Olympic basketball: USA tops medal table in Paris after spectacular women’s win over France

The United States took first place in the ranking 2024 Olympic Medal Table as their women’s basketball team claimed a thrilling victory over hosts France to claim the final gold medal on offer in Paris.

The formidable U.S. team was in danger of one of the all-time Olympic upsets but won 67-66 to win gold for a record eighth straight time, meaning the U.S. matched China’s total of 40 golds in the medal table.

But with the U.S. team winning 44 silver medals to China’s 27 – it also won 126 medals overall to China’s 91 – it tops the medal table for the fourth straight time.

In a repeat of Saturday’s men’s final, won by the United States over France, the American team trailed 53-51 with five minutes remaining.

This event provided a last taste of the crazy atmosphere of local support in the French capital.

NBA superstar and men’s gold medalist LeBron James for the United States was courtside, while French President Emmanuel Macron was in the stands supporting the hosts.

The United States regained the lead and in a dramatic finale, with a 67-64 advantage, Gabby Williams scored a buzzer-beating basket for France, but it was ruled that the shot had been taken inches inside the three-point line and that meant the United States won by one point.