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The United States took a step down the home stretch of the Olympics and managed to take first place in China’s gold medal count on the final day of competitions.
China led the tally 38-36 heading into the final matchday, but Team USA added three on Sunday to finish first. The United States also led the total number of medals with 113 total medals. The United States had a slow start to the game in Tokyo, but wins in a number of team sports helped push the national total past the finish line.
The US women’s volleyball team won their first-ever Olympic gold, beating Brazil 2 sets to 1 in the final, and the men’s and women’s basketball teams won their final to add to the number of medals .
American Sue Bird, right, and Diana Taurasi pose with their gold medals during the women’s basketball medal ceremony at the 2020 Summer Olympics on Sunday, August 8, 2021, in Saitama, in Japan. (AP Photo / Charlie Neibergall)
Perhaps the biggest wins have come in swimming and track and field: Caeleb Dressel joined the select squad of Mark Spitz, Matt Biondi and Michael Phelps as the only male swimmers to win five gold medals at the same Olympics , while female track and field athletes accumulate medals and records to an almost equal extent.
China had two chances to win gold and secure their place at the top of the standings, but missed a fourth place in rhythmic gymnastics and a silver medal in women’s boxing, The New York Times reported. .
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Host nation Japan put in a strong performance at the games. The country recorded its best ever gold medal ever, winning 27 competitions – far more than its previous best record of 16, which it first won in 1964 when Japan had already hosted the games and again in Athens in 2004.
Japan won three gold medals, for example, in the newly introduced skateboarding competitions, which the United States had been strongly urged to win.
Volunteers stand as the President of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach, delivers a speech during the closing ceremony at the Olympic Stadium for the 2020 Summer Olympics on Sunday, August 8, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo / David Goldman)
China only managed to dominate the rankings once when it hosted the games in 2008, but its grip was brief as it slipped to London in 2012 and Rio de Janeiro in 2016. Chinese athletes have also won gold medals in new competitions including cycling and rowing. , athletics and the newly introduced canoeing.
Before the weekend, China had a seven-medal lead while the United States had won just 31 gold medals. China finished the games with a total of 88 medals.
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The last time a non-host country beat America at the top of the gold medal table, it was the 1992 “unified team” of the former Soviet Union countries that won 45 gold medals. ‘gold against 37 for the United States, according to Forbes.
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The games ended on Sunday with a closing ceremony which ended with the IOC President Thomas Bach raising the French flag, signifying the transition to Paris in 2024. France won 10 medals from gold and 33 medals in total in Tokyo.
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