The US swimming team has been facing unexpected challenges at the 2024 Paris Olympics, struggling to claim gold medals in the finals. Historically, the United States has been a dominant force in swimming, regularly topping the medal standings. However, this year, after the first 15 of 37 swimming events, the US has earned only two gold medals, a sharp contrast to their past Olympic performances. The team’s struggles have caught the attention of fans and analysts alike, raising concerns about their ability to maintain their status as a swimming powerhouse. The US team has already seen a series of near-misses, with several swimmers finishing in second place, earning silver medals, but falling short of the coveted gold. As the competition progresses, the big question remains: will the US be able to turn things around or will they be relegated to a role of “second-place kings“?
Historically, the United States has been a dominant force in the world of Olympic swimming, leading the medal table in this sport at every Games for decades. In the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, despite underperforming in a number of their traditionally strong events, the US swimming team still managed to win 11 out of 37 gold medals, claiming the top spot in the swimming medal rankings. This performance followed a similar trend in the 2016 Rio Olympics, where the US team won an impressive 16 out of 35 gold medals, leaving other nations, including Australia, far behind in terms of gold medal totals. In fact, the US swimming team’s dominance in Rio was so strong that they outpaced Australia by a staggering 13 gold medals. This record of consistent success has built a legacy of excellence for US swimming, one that fans and experts expected to continue into 2024.
However, at the 2024 Paris Olympics, the story has been different. With 15 events completed, the US swimming team has struggled to maintain the same level of dominance, with only two gold medals in their tally so far. To make matters worse, the US swimmers have found themselves finishing in second place on seven occasions. These silver medals are not an anomaly; in fact, they almost match the US swimming team’s total silver medals from the 2020 Olympics, where they won 10 silver medals. The number of silver medals from swimming at this year’s Games is currently only second to the French team, which has claimed nine silver medals. It’s a stark contrast to the US swimming team’s historic performance, and a reminder of just how competitive the sport has become. As the US team continues to struggle, questions are being raised about whether the team can still find their form and win the golds they have so often dominated in previous Olympics.
On July 31, the US team experienced another round of disappointments. In the men’s 800m freestyle, Bobby Finke, the reigning Olympic champion, failed to defend his title and lost out to Irish swimmer Daniel Wiffen in the final. It was a tough blow for Finke, who had been a standout performer for the US team in previous Games. But this defeat was not an isolated incident. Earlier in the competition, the US men’s 4x200m freestyle relay team also fell short, losing to the British team and settling for silver. Similarly, in the women’s 100m backstroke, two American swimmers, Regan Smith and Berkoff Katharine, were forced to settle for silver and bronze after Australian swimmer Kaylee McKeown proved too strong for them in the final. McKeown, the reigning Olympic champion in the event, showcased her class, leaving Smith and Berkoff behind. For the US team, these losses are particularly frustrating, as they have been consistently expected to win these high-profile events. The series of near-misses has left many wondering if the US swimming team can shake off the disappointment and regroup for the remaining events.
Looking ahead, the US swimming team still has a chance to recover and regain its top position in the medal standings. There are 22 more events to be contested before the Olympics conclude on August 4, and the American swimmers will have several more opportunities to secure gold. However, the road to recovery will not be easy. The competition is fierce, with countries like Australia, France, and Great Britain making their presence felt in the pool. For the US team, it’s not just about reclaiming gold; it’s about finding a way to perform under pressure and come together as a team. The highlight of the competition will come on July 31, when five sets of medals will be awarded, giving the American swimmers a critical opportunity to prove their resilience and reclaim their position at the top. While the US team still has a chance to regain their place at the top of the medal table, it’s clear that they will have to dig deep and fight harder than ever before to return to the glory they’ve enjoyed in previous Olympics. The next few days will be crucial in determining whether the US can break free from their “second-place king” status and regain their dominance in the pool.
