Tokyo Olympics: China’s gold medal haul hailed despite USA stealing bragging rights
- China equals the 2012 London haul of 38 gold medals and its ‘best achievement in an overseas Olympics’
- USA wins three golds on final day of competition as China draws a rare blank
China, who had led the medal table for 11 straight days, were pipped at the post by the USA when Chinese athletes failed to win a gold medal on the final day. Team USA finished with 39 gold, 41 silver and 33 bronze medals, against China’s 38 gold, 32 silver and 18 bronze.
“We are thrilled by the performance of Team USA – and couldn’t be more proud of the way they carried themselves,” said Susanne Lyons, chair of the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee. “These Games are one for the history books.”
The Chinese delegation hailed the result as the “best achievement in an overseas Olympics”, equalling the 2012 London Olympics.
Three gold medals for the US on the final day of the Games – from the women’s basketball team, the women’s volleyball team and an unlikely victory for track cyclist Jennifer Valente in the omnium – tipped the balance for the USA, which had finished top of the medal table in five of the last six Games.
