Trying to follow all of the athletes from New Jersey at the Olympic Games in Paris? Our USA TODAY Network team across the Garden State has you covered.
Check back here throughout the Games for the latest updates, from the first soccer kick and rugby try on July 24 — two days before the Opening Ceremony — through the Closing Ceremony on Aug. 11.
More Olympics: Our guide to NJ athletes headed to the 2024 Summer Games
Delbarton grad captures New Jersey's first Olympic medal
Jack Alexy of Mendham led off as the United States won gold in the 400-meter freestyle relay by more than a second on July 27. Alexy threw his arms up in the air in triumph as anchor Caeleb Dressel touched the wall first, then gave a double thumbs up.
Alexy had the United States in second place by 75 hundredths of a second after the opening leg. He was shown on NBC's online feed loudly encouraging his American teammates as they swam.
Alexy, 21 stood on the far right of teammates Chris Giuliano, Hunter Armstrong and Dressel, and was the first to receive his gold medal after the race. Armstrong, whose 46.75-second third leg propelled the United States into the lead for good, was the only one of the quartet shown on camera singing the anthem.
"It's amazing," Alexy said on the live feed, after waving at a clip of his family back home cheering during the race. "I think this relay is the excellence of Team USA. It's an honor to be part of it with these guys here. I knew after Trials it would be really special. Coming here, first swim at the Olympics, it's truly special to be part of."
The swimmers walked around the perimeter of Paris La Defense Arena, slapping hands with fans, many of whom held American flags.
This is Team USA's first gold medal of the 2024 Summer Games. It is also the Americans' 10th men's 400 free relay gold in 13 appearances. The American men have never failed to medal in the event.
Alexy did not swim in the relay prelim on Saturday morning, when the United States qualified fourth. He returns to the pool for the 100-meter freestyle individual prelims on July 30.
More: USA Swimming's 'Jersey Boys' ready to take on the world at 2024 Olympics
▶ Nic Fink of Morristown, a Pingry alumnus, was fourth after the 100-meter breaststroke semifinals. He used a solid start to finish second in his heat in 59.16 seconds. Adam Peaty of Great Britain is the No. 1 seed at 58.86.
Fink, the reigning world champion, will swim in the 100 breast final at 3:44 p.m. Sunday.
Can U.S. Soccer survive the group stage?
Midfielder Paxten Aaronson of Medford scored a goal as the United States men's soccer team defeated New Zealand, 4-1, in the second game of group play.
It's the first Olympic victory for the USMNT in 5,833 days – the opening match of the Beijing Olympics in 2008. It is also the first time the American men have scored four goals in a single Olympic match.
The Americans were able to even the goal differential they'd created in a 3-0 opening loss to host France.
Both Aaronson and outside back John Tolkin of Chatham have started both matches.
France defeated Guinea, 1-0, on July 27, to remain unbeaten in group play. Team USA faces Guinea in its third group match on July 30, with a quarterfinal berth on the line.
Sebastian Rivera of Toms River was the flagbearer for Puerto Rico in the Opening Ceremony on July 19. The parade of nations took place on boats on the Seine River.
Rivera, who won the 2016 NJSIAA 113-pound title at Christian Brothers Academy, also wrestled for Northwestern and Rutgers, will compete in men’s freestyle wrestling as the No. 4 seed in the 65-kilogram weight class. He qualified after earning a silver medal at the World Championships in Serbia last September.
After transferring from Northwestern, Rivera went 42-4 in two seasons with the Scarlet Knights.
This article originally appeared on Morristown Daily Record: Olympics tracker: Keep up with New Jersey's athletes at the 2024 Summer Games in Paris
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