From left, U.S. silver medalist Regan Smith, Australian gold medalist Kelly McKeon and U.S. bronze medalist Kathryn Berkoff pose with their medals after the women’s 100m backstroke at the 2024 Paris Olympics on Tuesday. Berkoff’s bronze medal was not only Team USA’s 3,000th medal, but also the 600th Olympic medal for an American swimmer.
Jonathan Nakstrand/AFP via Getty Images
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Jonathan Nakstrand/AFP via Getty Images
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The United States became the first country to surpass the 3,000 Olympic medal mark. The record covers both the Summer and Winter Olympics, with Team USA’s historic performance in the Paris pool on Tuesday helping it win four medals.
Highlights included Regan Smith taking silver in the women’s 100m backstroke, while her teammate Katharine Berkoff took bronze. Australia’s Kaylee McKeown defended her Olympic title with a time of 57.33.
But Berkoff’s bronze medal not only gave Team USA their 3,000th medal, but also gave American swimmers their 600th Olympic medal.
The final event in the individual swimming event was the silver medal for Team USA’s Bobby Finke in the men’s 800m freestyle event. Ireland’s Daniel Wiffen won Ireland’s first medal of the Games, beating Finke in 7 minutes, 38.19 seconds. Gregorio Paltrinieri of Italy won the bronze medal.
However, it wasn’t just an individual victory for Team USA; the men’s 4X200m freestyle relay team of Luke Hobson, Carson Foster, Drew Keebler and Kieran Smith finished in 7:00.78 The time of seconds won the silver medal, 1.35 seconds behind the gold-medal British team. Australia won the bronze medal.
The U.S. would not have reached the 3,000-medal milestone without the women’s gymnastics team taking home gold in the all-around event, beating Italy by 5.8 points. Simone Biles was the top scorer on the night, joining teammates Jordan Chiles, Suni Lee and Jade Carey. 2,998 medals brought the country Olympic glory.
