Midland native and Team U.S.A. track and field member Bryce Hoppel’s quest for gold at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris fell short by three places on August 10 as he finished fourth in the men’s 800-meter final.
Despite not returning home with a medal, Hoppel is still an immense source of pride to his hometown, according to a Facebook post shared by the Midland city government following the race.
The event took place at 7:05 p.m. Paris time/12:05 p.m. Central time. Back in Midland, the Diamond Club at Momentum Bank Ballpark, located at 5514 Champions Dr., served as a venue for a watch party for Hoppel, who attended and ran for Midland High School and the University of Kansas (KU).
Permian Basin stations KMID News and KPEJ News reported that the six-foot-tall, 26-year-old athlete clocked a time of 1:41.67, which was both a personal best and a new U.S. record.
According to the stations, Hoppel earned the distinction of being the fastest American in the 800-meter and the fourth-fastest in the world.
Reuters reported that 20-year-old Emmanuel Wanyonyi of Kenya emerged as the gold medal winner of the event, extending Kenya’s title streak in this race to five consecutive Olympic Games.
Wanyonyi won his first Olympic accolade with a time of one minute and 41.19 seconds, according to Reuters.
The Paris Olympiad, which was Hoppel’s second Olympic Games, concludes on August 11.