Sunday, August 11, 2024, marked the final day of the Paris 2024 Olympics. Every participating nation fought until the very end to bring home medals for their country. Approximately 10,500 athletes from 206 nations worldwide competed, striving to give their best for their countries.
The medal tally began on the first day of the Paris 2024 Olympics. As of August 11, 2024, at 22:48 (local time), the United States emerged as the overall champion of the 2024 Olympics with 126 medals (40 Gold, 44 Silver, and 42 Bronze). China followed closely with 91 medals (40 Gold, 27 Silver, and 24 Bronze), and Japan secured third place with 45 medals (20 Gold, 12 Silver, and 13 Bronze).
Southeast Asia was also well-represented in the Paris 2024 Olympics, with 11 countries from the region sending approximately 182 athletes to compete. Five countries from Southeast Asia managed to secure medals during the event. The Philippines was the first Southeast Asian nation to win a medal, followed by Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore.
Read also: Paris 2024 Olympics Kick Off: How Many Southeast Asian Athletes Are Competing?
The Paris Olympics this year witnessed numerous records, historical moments, and unique stories worthy of discussion. Among the five Southeast Asian countries that won medals, who were the athletes that brought glory to their nations? And what medals did they win? Let’s take a closer look below.
Philippines
The Philippines ranked 37th in the medal standings at the Paris 2024 Olympics. The country won a total of four medals (2 Gold and 2 Bronze) across two sports, Artistic Gymnastics and Boxing. In Artistic Gymnastics, Carlos Adriel Yulo secured both gold medals for the Philippines in the Men's Floor Exercise and Men's Vault events.
In Boxing, the Philippines won two Bronze medals: Aira Villegas in the Women's 50 kg category and Nesthy Petecio in the Women's 75 kg category. With a total of four medals, the Philippines became the top-performing Southeast Asian nation in the medal standings.
Indonesia
Indonesia once again claimed several medals at the Paris 2024 Olympics, thanks to the relentless efforts of its athletes. The first medal was won by Gregoria Mariska Tunjung in Badminton, in the women's singles category. She secured the bronze medal after advancing to the bronze medal match, where she was scheduled to face Carolina Marin. However, Carolina Marin suffered an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury, which prevented her from competing, allowing Gregoria Mariska Tunjung to win her first Olympic bronze medal.
In other sports, Indonesia secured two gold medals through Veddriq Leonardo and Rizki Juniansyah. Veddriq Leonardo won the gold medal in Sport Climbing in the Men's Speed event, setting a new record with a time of 4.75 seconds. This was a historic achievement for Indonesia, as it marked the country’s first-ever Olympic medal in sports climbing. Meanwhile, Rizki Juniansyah won a gold medal for Indonesia in Weightlifting, lifting a total of 199 kg and setting a new Olympic Record.
Read also: Kunlavut Vitidsarn: Making History for Thai Badminton at the Paris 2024 Olympics
Thailand
Thailand, the Southeast Asian country with the most athletes at the Paris 2024 Olympics, sent a total of 51 athletes. Thailand secured six medals (1 Gold, 3 Silver, and 2 Bronze). The gold medal was won by Panipak Wongpattanakit in Taekwondo, in the Women's 49 kg category.
In addition, Thailand won three silver medals in two sports: Badminton and Weightlifting. In Badminton, Kunlavut Vitidsarn won his first Olympic silver medal in the men's singles category, marking Thailand's first-ever Olympic medal. The other two silver medals were won in Weightlifting, with Theerapong Silachai in the Men's 61 kg category and Weeraphon Wichuma in the Men's 73 kg category.
Thailand also won two bronze medals, one in Boxing and the other in Weightlifting. In Boxing, Jajaem Suwannapheng won a bronze medal in the Women's 66 kg category. In Weightlifting, Surochadna Khambao won a bronze medal in the Women's 49 kg category.
Malaysia
Malaysia won two bronze medals at the Paris 2024 Olympics, both in Badminton, the country’s top sport. Malaysia sent 26 athletes to the Paris 2024 Olympics, and its Badminton players secured bronze medals in the men's singles and men's doubles categories.
In the men's singles, Lee Zii Jia won the bronze medal after defeating Sen Lakshya in the bronze medal match, with a final score of 2-1 in favor of Lee Zii Jia. In the men's doubles, Chia Aaron and Soh Wooi Yik also won a bronze medal after defeating the Danish pair of Astrup Kim and Rasmussen Anders Skaarup in the bronze medal match, with a final score of 2-1 for Malaysia.
Read also: Let's Meet Southeast Asia's First Olympic Gold Medallist in History!
Singapore
Singapore also made its mark in the final days of the Paris 2024 Olympics, becoming one of the countries to win a medal at the event. Singapore, which sent 23 athletes to the Olympics, secured a bronze medal in Sailing in the Men's Kite event, won by Maximilian Maeder. He earned his place on the Paris 2024 Olympic medal tally with this bronze medal win.
Meanwhile, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam were unable to secure medals at the Paris 2024 Olympics. There is still hope for these nations to continue striving and to achieve success at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
