The Paris Olympics have begun, and Team USA has already clinched its first gold medal.
Following the wet and wild Opening Ceremony along the Seine River on Friday night, the Games kicked off on Saturday. From the first medals being awarded to a surprising celebrity-politician crossover, here are the top five highlights from Saturday in Paris:
Team USA Wins Gold in Men's 4x100m Freestyle Relay
Thanks to Caeleb Dressel and his teammates, Team USA secured its first gold medal of the summer. Dressel, Chris Guiliano, Jack Alexy, and Hunter Armstrong triumphed in the men's 4x100-meter freestyle relay with a time of 3:09.28, narrowly beating Australia and Italy. This victory marks Dressel’s eighth Olympic gold.
TEAM USA STRIKES GOLD. 💪
CAELEB DRESSEL BRINGS IT HOME IN THE MEN'S 4X100 FREE RELAY. #ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/rJwrSEWhps— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) July 27, 2024
Ariarne Titmus Outpaces Katie Ledecky in 400m Freestyle
Australia’s Ariarne Titmus dominated the high-profile 400-meter freestyle final, defeating American star Katie Ledecky. Titmus clinched the gold with a time of 3:57.49, while Canada’s Summer McIntosh took silver, and Ledecky secured bronze with a time of 4:00.86. Dubbed the “Race of the Century,” the event lived up to its hype. Titmus is favored for the 200-meter freestyle on Monday, while Ledecky remains a top contender in the 800-meter and 1,500-meter freestyle events.
Victor Wembanyama Shines, Giannis Antetokounmpo Stumbles in Basketball
Victor Wembanyama made a strong Olympic debut, scoring 19 points to lead France past Brazil 78-66. Meanwhile, Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo and Greece fell 86-79 to Canada despite Antetokounmpo’s 34 points and five rebounds. In other games, Australia defeated Spain, and Germany triumphed over Japan.
What even is Victor Wembanyama pic.twitter.com/zl6NKFaChA
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) July 27, 2024
Nadal and Alcaraz Win Opening Tennis Doubles Match
Spanish tennis stars Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz overcame a 3-0 deficit in the second set to win their first doubles match, advancing to the second round. This is Alcaraz’s first Olympic Games, while Nadal has previously won two gold medals.
Rafa Nadal & Carlos Alcaraz’ reaction after winning their first ever doubles match together at the Olympics.
Arms in the air.
They share a hug.
This team is something special.
Nadalcaraz all day long. 🥹
🇪🇸❤️
pic.twitter.com/1KNYvDblwQ— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) July 27, 2024
China Wins First Gold Medal of Paris Games
Chinese teenagers Huang Yuting and Sheng Lihao claimed the first gold medal of the Games in the 10-meter air rifle mixed team event, defeating South Korea 16-12. The pair dominated the sport last year and continued their success in Paris. American teams did not perform well, with neither team making it to the final rounds.
These highlights capture the excitement and drama of the first day of the 2024 Paris Olympics, showcasing remarkable performances and setting the stage for more thrilling competitions ahead.