USA top medal table as American women strike gold on final day
Gold medals in volleyball, basketball and track cycling on Sunday meant the United States toppled China from their perch at Tokyo 2020 on the final day.
The United States finished top of the Tokyo Olympics medal table after a stunning run of success from their elite women on the final day of competition.
Triumphs in basketball, volleyball and track cycling saw Team USA move to 39 gold medals for the Games, pipping China at the post.
China finished with 38 golds, meaning that for the third successive Olympics it is the United States who hold sway on the medals front.
The all-conquering women's basketball team were 90-75 winners over Japan in their final, landing gold for a seventh successive Olympics.
They last lost at the Games in 1992 at Barcelona and were never in danger of surrendering their undefeated streak since, as Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi each picked up the fifth gold medals of their remarkable careers.
Jennifer Valente emerged victorious from the multi-race omnium cycling event at the Izu Velodrome, with the 26-year-old from San Diego scooping the first Olympic gold of her career.
Team USA add volleyball gold to tally
Volleyball gold medals had previously been the preserve of the men among the US ranks, but now the women have triumphed at Olympic level too.
Their first visit to the top step of the Games podium was secured by a 3-0 win over Brazil in Sunday's final.
Haleigh Washington, a 25-year-old star of the team, said: “It's a great day to have a gold-medal day. The hard work we put in, the sweat, the tears, the blood, it’s been worth it. I am so proud to have done it with this group of women. I am so honoured."
Coach Karch Kiraly added: "I am so happy for this team and these amazing women in this programme. I told them not only are they bad-asses, but they are now gold medallists."