Paris Olympics 2024: Meet the First Gold Medalist

The first medals of the Paris Olympics have been awarded, but not within the French capital.

PARIS, France — China’s athletes claimed the inaugural golds of the Paris Olympics, triumphing far from the main venues.

Competing at the Olympic shooting range in Châteauroux, a three-hour drive from Paris, Huang Yuting and Sheng Lihao secured the gold medal in the 10-meter air rifle mixed team event.

The pair established an early lead against South Korea’s Keum Jihyeon and Park Hajun and maintained their advantage, ultimately winning 16-12.

This victory marks China’s second consecutive gold in this event, following their win in Tokyo when Yang Qian and Yang Haoran captured the medal in its Olympic debut.

Earlier in the day, Kazakhstan’s Alexandra Le and Islam Satpayev claimed the first medals of the games, securing bronze against Germany’s Anna Janssen and Maximilian Ulbrich with a 17-5 victory.

China’s dominance continued as Chang Yani and Chen Yiwen won gold in the women’s synchronized 3-meter springboard, shortly after the air rifle event concluded.

Team USA’s Sarah Bacon and Kassidy Cook earned the country’s first medal with a silver in the synchronized diving event, scoring 314.64 points. Great Britain’s Yasmin Harper and Scarlett Mew Jensen captured bronze with a score of 302.28 points.