By Mirek Zastavnyi

At the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, the U.S. team once again reaffirmed its dominance on the global sporting stage, securing first place in the overall medal standings. American athletes won 40 gold medals, tying China, but the United States pulled ahead in the overall medal standings thanks to a higher number of silver and bronze medals. The U.S. team achieved a total of 126 medals, the second-best performance in its history after the triumphant 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, where the U.S. team won 174 medals, including 83 gold.

Final medal table:

1. USA — 40 gold, 44 silver, 42 bronze (total 126)
2. China — 40 gold, 27 silver, 24 bronze (total 91)
3. Japan – 20 gold, 12 silver, 13 bronze (total 45)
4. Australia – 18 gold, 19 silver, 16 bronze (total 53)
5. France — 16 gold, 26 silver, 22 bronze (total 64)

Exciting last week of team competitions

The final week of the Olympic Games was packed with exciting team competitions, especially in basketball.

Women’s basketball:

The USA team showed its strength from the start and defeated Nigeria in the quarter-finals with 88:74. In the semi-finals, the Americans then easily defeated Australia with 85:64. The final against host France was nerve-wracking, with the USA winning 67:66 and thus taking the gold medal.

Men’s basketball:

The US men’s team also had a number of exciting duels to play. In the quarterfinals, they comfortably defeated Brazil 122-87. The semifinal against Serbia was a real test. After trailing by 15 points at the end of the third quarter, veterans LeBron James and Stephen Curry led a comeback to secure a 95-91 victory. In the final, the US team defeated France 98-87, with Stephen Curry named MVP after his three-point series. This victory was the 17th Olympic title for the US men’s basketball team and their fifth gold medal in a row. Kevin Durant set a new Olympic record by becoming the first and only male basketball player to win four gold medals in a row from 2012 to 2024.

Men’s football

The gold medal match in men’s football at the 2024 Olympic Games was a real thriller. Host nation France started strongly, taking a 1-0 lead in the 11th minute. However, Spain showed great character and turned the game around before halftime to win 3-1. The French team fought back and equalized before the end of regulation time, forcing extra time. In extra time, Spain proved to be the stronger team, scoring two goals to secure the gold medal. This victory cemented Spain’s dominant year in football, as they also won the European Championship title with both the senior and U-19 teams.

Women’s football:

In a hard-fought semifinal, the U.S. women’s soccer team defeated Germany 1-0. The final was just as challenging, but the Americans prevailed, defeating Brazil 1-0 to secure their fifth Olympic gold, more than any other women’s soccer team in history. This remarkable achievement underscores the U.S.’s dominance in women’s soccer.

These outstanding performances further cement the U.S. team’s status as a sports superpower. Finishing first in the overall medal count at the 2024 Olympics is further evidence of the continued excellence of American athletes. From swimming to team sports, the U.S. demonstrated unparalleled skill and an indomitable spirit, setting a global standard for athletic achievement.

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