Paris 2024 Olympics Day 9 Recap and Highlights – August 4

Highlights

• Noah Lyles ends Team USA’s 20-year gold medal drought in the men’s 100m final, edging Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson in dramatic photo finish
• Novak Djokovic captures elusive Olympic gold medal, defeating Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz in men’s singles tennis final
• USA women shatter world record, win gold in 4x100m medley relay to close out swimming competition
• Bobby Finke sets world record while defending gold in 1500m freestyle
• Kristen Faulkner makes history with cycling road race gold medal for Team USA

Track and Field

Noah Lyles wins 100m gold in photo finish over Thompson

Noah Lyles has ended Team USA’s 20-year gold medal drought in the men’s 100m final, narrowly edging Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson in a dramatic photo finish. Lyles ran a winning time of 9.79 to claim gold, while fellow American Fred Kerley took bronze in 9.81.

The victory gives the U.S. its first 100m Olympic gold since Justin Gatlin in 2004. Lyles’ triumph sparked reactions across the sports world, led by Magic Johnson and Dwyane Wade.

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone cruises in 400m hurdles opening round

Defending Olympic champion Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone breezed through her opening round heat of the women’s 400m hurdles. She led throughout and won comfortably in the first step of her gold medal defense. McLaughlin-Levrone will race in the event’s semifinal on Tuesday.

U.S. women’s 200m sprinters win heats in style

Team USA’s women’s 200m sprinters – Gabby Thomas, McKenzie Long, and Brittany Brown – each won their respective opening round heats on Sunday in powerful fashion. Thomas posted the fastest time of 22.20. All three advanced to Monday’s semifinals.

Grant Holloway dominates 110m hurdles preliminary

Reigning 110m hurdles world champion Grant Holloway looked on track for gold after a blistering 13.01 finish in his preliminary heat – the fastest time across all heats.

Swimming

U.S. women shatter world record in 4x100m medley relay

The U.S. women’s team shattered the world record in the 4x100m medley relay, clocking a time of 3:49.63 to capture gold in the final swimming event.

The victory gave the U.S. 8 golds in swimming, the most of any country. It marked the first time since 1988 that America has finished with the most golds.

Bobby Finke sets world record in 1500m freestyle

Bobby Finke defended his Olympic title in the 1500m freestyle and broke the world record with a time of 14:23.38. He expanded his margin of victory from Tokyo 2020 and gave Team USA its first individual men’s swimming gold medal of these Games.

Tennis

Djokovic wins elusive Olympic gold medal

Novak Djokovic captured Olympic gold in men’s singles, defeating Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3), 7-6 (2) in the final. The title is the only one missing from Djokovic’s illustrious career resume.

The win makes Djokovic just the second singles champion (along with Serena Williams in 2012) to go undefeated in winning Olympic gold.

Cycling

Kristen Faulkner makes history with road race gold

Kristen Faulkner won gold for Team USA in the cycling road race in a time of 3:59:23. She became the first American woman to medal in the event since 1984.

Golf

Scheffler rallies to win men’s golf gold

Scottie Scheffler shot a final round 62 to overtake the lead and claim gold for the U.S. in men’s golf. He edged Britain’s Tommy Fleetwood by one stroke. Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama took bronze.

The win marked back-to-back gold medals for American men after Xander Schauffele’s victory in 2021.