The countries of the Americas won a total of 221 medals in these Olympic Games. The United States was the most successful country with a total of 126 medals: 40 gold, 44 silver and 42 bronze, however, it is a historical fact, a total of 18 countries of the continent won medals, of which two entered the medal list for the first time in a ring event: Saint Lucia and Dominica.
Here are the most important numbers of the Panam Sports member countries.
The XXXIII edition of the Olympic Games in Paris, France, has ended. And as always, it is time for balance sheets, conclusions, and to analyze how the countries and continents progressed compared to previous years.
Although there are several factors to determine the success or not of an Olympic cycle, or of a delegation or participating country, medals always play an important role in measuring the work and effort of the Olympic Committees and continental organizations.
And this is where Paris 2024 has been a great success for the member countries of Panam Sports, since the numbers reflect an important development of our continent, in terms of number of medals won and countries included in the overall medal count.
In London 2012, the Americas won a total of 200 Olympic medals, in Rio 2016 they won 210; in Tokyo 2020 they won 211 and now in Paris, they surpassed all those figures winning a total of 221 medals in all.
The Americas achieved an important record with 18 countries present in the overall medal count, a fact never seen before. The United States, Canada, Brazil, Cuba, Jamaica, Ecuador, Argentina, Chile, St. Lucia, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Dominica, Mexico, Colombia, Panama, Grenada, Puerto Rico and Peru all won medals at these Olympic Games.
The United States once again demonstrated its supremacy as a world power. It had a close fight until the last day with China, but finally came out on top of the Paris 2024 medal table with a total of 126 medals: 40 gold, 44 silver and 42 bronze.
It was followed in the “continental medal standings” by Canada with 27 total (9-7-11) and Brazil with 20 Olympic medals (3-7-10).
Paris also represented a historic Games for some delegations. Two countries won medals for the first time at an Olympic Games. Dominica, with its athlete Thea LaFond gold in triple jump, and St. Lucia with Julien Alfred gold in 100m and silver in 200m in athletics, wrote their names in gold letters in this edition.
Guatemala also achieved glory in these Games. Adriana Ruano became the first athlete from that country to win Olympic gold in Shooting. In addition to her, Jean Pierre Brol won bronze in Trap, in a historic participation of that country.
Chile had in Francisca Crovetto the first woman in the history of that country to win a gold medal. She was joined by silver medalist Yasmani Acosta in Wrestling, in a medal harvest that ended the 16-year drought of Chileans in the Olympic Games.
The Dominican Republic also made history in Paris 2024. Not only for winning a total of 3 Olympic medals, but also because Marileidy Paulino became the first female athlete from that country to win a gold medal and moreover, with an Olympic record in the 400 meters.
Peru, meanwhile, with Stefano Peschiera, won an Olympic medal after 32 years, taking bronze in sailing, in the Dinghy specialty. The last Peruvian medal had been in Barcelona 1992.
For Neven Ilic, President of Panam Sports, the balance of Paris 2024 is extremely positive.
“We are very happy with the great work and effort that our athletes from the Americas have done. The results reflect that the continent is growing and has achieved important things in these Olympic Games. The United States with an impressive performance, being at the top of the medal table; many countries that have maintained their achievements compared to previous games; and others like Saint Lucia, Dominica and Guatemala that have obtained their first medals in an Olympic event, show us that we are advancing in the sports development of our region,” said the President of Panam Sports, Neven Ilic.
“The truth is that I am very proud of our member countries, and I want to congratulate the athletes, coaches, and all the Panam Sports Olympic Committees that have done a great job, which is reflected today in the results and in how much progress has been made in sports”, concluded the highest authority of sport in America, Neven Ilic.
The curtain comes down on Paris 2024 with the Americas strengthened, imposing records, achieving a large number of medals that far surpassed the last versions of the Olympic Games and marking one of the most successful presentations in the history of Olympism for our continent.
Source: Revista Mundo Ciclístico