US finishes on top of Olympic medal tally after thrilling one-point basketball win over France (2024)

• 🥈 Matthew Richardson — Men's keirin cycling
• 🥉 Matthew Glaetzer — Men's keirin cycling
• 🥉 Opals — Women's basketball bronze medal match vs Belgium

That's where we are going to leave it with the blog on the final day of competition at the Paris Olympics.

But a reminder: we'll back in a few hours to blog the closing ceremony.

We'll say more later on, but on behalf of the entire ABC Sport digital coverage team, we want to say thank you to all our readers who have joined us during the Paris Olympics.

We hope you have enjoyed our coverage as much as we loved bringing you all the action.

Make sure to join us again for the closing ceremony, as well as our coverage of the Paralympic Games later this month.

Thanks again and goodbye!

Talk about magical moments, Kristen!

Nina Kennedy's gold in the women's pole vault cemented Paris as Australia's most successful Olympics.

And Sweden's Armand 'Mondo' Duplantis breaking his own record was nothing short of spectacular.

With competition at the Paris Olympics having come to a close, Australia's chef de mission Anna Meares has been congratulated following the record haul of gold medals.

Australia won its highest number of gold in Olympic history with 18 to finish fourth on the medal tally.

There were also 19 silvers and 16 bronze medals for a total of 53 podium finishes.

Australian Olympic Committee president Ian Chesterman says Meares — a two-time Olympic gold medallist — has led by example.

"Anna has shown great leadership throughout the entire Paris 2024 campaign since being appointed to the role in late 2022," Chesterman said in an AOC statement.

"She has nurtured the confidence of the national sports organsations and the athletes.

"Anna has a deep understanding of the needs of the athletes under the pressure of the games.

"She has led with great authenticity, energy and an absolute commitment to making sure that everything that was in her remit for the sports and the athletes was done.

"To finish the games with 53 medals, and with 93 athletes each having a medal is a fantastic outcome."

For a while there, Jess Fox was the one to watch in the canoe slalom — and for good reason.

But to see her sister Noemie Fox win gold in the women's kayak cross was nothing short of spectacular.

If the sisters were a country, their three gold medals would put them 28th on the leaderboard.

One of the great aspects about this Paris Olympics has been the atmosphere.

The crowds have been wonderful, packing out arenas and lining the roads in their thousands.

But nothing has compared to the scenes on Montmartre during the road race, when as many has 500,000 people crammed the streets for a party like no other, with a superb road race thrown in for good measure.

I threw off my accreditation and got involved in the shenanigans and, frankly, did not regret it.

Australia's Maddison Keeney might have claimed silver but if these fun medal ceremony pictures are anything to go by, it seemed gold medallist Yiwen Chen and bronze medallist Yani Chang, both fromChina, were very happy share in the spotlight!

Great shout, Dave.

BMX racing is likely the most chaotic and dangerous event at the Olympic Games.

Saya Sakakibara, whose brother Kai suffered a life-changing brain injury after a crash in 2020, battled COVID and long-lasting concussion symptoms leading up to Paris.

But the 24-year-old put all that out of her mind (or perhaps kept some of it right there as inspiration) to power her way to gold with her brother watching on from the stands.

A true icon of Australian sport.

Hi Marty,

There was so much pressure on Jessica Hull as one of our only medal contenders in the track events at these Games, but she wasn't overawed in the slightest.

Watching her fulfil her potential with that kick on the back straight was a sight to behold.

So … following the dramatic win in the women's basketball final, the US finishes on top of the overall medal tally with 40 gold, 44 silver and 42 bronze.

China also won 40 gold, but had fewer overall medals than the US.

The US captured 126 to China's 91.

Australia was fourth overall with a record 18 gold medals, in addition to 19 silver and 16 bronze for a total of 53.

Japan made a late surge to tip Australia out of third spot with 20 gold, 12 silver and 13 bronze.

Congratulations to New Zealand, who claimed 11th spot on the medal tally with a record haul of gold.

New Zealand finished the Games with 10 gold, seven silver and three bronze medals.

France was a worth opponent for the all-conquering USA side, but they couldn't hold it together for long enough.

A gritty, error riddled gold medal match reflected the tense atmosphere in the Bercy Arena, which was rocking.

France needed a three with the final shot, and thought they had it, but Gabby Williams had stepped on the arc. Just two points awarded.

Ultimately, the USA prevailed 67-66, and in doing so, preserved its incredible dominance of women's basketball, and moved back to the top of the overall medal tally.

France can be proud of their performance, claiming a silver to close out their Olympic Games.

USA 60-59 FRANCE.

90 seconds left.

We're into the final minute, USA lead by three points.

Timeout France.

Great defence from France, forcing a USA travel.

France ball, 30 seconds left.

But they can't get a shot away.

USA take free-throws, extending its lead to 63-59 with just 17 seconds left.

USA leads 58-55 with 3:30 on the clock.

A see-sawing encounter.

Jackie Young has fouled out for the USA, which forces a shuffling of the decks.

And from the resulting free-throws, Gabby Williams has reduced the margin to a POINT.

But two USA free-throws restores a three-point lead.

Time is going to be France's enemy - two minutes left.

France is giving quite an account of themselves in the Bercy Arena.

USA has looked nothing like the side that has cruised through the tournament, and scored at will.

If you're brave, pick a winner. I'm not, so I won't.

55-all with four minutes left.

47-47.

Seven minutes left.

Both sides are shooting at 31% from 2pt range. Hence the low scoring affair.

49-all with six minutes left in regular time.

Do I dare suggest overtime in the gold medal match?

And it's the USA leading 45-43.

Just to add some spice to this game, the USA needs gold to go back to the top of the medal tally, following China's weightlifting victory earlier today.

A two from France has tied the game up again.

45-45 with eight minutes left.

Wow, this is going to be a very exciting final 10 minutes.

France has shown periods of matching - if not shady - the mighty Americans.

But the USA seem to always have another gear.

The USA is looking something like the side that's averaged 86 points a game at this Olympics, while France is going the other way.

USA hits the front 41-40 with less than two minutes left in the third.

They might have missed the medals in these Olympics, but the Boomers will always have our hearts, with that shot from Patty Mills becoming the stuff of legends.

It's only taken until 3 minutes into the third term for Team USA to make a bucket from beyond the arc.

And a nice two cuts the French lead to 35-30.

Marine Johannes is down for France after copping an arm across the head.

Team USA taking advantage of her absence in defence to land a two.