Paris Olympics: USA pips China to top medal table despite gold tie, India 71st

The United States of America topped the medal table in the Paris Olympics, edging past arch-rivals China by a whisker. USA were a gold medal behind China's tally of 40 until the final competition of the Paris Games -- the women's basketball final between the United States and France. Thanks to the women's basketball team, the Americans continued their streak of topping the medal table for the fourth successive time.

It was a fitting end to the Games as USA beat France 67-66 in a thriller that went down to the wire. The USA completed a basketball double in Paris.

USA topped the medal table with 126 medals, including 40 gold medals, 44 silver medals and 42 bronze medals. China, on the other hand, ended the Games with 91 medals, including 40 Gold medals. China last topped the medal table in Beijing in 2008 with 48 gold medals, 12 more than the USA.

While China dominated the pool events, including diving, artistic swimming, and the likes of table tennis and weightlifting, the USA showcased its might in the track and field events, winning as many as 14 gold medals, 11 silver medals and 9 bronze medals. The Americans also dominated the pool, winning a total of 28 medals,



including eight gold medals.

India finished in 71st spot with 6 medals, including five bronze and a silver. India might add one more to their tally as Vinesh Phogat, who reached the final of the women's 50kg wrestling, challenged her disqualification in the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Vinesh was disqualified for being 100 grams overweight during the weigh-in on the day of the final. Pakistan finished at the 62nd spot, winning their first gold medal at the Games in 44 years. Arshad Nadeem finished on the top step of the podium in the men's javelin final.

Japan finished third with 45 medals, including 20 golds, as they proved pre-Olympics predictions wrong. Japan finished third in the Tokyo Olympics at home with 27 gold medals.

Nielsen's Gracenote Sports, a portal that supplies statistical analytics for sports leagues across the world, had predicted Great Britain to make it to the top three and Japan to win only half of the gold medals that they won at home three years ago.

Great Britain ended seventh with 14 gold medals while Australia finished in the top four, winning 18 gold medals. Hosts France completed the top 5 with 16 gold medals.