Team USA’s female contingent made history at the Paris Olympics after winning a record 26 gold medals – which made up 65 percent of the country’s tally.
America finished on top of the Olympic medals table once again this summer, with the women’s basketball team’s hard-fought final victory against hosts France on Sunday edging their nation above China right at the death.
It means the USA has now reigned supreme in seven of the last eight summer Games, and this time around their female athletes are largely to thank.
An incredible 65 percent of America’s Olympic champions in Paris were women, who took home 26 of their 40 gold medals in Paris.
That return is the highest ever from a female contingent in a single Olympics, signaling a historic effort from the women representing the country.
Team USA’s female contingent made history at the Paris Olympics after winning a record 26 gold medals, with the last captured by A’ja Wilson (pictured) and the women’s basketball team
Overall, Team USA’s women also captured 67 of their 126 total medals in the French capital, outdoing the men by seven.
However, one of those medals has been called into question after the Court of Arbitration for Sport ordered gymnastics star Jordan Chiles to return her bronze in the floor exercise amid a dispute over her score.
If American women were their own nation, they would have came third in the Olympic medals table behind the USA and China – even without Chiles’ bronze.
Simone Biles lived up to her reputation as one of the greatest of all time this summer, becoming America’s all-time most decorated gymnast after adding three more gold medals and a silver to her collection in Paris.
While it appears Chiles will have to give her bronze back, she still has a gold to show for the team final after winning the event alongside Biles, Jade Carey and Suni Lee, who also captured bronze medals in the all-around and uneven bars.
Simone Biles became America’s all-time most decorated gymnast after adding three more gold medals and a silver to her collection
Sha’Carri Richardson powered the USA to gold in the women’s 4x100m relay after being forced to settle for silver in the 100m final
Elsewhere, Sha’Carri Richardson powered the USA to gold in the women’s 4x100m relay after being forced to settle for silver in the 100m final, while Gabby Thomas walked away with three golds after a stunning Games (200m, 4x100m relay, 4x400m relay).
Katie Ledecky also became the most decorated female American swimmer of all time this summer after winning gold in the 800m and 1500m freestyle events, taking her career record to nine gold and 14 overall medals.
And to top off a remarkable Olympics, the women’s basketball team got the better of France in Paris to clinch gold for a record eighth Games and move the USA top of the medals table.
