As the 2024 Paris Olympics got underway on July 27, China and Australia dominated the early medal standings. China grabbed the first two gold medals in shooting and diving, while Australia secured outstanding swimming victories, setting the tone for the opening of the Games(Globedge).
China’s Early Supremacy in Shooting & Diving
- In the first gold medal event of the Games the 10 m mixed air rifle team China’s Huang Yuting (17) and Sheng Lihao (19) emerged victorious with a 16‑12 win over South Korea. As reigning world champions, they were penal favorites and did not disappoint. This marked China’s first gold of the 2024 Games (The Star, AP News).
- Shortly after, Chinese divers Chang Yani and Chen Yiwen clinched gold in the women’s synchronized 3 m springboard, with a score of 337.68 points reinforcing China’s longstanding dominance in Olympic diving (BSS).
These wins reaffirmed China’s strength in precision sports, and lifted their early medal tally dramatically. By midweek, China had booked several golds across shooting and diving disciplines, positioning them at the top of the leaderboard (WGCU PBS)
Australia’s Swimming Surge
- On the first full competition day, Australia made a splash in the pool:
- Ariarne Titmus dominated the women’s 400 m freestyle, leading start to finish and beating U.S. legend Katie Ledecky and Canada’s Summer McIntosh (Voice of America).
- In the women’s 4 × 100 m freestyle relay, Australia’s quartet of Mollie O’Callaghan, Shayna Jack, Emma McKeon, and Meg Harris delivered an Olympic record swimming time of 3:28.92, outpacing the U.S. and claiming Australia’s second gold of the day. China took bronze in that event (Voice of America).
These victories gave Australia 2 of the 3 available golds in swimming, signaling early momentum against their American rivals (The Guardian).
Significance of the Early Wins
- China’s Focused Strategy: Relying heavily on its powerhouse shooting and diving programs, China rapidly secured multiple golds maintaining consistency across editions. Their first medals came from events outside Paris proper, in a remote shooting range in Châteauroux, yet set the tone for medal dominance (BSS).
- Australia’s Relay Strength: Australia’s performances showcased depth in women’s freestyle swimming solidifying their status as a global force in relays and distance pool events, continuing a legacy of excellence in the sport (Reuters, Wikipedia).
Summary Table
| Country | Event | Medal | Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | Mixed 10 m air rifle shooting | Gold | Huang Yuting & Sheng Lihao |
| China | Women’s synchronized diving | Gold | Chang Yani & Chen Yiwen |
| Australia | Women’s 400 m freestyle | Gold | Ariarne Titmus dominates field |
| Australia | Women’s 4×100 m freestyle | Gold | Olympic-record relay win |
Broader Olympic Implications
China’s early golds reinforced its quiet yet formidable presence in precision disciplines, laying the groundwork for a potential medal haul. Meanwhile, Australia’s pool performances proved timely and strategic setting them up as clear challengers to the United States in the early medal race.
While China has tended to accumulate medals from diving and shooting, swimming golds remained sparse this time Australia and the U.S. dominated pool events. The Games had only just begun, but these early results hinted at a tight competition among leading nations across sports.
Conclusion
On Day 1 of Paris 2024, China led the gold rush with precision and diving honors, while Australia showcased swimming prowessdelivering two powerful relay and freestyle victories. These early successes underscored deep foundations in specialized sports and foreshadowed a fiercely contested medal table in the weeks ahead.
