The USA reign supreme again in the final Olympics medal table but Team GB reflect on ‘miracle of Tokyo’ after matching total of 65 from London 2012
- The United States led the medal table with 39 gold medals, one more than China
- GB claimed 22 gold medals, the fourth-best performance ever by a British team
- They won 65 medals, tied with London 2012 for the third-best tally in GB history
- Cycling contributed the most British medals, followed by swimming with eight
- Duncan Scott won a record number of medals for a Briton at a single Olympics
After an eventful summer of sport the Tokyo Olympic Games came to a close on Sunday morning with a wonderful ceremony in Japan’s capital.
There was plenty for Team GB to smile about following the competition as they matched their medal total from London 2012 on the final day of the Tokyo Games.
Jason Kenny’s record breaking gold medal moved GB up to 64 medals on Sunday, while Lauren Price victory in the middleweight final allowed them to replicate history.
The Tokyo Olympic Games came to a close on Sunday morning with a wonderful ceremony
There was plenty for Team GB to smile about following as they matched their medal total from London 2012 on the final day of the Tokyo Games
As a result, Team GB finished fourth in the Tokyo medals table with 22 gold, 21 silver and 22 bronze medals for a total of 65.
It made Tokyo their second-most successful Olympics overseas after the contingent won 67 medals in the Rio de Janeiro Games five years ago.
Britain’s chef de mission Mark England hailed the team’s achievement as the greatest in their Olympic history, saying: ‘Following Beijing we had no idea that British athletes would deliver 65 medals in London.
GB finished fourth in the table with 22 gold, 21 silver and 22 bronze medals for a total of 65
‘We knew we were in great shape for Rio but it had never been done before, matching and then surpassing London’s number of medals.
‘I just think that finishing this Games with two gold medals, and for this team to deliver 65 medals, is absolutely extraordinary.
‘Not only has the team made history but it has probably made history on the back of the most complex and most challenging and difficult environment that we will face certainly in my lifetime.
‘It has been against all the odds and I think it is the greatest achievement in British Olympic history. It has been the miracle of Tokyo and it has been wonderful to be here.’
Six-time Olympic cycling gold medallist Sir Chris Hoy (above) said the British team ‘should be incredibly proud’ of their achievements
Duncan Scott was also among several British athletes that made history at the Games – winning a record number of medals for a Briton at a single Olympics, a gold and three silver
Simon Gleave, head of sports analysis at Nielsen Gracenote, also shared his delighted at GB’s achievement.
He said: ‘At Rio 2016, Great Britain became the first country to improve on its medal tally in the Olympics after being the host – and Team GB have now become the first to equal or win more medals at each of the next two Games.’
The majority of Team GB’s medal were won by the cycling team, while swimming contributed eight and boxing and athletics secured six.
Six-time Olympic cycling gold medallist Sir Chris Hoy told BBC Sport that the British team ‘should be incredibly proud’ of their achievements.
He said: ‘Expectations were mixed going into it. Certain sports didn’t perform as expected, others overachieved.
‘You get payment in kind for a gold. We have a limited pot of money and you have to use that as best you can. It’s about intelligent use of money, thinking outside the box and being inventive.
‘They have done us all proud – a great performance.’
Sprinter Allyson Felix also created history, becoming the most decorated woman and American in track and field with her 10th and 11th Olympic medals
Duncan Scott was also among several British athletes that made history at the Games – winning a record number of medals for a Briton at a single Olympics, a gold and three silver.
However, it was the United States who led the medal table with 39 gold medals – one more than second-placed China. The USA also finished with the highest medal total (113).
Sprinter Allyson Felix also created history, becoming the most decorated woman and American in track and field with her 10th and 11th Olympic medals, bronze in the 400m and gold – her seventh – in the 4x400m relay.
While the host nation, Japan, secured 58 medals and finished third in the ranking for gold medals – claiming a total of 27.