As the world's finest athletes battle for individual glory and national pride at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, eyes around the globe are fixed on the medal tally. Early in the Games, Team USA, Team France, Japan, and China are vying for the coveted top spot.
The opening days saw a tight race between the host nation, France, and the United States, the 2028 Games host. However, the US surged ahead on Monday with strong performances in skateboarding, swimming, and men's gymnastics. Simone Biles, the most decorated Olympic gymnast in history, secured gold with the women's gymnastics team. Adding to their success, the US women's rugby sevens team made history, winning bronze against Australia, their first-ever rugby medal since the men's gold in the 1924 Paris Games.
Both the US and France boast sizable delegations, giving them a numerical advantage. The US leads with 594 athletes, closely followed by France with 571.
While the US holds the overall medal lead, Japan leads in gold medals, reaching seven by the end of Tuesday, thanks to a strong performance from their men's gymnastics team and an unexpected win by skateboarder Yoto Horigome. China, in second place with six gold medals, claimed the first gold of the Games in the mixed team 10-meter air rifle event.
French athletes have impressed with their diversity, winning medals in eight different sports by the end of Tuesday. Meanwhile, the US has made a strong start in aquatic sports, claiming 11 medals in swimming competitions.
The US hopes to replicate its success at the 2020 Tokyo Games, where they won a remarkable 113 medals, significantly outperforming China's 89 medals.
This year, however, Russia's dominance in previous Games is absent. Following the invasion of Ukraine, the International Olympic Committee banned Russia and Belarus from participating as national teams. Athletes from these countries are competing as "Individual Neutral Athletes", with their medals not counted towards their national totals. Only athletes who haven't actively supported the war are eligible to compete.
The Paris Games are just beginning, and with numerous events still to come, the medal race promises to be fiercely competitive and captivating.
