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For the fourth consecutive time, the United States dominated the Summer Olympics and won the medal table.
This year, it was a bit closer than they expected, as Team USA tied with China for gold medals but won with more medals overall than any other nation.
This summer in Paris, American Olympic heroes, old and new, took to the pool, the mat, the track and beyond.
With their sights now set on Los Angeles in 2028, many of these peak athletes will have to make decisions about potential returns over the course of the next four years.
DailyMail.com takes a look at some of the most notable names on Team USA and what lies ahead for them.
Team USA impressed at Paris Olympics and again topped medal table
Simone Biles
If Simone Biles were to decide to compete in Los Angeles, she would defy all previously held age standards in gymnastics.
Again, we’re talking about Simone Biles.
At a time when the greatest of all time are competing long past their preconceived “expiration date” (see: Tom Brady, Lionel Messi, etc.), Biles competing in Los Angeles could break a major norm for gymnasts when it comes to their age.
But it’s unclear whether Biles will compete in the Games of the 34th Olympiad, and it will likely be some time before we hear an answer.
“Never say never,” Biles said. “The next Olympics are on home soil, so you never know. But I’m getting really old.”
In the meantime, she may be looking to start a family with husband Jonathan Owens, who the gymnast says “would have had them yesterday if I could have.”
He also has a tour of the United States planned and will likely spend some free time watching Owens compete in the NFL on Sundays.
These may well have been Simone Biles’ last Olympics if we’re going by gymnastics’ age standards, but she’s left the door open to a possible return to the mat in Los Angeles.
In the meantime, she could start a family with her husband and NFL player, Jonathan Owens.
Noah Lyles
After a somewhat disappointing Olympics that ended with “just” a gold medal in the 100 meters and a bout of COVID, some may feel that Noah Lyles’ grip on the sport has loosened.
He totally disagrees and says: NBC Insider Information‘I’ve made it clear that I’m the fastest man in the world… the titles of world champion and Olympic champion in the 100 metres belong to me. So, for the next four years, you’ll have to count on me.’
Lyles, who is sponsored by companies including Adidas, Red Bull and Omega, will continue to try to prosper on the track and raise the profile of his profession.
“I’m going to try to use my influence as much as possible to take the sport to new heights.”
Noah Lyles is the fastest man in the world after his gold medal in the 100 meters in Paris
Lyles now plans to ‘use my influence as much as possible to push the sport to new heights’
Katie Ledecky
Unsurprisingly, it has been a gruelling summer for the 14-time Olympic medallist. So after winning gold in the 1500m and 800m freestyle at the Paris Olympics, the 27-year-old has pledged to take a break from the pool at the end of 2024.
“I have no idea how long it’s going to be,” she said, as quoted by Yahoo! Sports. “I’m sure I’ll find my way back to the pool very soon.”
Ledecky, who has sponsorship deals with Adidas and swimwear giant TYR, also hopes to compete at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, when she will be 31. Of course, she still has some time to prepare for that.
“Right now, I’m taking it year by year,” Ledecky said. “I haven’t really thought much beyond this week, in terms of what my fall is going to look like, what my next year is going to look like… I don’t feel like I’m close to being done with my career in this sport yet.”
And although she hasn’t posted any information about her upcoming public appearances, fans might spot her watching the NHL’s New York Islanders, the hockey team owned by her uncle, Jon.
Swimming machine Katie Ledecky continued her dominance in the Paris pool
Ledecky took home gold in the 800m and 1500m freestyle, along with two other medals.
Sha’Carri Richardson
Richardson, who missed the Tokyo Games after failing a drug test for marijuana, made her Olympic debut count in Paris by taking gold in the 4x100m relay and a silver in the 100m final.
The Nike athlete was quick to capitalize on that success, announcing a collaboration on Thursday for a custom-designed wristband with “wearable fitness coach” brand Whoop.
She, like Lyles, will also be looking ahead to the next World Championships, which will take place in September 2025 in Tokyo.
Sha’Carri Richardson raced for gold after missing Tokyo Olympics due to drug test
Quincy Hall
Her comeback victory in the 400 meters inspired the nation and allowed the United States to take home another gold medal.
Quincy Hall became the first American since LaShawn Merritt in 2008 to take home a victory in the single-lap race.
At 30 when Los Angeles arrives, she could still be at the top of her game in 2028 and will look to build on her Tokyo momentum for the 2025 World Championships.
Quincy Hall’s victory in the 400 meters was the first American gold in the event since 2008.
Jordanian Chillies
The Olympic Games in Chile ended with a controversy that is still ongoing and that could take some time to resolve.
The gymnast was awarded bronze in the floor routine following an appeal over her difficulty score which saw her leap over two Romanian gymnasts to take third place.
But after Romania lodged a complaint, the IOC demanded that Chile return its third-place medal – and give it to Romania’s Ana Barbosu – saying the U.S. appeal arose outside the allowed time frame.
The U.S. team has rejected that claim and plans to appeal a ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport all the way to the Swiss Federal Supreme Court, so any potential medal awards may be on hold for now.
Jordan Chiles has a fight ahead to retain her bronze medal in floor exercises
Caeleb Dressel
A big decision rests on Caeleb Dressel’s shoulders after a disappointing Paris Games where he failed to win any individual medals.
He was the favourite in the 50m freestyle and 100m butterfly, but finished sixth in the first event and did not even make the final in the second.
Still, he left behind a gold medalist in the 4x100m freestyle relay and a silver medalist in the 4x100m medley relay.
Like Ledecky, Dressel will be 31 when the Summer Games return to Los Angeles and could still compete for the United States.
But, as he told USA Today, “I’ll take some time off, for sure. I haven’t been to the beach in a while. That sounds great.”
For Caeleb Dressel, the Paris Olympics were not as successful as he had hoped
