Team USA made a strong impression at the 2024 Paris Olympics, wrapping up the gymnastics competition with a total of 10 medals, including three golds. Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles played pivotal roles in the U.S. success, but the performances of other athletes like Suni Lee, Stephen Nedoroscik, and Frederick Richard were also key to the team’s achievements. The final gymnastics event of the competition saw the Americans earning two more medals, solidifying their dominance in the sport.
Simone Biles had a standout performance in Paris, cementing her status as the most decorated U.S. gymnast of all time. After a disappointing Tokyo Olympics, Biles returned stronger than ever, winning three gold medals (team, all-around, and vault) and a silver (floor exercise). Her achievements in Paris included breaking several records, including becoming the most decorated U.S. gymnast with 11 total medals, surpassing the previous record of seven. Additionally, Biles became the first woman to win the individual all-around in non-consecutive Olympics and the oldest woman in 72 years to win the all-around gold.
The U.S. men’s gymnastics team also made history in Paris, winning their first team all-around medal since 2008. The bronze medal marked only the sixth time in Olympic history that the U.S. men earned a team medal. Stephen Nedoroscik played a crucial role in securing the medal, delivering a strong performance on the pommel horse. Teammates like Frederick Richard, Brody Malone, Asher Hong, and Paul Juda contributed with impressive performances in their respective apparatuses. Nedoroscik later added an individual bronze in the pommel horse event, further solidifying his breakout success.
Suni Lee made a remarkable comeback after a challenging few years. Diagnosed with two kidney diseases in 2023, Lee had to take a six-month break from gymnastics to recover. Despite these setbacks, the Minnesota native returned to the sport in top form, winning three medals in Paris, including a gold in the team event and two bronze medals in the individual all-around and uneven bars. Lee now has six Olympic medals to her name, placing her among the all-time greats, and at just 21 years old, her career is far from over.
Jordan Chiles had a breakthrough moment in Paris, earning her first individual medal in a thrilling floor routine performance. Chiles, who had already helped Team USA win gold in the team event, delivered a strong performance in the floor exercise, which initially placed her fifth. A subsequent scoring inquiry elevated her to third place, securing a bronze medal. Chiles’ emotional celebration with Simone Biles after the result marked one of the most memorable moments of the Games.
While Team USA had impressive results, China ultimately led in overall gymnastics medals, winning 11 medals, including two golds. The Chinese team excelled across various disciplines, claiming gold in men’s rings and men’s parallel bars, while also earning multiple silver and bronze medals. Despite China’s dominance, the U.S. and other nations, such as Brazil and Japan, provided strong competition. Brazilian gymnast Rebeca Andrade stood out with four medals, including gold in floor exercise, while Japan’s Shinnosuke Oka made a spectacular Olympic debut, winning three golds and one bronze, establishing himself as a rising star in the sport.
