The US on Sunday beat China to take the top spot in the battle of medals as Paris prepared to bring the curtain down on one of the most successful Olympic Games in history.
In a thrilling finale that capped 17 days of spellbinding action, the US women’s basketball team squeezed past France 67-66 to clinch the last gold of the Olympics.
GOLD TALLY
Photo: AP
The win — the eighth consecutive Olympic women’s basketball won by the USA — ensured the Americans finished level with China on 40 golds each as the games drew to a close.
Incredibly, China won all eight golds handed out at the Olympic Aquatics Centre.
However, the US finished on top of the overall medal table with a total of 126 medals, with China in second place on 91.
At the Tokyo Games, the US also edged China in the medal count, finishing with 113 overall and 39 golds, compared with 89 medals with 38 gold for China.
OTHER NATIONS
Japan placed third in the contest for most gold medals with 20 golds among its 45 medals.
Australia were fourth with 18 golds among 53 medals, while fifth-place France won 16 golds among its 64 medals.
Britain got 65 medals, placing third for total medals won, but had 14 golds and was seventh overall behind the Netherlands with 15 golds.
Taiwan won seven medals: two golds and five bronzes.
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