Distress for Team USA as American men are yet to clinch an individual gold medal at the Paris Olympics

By Animesh Pandey

Modified Aug 03, 2024 10:23 GMT

Team USA is in double trouble this time at the Paris Olympics. For the first time in the history of the Summer Olympics, Team USA is at the risk of finishing outside the top three in the medal tally overall. Team USA is currently in the fourth position, with nine gold medals, and a total of 43 medals.

To make it worse, no American male athlete has won an individual gold medal so far. Even in swimming, where Team USA almost always hits the jackpot, the male swimmers have won very few medals.

The only gold medal Team USA has won in men's swimming is in the Men's 4x100m freestyle relay, where the quartet of Caeleb Dressel, Jack Alexy, Hunter Armstrong, and Chris Guiliano won the gold medal.

If Robert 'Bobby' Finke of Team USA doesn't win the gold medal in the men's 1500m freestyle, whose finals will be held on August 4, Team USA faces the prospect of returning without an individual gold medal from a male American swimmer for the first time in the history of Summer Olympics since Paris 1900.

---

Team USA men have only won 2 gold medals at the Paris Olympics so far

As per the latest updates, Team USA has won only two gold medals in the male category. One was the gold medal won by the 4x100m relay team in men's swimming. The other gold medal was won by the quartet of Justin Best, Liam Corrigan, Michael Grady, Nick Mead, who won the gold medal in the men's coxless four rowing event for Team USA at the Paris Olympics.

Robert 'Bobby' Finke of Team USA with his silver medal from Men's 800m Freestyle at the Paris Olympics [Image Source: Getty]

The best individual performances so far have come from Robert "Bobby' Finke and Nic Fink, who have won silver medals in men's 800m freestyle and men's 100m breaststroke respectively.

However, the individual gold medal drought can end for Team USA tonight, since three American stalwarts would be in action for the Men's Shot Put event finals. Defending champion Ryan Crouser, who is aiming for the elusive Olympic hat trick in men's shot put, and Payton Otterdahl achieved automatic qualification by throwing the shot to a distance of 21.52m and 21.49m respectively.

On the other hand, Joe Kovacs managed to make it to the finals by virtue of a simple throw of 21.24m.

Apart from them, fans of Team USA are still hopeful of a good showing from sprinters like Noah Lyles, wrestlers like Spencer Lee and Kyle Snyder to name a few, and above all, the duo of Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram. The latter two will be fighting for a gold medal tonight in the men's doubles category of tennis event at the Paris Olympics.