The 2024 Paris Olympics concluded with significant achievements for American athletes, including Simone Biles becoming the most decorated gymnast and Katie Ledecky setting a record for female Olympians with her medal count. Team USA led the medal tally with 594 athletes, securing numerous golds, while China and France followed closely in the rankings. Minnesota celebrated its athletes returning home, with Suni Lee earning three medals and Regan Smith leading with five. Meanwhile, the upcoming Paris Paralympics, starting August 28, will feature over a dozen athletes with ties to Illinois. The Olympic Games saw important historical milestones, including the women's rugby sevens team winning the U.S.'s first rugby medal since 1924. As the Games wrapped up, discussions continued about how to best interpret medal counts in assessing national success.