to improve upon the outcome of Saturday's race as she takes to the pool three more times in this 33rd Olympiad.
The legendary competitor is still slated to compete in the 800M free, the 1500M free, and the 4x200M relay.