Janice R. Andrews
Team USA achieved a historic first in the men’s four rowing event at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, winning the gold medal for the first time since 1960. The American team demonstrated their superiority throughout the exciting race, which took place on Thursday at the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium.
A crew of four rowers steers a boat in the men’s four race. This was a huge triumph for Team USA because they hadn’t won this competition since the 1960 Olympics in Rome. The current world champion British squad was greatly favored to win, however they lost the race due to a sluggish start.
Michael Grady, Liam Corrigan, Justin Best, and Nick Mead made up the winning American squad. The team finished sixth in the men’s four at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, with Grady being the only member who had competed. Mead, Best, and Corrigan were all past men’s eight competitors. After being chosen for the Olympic squad in March 2023, the quartet has been rowing together for a little more than a year.
From the start, the race was quite suspenseful. Team USA jumped off to an early lead, but Ollie Maclean, Logan Ullrich, Tom Murray, and Matt Macdonald from New Zealand put up a strong fight. The Americans made a huge run in the last 200 meters to earn their gold medal victory. In 5:49.03, Team USA finished the race narrowly in front of New Zealand, who earned second place. After a rocky start, the British team—which included Freddie Davidson, Matt Aldridge, David Ambler, and Oliver Wilkes—managed to secure bronze.
In addition to bringing an end to the United States’ 64-year gold medal drought in the men’s four, this triumph enhances the history of American rowing. The accomplishment is a credit to Mead, Best, Grady, and Corrigan’s perseverance in pursuing greatness as well as their hard work and devotion.
The Netherlands won gold and Britain took silver in other rowing events, with the U.S. women’s four team placing sixth. The way the Americans performed in these competitions demonstrated their spirit of competition and will to succeed internationally.
Team USA’s victory in the rowing competition will be seen as a historic moment as the Paris Olympics go on, motivating next rowers and competitors.
