By Mekhi Abbott
AFRO Sports Intern
mabbott@afro.com
Every four years, athletes from around the world meet up to test their strength and skill on the world stage. This year, the Olympic Summer Games are back with athletes of all ethnicities and backgrounds going head to head in competition in athletic disciplines both popular and lesser known.
“The best way to describe [the feeling of being at the Olympics] is almost like a magical ambiance,” said Chantae McMillan, a 2012 London Olympian in the heptathlon. “You’re surrounded by the best of the best in the world, all there to do what they love!”
The world watched on July 26 as the 2024 opening ceremony took place at locations across Paris. Since that time, Black athletes have once again moved into the spotlight.
Lauren Scruggs, a 21-year-old fencer, and street skateboarding superstar Nyjah Huston headline the list of Black Olympic athletes who have earned a medal so far at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympic Games.
Simone Manuel has contributed to Team USA by winning a silver medal in the women’s 4×100 meter freestyle relay in swimming. Fredrick Richard has also led the men’s U.S. gymnastics team to victory, clinching their first Olympic medal since the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
Scruggs, currently a rising senior at Harvard University, made history as the first Black American woman to win an Olympic medal in foil fencing. The final bout in women’s fencing turned out to be a historic battle as two American women claimed the gold and silver medals for the first time in Olympic history. Scruggs claimed the silver medal, while Lee Kiefer took home the gold.
Huston, already regarded as the greatest street skateboarder of all time, was able to earn his first Olympic medal after finishing third in the men’s street skateboarding competition on July 29. The California native began skateboarding at age five at the request of his father, who also used to skateboard. Huston cites skating six days a week alongside his brothers and father from early childhood as the reason he has developed amazing skills in the sport. He has described skateboarding as the “family business” in an interview with NBC Sports. Huston, now 29, has vocalized his intentions to qualify and compete at the 2028 Summer Olympics, which will be held in Los Angeles.
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The ladies of Team USA take home the gold medal in the team final for gymnastics on July 30. Shown here from left to right, Jordan Chiles (left); Hezly Rivera; Simone Biles; Jade Carey and Sunisa Lee. (AP Photo / Natacha Pisarenko)
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Frederick Richard, of the United States, falls on the pommel horse during the men’s artistic gymnastics all-around finals in Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr) -
Simone Biles, USA Team Gymnastics. (AP Photo) -
Simone Manuel reacts after the Women’s 50 freestyle finals Sunday, June 23, 2024, at the US Swimming Olympic Trials in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings) -
United States’ Lauren Scruggs reacts after winning the women’s individual Foil semifinal match against Canada’s Eleanor Harvey during the 2024 Summer Olympics at the Grand Palais, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) -
Nyjah Huston, of the United States, poses after winning the bronze medal in the men’s skateboard street final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, July 29, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
In the first week of competition, the three-time All-American athlete, Frederick Richard, added an Olympic bronze medallist to his list of achievements. The rising junior at the University of Michigan already has an extensive list of accomplishments at only 20 years old. Richard led the way for Team USA in gymnastics, scoring the highest on the team in three of the four events he competed in: parallel bars, horizontal bars and a floor routine.
Manuel continues to add to her already impressive Olympic résumé. She won two gold medals and two silver medals at the 2016 Rio Summer Olympic Games. It was at the 2016 Rio Games where Manuel set an Olympic and American record in the 100-meter freestyle. She still holds the American record for the event. She also won a bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Ashleigh Johnson, a two-time Olympic gold medallist, is the goalkeeper for the women’s U.S. Olympic water polo team in Paris. Johnson is widely regarded as the greatest active goalkeeper in the sport of water polo.
These athletic accomplishments cannot solely be attributed to the athletes proving themselves in the Olympic pools, on the courts and in the fields of competition. Anthony Nesty was named the first Black swimming head coach of Team USA. Nesty was the first Black swimmer to win an Olympic gold medal at the 1988 Summer Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea. Peter Westbrook, the first Black man to win an Olympic medal in fencing, at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, served as a mentor for Scruggs.
“The atmosphere is great overall in the Olympic village. Within the Team USA building there is a lot of camaraderie and conversation between athletes of all sports and disciplines,” said Danielle Siebert, women’s head manager of U.S. track and field at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Track and field events at the 2024 Paris Olympics began on Aug. 1. Each year, the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash, 400-meter dash, 400-meter hurdles and the 4×400 meter relays are typically some of the most high profile and highly anticipated events at the Olympics.
Black athletes abroad seek Olympic gold on behalf of their native lands
Naomi Osaka (Japan)
Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka was eliminated in the first round of the tennis competition at the 2024 Paris Olympics. She lost to Angelique Kerber in two rounds, 7-5, 6-3. This was Osaka’s second time competing at the Olympics. Although Osaka spent most of her childhood in America, she is of Haitian and Japanese descent, and appears in the 2024 Olympics on behalf of Japan.
Antoine Dupont (France)
Antoine Dupont led the French’s seven-on-seven rugby team for men to the first gold medal of 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Rugby sevens first became an Olympic sport at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Fiji was the Olympic champion of both the 2016 Rio Games as well as the 2020 Tokyo Games. The French national team faced up against Fiji in the gold medal game and handed Fiji their first Olympic rugby sevens loss.
South Sudan
South Sudan is the only male basketball team in the continent of Africa that qualified for the 2024 Summer Paris Olympic Games. On July 20, South Sudan’s participation became a national story after almost upsetting gold medal favorite Team USA in an exhibition match.
Team USA was favored by over 30 points but narrowly defeated South Sudan, 101-100. South Sudan made history on July 28 after winning their first ever official Olympic games against Puerto Rico, 90-79.
Joan-Benjamin Gaba (France)
Joan-Benjamin Gaba had a Cinderella-esque performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The 23-year-old judo practitioner made it all the way to the gold medal match before being defeated by 27-year-old Hidayat Heydarov of Azerbaijan.
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