Simone Biles, Katie Ledecky Among Several Americans Who Made History in Paris

Gymnast Simone Biles and swimmer Katie Ledecky helped contribute to the United States’ dominant showing at the 2024 Paris Olympics as the Americans finished with 126 medals, including 40 gold.

Both athletes were also among the many to achieve new personal milestones, which include tying or breaking multiple Olympic records.

Biles won three gold medals (team, all-round, vault) and one silver (floor exercise) in Paris, giving her 11 Olympic medals and making her the most-decorated American gymnast ever. She’s also just two shy of tying the Olympic record for most gold medals by a gymnast.

Biles also became just the third woman to win gold in the all-around final twice, and she’s the only gymnast to win gold in the event in non-consecutive Olympic Games.

Ledecky won two gold medals, giving her more gold than any other female swimmer in Olympic history. She’s also tied with Emma McKeon for the most total Olympic medals among female swimmers (14), which makes her the most-decorated female Olympian in U.S. history.

The 27-year-old also set a new Olympic record in the women’s 1,500-meter freestyle 15:30:02 — 10 seconds faster than second-place finisher Anastasiya Kirpichnikova.

Diana Taurasi also wrote her name in the record books, becoming the first women’s basketball player to capture six gold medals and the first to earn six total medals. USA’s Sue Bird (five gold) and Teresa Edwards (four gold, one silver) plus Australia’s Lauren Jackson (three silver, two bronze) each have five.

Hurdler and sprinter Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone set a new world record in the women’s 400-meter hurdles (50.37 seconds), besting her previous world record by 0.28 seconds. She owns the three fastest times and six of the 10 best times in the 400m hurdles.

More American record-breaking performances are listed below.

New world records

· Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, women's 400m (50.37 seconds)

· Sam Watson, men's speed climbing (4.74 seconds)

· Bobby Finke, men's 1,500m freestyle (14:30.67)

· Team USA, women's 4x100 medley relay (3:49.63)

· Team USA, mixed 4x100 relay (3:37.43)

New Olympic records

· Cole Hocker, men's 1,500m (3:27.65)

· Team USA, men's 4x400 relay (2:54.43)

· Team USA, mixed 4x400 relay (2:54.43)

· Regan Smith, women's 100m backstroke (57.28 seconds)

· Gretchen Walsh, women's 100m butterfly (55.37 seconds)

· Katie Ledecky, women’s 1,500m freestyle (15:30:02)

Related: Simone Biles Claps Back At Those Who Criticized Her After Tokyo Olympics