PARIS — The 2024 Olympic Games came to a close Sunday, ending more than a fortnight of memorable performances and stunning accomplishments. And that was true even before Snoop Dogg — who’d seemingly become the world’s favorite American since the cauldron was lit — appeared via satellite as part of the handoff ceremony with the 2028 Los Angeles Games. But Snoop, a rapper and NBC roving correspondent who appeared in more athlete selfies here than the Olympic rings, wasn’t America’s only contribution to these Games.
The United States finished atop the medal table, winning 40 gold medals and 126 medals overall. China won 40 gold medals as well, but claimed far fewer silver or bronze spots. Paris marked Team USA’s greatest medal haul in a nonboycotted Games, besting the previous high of 121 set in Rio in 2016.
“I am really proud of all the medals this team has won, but also the way everyone has gone about their competitions, their training, all the hard work they put in to get to today,” U.S. flag bearer Katie Ledecky, who won four swimming medals during these Games, said shortly before the closing ceremony.
Illinois athletes made a solid contribution to Team USA’s medal count, with half of the state’s three dozen athletes bringing home medals. That total doesn’t include the historic medal ceremony in which the 2022 U.S.
figure skating team members — including Addison native Alexa Knierim — finally received the gold they’d won at the Beijing Games. .