Paris Olympics Day 8: Biles and Ledecky Shine; Richardson Settles for Silver

PARIS — On Day 8 of the Paris Olympics, American athletes Simone Biles and Katie Ledecky added to their medal counts with standout performances, while sprinter Sha’carri Richardson earned silver.

Simone Biles clinched her seventh gold medal of her illustrious Olympic career, demonstrating her unmatched skill in gymnastics. With ten medals overall, Biles has now triumphed in the team final, all-around, and vault events in Paris. The 27-year-old gymnast hinted at the possibility of competing in the Los Angeles Games in 2028.

Katie Ledecky, matching Michael Phelps's historic achievement, secured her fourth consecutive gold in the 800-meter freestyle. This victory marks her ninth Olympic win, tying her for second place on the all-time list of Olympic race victories. Phelps remains the leader with 23 gold medals.

The U.S. swim team also broke the world record in the 4x100 mixed medley relay. Ryan Murphy, Nic Fink, Gretchen Walsh, and Torri Huske posted a winning time of 3:37.43, surpassing the previous record of 3:37.58 set by Britain.

In contrast, at the rain-soaked Stade de France, Sha’carri Richardson earned silver in the women’s 100-meter dash. Julien Alfred of Saint Lucia captured gold, marking the nation's first-ever Olympic medal. Richardson finished 0.15 seconds behind Alfred, with the gap being the largest in the women’s Olympic 100-meter final since 2008. The U.S. also saw Melissa Jefferson secure bronze in the same event.

In other events, the U.S. men's 4x400 mixed relay team fell short against the Netherlands after setting a world record in qualifying. Kaylyn Brown was overtaken by Dutch runner Femke Bol in a surprising finish.

On a positive note, American Ryan Crouser won his third consecutive gold medal in shot put, edging out compatriot Joe Kovacs, who took silver.

Other Highlights from Day 8:

• Imane Khelif of Algeria secured a medal in the women’s 66-kilogram boxing category, overcoming online abuse and gender scrutiny. Khelif will take home at least a bronze after defeating Anna Luca Hamori of Hungary.

• U.S. Men's Basketball remained undefeated, with Anthony Edwards scoring 26 points in a 104-83 victory over Puerto Rico. The Americans will face Brazil in the quarterfinals.

• Zheng Qinwen earned China’s first Olympic tennis singles gold with a win over Donna Vekic. Zheng’s victory is a significant milestone in her career.

• Men’s Golf saw Xander Schauffele and Jon Rahm tie for the lead. With a strong showing, Schauffele and Rahm lead the leaderboard heading into the final round.

• U.S. Women’s Soccer advanced to the semifinals after a 1-0 win over Japan, with Trinity Rodman scoring the decisive goal.

• Vincent Hancock of the U.S. won his fourth Olympic gold in men’s skeet shooting, besting his student Conner Prince.

• Nino Salukvadze, a 10-time Olympian from Georgia, announced her retirement. Salukvadze, who competed in her final Games in honor of her late father, leaves behind a remarkable legacy.