US tops Paris Olympics medals table at closing, edging out China
A Paris 2024 Olympic Games gold medal is seen on display with Paralympic Games gold and silver medals at Chaumet jewellery. PHOTO: REUTERS
The United States topped the medals table at the Paris Olympics with 40 golds after the final title was decided on Sunday, finishing above China only by virtue of their 44 silvers.
China, who were the last team apart from the US to top the standings when they did it on home soil at the 2008 Beijing Games, also won 40 golds but managed only 27 silvers.
The US women's basketball team secured their country's pre-eminence by edging host nation France in a breathless finish to win the final gold of the Games. The US also won the most total medals with 126 to China's 91.
France won 16 golds to finish fifth on the table and their total tally of 64 medals was their best for more than a century.
Medals Table:
| Team | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 United States | 40 | 44 | 42 | 126 |
| 2 China | 40 | 27 | 24 | 91 |
| 3 Japan | 20 | 12 | 13 | 45 |
| 4 Australia | 18 | 19 | 16 | 53 |
| 5 France | 16 | -- | -- | 64 |
| 62 Pakistan | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Pakistan secured one gold medal, finishing 62nd on the medals table with a total tally of one.