Who is the oldest USA athlete to win medal at Paris Olympics 2024?

The USA contingent ended the Paris Olympics 2024 with 40 gold medals.

Laura Kraut, a 58-year-old American equestrian, made headlines at the Paris Olympics 2024 as the oldest U.S. athlete to win medal in city of love. She participated in two horse-riding events: individual jumping and team jumping.

In the team jumping event, Kraut teamed up with fellow Americans McLain Ward and Karl Cook. Their task was to guide their horses over a series of obstacles as quickly as possible without knocking any down. The trio’s performance was impressive, earning them a silver medal. They completed the course in 229.90 seconds with only four mistakes, securing second place.

Kraut stood out as the only woman on the winner’s platform, with the gold medal team from Great Britain and the bronze medal team from France consisting entirely of men. This wasn’t unfamiliar territory for Kraut, as it marked her third time on the Olympic podium alongside teammate McLain Ward.

Also Read: Paris Olympics 2024: List of countries that won an Olympic medal for the first time

In her individual competition, Kraut also performed well, finishing 8th overall. To reach this position, she first had to qualify. In the qualifying round, she completed the course in 73.22 seconds with four mistakes, placing 27th. Notably, Kraut was the only woman in the top 20 riders, with the next highest-placing woman being 29-year-old Kim Emmen from the Netherlands, who finished 23rd.

Kraut’s Olympic journey spans over two decades. She made her debut at the 2000 Sydney Olympics with her horse Liberty. In 2008, she won her first Olympic gold medal in Beijing with her horse Cedric, alongside teammates McLain Ward, Beezie Madden, and Will Simpson.

Her second medal came at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where she won silver in team jumping with Ward and Jessica Springsteen. In Paris, she competed with her horse Baloutinue, the same partner from the Tokyo Games.

The 2024 Paris Olympics marked Kraut’s fourth Summer Games appearance. Her success at this age is particularly inspiring, especially considering her partner Nick Skelton’s achievements. Skelton won gold medals for Great Britain in team jumping at the 2012 London Olympics and individual jumping at the 2016 Rio Olympics, at ages 54 and 58 respectively.

Looking ahead, Kraut might set her sights on the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, where she could potentially compete for her second gold medal at the age of 62.

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