Medal Count 2024 Olympics: Updated Standings, Highlights After Day 7

Olympic action continued in Paris on Friday, as the United States attempted to defend its lead in the total medal count.

The U.S. still holds a strong advantage in the overall count, although China extended its lead in gold medals by adding two more throughout competition during the morning as well as the early afternoon.

Several athletes received medals in events such as diving, shooting, sailing, trampoline gymnastics, and archery. Other events throughout the day included basketball, discus, handball, swimming, water polo, beach volleyball, fencing, table tennis, and badminton.

Here's a closer look at the latest medal standings and some highlights from Friday's competition.

Updated Medal Standings

Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 02: Gold Medalists Long Daoyi and Wang Zongyuan of Team People's Republic of China pose following the Diving medal ceremony after the Men's Synchronised 3m Springboard Final on day seven of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Aquatics Centre on August 02, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Friday's Updated Overall Medal Standings

1. United States - 43 Total (9 Gold, 18 Silver, 16 Bronze)

2. France - 36 Total (11 Gold, 12 Silver, 13 Bronze)

3. China - 31 Total (13 Gold, 9 Silver, 9 Bronze)

4. Great Britain - 27 Total (9 Gold, 10 Silver, 8 Bronze)

5. Australia - 21 Total (10 Gold, 6 Silver, 5 Bronze)

6. Japan - 18 Total (8 Gold, 4 Silver, 6 Bronze)

7. Italy - 17 Total (5 Gold, 8 Silver, 4 Bronze)

8. South Korea - 16 Total (7 Gold, 5 Silver, 4 Bronze)

Full medal standings via Olympics.com.

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Remaining Friday Schedule

4 p.m. ET

Beach Volleyball Women's Pool Play: United States vs. Germany (NBC)

4:05 p.m. ET

3x3 Basketball Men's Pool Play: Serbia vs. Poland

4:08 p.m. ET

Boxing Men's 92kg Quarterfinals

4:35 p.m. ET

3x3 Basketball Men's Pool Play: United States vs. China

Greece, Canada Record Big Wins in Men's Basketball

SAMEER AL-DOUMY/AFP via Getty Images

Greece's #34 Giannis Antetokounmpo celebrates after scoring in the men's preliminary round group A basketball match between Australia and Greece during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Pierre-Mauroy stadium in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, northern France, on August 2, 2024. (Photo by Sameer Al-Doumy / AFP) (Photo by SAMEER AL-DOUMY/AFP via Getty Images)

As the United States' men's team prepares to conclude group play action on Saturday, some of their potential future opponents picked up impressive victories on Friday.

After Greece narrowly qualified for its first men's basketball Olympic appearance since 2008, the team is now on the verge of advancing to the knockout round following a 77-71 win over Australia.

Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo led the way with 20 points, shooting 73.0 percent from the field and connecting on one of his two attempts from behind the arc. He also added seven rebounds, two assists, and two steals.

After entering the day with a record of 0-2, a victory was required for Greece to stay alive. Now, Antetokounmpo and his teammates will need Serbia to defeat South Sudan by at least three points on Saturday in order to earn a superior point differential and advance to the knockout stage.

Although Canada already advanced beyond group play entering Friday, the team earned the top spot in Group A due to a narrow 88-85 victory against Spain. The Canadian team features NBA talent such as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jamal Murray, Andrew Nembhard, and R.J. Barrett.

Gilgeous-Alexander finished with a team-high 20 points, while Nembhard scored 18 of his own to go along with a 2-3 mark from three-point range.

While Canada and Greece don't share the same group as the United States, both teams could become formidable opponents for head coach Steve Kerr's group down the line.

Sha'Carri Richardson Impresses in Olympic Debut

Photo By Sam Barnes/Sportsfile via Getty Images

Paris , France - 2 August 2024; Sha'Carri Richardson of Team United States after winning her women's 100m round 1 heat at the Stade de France during the 2024 Paris Summer Olympic Games in Paris, France. (Photo By Sam Barnes/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Sha'Carri Richardson finally made her U.S. Olympic debut on Friday, and she didn't disappoint.

Richardson, the reigning world champion, recorded a time of 10.94 seconds during the first round of the women's 100-meter dash. She won her heat and advanced to the semifinal round.

"To be at the Olympics is a phenomenal feeling, to be an athlete here, competing with the energy, with a great appreciation for track and field," Richardson said in an interview following her win (h/t ESPN's Coley Harvey). "Great support to be a track and field athlete. I'm super excited and eager to compete on the Olympic stage."

While her finish on Friday was a bit slower than her incredible 10.71-second time at the U.S. trials in June, she was still able to win and advance.

Richardson will be joined by fellow Team USA members Melissa Jefferson and Twanisha Terry in the semifinals, which begin on Saturday.

Katie Ledecky Eyes Another Gold to Extend Her Record

JONATHAN NACKSTRAND/AFP via Getty Images

US' Katie Ledecky reacts after competing in a heat of the women's 800m freestyle swimming event during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Paris La Defense Arena in Nanterre, west of Paris, on August 2, 2024. (Photo by Jonathan NACKSTRAND / AFP) (Photo by JONATHAN NACKSTRAND/AFP via Getty Images)

After winning gold in the women's 1,500-meter freestyle on Wednesday, Katie Ledecky advanced to the women's 800-meter freestyle finals on Friday.

Ledecky will be attempting to secure her fourth gold medal in the event, potentially joining swimming legend Michael Phelps as the only Olympic swimmers to win the same event four consecutive times. She earned her first 800-meter freestyle gold as a 15-year-old at the 2012 Games before standing on top of the podium in Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo.

Ledecky wrapped up a commanding win on Friday, finishing with the fastest time among the morning heats.

While Ledecky is aware of her pursuit of history, she's not paying too much attention to it and keeping her focus on her events.

"I try not to really think about it," she said, per Stephen Wade of the Associated Press. "Just taking it one event at a time and I know I have challenges in each of my events."

The eight-time Olympic gold medalist became the most decorated American woman in the history of the Games, and she'll have a strong chance to extend her record during Saturday's final.