Gold Rush Helps Team USA Edge Past China on Final Day of Tokyo Olympics To Claim Overall Title

(Photo : JUNG YEON-JE/AFP via Getty Images) TOPSHOT - USA's gold medallist Andrea Drews (L) celebrates with teammates during the women's volleyball victory ceremony during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Ariake Arena in Tokyo on August 8, 2021.

Team USA pulled off a remarkable comeback on Sunday, winning three gold medals on the final day of the Tokyo Olympics to edge past the People's Republic of China and claim the overall title in this year's Summer Games.

The Americans finished the 2020 Olympics with a total medal haul of 39 golds, 41 silvers and 33 bronzes. The United States not only finished the Tokyo Olympics as the overall champions, they also won the most number of medals in this year's Games with a total of 113.

China had to settle for second place with 38 golds, 32 silvers and 18 bronzes for a total haul of 88 medals. Host nation Japan exceeded expectations with its third-place finish, grabbing 27 golds, 14 silvers and 17 bronze medals.

Team GB came in fourth thanks to victories by Jason Kenny and Lauren Price on the final day, boosting the British medal tally to 22 golds, 21 silvers and 22 bronzes. The Russian Olympic Committee, whose participation in the Tokyo Olympics was heavily scrutinized, rounded out the top five with 20 golds, 28 silvers and 23 bronze medals.

Female athletes deliver golds for Team USA on final day

It was only fitting that female athletes once again carried the flag for the United States on the final day of the Tokyo Olympics. The US women's basketball team set the tone early with its win over Japan in the gold medal match. The Americans dominated right from tip-off, cruising to a 90-75 victory to capture their seventh consecutive gold medal in this event.

Brittney Griner was simply unstoppable in this contest, recording a whopping 30 points to set a new scoring record in an Olympic women's basketball final. She broke the record set by Lisa Leslie who scored 29 points in Team USA's gold medal win in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi also cemented their legacy as the greatest pair of teammates in USA Basketball history as they won their fifth consecutive gold medal together in the Olympics. They became the first basketball players to win that many gold medals in the Summer Games.

Valante and women's volleyball team win stunning golds for Team USA

An unlikely gold then came for Team USA in the sport of track cycling as Jennifer Valante captured a stunning victory in the women's omnium event. The 26-year-old San Diego native toppled the two-time defending champion and pre-tournament favorite Laura Kenny to become the first-ever American woman to win a track cycling title at the Olympics.

She started out strongly in the multi-race event, grabbing 40 points with a win in the scratch race before finishing a solid third in the tempo race. Valante then took fourth in the elimination race to enter the final points race with a slim two-point lead over Japanese world champion Kajihara Yumi. Valante managed to hold on to first place, finishing with 124 total points to win the gold.

Team USA then stormed to the top of the Olympic gold medal leaderboard with a fantastic win in the women's volleyball event. The Americans crushed 2008 and 2012 Olympic champions Brazil in straight sets, 25-21, 25-20, 25-14, to clinch their first ever gold medal in women's volleyball.