Weightlifter Li Wenwen wins China’s 40th gold medal on Sunday. (Photo)
The United States finished top of the Paris 2024 medal table on a countback of silver medals after they finished level with China on gold medals when competition closed on Sunday afternoon.
The United States and China both won 40 gold medals, but pride of place went to the Americans by virtue of their silver medals – 44 compared to China’s 27.
Chinese weightlifter Li Wenwen claimed the women’s +81kg title on the last day of the Paris Olympics on Sunday in the South Paris Arena. It marked China’s 40th gold medal – the country’s best result at an overseas Olympic Games, surpassing the 39 gold won at the London Olympics.
In another supreme effort by an Asian National Olympic Committee, Japan finished third with 20 gold medals, ahead of Australia (18) and France (16) rounding out the top five.
The United States finished with 40 gold, 44 silver and 42 bronze for a total of 126 medals. China was second on 40-27-24 (total 91) and Japan third on 20-12-13 (45).
Korea (13-9-10-32) was eighth and Uzbekistan (8-2-3-13) was 13th.
A total of 22 Asian NOCs won at least one medal of any colour, and 13 of those won at least one gold medal.
A total of 91 NOCs won at least one medal – fewer than half the 206 NOCs competing at Paris 2024.
