U.S. Women Dominate at the Paris Olympics: A New Era of "Girl Power"

The United States women gave the phrase “girl power” a whole new meaning during the Paris Olympics.

How Dominant Were They?

The U.S. women claimed 67 of the 126 total medals won by the United States. To put that into perspective, their medal count alone would have placed them ahead of Great Britain's total of 65, and just behind China’s 91. Of those 67 medals, 26 were gold.

Stars of Individual Sports

Katie Ledecky and Simone Biles led the charge in individual sports, cementing their legacies as two of the greatest athletes in their respective fields.

• Katie Ledecky continued her dominance in the pool, winning gold in both the 800-meter and 1,500-meter freestyle events. In the 800, she became only the seventh athlete—and the first since Michael Phelps—to win the same event in four consecutive Olympics. Ledecky now holds 14 total Olympic medals, making her the most decorated American female athlete. And she hasn’t ruled out a return for the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.
• Simone Biles made a stunning comeback after a difficult Tokyo Olympics, reestablishing herself as the world’s best gymnast. Biles secured four medals, including a gold in the team competition, bringing her career total to 11. Beyond her athletic achievements, she also wowed the audience with her sportsmanship, cheering for teammates and competitors alike.

More Multiple Medalists

Other multiple medalists from the U.S. women’s team included:

• Torri Huske (5 medals in swimming)
• Gretchen Walsh and Raegan Smith (4 medals each in swimming)

Track and Field Legends

On the track, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone added another chapter to her legendary career. She dominated the anticipated 400-meter hurdles showdown against Femke Bol of the Netherlands, setting a new world record with a time of 50.37 seconds. McLaughlin-Levrone also anchored the 4x400-meter relay, building an insurmountable lead.

Sprinter Gabby Thomas showcased her speed, winning three gold medals, while Tara Davis-Woodhall and Jasmine Moore brought home gold and bronze in the long jump, respectively.

Cycling and Wrestling Achievements

• Jenn Valente successfully defended her Olympic title in the women’s omnium, making her the most decorated U.S. Olympic women’s cyclist.
• Kristen Faulkner became the first American cyclist to win gold in both track and road cycling, breaking a 40-year drought for U.S. women in the road race.
• Amit Elor made history as the youngest Olympic wrestling champion in Team USA history.

Team Sports Triumphs

U.S. Women’s Basketball continued its dominance, extending its Olympic winning streak to 61 games and capturing its eighth consecutive gold medal. However, the final was closer than expected, with France pushing the Americans to the limit in a 62-61 thriller, decided when Gabby Williams' buzzer-beater was ruled a two-pointer.

The U.S. Women’s Soccer Team bounced back from recent struggles, securing gold with a 1-0 win over Brazil under the leadership of new coach Emma Hayes.

In rugby, the U.S. women’s sevens team captured a surprise bronze, with Ilona Maher becoming a viral sensation thanks to her bruising, Derrick Henry-like runs.

Historic Firsts in Artistic Swimming

The U.S. artistic swimming team celebrated their first Olympic appearance in 16 years by winning a silver medal—their first in the event since 2004.