The United States has finished at the top of the Olympic medal standings in Paris, securing an impressive total of 126 medals, including 40 gold. The competition for gold medals, which many nations view as the ultimate achievement, was fierce, ultimately resulting in a tie between the U.S. and China, both claiming 40 gold medals each. China followed closely behind with 91 overall medals, solidifying its position as America’s primary rival in the Summer Games.
Conversely, Russia, once a dominant force in both Summer and Winter Olympics, had a minimal presence in Paris, competing with only about 15 athletes and registering very few medals.
The U.S. achieved its success through standout performances in swimming and track. American swimmers, led by Katie Ledecky and Torri Huske, amassed 28 medals, including 8 gold in the pool. On the track, the American athletes outperformed, winning a total of 34 medals, with 14 being gold. These two sports alone contributed to nearly half of the total medal count for the U.S.
In contrast, China earned most of its gold medals from diving (8), shooting (5), table tennis (5), and wrestling (5), showcasing the differing sporting strengths of the two countries.
Additionally, the host nation France excelled in the Games, highlighted by young swimmer Léon Marchand, who earned four gold and one bronze medal. France’s overall medal total reached 64, including 16 gold medals.
Australia also exceeded expectations, winning 53 medals, 18 of which were gold, despite its smaller population of 26 million. This achievement places Australia in a unique position regarding medal performance per capita.
A noteworthy mention from this Olympics is the International Olympic Committee’s team of refugee athletes representing displaced individuals worldwide. Among them, Cindy Djanjeu Ngamba from Cameroon earned the team’s sole bronze medal in boxing.