Aanchal Varshney
It is the first time in 64 years that Team US has taken a gold medal to its home in the men’s four race at the Paris Olympics 2024. Michael Grady closed his eyes and did his best to hold his tears as he bent down, and bowed his head with a folded American flag under his right arm, with a pride of winning a gold after so long.
Team US Triumphant homecoming
Team USA hadn’t earned first place in the men’s four, a race where each team’s boat is steered by a team of four rowers, since 1960, Rome Olympics US has its first place for gold in the men’s four race.
The US won gold while holding off New Zealand, silver, and Great Britain’s bronze.
“I was trying to get back on my feet. There have been a lot of emotions that I’ve gone through my head already. A few tears almost came out,” Grady said. “I can say I held them back − not toxic masculinity or anything − but it’s an emotional moment to be able to represent the USA on the highest stage and walk away in the most successful position. Not a lot of people can say that.”
“It’s been a slow build, but to be here and finally do it”
Team US Olympians Nick Mead, Justin Best, Michael Grady and Liam Corrigan led from the beginning to finish to capture the gold. Only Grady was part of the men’s four at the Tokyo Olympics 2020, a rowing team that took fifth place in the same competition,
“They’re our superpower in the background. Since Tokyo we’ve both believed we could win this race,” Spoors said. “It’s been a slow build, but to be here and finally do it in front of them, I can’t believe it.”
The other three athletes Mead, Best, and Liam competed in the men’s eight, a similar competition involving an eight-person rowing team. All four have been rowing together for a little over a year after being selected for the Olympic team in March 2023.
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