Just a few hours into the first day of the 2024 Paris Olympics, the United States had its first medal and first gold, thanks in part to South Florida athletes.
Here's how these Olympians made South Florida proud on July 27, 2024.
Caeleb Dressel wins gold in the men's 4x100m relay
Americans Jack Alexy, Hunter Armstrong, Caeleb Dressel and Chris Guiliano won the men's 4x100 freestyle relay for Team USA's first gold in the Paris Olympics.
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These are the third Olympics for 27-year-old Dressel, who was born in Orange Park and grew up in Green Cove Springs.
He's won gold seven times before.
Paris 2024 Summer Olympics and Paralympics
Watch all the action from the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games live on Peacock
‘Cook' N Bacon' Earn First U.S. Medals in Paris
Kassidy Cook, 29, of Plantation started diving when she was just 3. She went from finishing 13th on the 3 meter springboard in the Rio Olympics to winning Team USA's first medal—silver—in Paris.
Coco Gauff wins opening match of women's doubles
Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula won their opening match in the first round of doubles tennis against Australians Daria Gavrilova and Ellen Perez.
The 20-year-old Gauff, who now calls Delray Beach home, made her Olympic debut in Paris after a heartbreaking turn of events at the previous games, when she had to withdraw after testing positive for COVID-19.
She entered the Paris Olympics ranked second in the world.
Benjamin Cremaschi makes Olympic debut
At only 19 years old, Inter Miami's Benjamin Cremaschi is the youngest player on the men's soccer team representing the USA.
He made his Olympic debut on Saturday, when the USA secured a 4-1 win over New Zealand.
It was the first time USMNT scored four goals in an Olympic game.
Ashleigh Johnson dominates in goal in women's water polo opener
Miami native Ashleigh Johnson is a three-time Olympian who dominated in goal during the U.S. women's water polo opener against Greece, allowing just four scores.
Johnson attended Ransom Everglades High School before moving on to Princeton, where she finished her career as the all-time leader in saves.
Katie Ledecky wins bronze in 400m free
Katie Ledecky, who is a volunteer swim coach at the University of Florida and trained for Paris in Gainesville, won bronze in the women's 400m freestyle final.
She is one of the best women swimmers of all time, with seven Olympic gold medals and three silver from three separate games dating back to 2012 in London.
Keep up with South Florida's finest here.
