5 underrated US Gold medalists at the Paris Olympics you should know about ft. Olivia Reeves, Sarah Hildebrandt

By Riddhi Acharya

Modified Aug 17, 2024 03:09 GMT

The Paris Olympics brought a delightful show for American sporting enthusiasts, with Team USA topping the medal tally yet again. While familiar faces in popular sports like athletics, gymnastics, and swimming often stole the spotlight, various athletes in other events performed in a manner just as spectacular.

Many are aware of Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s record-breaking performance in the women's 400m hurdles, Noah Lyles' stunning 100m sprint, Simone Biles’ all-around gold, and Katie Ledecky’s unreal performance in the pool. However, they might have missed out on the fact that it was the nation's performance in track cycling on the final day of the Paris Olympics that pushed them to the top of the medal charts. With that here are five underrated US Olympic gold-medalists you need to know.

#5. Jennifer Valente

Jennifer Valente won two golds in Paris - Source: Getty

Jennifer Valente has been a history-maker for Team USA in track cycling with her five Olympic medals. The 29-year-old tasted success from the early days of her career, winning 12 junior national title, one World Junior Championships gold in the scratch race, and two World Junior Championships bronze medals in the keirin.

In 2015, Valente broke out onto the senior scene in style, storming to an individual pursuit silver at the UCI Track Cycling World Championships. A year later, she won her first Olympic medal, a silver in the team pursuit.

At the Tokyo Olympics, Jennifer Valente re-established herself as one of the greats of US track cycling when she won gold in the women's omnium, becoming the first American to do so. In 2024, at the Paris Olympics, the cyclist successfully defended her omnium title, and led the US to a gold in the team pursuit event, yet another first for the nation in track cycling.

#4. Lee Kiefer

Lee Kiefer defended her title at the Paris Olympics- Source: Getty

Lee Kiefer is the most decorated women's foil fencer from the United States and she had an early start to her legendary career. In her collegiate days, the 29-year-old competed for the University of Notre Dame, and claimed four individual NCAA Championships, one team NCAA Championships in her four years there.

After winning a bronze at the 2011 World Fencing Championships, Kiefer made her Olympic debut in London a year later, but failed to make her way to the podium. She also missed out on a medal four years later at the Rio Games.

She finally managed to end her medal drought in Tokyo, claiming gold in the foil fencing event, and becoming the first American to do so. At the Paris Olympics, Lee Kiefer successfully defended her title, and helped the US to a women's team foil gold.

#3. Vincent Hancock

Vincent Hancock won gold at the 2024 Olympics- Source: Getty

Vincent Hancock is one of the most decorated skeet shooters of all time, having scripted multiple firsts in the sport. As a 16-year-old, Hancock stormed to gold at the World Championships, becoming one of the youngest people to achieve this feat. He has since gone on to repeat this performance three more times, winning individual golds at the 2009, 2015, and 2018 World Championships.

Hancock made his Olympics debut in Beijing 2008, clinching gold in a thrilling fight. He defended his title in 2012, becoming the first skeet shooter in the history of the event to claim two consecutive Olympic golds. After a lukewarm outing in Rio which saw him finish out of the top three, the American was back on the top of the podium at the Tokyo Games. The 2024 Paris Olympics saw him defend his title yet again.

#2. Olivia Reeves

Olivia Reeves at the Paris Olympic 2024 - Source: Getty

Olivia Reeves made history for Team USA at the Paris Olympics when she stormed to gold in the women's 71 kg weightlifting event. This marked the nation's first gold in the sport at the Games in over two decades.

Reeves entered the competition as a strong contender for gold, after a string of impressive performances in the past couple of years. After impressive performances on the junior circuit that saw her win the World Junior Championships gold, the 21-year-old broke out onto the senior scene in 2023. That same year, she won a bronze at the Pan American Championships and World Championships, as well as a gold at the Pan American Games. In 2024, before coming to Paris, Reeves was crowned champion at the IWF World Cup in Phuket.

#1. Sarah Hildebrandt

Sarah Hildebrandt after winning gold at the Paris Olympics (Source: Getty)

Unlike many sporting stars, Sarah Hildebrandt had a slow start to her career, failing to medal at major championships in her early years. However, that all changed in 2018, when the American won silver in the 53 kg event at the World Championships. Three years later, Hildebrandt repeated this performance, this time in the 50 kg weight class. 2021 also saw her win bronze at the Tokyo Games.

After two more bronze medal finishes at the World Championships in 2022 and 2023, Hildebrandt qualified for the Paris Olympics in the 50 kg weight class. Her time at the 2024 Games was a show of dominance by the 30-year-old. She sailed through her early rounds, and won her final 3-0 (by VPO) to claim her maiden gold medal at a major competition.