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Media Press Release

Young Team USA Athletes Top Medal Standings at 2024 Youth Olympic Games

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by USOPC

Team USA athletes posted inspiring and impressive results at the 2024 Youth Olympic Games in Gangwon, Korea, ending the competition at the top of the winter medal table for the first time in the event’s history. With 21 total medals, USA finished ahead of Germany with 20 and Italy with 18 to round out the top-3 of the 32 total national organizing committees that competed. The final medal count was achieved thanks to five gold medal finishes, 11 silver and five bronze. The athletes competed in venues previously utilized for the Pyeongchang Olympic Games in 2018 and were afforded the opportunity to compete at a high level, making memories to last a lifetime while representing the United States of America on the international stage.

The five gold medal performances came from Henry Townshend (men’s freeski slopestyle), Elizabeth Lemley (women’s dual moguls), Emily Lemley and Porter Huff (mixed team dual moguls), Sean Boxiiong Shuai (men’s 500m speed skating) and the men’s ice hockey team that included Xavier Wendt, JP Hurlbert, AJ Francisco, Jackson Marthaler, Shaeffer Gordon-Carroll, Cole Bumgarner, Spencer Thornborough, Mikey Berchild, Abe Barnett, Logan Lutner, Luke Schairer, Parker Trottier, Zane Torre, Aurelio Garcia, Tyler Martyniuk, Logan Stuart and Gavin Weeks.

“It’s electric," said A.J. Fransisco, who helped secure USA’s first ice hockey win of the event with his shootout goal. "It’s an experience you don’t get all the time so to battle in this big of a venue and see people filling the stands, it’s unreal and I’m really fortunate to have competed here.”

Maia and Alex Shibutani, siblings and American bronze medalists in ice dancing at the 2018 Olympic Games in Pyeongchang, returned to the country where they won their Olympic medals together to serve in ambassador roles and support the next generation during their competition experiences. Alex and Maia were seen around the venues in Korea cheering on athletes from all nations and fueling their Olympic dreams.

“It’s exciting to see so many young athletes taking advantage of this unique experience. These Games and venues specifically have special meaning to us. We were happy to be back here supporting the next generation of athletes. Being surrounded by athletes from all over the world and competing at this level is extremely valuable, and I hope this experience prepares them for future competitions and eventually the Olympics,” Alex said.

His sister, Maia, echoed his thoughts on the opportunity presented at the Youth Olympic Games for athletes: “The Youth Olympic Games is such a special experience for these young athletes. Meeting Team USA athletes from different sports and building relationships is a rare opportunity. I hope they take these friendships and memories with them as they continue on in their careers.  

Youth Olympic Games athletes ranging in age from 13 to 18 competed in in alpine skiing, cross country skiing, freeski, freestyle dual moguls, snowboard, ski jumping, Nordic combined, ice hockey, biathlon, bobsled, skeleton, curling, luge and speedskating over 13 total days of competition across 13 days of competition.  

The delegation of 101 athletes hailing from 26 states, led by Colorado with 17 representatives,were a part of the largest contingent of Team USA athletes at a Winter Youth Olympic Games since the event’s inception.

The Games provides an opportunity for young, standout athletes to compete in elite environments and prepare future Olympic hopefuls. The YOG concept was created by the International Olympic Committee to inspire young people around the world to participate in sport and adopt the principles of Olympism.  

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