As the 2024 Paris Olympics concluded on Sunday, the U.S. team led the overall medal standings with 126 medals, 35 more than China. The United States tied with China with 40 gold medals.
From Olympic veterans to newbies, 12 local athletes contributed to the U.S. team’s success. Here’s how they performed:
Korbin Albert of Grayslake scores the second goal for the U.S. national team during a soccer game against Australia on July 31 in Marseille, France. The goal would prove to be the deciding one.
AP Photo/Daniel Cole
Korbin Albert, Grayslake, Classical Consortium Academy, women’s soccer
What a great Olympic debut for the 20-year-old midfielder. Albert’s pass to teammate Mallory Swanson led to the only goal in a 1-0 win over Brazil and the women’s soccer team’s first Olympic gold medal since 2012. In the group match against Australia, the former Notre Dame All-American scored the game-winning goal, a 22-yard laser shot for a 2-1 victory.
West Aurora High School graduate Lauren Carlini celebrates a five-set semifinal victory over Brazil with former St. Francis High School student and U.S. team assistant coach Erin Virtue on August 8.
Courtesy of Volleyball World
Lauren Carlini, Aurora, West Aurora, women’s volleyball
As an alternate for the 2020 Tokyo Games, the 6’1″ setter battled back from a preliminary match injury and played a crucial role in the U.S. team’s five-set semifinal victory over Brazil and advancement to the gold medal match. The former Sullivan Award winner recorded 8 saves with 5 assists against Brazil, leading to the Americans’ silver medal performance.
Tori Franklin of Downers Grove will attempt to compete in the women’s triple jump qualification for the 2024 Summer Olympics on August 2.
AP Photo/Bernat Armangue
Tori Franklin, Downers Grove, Downers Grove South, women’s track and field
Franklin, the 2022 World Championships bronze medalist in the women’s triple jump and four-time national champion, improved on her 25th-place finish at the 2020 Tokyo Games. Franklin missed the final by two positions, but her personal best of 14.02 meters (just under 46 feet) only placed her 14th at the Stade de France.
Wilfredo Leon Venero (9), Jakub Kochanowski (15) and Marcin Janusz (19) of Poland block a volley by Thomas Jaeschke of Wheaton during a men’s volleyball semifinal match last week in Paris.
AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa
Thomas Jaeschke, Wheaton, Wheaton Warrenville South, men’s volleyball
Disappointed with a 10th-place finish at Tokyo 2021 after Team USA took bronze in 2016, the three-time Olympian helped the Americans return to the podium with another bronze medal. Jaeschke, a 6-foot-6 outside hitter and celebrated defender, improved throughout the tournament, scoring 10 points and 7 interceptions in a 3-2 semifinal win over Poland.
In his first Olympics, St. Francis High School graduate Jeff Jendryk cheers on the U.S. team during its 3-1 victory over Brazil on August 5.
Courtesy of Volleyball World
Jeff Jendryk, Wheaton, St. Francis, men’s volleyball
Jendryk, who was competing in the Olympics for the first time and was one of the last to be eliminated from the U.S. team for the Tokyo Olympics, gained valuable experience en route to winning the bronze medal. The 6-foot-1 middle blocker, a three-time All-American at Loyola University, helped the U.S. men’s national team to a 3-2 win over Germany in a preliminary round match.
Paul Juda of Deerfield performs on the rings during the men’s all-around finals in Paris, France, on July 31. Juda helped the U.S. gymnastics team win its first medal in men’s gymnastics since 2008.
AP Photo/Charlie Riedel
Paul Juda, Deerfield, Stevenson High School, men’s gymnastics
Judah was one of the rising stars of the U.S. men’s gymnastics team, if not the entire U.S. team, in Paris. He made his Olympic debut and helped the country win its first team medal, bronze, since 2008. Judah, who earned high praise from NBC broadcasters for his performance and attitude, also qualified for the all-around finals, finishing 14th.
Casey Krueger of Naperville fends off Racheal Kundananji of Zambia during a women’s soccer match on July 25 in Nice, France. The United States won 3-0.
AP Photo/Julio Cortez
Casey Krueger, Naperville, Naperville Central, women’s soccer
The two-time Olympian and National Women’s Soccer League star brought experience to the team and calmness to the U.S. team’s perimeter defense in the closing stages of the game, adding a gold medal in Paris to her bronze medal in Tokyo in 2021. The former Casey Short played in all six games, bringing her total appearances for the U.S. women’s national team to 56.
Erin Reese of Mount Prospect is competing in the women’s hammer throw qualification for the 2024 Summer Olympics.
AP Photo/Bernat Armangue
Erin Reese, Mount Prospect, Prospect, Women’s Track and Field
After waiting impatiently to qualify for her first Olympics, the hammer thrower perhaps laid the groundwork for future endeavors in Paris. On August 4, Reese finished seventh in her group with a top throw of 70.23 meters, or about 230 feet, 5 inches. Overall, she finished 14th out of 32 competitors, two spots away from qualifying for the final.
St. Francis High School graduate Kelsey Robinson-Cook digs out a ball as Team USA’s Andrea Drews watches during the U.S. Women’s National Team’s three-set victory over France on August 4.
Courtesy of Volleyball World
Kelsey Robinson-Cook, Bartlett, St. Francis, women’s volleyball
When coach Karch Kiraly was looking for a stabilizing influence, a catalyst and solid passing for the U.S. team, he turned to this three-time Olympian. Robinson-Cook won her third medal in as many appearances with the silver medal on Sunday. The 6-foot-2 Robinson helped the U.S. team to gold in Tokyo and bronze in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.
Former Chicago Fire goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina was the reserve goalkeeper for the U.S. men’s soccer team that advanced past the Olympic group stage for the first time since 2000.
Courtesy of Rebecca Blackwell/The Associated Press
Gabriel Slonina, Addison, Addison Trail, men’s soccer
“Gaga” Slonina, who became the youngest goalkeeper in Major League Soccer history to record a shutout as a 17-year-old with Chicago Fire in 2021, was the U.S. team’s reserve goalkeeper. Slonina backed up starting goalkeeper Patrick Schulte as the Americans reached the quarterfinals and advanced beyond the group stage for the first time since 2000.
Felicia Stancil of Grayslake, sixth from left, competes in the women’s BMX race during the 2024 Summer Olympics on August 1 in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France.
AP Photo/Thibault Camus
Felicia Stancil, Lake Villa, Grayslake North, women’s cycling
Stancil, a professional cyclist who – like her father Jamie – finished fourth individually in the BMX race at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, failed to make the final after her three quarterfinal runs. At the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines BMX Stadium on August 1, Stancil was just two spots away from the semifinals and finished the day in 22nd place.
Zachery Ziemek of Itasca and Lake Park High School will compete in the javelin throw in the decathlon at the 2024 Summer Olympics on August 3.
AP Photo/Matthias Schrader
Zach Ziemek, Itasca, Lake Park, men’s track and field
Competing in his third Olympic decathlon, “Double Z” was looking to win a medal after placing sixth in Tokyo and seventh in Rio de Janeiro. Instead, he injured his knee in the long jump, the second of the ten events. Ziemek battled through the next eight events and finished 17th, making him the only American to compete in three Olympic decathlons.
