PARIS – It’ll be easy to keep track of the U.S. boxing team’s medals from the 2024 Paris Olympics. There will be just one. A bronze belonging to U.S. boxer Omari Jones.
Jones, 21, sought gold but squandered that chance Tuesday night, losing to Uzbekistan’s Asadkhuja Muydinkhujaev in the semifinals of the men’s welterweight division. He lost on points by split decision, 3-2.
It was a disappointing showing for the U.S. boxing team, which once dominated the Olympics with the likes of Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard and Oscar De La Hoya.
The Americans’ struggles are symbolized by a drought: The last U.S. male boxer to win a Olympic gold was Andre Ward in 2004. Claressa Shields was the last U.S. woman boxer to win golds, in 2012 and 2016.
This year, Jahmal Harvey was thought to have the best chance to end the men’s team drought. But Jones is the only boxer who even reached the semifinals, securing a bronze.
In Olympic boxing, bronze medals are awarded to the losing semifinalists as part of the single-elimination format of the competition.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: USA’s Omari Jones wins bronze in boxing at Paris Olympics
