NANTERRE, France (AP) — In a matter of days, the U.S. women’s water polo team went from the pursuit of a historic gold medal to going home empty-handed.
It was quite a fall.
The U.S. blew another lead and lost 11-10 to the Netherlands on Sabrina van der Sloot’s last-second goal in the bronze-medal game at the Paris Olympics.
They had been the only program to medal in each women’s water polo tournament at the Olympics since it started in 2000.
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United States’ Jordan Raney celebrates after scoring against Netherlands during the women’s bronze medal water polo match at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Paris. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno) -
United States’ Emily Mary Ausmus sits on the bench during the women’s bronze medal water polo match against Netherlands, at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno) -
United States’ Jenna Michelle Flynn celebrates after scoring against Netherlands during the women’s bronze medal water polo match at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Paris. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno) -
United States’ players react after loosing the women’s bronze medal water polo match against Netherlands at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno) -
United States’ Madeline Musselman reacts after loosing the women’s bronze medal water polo match against Netherlands at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno) -
United States’ head coach Adam Krikorian reacts after loosing the women’s bronze medal water polo match against Netherlands at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno) -
United States’ Jovana Secular sits on the bench during the women’s bronze medal water polo match against Netherlands, at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
The U.S. arrived at the Paris Games in search of an unprecedented fourth consecutive gold medal.
The rough finish in France underlined the difficulty of the program’s long run on top of the sport.
