After the two countries had been going head-to-head for the last week of the Tokyo Olympics, the U.S. beat China as the most successful nation at this year’s Olympic Games. The country clenched 113 medals in total, 39 of them gold medals, ahead of China's 88 medals (38 golden ones).
China has only once become the most successful nation at a Summer Olympic Games. At home in Beijing in 2008, Chinese athletes dominated gold medal wins, but even then, the U.S. won more medals in total - 112 - over China's 100.
China won most gold medals this year in weightlifting (7), followed by diving (5), shooting (4) and table tennis (4). The medal count also includes surprise wins, like Zhang Yufei’s gold in the 200m butterfly competition or another swimming victory in the 4x200m freestyle relay.
The United States' strong suits continue to be swimming and athletics with eleven and seven gold medals won, respectively.
Host Japan comes third for most gold medals, but fifth behind Russia and the UK for overall medals. After three gold medals for skateboarding, the country won both the baseball and the softball finals as well as hauling home nine gold medals in judo, five in wrestling and one in karate.
