Paris Olympics 2024 but the United States of America topped the medals table finishing above the Asian giant only by virtue of their 44 silvers.
China, who were the last nation apart from the U.S. to top the standings when they did it on home soil at the 2008 Beijing Games, managed only 27 silvers. The US also won most total medals with 126 to China's 91.
The race for supremacy came down to the last event of the Games, the women’s basketball final, where the USA secured a nail-biting 67-66 victory over host nation France.
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This triumph not only clinched the gold medal for the basketball team but also ensured that the USA maintained its streak of topping the Olympic medal table for the fourth consecutive Games.
The competition between the two sporting powerhouses was intense throughout the Games. China had taken the lead in the medal table, largely due to their dominance in pool events like diving and artistic swimming, as well as their traditional strengths in table tennis and weightlifting.
However, the Americans responded with a series of standout performances in track and field, securing 14 gold, 11 silver, and 9 bronze in athletics alone. The USA also continued to show its strength in the swimming pool, where they collected 28 medals, including eight golds.
The final tally saw the United States finish with 126 medals, including 40 gold, 44 silver, and 42 bronze. China finished with 91 medals, also including 40 gold, 27 Silver, 24 Bronze.