Team USA Faces Ups and Downs on Day One of the 2024 Paris Olympics

The excitement kicked off for Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics today, with both bright spots and challenges. American swimmer Katie Ledecky was all set to compete for gold in the women’s 400m freestyle, while seven-time Olympic champion Caeleb Dressel was gearing up for the men’s 4x100m freestyle relay.

However, the Americans faced an early setback in beach volleyball. The men’s duo of Miles Partain and Andy Benesh was the first to compete in the grand stadium near the Eiffel Tower. Unfortunately, they lost to Cuba’s Jorge Luis Aloyo Moliner and Noslen Diaz Amaro in a tight match that ended in two sets, both 21-18.

In rugby, Team USA had a heartbreaking finish as they lost to Ireland. With a 14-12 lead late in stoppage time, catching a defensive stop was essential after an Ireland penalty. But Terry Kennedy’s try sealed it for Ireland, eliminating Team USA from the fifth-place playoff.

While rainy conditions hindered some events, the women’s cycling time trials continued. Meanwhile, in basketball, Australia took a strong lead in their match against Spain, winning 92-80 with impressive performances from Jock Landale and Patty Mills.

During a practice session, former NFL star Peyton Manning visited the U.S. men’s basketball team, even catching up with LeBron James. Manning has teamed up with Barack and Michelle Obama to create a new NBA show inspired by Netflix’s documentary series.

In swimming, Ledecky managed to qualify for the final in the 400m freestyle, finishing her heat with a strong time of 4:02:19. Swimming alongside her rival, Australia’s Ariarne Titmus, Ledecky pulled ahead in a thrilling finish, winning by just 0.1 seconds.

In rowing, the U.S. crews showed promise as Jacob Plihal and Kara Kohler advanced in the single sculls, setting themselves up for the quarterfinals. Meanwhile, the mixed team in shooting faced a tough day, with both pairs finishing outside the qualifying marks.

As the day unfolded, First Lady Jill Biden was present at the gymnastics competition, where the atmosphere was electric compared to her Tokyo experience, where fans weren’t allowed due to COVID-19 restrictions.

The Americans had remarkable performances in other sports too, as Anne Cebula and Hadley Husisian progressed in fencing, defeating previous medalists in their early rounds.

Despite the mixed results, Team USA’s spirits remain high as more events are scheduled for the upcoming days in Paris.