U.S top medals table for third successive Olympic Games

The U.S topped the Olympics medals table for the third successive time after ending the Tokyo Games on Sunday with a best 39 gold, 41 silver and 33 bronze medals. American highlights included veteran Alysson Felix winning a gold medal in the 4×400 metres relay and a bronze medal individually to become their most decorated […]

The U.S topped the Olympics medals table for the third successive time after ending the Tokyo Games on Sunday with a best 39 gold, 41 silver and 33 bronze medals.

American highlights included veteran Alysson Felix winning a gold medal in the 4×400 metres relay and a bronze medal individually to become their most decorated track athlete of all-time.

In the pool, they also had massive success.

This was through freestyle stars Caeleb Dressel and Katie Ledecky, though she was beaten by upcoming Australian Ariarne Titmus in a couple of the shorter races.

China, hosts of the Winter Games in 2022, were second in the table with a 38-32-18 tally while hosts Japan set a national record of 27-14-17.

Great Britain had its least successful Games since Beijing 2008 but was still the top European nation on 22-21-22.

The Russian team officially competing as neutrals due to a doping ban were fifth on 20-28-23.

At the other end of the scale, minnows San Marino could celebrate an astonishing three-medal haul (0-1-2) from a delegation containing only five athletes.

Burkina Faso had its first-ever Olympic medallist through triple jumper Hugues Fabrice Zango.