See highlights from USA’s women’s basketball gold medal win over France in the player above.
Click here to see how to watch the closing ceremony on NBC4
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — After an enjoyable two weeks of competition and seeing the gorgeous sights of the city of light, the Paris Olympics drew to a close on Sunday in dramatic fashion
The final day brought us one more heap of close finishes as Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands won the women’s marathon in a sprint to the finish to complete her busy Paris Olympics. The final event turned out to be a classic as USA women’s basketball grinded out a 1-point victory over France to claim an eighth straight gold medal.
That basketball win gave Team USA 40 golds for these Olympics, tied for the most with China. It is the first time since 2008 the Americans don’t end a summer games with the outright most gold medals. Team USA did win the most medals with 126.
Every Paris Olympics medalist
WATCH: Women’s marathon ends in sprint to finish
WATCH: Best basketball dunks from Paris Olympics
WATCH: USA men’s water polo breaks medal drought
WATCH: Italy beats USA in women’s volleyball final
WATCH: Jennifer Valente wins omnium gold for USA
WATCH: USA wrestler Kennedy Blades settles for silver
WATCH: Why Jordan Chiles was stripped of bronze medal
Final Paris Olympics thoughts
What an Olympics and after that exciting women’s basketball final, I can confidently say this is the best summer Olympics of all-time. I can’t recall a games that had this many end-to-end finishes in nearly every sport that also included iconic moments from some of the best athletes in the world and the best of all-time.
Overall, it was an Olympics of big positives for Team USA as they earned medals in multiple sports they usually don’t like weightlifting and artistic swimming. But for the first time since 2008, the Americans don’t outright win the gold medal count and instead tie China.
Many will attribute that tie in golds to a couple of factors. On the USA side, it was the lack of success in men’s swimming with only two gold medals and missing out on another women’s water polo title. China was able to dominate in the sports they always do, sweeping diving and table tennis, while also winning key golds in tennis, artistic swimming, and rhythmic gymnastics.
With the USA as hosts in 2028, they will be heavily favored to take the gold medal crown back for themselves. But for now, we close the book on the Paris Olympics and what a read it will be as the years pass.
Thank you for following along throughout these games! Can’t wait for Milan 2026 and LA 2028 but in the more immediate future, we’ve got the Columbus Crew in the Leagues Cup and Buckeyes football returning in three weeks!
Enjoy the rest of your Sunday!
-Orri Benatar
Full medal breakdown by sport
- Archery
- Most medals – South Korea (7)
- Most golds – South Korea (5)
- USA medals – 1 silver, 1 bronze
- Artistic Swimming
- Most medals – China (2)
- Most golds – China (2)
- USA medal – 1 silver
- Athletics (Track & Field)
- Most medals – USA (34)
- Most golds – USA (14)
- Badminton
- Most medals – China (5)
- Most golds – China (2)
- Basketball
- Most medals – France and USA (3)
- Most golds – USA (2)
- Boxing
- Most medals – Uzbekistan and China (5)
- Most golds – Uzbekistan (5)
- USA medal – 1 bronze
- Breaking
- Most medals – Six countries tied (1)
- Most golds – Canada and Japan (1)
- USA medal – 1 bronze
- Canoeing
- Most medals – Hungary (7)
- Most golds – New Zealand (4)
- USA medals – 1 silver, 1 bronze
- Cycling
- Most medals – Great Britain (11)
- Most golds – Four countries tied (3)
- USA medals – 3 golds, 2 silvers, 1 bronze
- Diving
- Most medals – China (11)
- Most golds – China (8)
- USA medal – 1 silver
- Equestrian
- Most medals – Germany and Great Britain (5)
- Most golds – Germany (4)
- USA medal – 1 silver
- Fencing
- Most medals – France (7)
- Most golds – Four countried tied (2)
- USA medals – 2 golds, 1 silver, 1 bronze
- Field Hockey
- Most medals – Netherlands (2)
- Most golds – Netherlands (2)
- Football (Soccer)
- Most medals – Six countries tied (1)
- Most golds – Spain and USA (1)
- Golf
- Most medals – Six countries tied (1)
- Most golds – USA and New Zealand (1)
- Gymnastics (includes artistic, rhythmic, and trampoline)
- Most medals – China (12)
- Most golds – China, USA, Japan (3)
- USA medals – 3 golds, 1 silver, 5 bronzes
- Handball
- Most medals – Denmark (2)
- Most golds – Denmark and Norway (1)
- Judo
- Most medals – France (10)
- Most golds – Japan (3)
- Modern Pentathlon
- Most medals – Six countries tied (1)
- Most golds – Egypt and Hungary (1)
- Rowing
- Most medals – Netherlands and Great Britain (8)
- Most golds – Netherlands (4)
- USA medals – 1 gold, 1 bronze
- Rugby sevens
- Most medals – Six countries tied (1)
- Most golds – France and New Zealand (1)
- USA medal – 1 bronze
- Sailing
- Most medals – Netherlands (4)
- Most golds – Netherlands, Austria, Italy (2)
- USA medal – 1 bronze
- Shooting
- Most medals – China (10)
- Most golds – China (5)
- USA medals – 1 gold, 3 silver, 1 bronze
- Skateboarding
- Most medals – Japan (4)
- Most golds – Japan and Australia (2)
- USA medals – 2 silvers, 1 bronze
- Sport Climbing
- Most medals – Four countries tied (2)
- Most golds – Four countries tied (1)
- USA medals – 1 silver, 1 bronze
- Surfing
- Most medal – France and Brazil (2)
- Most golds – France and USA (1)
- Swimming
- Most medals – USA (28)
- Most golds – USA (8 golds)
- Table Tennis
- Most medals – China (6)
- Most golds – China (5)
- Taekwondo
- Most medals – Iran (4)
- Most golds – South Korea (2)
- USA medal – 1 bronze
- Tennis
- Most medals – Four countries tied (2)
- Most golds – Five countries tied (1)
- USA medals – 1 silver, 1 bronze
- Triathlon
- Most medals – Great Britain (3)
- Most golds – Great Britain, France, Germany (1)
- USA medal – 1 silver
- Volleyball
- Most medals – Brazil and USA (2)
- Most golds – Four countries tied (1)
- Water Polo
- Most medals – Six countries tied (1)
- Most golds – Serbia and Spain (1)
- USA medal – 1 bronze
- Weightlifting
- Most medals – China (5)
- Most golds – China (5)
- USA medals – 1 gold, 1 bronze
- Wrestling
- Most medals – Japan (11)
- Most golds – Japan (8)
- USA medals – 2 golds, 2 silvers, 3 bronzes
USA hangs on to win women’s basketball gold
The United States women’s basketball team was able to win its eighth straight gold medal as they grinded out a 67-66 win over France in the final. The game came right down to the wire as France star Gabby Williams hit a three with four seconds left to cut the deficit to one point.
After USA’s Kahleah Copper hits two free throws, Williams got the ball and hit a running buzzer-beater as time expired but she was inside the arc. USA women’s basketball is the first team in Olympic team sports to win eight straight gold medals. They have won 61 straight games at the Olympics.
USA lead by 2 going into 4th quarter
The women’s basketball final is coming down to the wire as the Americans lead France 45-43 after three quarters. France was able to get a 10-point lead early in the third quarter but the USA was able to erase hat deficit as A’ja Wilson began to dominate in the paint.
Wilson is up to 13 points and 12 rebounds as Team USA looks to close out the game to win eight straight gold medals in women’s basketball.
Basketball final tied at halftime
The women’s gold medal basketball game is tied at 25 at halftime as A’ja Wilson was able to hit a lay-up at the buzzer to avoid trailing at the break. Both teams slow offensive starts continued in the second quarter with the USA and France combining for only 19 made shots on 68 attempts in the first half. France’s Gabby Williams leads all scorers with eight points.
The USA women are on a 60-game winning streak and are looking to win its eighth straight gold medal and give Team USA its 40th gold of the Paris Olympics.
USA up six after first quarter
It was a low-scoring first quarter in the women’s basketball final with the Americans only leading France 15-9 through the first 10 minutes. Neither team got off to a good start offensively with France shooting 19% from the floor and the Americans marginally bettr at 33%.
Breanna Stewart scored four points in the first quarter while Napheesa Collier grabbed seven rebounds.
Final event: USA-France women’s basketball final
The final event of the Paris Olympics is about to begin on NBC4. The USA women’s basketball team is aiming for eight straight gold medals as they face the hosts France to conclude the XXXIII Olympiad before the closing ceremony.
If the USA wins, it will be its 40th gold medal in Paris to tie China in the gold medal count. This will be the first time since 2008 Team USA does not have the most golds in a summer Olympics by itself.
Serbia win third straight Water Polo gold
It’s an Olympic three-peat for Serbia’s men’s water polo team as they beat Croatia 13-11 to win yet another Olympic gold medal. This is the seventh straight time the team has medaled at the Olympics with a bronze as the former Yugoslavia in 200, silver as Serbia & Montenegro in 2004, and then bronze in 2008 and 2012 as Serbia with three straight golds in 2016, 2021, and 2024.
This marks the third time a nation has won three straight men’s water polo titles with Hungary completing its three-peat from 2000 to 2008 and Great Britain doing it from 1908 to 1920.
Denmark cruise to men’s handball title
For the second time at the last three Olympics, Denmark are men’s handball gold medalists. The Danes entered Sunday’s final with a perfect record and concluded a perfect Olympics with a dominant 39-26 win over Germany.
This was Denmark’s third straight men’s Olympic handball final and its second time winning gold. Germany takes silver while Spain earned the bronze after a 23-22 win over Slovenia.
Valente’s track cycling gold closes gap
Team USA has its 39th gold medal of the Paris Olympics with Jennifer Valente winning her second straight omnium title and third overall Olympic gold medal. She was able to dominate to the title in the four-part track cycling event that consists of a variety of races.
Poland’s Daria Pikulik took silver while Ally Wollaston of New Zealand took bronze. Valente’s gold is the 39th for Team USA, putting them one shy of China’s 40 at these Olympics. Women’s basketball is the last chance for the Americans to tie China as they are heavy favorites against France in the final.
Italy beat USA for women’s volleyball gold
History is made for Italian women’s volleyball as its first Olympic medal is gold after a dominant straight sets win over the United States 25-18, 25-20, 25-17. Italy came in as the No. 1 ranked team in the world and played like it in Sunday’s final with the Americans having no answer throughout the match.
Despite the loss, this is the fifth straight time USA women’s volleyball has medaled but its loss means USA will not finish the Paris Olympics with the most gold medals. China is currently at 40 and the USA at 38 with the Americans having a good chance to tie with Jennifer Valente leading the track cycling omnium and women’s basketball heavily favored to beat France in the 9:30 a.m. final.
Volleyball final: USA down two sets
Italy looks to be on the verge of history and spoil any American chances of winning the medal table as they lead two sets to nothing in the women’s volleyball final.
The Italians were once again able to overwhelm the Americans offensively with a 25-20 win in set two. After Paola Egonu dominated offensively in the first set, the points were more spread out for Team Italy with Egonu, Sarah Fahr, Caterina Bosetti, and Myriam Sylla getting at least four points each.
China get 40th gold medal, lead USA by two
China has earned its 40th gold medal at the Paris Olympics and currently has a two gold medal lead over Team USA. Li Wenwen was able to defend her Olympic title in the +81kg division in weightlifting, lifting a total of 309kg. South Korea’s Park Hye-jeong claimed silver while Emily Campbell of Great Britain took bronze.
Team USA has four main chances for gold medals with women’s volleyball, women’s basketball, Jennifer Valente in the track cycling omnium final, and Kennedy Blades in the last women’s wrestling final. China has not won the gold medal battle since they hosted the 2008 games in Beijing.
Volleyball final: USA drop first set
The women’s volleyball gold medal game is underway and Team USA was not able to win the first set. Italy was able to cruise in the opening set 25-18 thanks to Paola Egonu who got eight kills and earned three points off of blocks.
USA is trying to win its second straight gold medal while Italy is trying to win its first. The Italians are already guaranteed its first Olympic medal in women’s volleyball.
Ex-Buckeye Snyder falls short of medal
Former Ohio State Buckeyes wrestler Kyle Snyder, a two-time Olympic medalist, fell short of the podium in Paris. Snyder lost 4-1 in the bronze medal match to Iran’s Amirali Azarpira to finish his Olympics with a fourth place finish in the 97kg freestyle division.
Snyder won gold at the Rio 2016 games, becoming the youngest American wrestler to win an NCAA, USA, and Olympic title in the same year. He won silver at the Tokyo games in 2021.
Morning catch-up: Sensational marathon
Good morning and welcome to the final day of the Paris Olympics. The final track event began the day and in an Olympics of close finishes, we got yet another one in the women’s marathon.
5000m and 10,000m bronze medalist Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands completed her grueling running schedule by winning the marathon by three seconds over Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa. Hassan set an Olympic record of 2 hours, 22 minutes, and 55 seconds. Kenya’s Hellen Obiri won bronze with all three set to receive their medals at the closing ceremony.
In the pool, USA men’s water polo was able to accomplish what the women’s team could not on Saturday – win a bronze medal. The Americans upset Hungary 11-8 to win its first men’s water polo medal since 2008. It is only the fourth time since 1984 that Team USA has medaled in men’s water polo.
Coming up on the final day, USA looks to win the gold medal battle with China as women’s volleyball faces Italy at 7 a.m. and women’s basketball takes on France at 9:30 a.m.