In the final medal standings of the Paris Olympics, the United States emerged victorious, securing a remarkable total of 126 medals, including 40 gold. The competition for the most prestigious gold medals was intense, resulting in a tie between the U.S. and China, both claiming forty golds. China finished with 91 overall medals, reinforcing its position as the U.S.’s main competitor in the Summer Games.
In stark contrast, Russia’s presence at the Olympics was minimal, with only about fifteen athletes participating and a negligible medal count.
The U.S. excelled primarily in swimming and track and field events. American swimmers, led by stars like Katie Ledecky and Torri Huske, amassed 28 medals, including 8 gold. Meanwhile, track athletes proved even more dominant, earning 34 medals with 14 of those being gold. Combined, these two disciplines accounted for nearly half of the total U.S. medal haul.
China’s gold medals diversified across various sports, including diving (8 gold), shooting (5 gold), table tennis (5 gold), and wrestling (5 gold), showcasing their strength in different areas compared to the U.S.
The host nation, France, also performed impressively, winning a total of 64 medals, with 16 gold. A standout athlete was Léon Marchand, a young swimmer who claimed four gold medals and one bronze.
Australia also delivered a strong performance, securing 53 medals, including 18 gold, despite its smaller population of 26 million. This achievement ranks Australia highly on a per capita basis for medal acquisitions.
Additionally, the International Olympic Committee included a team of refugee athletes this year. Among them, Cindy Djanjeu Ngamba from Cameroon earned the team’s sole bronze medal in boxing.