Paris 2024 Olympics Day 6 Recap and Highlights – August 1
U.S. Women’s Basketball Advances to Quarterfinals
The U.S. women’s basketball team secured a spot in the quarterfinals with an 87-74 win over Belgium. The game was close heading into the final quarter, but the Americans pulled away thanks to strong performances from Breanna Stewart (26 points) and A’ja Wilson (23 points, 13 rebounds).
Katie Ledecky Becomes Most Decorated U.S. Olympic Woman
Swimming star Katie Ledecky made history by winning her 13th Olympic medal, a silver in the women’s 4×200 meter relay. This makes her the most decorated American female Olympian ever, surpassing the previous record held by Natalie Coughlin, Jenny Thompson and Dara Torres.
Ledecky, 27, has her eyes set on more success:
- She is aiming for a 9th gold medal in the 800-meter freestyle, which would tie the record for most golds by a female Olympian
- She has no plans to retire and is already looking ahead to the 2028 Los Angeles Games
U.S. Fencing Wins Historic Gold in Women’s Team Foil
The U.S. women’s foil fencing team made history by winning their first-ever Olympic gold medal in the event. The Americans defeated Italy 45-39 in a thrilling final, with 21-year-old Lauren Scruggs scoring the crucial final point.
Fans from both countries created an electric atmosphere inside the Grand Palais:
- “Italia! Italia!” chants from the Italian supporters
- “USA! USA!” cheers from the American fans
Other Notable Results
| Athlete/Team | Event | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Andy Murray | Men’s Doubles | Lost in quarterfinals, ending his career |
| Kate Douglass | Women’s 200m Breaststroke | Won gold, her first Olympic title |
| Regan Smith | Women’s 200m Butterfly | Won silver, her 2nd medal of the Games |
Simone Biles Wins All-Around Gold, Suni Lee Takes Bronze
Gymnastics superstar Simone Biles captured her second Olympic all-around gold medal after a stunning performance at the Bercy Arena. Despite some challenges, the 27-year-old finished with a total score of 59.131, comfortably ahead of Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade who took silver.
Biles’ teammate Suni Lee, the reigning all-around champion, earned the bronze medal with a clutch floor routine to close out the competition. The two Americans shared an emotional embrace after the final scores were announced.
With this victory, Biles has now won six gold medals and nine total Olympic medals in her illustrious career. The U.S. has also extended its streak of winning the women’s all-around gold to six consecutive Olympics, dating back to 2004.
Some key moments from the competition:
- Biles had a slight wobble on balance beam but recovered to score 14.566
- Lee had the crowd erupting with her elegant and powerful floor exercise, scoring 13.666
- Celebrities like Steph Curry were in attendance to cheer on the U.S. gymnasts
Other Noteworthy Developments
- Carlos Alcaraz advanced to the semifinals of men’s singles tennis, becoming the youngest man to reach this stage since Novak Djokovic in 2008
- Turkish shooter Yusuf Dikec won silver in the 10-meter Air Pistol event without using any gear like headphones or protective glasses
- WNBA star Jewell Loyd shared her experience of playing for Team USA in a diary entry with Andscape
- Poland’s Iga Swiatek, the world No. 1, was upset by China’s Zheng Qinwen in the women’s singles tennis quarterfinals
- The U.S. men’s rowing team won gold in the coxless fours, ending a 64-year drought in the event
- Golf returned to the Olympics for the first time since 1900, with American Scottie Scheffler off to a strong start
- The U.S. men’s water polo team lost a close match against undefeated Greece, falling to a 1-2 record in group play
These are just some of the many exciting stories and achievements from Day 6 of the 2024 Paris Olympics. With more events still to come, fans around the world can look forward to additional thrills and unforgettable moments from these Games.
