The Paralympic Games in Paris have been a whirlwind of action, and Team USA has had some standout performances across the board, with many setting new personal, Paralympic, and world records. As the Games ended with an epic closing ceremony at the Stade de France, the US athletes finished with medals in 17 out of 23 disciplines, from para athletics and swimming to team sports like wheelchair basketball, rugby, and sitting volleyball. Let's dive into the highlights of their impressive showing!
Sitting Volleyball — Women’s Gold Glory Three-Peat!
Team USA's women's sitting volleyball team continues dominating the world stage, clinching their third consecutive Paralympic gold. After losing to China in the opening group stage match, team member Monique Matthews had this to say:
“It’s a hard game coming out. First, you gotta give it your all. Then, you can see where you need to work from there, so it’s great to get it out of the way. That way, we know what we need to work on for our own team. We had quite a few errors, and I think if we just fix those up, that next time, we’ll come out harder.”
And they did just that as they plowed through the remainder of pool play and semi-finals, eventually facing China again in the gold medal match. The US squad cemented their reign in a 3-1 victory, with MVP Heather Erickson leading the attack (28 points) and six-time Paralympian Laura Webster being named the tournament’s top blocker.
Wheelchair Basketball — A Hard-Fought Silver for the Women, Nail-Biting Gold for the Men
The women’s wheelchair basketball team delivered a fantastic run but narrowly missed out on gold, settling for silver. Their final match against the Netherlands was intense, with the U.S. team putting up a valiant fight but falling just short (49-63). With a bronze medal in Tokyo 2020 and a silver in Paris, their potential to level up again and clinch gold in LA28 is a hopeful prospect.
The men’s wheelchair basketball team secured their third straight Paralympic gold, overcoming Great Britain 73-69 in a nail-biting final. Jake Williams scored 26 points, while team captain and five-time Paralympian Steve Serio contributed 24 in his final game before retiring from the sport.
Wheelchair Rugby — Battling for Silver
Team USA’s wheelchair rugby team fought tooth and nail throughout the tournament, eventually earning a well-deserved silver medal. Their run was filled with physical and fast-paced matches, with veterans like Chuck Aoki and Jeff Butler bringing their A-game. They fell to Japan in the final (41-48), but the silver was still a remarkable achievement in a fiercely competitive tournament. After three consecutive Paralympic silver medals (Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020, and Paris 2024), we can be sure they already have their eyes set on gold at home in LA28.
Para Athletics and Cycling Superstars
Ezra Frech had a stellar showing in Paris. After missing out on a medal in the Men's Long Jump - T63, he came out strong in his remaining events, taking home two gold medals in the Men’s High Jump and 100 meters in the T63 classification, setting a new Paralympic record in the former. Frech, who has long been seen as one of Team USA’s rising stars, proved his mettle on the biggest stage, where his goals were not only about the podium but also about growing the Paralympic movement and normalizing disability. Upon his return from Paris, he’s jumping right back into training, this time at the University of Southern California as the first above-knee amputee athlete to compete for an NCAA Division I Track & Field team.
Meanwhile, Hunter Woodhall captured his first Paralympic gold, winning the Men's 400 meter - T62. His emotional victory was a highlight of the Games as he ran over to embrace his wife, Tara Davis-Woodhall, who also became a gold medalist in the women’s long jump at the Olympic Games just a few weeks prior.
A multi-sport athlete, Oksana Masters added to her ever-growing collection of Paralympic medals (19 overall amongst various winter and summer Paralympic disciplines), with golds in both the Women's H4-5 Individual Time Trial and the Women's H5 Road. Masters, one of the most decorated Paralympians, continues to push boundaries and show that she’s not slowing down anytime soon.
Record-Breaking Waves from Team USA Para Swimmers
Team USA's Para Swimming athletes brought home an extraordinary total of 30 medals, setting many Paralympic and world records along the way. Among the key swimmers was Jessica Long, a veteran in the sport, who reached an impressive 31 Paralympic medals over the span of her career. Her first gold came 20 years ago as a 12-year-old in the Athens 2004 Games.
Mallory Weggemann, another seasoned athlete, made a remarkable return to the Paralympic stage after becoming a mother in 2023. Securing gold in the Women's 200m Individual Medley - SM7, she beat the Paralympic record she set herself in Tokyo 2020.
Several other swimmers broke Paralympic records in Paris, including Leanne Smith, Morgan Stickney, and Christie Raleigh-Crossley, who also claimed a new world record time in the Women's 50m Freestyle - S9.
Medal Count and Overall Performance
Team USA wraps up the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games with an impressive medal haul across multiple sports with a total of 105 medals: 36 gold, 42 silver, and 27 bronze.* This performance secured them a solid third place in the medal rankings behind a dominant China and Great Britain.
Farewell, Paris! See you soon, Los Angeles!
The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games set remarkable records, including the most female athletes, the largest number of countries represented, and the widest global coverage in history. The closing ceremony celebrated these achievements with an emotional and symbolic handover to Los Angeles, host of the 2028 Games, with disability strongly represented in the performances of several cultural icons. Ali Stroker, a Tony Award-winning actress, sang the U.S. national anthem in the rain before the LA segment kicked off with a skate party at Venice Beach featuring artists including jazz pianist Matthew Whitaker and violinist Gaelynn Lea. At the same time, adaptive skaters Oscar Loreto Jr. and Kanya Sesser, along with WCMX pioneer Aaron "Wheelz" Fotheringham, wowed the audience with their skills at the iconic California skate park.
Back in Paris, the blind musical duo Amadou & Mariam performed French pop legend Serge Gainsbourg’s “Je suis venu te dire que je m’en vais.” Translating to “I came to tell you I’m leaving,” the performance added a poignant note in front of the Paralympic Vasque, symbolizing the end of the Paris Games and a bittersweet farewell to an unforgettable chapter in Paralympic history.
As the flames surrounding the cauldron extinguished, the baton was officially passed to Los Angeles, leaving athletes and fans eagerly awaiting what’s next. With LA28 on the horizon, the world can look forward to another thrilling celebration of sport, culture, and inclusivity in the City of Angels.
*For a list of all medal winners, visit Olympics.com.