PARIS — Everywhere you looked at the 2024 Paris Games, Americans dominated. Team USA sent by far the most athletes. Hordes of stars-and-stripes-clad tourists made the trip across the Atlantic. And celebrities like Snoop Dogg and Lady Gaga became the Games’ cultural icons.There is one crucial metric in which the U.S. did not smash the competition, however: gold medals.With all the events completed, China tied Team USAin the medal table, with 40 golds. (While the American news media typically goes on total medals, most of the rest of the world, including Paris 2024’s official count, bases its table on golds won.)Whereas Team USA has focused on athletics and swimming, China majors in diving, table tennis, weightlifting, shooting and badminton. In fact, around a fifth of China’s 302 golds since 1984 have come in diving. This year was no different, with China winning every diving gold available.“I’m very proud of China and all the gold medals it has won,” said Fang Zheng, 30, a Chinese stud...
