Team USA's Best Moments from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics
Here are all the biggest moments you missed from the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
The 2020 Summer Olympics concluded yesterday in Tokyo, Japan as the Olympic flag was passed to France ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. After two weeks of watching some of the world's best athletes compete in every summer sport from trampolining to synchronized diving and more, the United States led the pack with the most medals of any country (113) and the most gold medals (39), inching out China by one. To celebrate this year's festivities, L'OFFICIEL reflects on some of Team USA's most exciting moments from the 2020 Olympic Games.
Simone Biles
After withdrawing from the team gymnastics finals due to struggling with her mental health, Simone Biles returned for the individual events to take home the bronze medal on beam. While speaking on The Today Show, Biles said that this bronze medal "means more than all the golds."
Suni Lee
After helping her team nab the silver medal in the team gymnastics finals, 18-year-old Suni Lee delivered a remarkable performance across her four disciplines, earning her the all-around gold medal. She is the fifth consecutive American woman to take home this gold, following Carly Patterson (2004), Nastia Liukin (2008), Gabby Douglas (2012), and Biles (2016).
Men's Swimming in the 4×100-Meter Freestyle Relay
America swimmers Ryan Murphy, Michael Andrew, Caeleb Dressel, and Zach Apple crushed the 4×100-Meter freestyle relay, not only earning the gold medal but also breaking the record time. After their win, Dressel tossed his gold medal to his teammate Brooks Curry who replaced Dressel during the qualifying race.
Women’s Basketball
The U.S. women's basketball team earned its seventh gold medal in a row after a 90-75 win over Japan. Players Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird took home their fifth gold medals, the most of any Olympic basketball players in history.
Raven Saunders
Ignoring the Olympics' rule against protesting on the podium, women's shot put silver-medalist Raven Saunders made an "X" with her arms while accepting her medal. Saunders, who is Black and gay, has been historically outspoken about social justice issues, particularly racism and LGBTQ+ issues. The athlete explained that her motion was a symbol of "the intersection of where all people who are oppressed meet. … My message is to keep fighting, keep pushing, keep finding value in yourself, find value in everything you do.”
Sydney McLaughlin
Not only did she nab the gold medal, but L'OFFICIEL cover star Sydney McLaughlin set a new world record in the 400-meter hurdles for 51.46 seconds, surpassing the previous record (set by McLaughlin herself) by .44 seconds.
Allyson Felix
In her first Olympic games following the birth of her daughter Camryn in 2018, Allyson Felix earned the bronze for the 400-meter race and helped her team secure gold in the 4x400-meter relay. She is now the most decorated Olympic track athlete in history with 11 medals.
