California's Fab 14 Olympians win gold medals at 2024 Olympic Games in Paris

California athletes, by far the most represented at the 2024 Summer Olympics with 145, didn’t disappoint

Aug 8, 2024; Paris Saint-Denis, France; Tara Davis-Woodhall (USA) celebrates after winning the womenís long jump final during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Stade de France. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports / John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

The Golden State came up with gold 14 times in Paris over the last two weeks. 

California athletes, by far the most represented at the 2024 Summer Olympics with 145 — the next highest total among U.S. states was Texas and Florida with 47 each — didn’t disappoint. 

READ: State-by-state list with most participants

Some of the names, because of the popularity of their sports, are well known. Others made a name for themselves in Paris. All brought home gold for the U.S.

The following is a list those 14 gold medalist from California, the sport they prevailed, and a brief bio of what they did in high school.  

Tierna Davidson, women's soccer

Jul 25, 2024; Nice, France; Barbra Banda of Zambia in action with Tierna Davidson of United States in a women's Group B match during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Allianz Riviera. Mandatory Credit: Raquel Cunha/Reuters via USA TODAY Sports / Reuters-USA TODAY Sports

Won two Central Coast Section titles for Sacred Heart Prep of Atherton, where she graduated from in 2016. She was two-time West Bay Athletic League Most Valuable Midfielder

Tara Davis-Woodhall, women’s track and field

Aug 8, 2024; Saint-Denis, FRANCE; Tara Davis-Woodhall (USA) in the women's long jump final during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Stade de France. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports / Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Winner of the long jump at 7.10 meters (23 feet, 3 inches), Davis-Woodhall (then Davis) had a brilliant career at Agoura. She finished it off winning three state titles in 2017 — the 100 meter hurdles (12.83), a state-record 22-1 in the long jump, breaking the mark of another Olympian, Marion Jones, and the triple jump (42-11¾), her second straight triple jump mark.   

Amit Elor, women’s wrestling

Aug 6, 2024; Paris, France; Amit Elor (USA) celebrates her win over Meerim Zhumanazarova (Kyrgyzstan) in the gold medal match during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Champ-de-Mars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sarah Phipps-USA TODAY Sports / Sarah Phipps-USA TODAY Sports

The 2022 College Park High School graduate won the 68 kg (150 pounds) freestyle championship in Paris. Going into the Olympics, she had not lost an international match in any age group since 2019, while compiling a 37-0 record. She won the 2019 CIF State 150-pound division as a freshman, pinning her opponent in the finals in 29 seconds. 

Naomi Girma, women’s soccer

Aug 10, 2024; Paris, France; United States defender Naomi Girma (4) watches the ball against Brazil during the second half in the women's soccer gold medal match during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Parc des Princes. Mandatory Credit: Yukihito Taguchi-USA TODAY Sports / Yukihito Taguchi-USA TODAY Sports

The former Stanford star center fullback graduated in 2018 from Pioneer, where she was captain for three years and league MVP as a sophomore. 

Chelsea Gray, women’s basketball

Aug 9, 2024; Paris, France; United States guard Chelsea Gray (8) in action against Australia in a women's basketball semifinal game during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Accor Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sarah Phipps-USA TODAY Sports / Sarah Phipps-USA TODAY Sports

Gray was a McDonald’s All-American from St. Mary’s-Stockton in 2010 and four-time All-State point guard before a four-year career at Duke. Led St. Mary’s to a 34-1 record as a senior when she averaged 16 points. 6.1 assists, 5.1 steals and 4.2 rebounds per game. 

Jrue Holiday, men’s basketball

Jul 31, 2024; Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France; United States guard Jrue Holiday (12) dribbles against South Sudan shooting guard Peter Jok (14) in the fourth quarter during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Stade Pierre-Mauroy. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports / John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

Holiday was a 2008 McDonald’s All-American at Campbell Hall, where he averaged 25.9 points, 11.2 rebounds, 6.9 assists and 4.8 assists as a senior, leading his team to a state D4 state title and 31-5 record. 

Sabrina Ionescu, women’s basketball

Aug 11, 2024; Paris, France; United States guard Sabrina Ionescu (6) celebrates after defeating France in the women's gold medal game during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Accor Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports / Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Ionescu was a McDonald’s All-American (the game MVP) in 2016 from Miramonte, where she led her team to a 119-9 record over four seasons while scoring a school-record 2,606 points to go along with career bests in assists (769), steals (549) and triple-doubles (21). 

Catarina Macario, women’s soccer

Jun 1, 2024; Commerce City, Colorado, USA; USA womens national midfielder Catarina Macario (11) controls the ball against Korea Republic midfielder Ji Soyun (10) in the first half at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports / Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Broke the Torrey Pines High School mark for most goals (34 in 23 games) in 2014, when she earned first-team All-SDS honors

Jenna Nighswonger, women’s soccer

Jun 4, 2024; St. Paul, Minnesota, USA; US Women’s National Team defender Jenna Nighswonger (3) shoots the ball as Korea Republic midfielder Kang Chaerim (23) defends at Allianz Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports / Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports

A December of 2018 graduate of Huntington Beach, Nighswonger left school early to play for the U.S. Soccer Development Academy. She was the team's MVP in 2016 the same year Huntington Beach won the Sunset League championships. Was a national team member for U14, U16, U17, U18, U19, U20 and U23.

Kelsey Plum, women’s basketball

Aug 11, 2024; Paris, France; United States guard Kelsey Plum (5) celebrates with guard Sabrina Ionescu (6) and forward Kahleah Copper (7) after defeating France in the women's gold medal game during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Accor Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports / Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Plum earned a spot on the McDonald’s All-American team from La Jolla Country Day in 2013 when she was the Cal-Hi Sports’ Player of the Year. She had 2,247 points, 677 rebounds, 381 assists and 370 steals in her career, leading LJCD to a 103-22 record and state D4 title in 2012. 

Trinity Rodman, women’s soccer

Aug 10, 2024; Paris, France; United States forward Trinity Rodman (5) heads the ball against Brazil forward Adriana (9) during the second half in the women's soccer gold medal match during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Parc des Princes. Mandatory Credit: Yukihito Taguchi-USA TODAY Sports / Yukihito Taguchi-USA TODAY Sports

The daughter of former NBA champion Dennis Rodman, Trinity attended both JSerra Catholic and Corona del Mar. She committed to play collegiately at UCLA, followed her older brother DJ to Washington State but never played a college match due to the pandemic and turned professional.  

Diana Taurasi, women’s basketball

Aug 11, 2024; Paris, France; United States shooting guard Diana Taurasi (12) celebrates after defeating France in the women's gold medal game during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Accor Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-USA TODAY Sports / James Lang-USA TODAY Sports

Considered one of the sport’s All-Time greats, Taurasi graduated from Don Lugo High School in Chino in 2000, when she won the Los Angeles Times’ Cheryl Miller Award for being the best player in Southern California. She finished with 3,047 career prep points. 

Jennifer Valente, women’s cycling track team

Aug 11, 2024; Montigny-le-Bretonneux, France; Jennifer Valente of Team United States celebrates after winning the women’s omnium points race during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Vélodrome National de Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines. Mandatory Credit: Andrew P. Scott-USA TODAY Sports / Andrew P. Scott-USA TODAY Sports

A 2017 graduate of Cathedral Catholic, Valente repeated as champion in the Omnium, a grueling one-day event. It was her fifth medal of any color over three Summer Games. No woman from the country has as many.

Lynn Williams, women’s soccer

Jul 25, 2024; Nice, France; Lynn Williams of United States in action against Zambia in a women's Group B match during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Allianz Riviera. Mandatory Credit: Raquel Cunha/Reuters via USA TODAY Sports / Reuters-USA TODAY Sports

One of the most experienced players on the team, Williams set the Bullard-Fresno High school scoring record with 117 career goals over four seasons.