US tops medal table on Games’ last gold
PARIS—The United States pipped China for top spot in the battle of medals on Sunday 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 United States women’s basketball team squeezed past France 67-66 to clinch the last gold of the Games.
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.
The USA however finished on top of the overall medal table with a total of 126 medals, with China in second place on 91.
With the last of the medals handed out, attention turned to Sunday’s closing ceremony spectacular at Stade de France.
Sunday’s final day began with a gripping women’s marathon victory by the Netherlands’ long-distance running star Sifan Hassan.
Hassan had taken on what many considered to be a crazy gamble in Paris, competing in the 5,000 meters, the 10,000 m and the marathon—the last two events just two days apart.
But in a jaw-dropping sprint finish, Hassan overhauled Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa to take gold by three seconds in an Olympic record of 2:22:55.
On Friday she had taken bronze in the 10,000 m after coming away with a bronze in the 5,000 m.
She fell to the ground on the blue carpet in front of the golden dome of the Invalides memorial complex before grabbing a Dutch flag to celebrate.
“It was not easy,” said Hassan, 31. “It was so hot, but I was feeling OK. I’ve never pushed myself through to the finish line as I did today.
“Every moment in the race I was regretting that I ran the 5,000 m and 10,000 m. I was telling myself if I hadn’t done that, I would feel great today.
“From the beginning to the end, it was so hard. Every step of the way. I was thinking, ‘Why did I do that? What is wrong with me?’
Wrestling, weightlifting, water polo, volleyball, modern pentathlon, handball and track cycling were the other sports to crown Olympic champions on the last day.
In weightlifting, China’s jubilant Li Wenwen lifted her coach into the air instead of the bar, having already secured gold.
