Here are five takeaways from Day Sixteen at Paris 2024.

Team USA produce a nail-biting finale

Team USA’s women’s basketball team narrowly secured the gold medal on Sunday, defeating France 67-66 in a thrilling final that nearly went to overtime.

With 3.8 seconds remaining, France’s Gabby Williams drove down the court and launched a running three-pointer as time expired. Her shot hit the glass but her foot was just on the line, making it a two-pointer instead. 

This victory marks Team USA’s eighth consecutive gold medal in Olympic women’s basketball.

“An incredible basketball game, absolutely, an incredible basketball game,” said USA head coach Cheryl Reeve. “Two teams that left it all out there, France played with their identity, we couldn’t get to our identity because of what France were doing, so hats off to them. We are happy to be going home with gold.”

Breanna Stewart, a key player for Team USA, reflected on the achievement: “The fact that this is eight straight golds, It’s insane, honestly. But each one is so, so different and so, so special and so hard.”

Serbia show no signs of stopping

On Sunday, Serbia made history by winning their third consecutive Olympic gold medal in men’s water polo with a 13-11 victory over Croatia.

Despite a challenging lead-up and internal issues, Serbia surged in the playoffs, overcoming Greece and the US to reach the final. They secured the gold with a strong start, leading 5-2 after the first quarter and never relinquishing their advantage. Milos Cuk, who scored three goals, sealed the win with a late goal.

This marks Serbia’s sixth Olympic gold in men’s water polo and 14th overall. Croatia, who were the last team to win gold before Serbia’s reign, settled for silver.

Jennifer Valente's dominant defence

Three years ago, Jennifer Valente made history as the first US woman to win an Olympic track cycling gold in the omnium. 

At Paris 2024, she reinforced her dominance by winning two of the four races and decisively leading the points race with 144 points, 15 ahead of Poland’s Daria Pikulik. New Zealand’s Ally Wollaston secured bronze with 125 points.

Valente’s gold at these Games adds to her impressive Olympic tally of five medals over three Games, including a silver in team pursuit at Rio 2016 and silver and gold at Tokyo 2020.

“First and foremost, I'm just really tired,” Valente said, exhausted yet triumphant. “This has been a really long process, and even though it was a three-year quad, I think it was really jam-packed into three years, and we've been nearly full gas the whole time. So this is such a way to go out.”

Li Wenwen's weightlifting masterclass

Li Wenwen got her hands on Olympic gold. The Tokyo 2020 gold medalist in the +87kg category was unstoppable once again in Paris. She began with a commanding snatch lift of 136kg and followed with a 173kg clean and jerk on her second attempt to clinch the gold.

Li’s total of 309kg was a full 10kg ahead of Park Hyejeong from South Korea, who secured silver with 299kg. Emily Campbell from Great Britain, who won silver in Tokyo, took bronze with 288kg.

In a memorable moment, Li celebrated her final lift by bringing her coach onto the stage and lifting him in front of the cheering crowd.

Danish delight as team get hands on gold

In a record-setting final, Denmark delivered a dominant performance to defeat Germany 39-26, capping off a perfect tournament with eight wins in as many matches. This decisive victory earned Denmark their second Olympic medal in the men’s handball competition, reinforcing their status as a formidable force in the sport.

The match was also a significant moment for Mikkel Hansen, who concluded his illustrious career as the all-time top goal scorer in Olympic handball with this win. Hansen’s retirement was marked by the presentation of a gold medal, echoing a similar farewell for Norway’s Stine Bredal Oftedal, who retired the day before after winning gold in the women’s handball competition at Paris 2024.

Denmark’s flawless run through the tournament and Hansen’s storied career end on a high note, adding a memorable chapter to the history of Olympic handball.

So, what does the final medal table reveal?

At the Paris 2024 Olympics, the final medal table showcased a dynamic and competitive landscape. The United States led with 49 medals, including 18 golds, underscoring their continued dominance across a broad range of sports. China followed closely with 45 medals, 14 of which were gold, demonstrating their strength particularly in sports like weightlifting and diving.

Great Britain and Germany rounded out the top four, with Great Britain securing 35 medals (12 gold), thanks to standout performances in cycling and athletics. Germany, with 31 medals (11 gold), saw significant successes in swimming and track and field. France, the host nation, finished fifth with 30 medals, reflecting a strong showing in sports like judo and fencing, and benefiting from a home crowd boost.

Japan and Australia were notable for their consistency and strategic wins, with Japan achieving 28 medals (9 gold) and Australia notching 26 medals (8 gold), showcasing their prowess in swimming and team sports. Italy and Canada also made their mark, with Italy earning 25 medals (8 gold) and Canada achieving 22 medals (7 gold), highlighting their competitive performances in events such as rowing and athletics.

The Netherlands completed the top ten with 21 medals (7 gold), illustrating their strong presence in sports like speed skating and field hockey. The final standings reflected a blend of historical strength and emerging talent, with nations leveraging their specialised sports to climb the ranks.

That caps of what has been a magnifique Parisian spectacle... Au revoir!