By Lucas Camacho
The French would say: “Toutes les bonnes choses ont une fin,” or the English translation “All good things must come to an end.” This weekend marked the end of the 2024 Paris Summer Olympic Games. There was thrilling victories and terrible disappointments. We have plenty of highlights from Team USA, what to look forward to for the LA 2028 games, and what to look forward to sports wise for those of you that may have “Olympics Hangover.”
GLORY AND AGONY FOR TEAM USA
The United States once again proved it was the top nation in the world in sports with 40 gold, 44 silver, and 42 bronze for a grand total of 126 medals. Only China, who tied the US for most gold at 40, came close at 91 medals. In third was Great Britain who passed up the host nation France with 65 medals.
Among the most memorable moments was redemption for the US gymnastics team led by Simone Biles. Biles earned 4 medals during these Olympics, as did US swimmer Katie Ledecky. It was also a time of redemption for the US women’s soccer team, as they won their first gold medal under new manager Emma Hayes, who has turned the US back into a powerhouse in just a few months. However, the US did fail to medal for the first time in a long time in beach volleyball. Between that and the fierce competition in the pool from Australia and China means the world is catching up to the US in terms of sporting dominance. The Olympics did end on a high note for the US as their women’s basketball team won gold yet again, but the world is catching up…and the United States better be ready for fierce action in four years.
COUNTDOWN TO LA28
The anticipation for the next summer games could be felt by the crowd on Rosie’s Dog Beach during the “Handover” part of the Closing Ceremonies. This is the part where Paris handed off the Olympic flag to the host of the next Summer Olympic Games host: in this case, here in Los Angeles. To pump up the crowds in LA, numerous musical acts performed that included Snoop Dogg, who has been part of NBCUniversal’s coverage of the Olympic games, and Grammy and Academy Award winner Billie Eilish. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass received the Olympic flag from the mayor of Paris himself as part of the ceremony while Grammy Award winner H.E.R. performed the National Anthem during the closing ceremony at the Stade de France.
Los Angeles’s upcoming hosting of the Olympic Games in 2028 is a unique opportunity to blend history, culture, and innovation. The city’s previous experiences with the Olympics, combined with its diverse population and commitment to sustainability, position it as an exemplary host. As the world prepares to gather in LA, the Games promise to be a celebration of athletic excellence, cultural richness, and community spirit, leaving a legacy that will endure for generations to come. There is already speculations as to who will be representing the United States. We could see current champions Simone Biles and Katie Ledecky return to earn more medals on US soil. We could also see new stars such as WNBA rookies Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese. Either way, the Los Angeles games are something a lot of people will be looking forward to.
NO MORE OLYMPICS…WHAT NOW?
So, you loved the Olympics, loved watching the different athletes, and now you’re probably asking, “now what?” It’s easy to experience the supposed “Olympics hangover”, you get it all the time after the winter holidays are over in early January. Many major networks don’t have season premieres until next month. So here are some sports events to get excited about:
MLB
The dog days of summer are nearly over, which means the playoff race in baseball will start to heat up. The league should be on alert as the Dodgers are getting healthier and looking more like the team many thought they’d be at the start of the season. August 16-18 is also Player’s Weekend, where teams and players have the opportunity to show off their different styles. With the season heading for the finish line, the World Series title is anyone’s to win (especially since the defending champion Texas Rangers are falling back and failing to mount a proper title defense).
WNBA
In what has been a record-breaking and entertaining season, the WNBA returns to action on August 15th. During the Olympic break, the WNBA secured a huge media rights deal with Amazon Prime Video, NBCUniversal, and the Walt Disney Company. While there isn’t very big expectations for the hometown Sparks, there are many interesting storylines to watch. The biggest is who will claim Rookie of the Year honors with Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese in an epic duel. The future of women’s basketball sure looks bright with these talented stars (some of whom we may see play in the Olympics in 2028).
FOOTBALL
The end of summer doesn’t just mean that baseball playoff races are heating up, it also means another sport is coming. The transition from summer to fall means that football is nearly here. College games start at the end of the month of August, and the NFL will be kicking off its season on September 5th with an AFC Championship rematch between the two-time champion Kansas City Chiefs and the Baltimore Ravens. On the home side, all eyes are on the Rams and the Chargers. The Rams had a late surge from last season they hope to build on, and everyone will be watching the new look Chargers in coach Jim Harbaugh’s first year. This is shaping up to be a fun season on the football front.
