The 2024 Paris Olympics are over. Here are the takeaways from women’s freestyle swimming from a memorable competition.
US women set records
The U.S. women’s freestyle team delivered a record-breaking performance in Paris. Sarah Hildebrandt (50 kg) and Amit Elor (68 kg) won gold – the first time the American women have won multiple gold medals at the same Olympic Games. Team USA won four medals in total, tying the record set in Tokyo.
Results for Team USA
Helen Maroulis continues to set the bar high. With her bronze medal performance, she became the first American woman to win three Olympic medals. She also became the first American woman to win an Olympic gold medal in the women’s freestyle (2016). The 32-year-old is a four-time world and Olympic champion, as well as a ten-time world and Olympic medalist.
Helen Maroulis at the World Championships and Olympic Games
Amit Elor is on pace to raise the bar higher than any American wrestler has ever been. Already a three-time world champion and Olympic gold medalist at 20 years old, Elor is not letting up. Her last loss came in the semifinals of the 2019 Cadet World Championships.
Her records include:
— Youngest American to win an Olympic gold medal in wrestling (20)
— Youngest American to win a senior world title (18)
— Only American to win the U20, U23 and Senior World Championships in the same year (2022)
— Only American to win the U20, U23 and Senior World Championships twice in the same year (2022, 2023)
— Tied with Helen Maroulis for most consecutive World Championship/Olympic titles by an American woman (3)
Amit Elor at the World Championships and Olympic Games
New gold standard
There are currently 13 American women who have won at least one world or Olympic title. Hildebrandt added her name to the list, while Elor tied for third place with Tamyra Mensah-Stock for most gold medals.
Adeline Gray — 6
Helen Maroulis — 4
Tricia Saunders — 4
Tamyra Mensah-Stock — 3
Amit Elor — 3
Kristie Davis — 2
Sandra Bacher — 1
Iris Smith — 1
Clarissa Chun — 1
Elena Piroschkova — 1
Jacarra Winchester — 1
Dom Parrish — 1
Sarah Hildebrandt — 1
University competition
Several NAIA and NCAA colleges were represented at the Olympics, led by Simon Fraser with four participants. Below is a list of schools with their respective representatives.
Simon Fraser (4): Dom Parrish (USA), Helen Maroulis (USA), Ana Godinez (CAN), Justina Di Stasio (CAN)
Campbellville (2): Grace Bullen (NOR), Kayla Miracle (USA)
Iowa (1): Kennedy Blades (USA)
King (1): Sarah Hildebrandt (USA)
Missouri Baptist (1): Helen Maroulis (USA)
Japan’s golden achievement
Japan put on arguably its best Olympic performance, despite the world’s best wrestler being knocked out in the first round. Yui Susaki entered the Olympics as a five-time world and Olympic champion and had never lost to an opponent outside of Japan.
India’s Vinesh Phogat defeated Susaki 4-2 in the first round, but Phogat was disqualified for failing to make her weight on the second day despite reaching the final. Due to the strange circumstances, Susaki won one bout and took the bronze medal.
The Japanese women won four gold medals and two bronze medals and achieved a record of 20-2 at the Olympic Games, winning all three direct duels against the USA.
Pan-American fever
The Pan American Championships are no longer a duel between the USA and Canada. Ecuador, Colombia, Cuba and Venezuela have all been represented at the Olympic Games with varying degrees of success.
The United States is heavier than any other country in the world at 76 kilograms, but the same can be said for Pan-American countries. Kennedy Blades (USA), Tatiana Rentería (Colombia) and Milaimys Marín (Cuba) won three of four medals in the 76 kg class at the Olympics, while Génesis Reasco of Ecuador was in one medal match. Justina Di Stasio of Canada finished 12th.
Pan American Results
