America leads the medal count at the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
Each passing day sees Team U.S.A. earning more medals, and Tuesday was no exception.
Despite suffering a calf injury, Simone Biles and the rest of the women’s gymnastic team cruised to a gold medal, easily defeating Italy (165.494) and Brazil (164.497) with an overall score of 171.296. The victory marks the team’s first gold medal since the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Those who qualified will compete for individual medals between August 1 and 5.
“We don’t have to be put in the box anymore,” Biles said about the team, savoring the sweet victory.
The American women’s rugby team also made history on Tuesday as the first team from the U.S. to medal in rugby since the 1924 Olympics, when the men’s team earned a gold medal. Ironically, the last time the team won a medal, the Olympics were also hosted by the City of Lights.
The Wall Street Journal reports on the miraculous last-second victory by the women’s rugby team. Here’s the start of the story:
SAINT-DENIS, France—The person responsible for the greatest moment in the history of U.S. women’s rugby is named Alex Sedrick. Everybody calls her “Spiff.”
The nickname was given to her by an old gymnastics coach. But when Spiff returns home from Paris, she’ll be known by a new moniker, one that will be attached to her for the rest of her life.
Olympic hero.
Spiff’s stunning, madcap dash down the pitch at Stade de France on Tuesday propelled the Americans to one of the most improbable bronze medals in recent Olympic history.
Trailing by five in the dying moments, the U.S. was backed up near its own goal line. As the final seconds ticked off the clock, it looked as though the Americans’ chances were going with them.
Then, out of nowhere, Spiff broke through two tackles—plowing one Australian defender to the ground in the process—and sprinted the length of the field to level the score as the horn sounded. She then kicked the conversion through the uprights to seal a 14-12 victory over Australia, leaving players on both sides in tears.
“I’ll give my first-born child to Spiff,” said Ilona Maher, whose devastating stiff-arms have earned comparisons to bruising NFL running backs like Derrick Henry and Marshawn Lynch. “It was crazy because I was like, ‘No, no way this is happening.’”
