It’s officially underway. The first medals of the 2024 Paris Olympic games have officially been won by the best of the best of the world’s athletes.
That First Win
The excitement of the first medal ceremony was bestowed on the 10m air rifle team event, taking place at Chateauroux early this morning.
But that first converted medal was actually a bronze, won by Kazakhstan after winning their match against Germany, 17 to 5.
In the end China walked away with the first gold of the games, leaving Korea to take silver after their match ended 16 to 12.
These will actually be the first medals to officially be hung around athlete’s necks since Rio 2016. Tokyo 2020 saw athletes putting their own medals over their heads due to Covid restrictions.
And First on The Board For Team GB
In the pool, the first diving medal was also won in a straight final of eight pairs which left no room for error.
The crowd were amped up for the women’s 3 metre synchronised springboard, cheering in a way more in keeping with water polo according to BBC commentator Leon Taylor.
In the end favourites China took the gold, coming out on top of the eight competing pairs from Australia, Italy, France, Great Britain, Germany, USA, and Ukraine.
But it was a historic win for Team Great Britain.
The young British pair of Yasmin Harper and Scarlett Mew Jensen bagged a bronze – the first women’s diving medal in 64 years, and the first medal won by Team GB on the first day since Sydney 2000. It’s also the first ever medal for Great Britain in the 3m synchro event, which they achieved with 302.28 points after five rounds. Historic all around and a great start for Team GB.
The USA took their first medal with a silver, scoring 314.64. The medal was much celebrated after both divers, Kassidy Cook and Sarah Bacon, had previous retired from the sport.
The major upset came in the final round when Australia, who looked to be set for a silver medal, clipped the board. They finished in fifth place.
It’s only mid-morning on day one and we already have five countries on the medal table. China may be leading with two golds but with nearly twenty other sports competing today and twelve more golds to be awarded, there are a thousand reasons to stay tuned.
We know we certainly will be.
