Indiana athletes contribute to Team USA’s medal tally at Paris Olympics – Indianapolis News | Indiana Weather | Indiana Traffic

Athletes competing at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games for the U.S. swimming team have officially finished their events, ending a nine-day stretch that saw multiple medals and significant accomplishments. Carmel’s Drew Kibler and Alex Shackell were among those adding to the medal tally, with Shackell earning her third gold. Evansville’s Lily King also played a key role in the team’s success. USA Today Sports Senior Editor Michelle Martinelli provided insight into the competition and standout performances.

Michelle noted that Sunday was the final night of the swimming events, and that Team USA finished strong. In the final event, the women’s medley relay, the U.S. team, including King, not only won gold, but also broke a world record. King was part of the team that broke the previous world record in 2019, making the achievement even more significant.

Katie Ledecky also made history by claiming her ninth Olympic gold medal, cementing her status as one of the sport’s greatest athletes. Her dominance, particularly in longer distance events such as the 800m and 1500m freestyle, continues to distinguish her on the world stage. Ledecky remains the only Olympic champion in the women’s 1500m, an event that was only added to the Olympics in 2021.

Martinelli shared her personal experience competing against Olympic swimmers Ryan Murphy and Abbey Weitzeil in a light-hearted race. Despite her background as a swimmer, she described the experience as humbling, and highlighted the extraordinary skill and athleticism of these top-level competitors.

The competition also highlighted the growing strength of international swimming teams, with countries such as France, Italy and China posing strong challenges. Martinelli noted that the U.S. team continues to face increasing competition from around the world, including the standout performances of French swimmer Léon Marchand.

There was also talk of a viral video in which Michael Phelps responded to Australian Olympian Cate Campbell’s comments about Americans’ enthusiasm for clapping and wearing cowbells. Phelps highlighted the team’s pride and motivation, which was evident when the U.S. team claimed its eighth gold medal in the final event, beating Australia.

Martinelli, who was in Paris covering the events, described the atmosphere as electric, particularly during the relays. He emphasised the team aspect of the relays, which bring a greater sense of excitement and camaraderie to the sport.

Reflecting on his experience, Martinelli expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to cover the Olympics and highlighted the incredible energy and unforgettable moments he witnessed during the games.