A historic 2020 Olympics is coming to a close today, one that saw world records smashed, surprising defeats and teary moments of sportsmanship. Thank you for joining us every day for our daily coverage of the competitions, today will be our concluding roundup of key moments from the past two weeks.
US women’s basketball wins 7th consecutive gold medal
The United States women’s basketball team defeated Japan 95-70 to take home the gold for the seventh consecutive Olympics. This is the fifth Olympic gold medal in basketball for Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird, who most likely have played in their final Olympic game.
The effort was led by Brittney Griner who scored 30 points, the most by a U.S. player in a gold medal game.
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Brittney Griner of the United States shoots during the women's basketball final between the United States and Japan at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Saitama, Japan, Aug. 8, 2021.
Brian Snyder/Reuters
Sue Bird of the United States and Diana Taurasi of the United States celebrate after winning the gold medal match against Japan on Aug. 8, 2021 in Saitama, Japan.
US women's volleyball win first-ever gold medal
The U.S. women's volleyball team has won its first-ever gold medal after defeating Brazil in straight sets, 25-21, 25-20, 25-14. The team has won three silver medals and two bronze since 1984.
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The USA team celebrates after defeating Brazil in straight sets, 25-21, 25-20 and 25-14 to win the gold medal in Women's Volleyball at the Tokyo Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan on August 8, 2021.
Manu Fernandez/AP Photo
Brazil's Fernanda Rodrigues shoots while playing the United States during the gold medal match in women's volleyball at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 8, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan.
US wins most gold medals, most medals overall
The United States has finished the Olympic Games with 39 gold medals, edging out China on the last day of action. Team USA finished with 113 medals overall, leading second-place China by a large margin.
Consistent dread and disruption caused by COVID-19
The reminders of the global pandemic were abundant as the athletes competed in nearly empty stadiums in Tokyo. Athletes were subject to daily tests, medalists had to celebrate with loved ones via screens and everyone present was subject to very strict procedures to remain safe.
Even with the safety protocols in place, 436 people at the Tokyo Olympics tested positive for COVID-19, including many athletes that had to leave competition. The surrounding city of Tokyo consistently reached record numbers of reported cases, reporting 4,066 new cases on the last day of the Olympics.
Manu Fernandez/AP Photo
A volunteer holds a sign telling players to keep their masks on during the medals ceremony in women's volleyball at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Aug. 8, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan.
Looking back on the games: Allyson Felix makes history again and again
Allyson Felix won her 10th and then her 11th medal to first become the most decorated female track athlete in the world and then surpassing Carl Lewis as America’s most decorated track athlete with the latter win. Felix won the bronze in the individual 400m, and the next day won the gold in the women’s 4x400m relay.
The 35-year-old sprinter has most likely finished her Olympic career, competing in five different Olympic Games.
MORE: Allyson Felix makes history with 11th career medal at the Tokyo Olympics
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Allyson Felix of Team United States competes in the Women' s 4 x 400m Relay Final on day fifteen of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on Aug. 7, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan.
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Allyson Felix of Team United States reacts after winning the gold medal in the Women' s 4 x 400m Relay Final on day fifteen of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on Aug. 7, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan.
Looking back on the games: Simone Biles overcomes adversity to take home a medal
After Simone Biles withdrew from the overall team competition because of a case of the “twisties” -- a vertigo-like affliction that disables gymnasts from knowing where their body is relative to the ground -- she received unrivaled amounts of attention, both supportive outpourings and sharp criticisms.
Biles subsequently withdrew from individual events in the vault, uneven bars and floor exercises but returned for her final competition in the balance beam to win the bronze medal.
Lindsey Wasson/Reuters
Simone Biles is seen on the balance beam on Aug. 3, 2021, in Tokyo.
Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times/Polaris
Simone Biles is congratulated by her coach Cecile Landi as it becomes evident she will earn a medal in the Women's Balance Beam Final at Ariake Gymnastics Centre on Aug. 3, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan.
Looking back on the games: Gold medal shared for the first time in over 100 years
Italy’s Gianmarco Tamberi and Qatar’s Mutaz Essa Barshim had both cleared 2.37m in the men’s high jump final but each failed in their three attempts to clear the next height of 2.39m. Instead of going to a jump-off, Tamberi turned to the Olympic officials and asked if they could share the gold medal. The official said yes, and Barshim agreed.
The unbelievable act of sportsmanship between the two friends brought tears to the eyes of spectators as they watched Tamberi jump into Barshim’s arms, the Italian quickly shedding some tears of his own.
Hannah Mckay/Reuters
Mutaz Essa Barshim of Qatar and Gianmarco Tamberi of Italy celebrate after winning gold medals on Aug. 1, 2021 in Tokyo.
Ina Fassbender/AFP via Getty Images
Joint gold medalists Qatar's Mutaz Essa Barshim, left and Italy's Gianmarco Tamberi pose on the podiumn of the men's high jump final during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo on Aug. 2, 2021.
More scenes from the final day of Olympic action:
Kiichiro Sato/AP Photo
Fireworks illuminate the sky over National Stadium during the closing ceremony of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Aug. 8, 2021, in Tokyo.
Jorge Silva/Reuters
Performers take part in the closing ceremony of the 2020 Olympic Games on Aug. 8, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan.
Dan Mullan/Getty Images
Members of Team Great Britain during the Closing Ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on Aug. 8, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan.
CHRISTIAN BRUNA/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Pauletta Foppa of France is seen in action against goalkeeper Anna Sedoykina of Russia during the Women's Handball Gold Medal match between Russia and France at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, Aug. 8, 2021.
Lionel Bonaventure/AFP via Getty Images
Team Bulgaria competes in the group all-around final of the Rhythmic Gymnastics event during Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Ariake Gymnastics centre in Tokyo, on Aug. 8, 2021.
CHRISTOPHER JUE/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Laura Kenny of Great Britain and Emily Kay of Ireland crash in the Women's Omnium Scratch Race 1/4 during the Track Cycling events of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Izu Velodrome in Ono, Shizuoka, Japan, Aug. 8, 2021.
Frank Franklin Ii/AP Photo
Ireland's Kellie Anne Harrington, left, exchanges punches with Brazil's Beatriz Ferreira during their women's lightweight 60-kg boxing gold medal match at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Aug. 8, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan.
Antonio Bronic/Reuters
Athletes and performers participate in the Olympics closing ceremony on Aug. 8, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan.
Stephane De Sakutin/AFP via Getty Images
French aerial patrol 'Patrouille de France' fly over the fan village of The Trocadero set in front of The Eiffel Tower, in Paris on Aug. 8, 2021 upon the transmission of the closing ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Catch up on the best moments from the previous days' events
SLIDESHOW: The very best photos from the 2020 Olympic Games
MORE: Key moments from the Olympic Games: Day 15
MORE: Allyson Felix wins 10th Olympic medal: Key moments from Day 14 of the Olympic Games
MORE: Key moments from the Olympic Games: Day 13
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