The United States came out on top at the Olympics with 104 medals–46 gold, 29 silver, and 29 bronze–defeating second-place China with 88 medals and third place Great Britan with 65 medals.
Of the 104 medals, African American athletes in individual, non-team events hold 29 medals, including 20 track and field individual event medals, one in women’s boxing, one individual swimming event, three women’s tennis, two taekwondo medals, one in wrestling, and one in gymnastics. They also hold 13 team medals, including track and field and swimming relay medals.
At the premiere of women’s boxing in the Olympics, Claressa Shields won gold in the women’s middle 75kg, bringing home the first ever U.S. gold medal in women’s boxing. She defeated Nadezda Torlopova of Russia 19-12.
In taekwondo, Paige McPherson won bronze in the women’s 67kg, and Terrence Jennings collected a bronze in the men’s 68kg.
In wrestling, Jordan Burroughs won gold in the men’s 74kg freestyle, defeating world champion Sadegh Goudarzi of Iran.
Gabby Douglas became the first Black woman to win the women’s all-around gold medal in gymnastics. She also won a women’s team gold medal.
In tennis, Serena Williams along with her sister Venus Williams won gold in the women’s doubles. Serena also won the gold medal in the women’s singles.
Lia Neal won bronze along with her team in women’s 4×100 meter swimming freestyle relay.
Maya Larence helped her team win bronze in the women’s team epee in fencing.
The women’s 4×100 meter relay track and field team broke the world record, running a combined time of 40.82 seconds. The team included Southern California residents Carmelita Jeter and Allyson Felix, who joined forces with Tiana Madison and Bianca Knight to win. Jeter also won a silver medal in the 100 meter and a bronze medal in the 200 meter. Felix won gold medals in the 4×400 meter relay and the 200 meter.
The women’s 4×400 meter relay team, which included Felix, Dede Trotter, Sanya Richards-Ross, and Francena McCrory also won gold. Richards-Ross also snagged gold in the 400 meter, while Trotter won bronze in the same race.
The men’s 4×100 meter team, which included Justin Gatlin, Tyson Gay, Trell Kimmons, and Ryan Bailey won silver. Gatlin also won bronze in the 100 meter.
The men’s 4×400 meter relay team, which included L.A.-native Bryshon Nellum, running with Joshua Mance, Tony Mcquay, and Angelo Taylor, won silver.
The women’s basketball team won gold for the fifth consecutive time, defeating France 86-50. Candace Parker of the L.A. Sparks scored 21 points.
The men’s basketball team defeated Spain 107-100 for the gold medal. Top scorers are Kevin Durant with 30 points, Lebron James with 19 points, Kobe Bryant with 17 points, and Chris Paul with 11 points.
The women’s volleyball team won silver with the help of players Destinee Hooker, Danielle Scott-Arruda, Tayyiba Haneef-Park, and Foluke Akinradewo. They defeated Korea 3-0 and lost to Brasil 1-3.
Sydney Leroux and Shannon Boxx helped the women’s soccer team win gold, defeating Japan 2-1.
In swimming, Cullen Jones competed in the men’s 4×100 freestyle relay, winning gold and the 4×100 medley relay winning silver. In his individual race, the 50m freestyle, he won silver.
