HomeWomen's MattersEssence.com: Nearly 40 Black Women Won Olympic Medals for the USA in...

Essence.com: Nearly 40 Black Women Won Olympic Medals for the USA in 2024

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Olympian Women of Power and Grace

The US took home the most medals this year, with Black women competing individually responsible for 20% of women’s wins. And yes…we are still counting Jordan Chiles’ Bronze.
American women won nearly 60% of Team USA’s medals at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, and Black women helped lead the charge by a grand margin.


Despite there being an equal number of male and female competitors at this year’s Olympics in a historic move by the IOC, women generally edged out the men across nations. The United States won the most medals overall at 127 – 40 of which were gold – with 68 of said medals won in women’s events and another 6 in mixed-gender sports. Of those 68 women’s victories, 14 were secured by Black women competing individually.

PARIS, FRANCE – AUGUST 05: Gold medalist Rebeca Andrade (C) of Team Brazil, silver medalist Simone Biles (L) of Team United States and bronze medalist Jordan Chiles (R) of Team United States celebrate on the podium at the Artistic Gymnastics Women’s Floor Exercise Medal Ceremony on day ten of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Bercy Arena on August 05, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)

Of the group medals on the list, two were won by teams compiled exclusively of Black women, and another six were won by teams where Black women helped compete.
-Rivea Ruff, Essence.com

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