2024 Paris Olympics: United States maintain medal count lead, holding off China for most gold after Day 12

For the second straight day, the United States held the gold medal lead. The U.S. continued to dominate the overall medal count, as well, following an action-packed Day 12 of the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Three gold medals came along for the U.S., with Quincy Hall stealing the show in the 400-meter dash. He used a late surge down the final stretch to emerge from the pack and win the gold medal in a comeback for the ages. A little while later, on the wrestling mat, Sarah Hildebrant defeated Cuba’s Yusneylis Guzman Lopez 3-0 to seal a second gold medal in the event for the United States.

China sits two gold medals behind after Wednesday’s action, but the U.S. is still out in front. Here’s the updated medal count after Day 12.

2024 Paris Olympics: Medal Count after Day 12

1. United States: 27 gold, 35 silver, 32 bronze (94 total)
2. People’s Republic of China: 25 gold, 23 silver, 17 bronze (65)
3. Australia: 18 gold, 12 silver, 11 bronze (41)
4. France: 13 gold, 17 silver, 21 bronze (51)
5. Great Britain: 12 gold, 17 silver, 20 bronze (49)
6. Japan: 12 gold, 6 silver, 13 bronze (31)
7. Republic of Korea: 12 gold, 8 silver, 7 bronze (27)
8. Italy: 9 gold, 10 silver, 8 bronze (27)
9. Netherlands: 9 gold, 5 silver, 6 bronze (20)
10. Germany: 8 gold, 5 silver, 5 bronze (18)

Hall faded as the group entered the final turn, trailing three other competitors. But he turned on the jets and flew down the final 100 meters to take home first place and secure the gold. He did so in a time of 43.40 seconds – a personal best.

Great Britain’s Matthew Hudson-Smith took home silver, finishing just behind Hall at 43.44 seconds. Zambia’s Muzala Samukonga rounded out the podium with the bronze medal and a time of 43.74 seconds.

That was shortly before Hildebrant took to the wrestling mat with a gold medal on the line. She defeated Guzman Lopez 3-0 to capture her first gold medal at the Olympics in freestyle wrestling. Guzman replaced India’s Vinesh Phogat after the latter failed to make weight Wednesday morning and was eliminated from the tournament.

But Hildebrandt didn’t let the change of opponent affect her focus. She captured the gold following a Bronze medal at the 2020 games, and the second wrestling gold for the U.S. after Amit Elor became the youngest to do so on Tuesday.

Nick Kosko and Thomas Goldkamp contributed to this report.