The United States won the 2021 Tokyo Olympics with 113 total medals: 39 gold, 41 silver and 33 bronze.
The United States earned the most medals in swimming and track and field, 30 and 26 respectively. The results of swimming and track and field also saw the United States break three world records. Overall, there were 20 records broken at this year’s Olympic games.
American swimmer Caleb Dressel, 24, swam a time of 49.45 in the men’s 100m butterfly swim, beating the previous record by 0.05 seconds. Dressel, along with teammates Michael Andrew, Ryan Murphy and Zach Apple, set a new record in the men’s 4x100m medley relay swim with a time of 3:26.78, a full half-second faster than the previous record.
Altogether Dressel took home five gold medals from these Olympics, more than any other athlete in any sport or discipline.
Sydney McLaughlin, 21, earned the United State’s third world record at the 2021 Olympics in the women’s 400m hurdles. Just as she did at the Olympic trials, McLaughlin outran defending champion and fellow American Dalilah Muhammad to set a world record, 51.90, at the trials followed by a 51.46 at the Olympic finals.
The 400m hurdles world record was broken on the men’s side, too. American Rai Benjamin ran fast enough to be caught between the previous world record and the one set just in front of him by Karsten Warholm.
Mclaughlin, Muhammad and Benjamin all contributed to their respective 4x400m teams to help them earn gold.
Gymnastics saw American Simone Biles, widely considered the favorite before the Olympics, bring home only a single bronze medal from the balance beam. Suni Lee was the best female performer for Team USA, earning a gold in the women’s all-around and a bronze in the women’s uneven bars. The men’s team did not yield any medals.
Wrestling contributed to the drama at these Olympics. Down by three points with 13 seconds remaining, the chances of American wrestler Gable Steveson taking gold in the 125kg weight class looked slim, yet that is exactly what he did. Teammate Kyle Dake also won gold in the 74kg weight class.
Also winning gold for the United States was Lee Klefer in fencing; William Shaner, Vincent Hancock and Amber English in shooting; Carissa Moore in surfing; Chase Kalsz, Robert Finke, Lydia Jacoby and Katie Ledecky in swimming; Anastasija Zolotic in taekwondo; Xander Schauffele and Nelly Korder in golf; Valarie Allman, Ryan Crouser, Athing Mu and Katie Nageotte in track and field; Jade Carey in gymnastics; Tamyra Stock Mensah in wrestling; Nevin Harrison in canoe; David Morris Taylor III in wrestling; April Ross and Alix Klineman in volleyball; and Jennifer Valente in cycling.
The United States also won gold in women’s volleyball, water polo and basketball, as well as men’s basketball.
For more information on the athletes visit teamusa.org.
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