The final day of competition at the Olympic Games is here. After record-breaking days in the pool and on the track, history-making feats and inspiring moments, the Games come to a close in Tokyo.
Olympics medal tracker | Schedule
The final day of action started with the men's marathon winding through the streets of Sapporo, Japan, where Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya won his second consecutive gold medal in dominant fashion, beating the field by more than a minute.
Then came the evening's main event: the women's basketball gold-medal game, which saw the United States take care of Japan for its seventh consecutive gold medal. Japan's first-ever shot at gold was derailed in a 90-75 defeat, with Americans Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi each winning an unprecedented fifth gold medal.
While the Team USA women's hoops team added to its gold-medal count, the U.S. women's volleyball team got gold for the first time, dominating Brazil in a three-set sweep. That win also vaulted the Americans past China in the overall gold-medal standings, which they clinched when Chinese boxer Li Quan lost her gold-medal match to Great Britain's Lauren Price.
In other boxing, American Keyshawn Davis fell short against Cuban rival Andy Cruz in the lightweight gold-medal bout, the latest in a string of closely contested matchups between the two fighters.
Here's the best action from the last night in Tokyo:
Best moments from the closing ceremonies
❤️ The Japanese flag entering the Olympic Stadium at the #Tokyo2020 #ClosingCeremony#UnitedByEmotion | #StrongerTogether | #Olympics pic.twitter.com/ELUmD5z5qz
— #Tokyo2020 (@Tokyo2020) August 8, 2021
The parade of athletes has begun!
— Olympics (@Olympics) August 8, 2021
The athletes walk in together to celebrate everything they have given these past few weeks.
Alone we are small but together we are giants!#StrongerTogether | #ClosingCeremony | #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/YvACHlXcUE
Arigato @Olympics
— #Tokyo2020 (@Tokyo2020) August 8, 2021
Konnichiwa @Paralympics #ClosingCeremony
To Japan, thank you for the opportunity to compete on the world stage.#TeamUSA is grateful for your hospitality and dedication to #Tokyo2020.@Tokyo2020 | @Olympics pic.twitter.com/nWbkThLNgk
— Team USA (@TeamUSA) August 8, 2021
That's an order! #ClosingCeremony pic.twitter.com/RcLx7oR6jV
— #Tokyo2020 (@Tokyo2020) August 8, 2021
The different colours, performers, sights, sounds and people coming together at the #Tokyo2020 #Olympics #ClosingCeremony have been incredible! #UnityInDiversity pic.twitter.com/7syAlcFmPC
— #Tokyo2020 (@Tokyo2020) August 8, 2021
Bonjour, France!
— Olympics (@Olympics) August 8, 2021
The #FRA national flag is raised, an invitation to the world to attend the next Olympic Games! @Paris2024, we can't wait to see what you have in store in just three years' time.#Paris2024 #ClosingCeremony #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/Q4nNnxFmDt
Let's get it started!
— Paris 2024 (@Paris2024) August 8, 2021
Les Jeux Olympiques de #Paris2024 commencent !
Ouvrons ensemble un nouveau chapitre des Jeux.
Together, let's write a new chapter of the Olympic Games.
🔵🟡⚫️🟢🔴 pic.twitter.com/0QGjXfpvGY
From the bottom of our hearts ❤️
— #Tokyo2020 (@Tokyo2020) August 8, 2021
Thank you 🔥 pic.twitter.com/NVcUUPkfer
USA women's indoor volleyball makes history
Looking to win its first-ever Olympic gold medal, the U.S. women's volleyball team entered Sunday's match against Brazil focused on making history.
The team won the first four points in commanding fashion -- and never looked back.
The American squad put on a dominant performance at Ariake Arena, winning in straight sets -- 25-21, 25-20, 25-14 -- in just 82 minutes. Andrea Drews and Michelle Bartsch-Hackley combined for 29 points.
"People say we're going to be under so much pressure because we've never won the gold medal," said the United States' Jordan Larson. "But we're under no pressure because we've never done it. Why not go out swinging?" -- D'Arcy Maine
G🥇LDEN
— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) August 8, 2021
The U.S. women's indoor volleyball team wins its first-EVER Olympic gold medal! #TokyoOlympics #OlympicHERstory pic.twitter.com/MCx6BP2qwb
The women of indoor @USAVolleyball win their first Olympic gold medal EVER!#TokyoOlympics x @TeamUSA pic.twitter.com/VAicS2KGwI
— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) August 8, 2021
ALL OF THE FEELS! What a night! 🥇#Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/KIEM4DgiIH
— USA Volleyball (@usavolleyball) August 8, 2021
so 𝙨𝙣𝙚𝙖𝙠𝙮
— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) August 8, 2021
Bartsch-Hackley gets it over the block, and USA wins the first set.#TokyoOlympics x @USAVolleyball x @TeamUSA
📺 USA, continuing at 1:30a ET on NBC
💻 https://t.co/IR2sOIkWHh
📱 NBC Sports App pic.twitter.com/grJ0kYWjl2
If you need me, I'll be watching this slide on repeat for the rest of the night 😍#OlympicHERstory | #TokyoOlympics pic.twitter.com/q0MIChK2jw
— On Her Turf (@OnHerTurf) August 8, 2021
ONE. SET. FROM. GOLD.#TokyoOlympics x @USAVolleyball x @TeamUSA
— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) August 8, 2021
📺 NBC
💻 https://t.co/IR2sOIkWHh
📱 NBC Sports App pic.twitter.com/GGcNcbAh1k
USA passes China in gold medals
With three gold medals -- team golds in women's indoor volleyball and women's basketball and Jennifer Valente's cycling gold -- the United States ended the Olympics with 39 golds, one more than China's 38. The Americans already had clinched the top spot for overall medals.
'@TeamUSA leads the gold medal count! #TokyoOlympics pic.twitter.com/4GNaQ1DGjm
— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) August 8, 2021
USA boxer Richard Torrez Jr. takes silver
American super heavyweight boxer Richard Torrez Jr. fell to Uzbekistan's Bakhodir Jalolov by decision to take the silver medal. Torrez won the first round but couldn't overcome a dominant second round by Jalolov.
Got it done!@richardtorrez21 will bring home the super heavyweight boxing silver from the #TokyoOlympics. pic.twitter.com/rC73CJgOzh
— Team USA (@TeamUSA) August 8, 2021
Boxer Keyshawn Davis gets silver
United States lightweight boxer Keyshawn Davis fell just short of gold, losing to Cuba's Andy Cruz.
#USA's Keyshawn Davis wins silver in the men's #Boxing lightweight category!@TeamUSA pic.twitter.com/ecylKAckXW
— Olympics (@Olympics) August 8, 2021
USA women's hoops wins seventh straight gold
Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird made history by winning their fifth women's basketball gold medals with Team USA, which won its seventh straight gold by beating Japan 90-75.
The Golden Gals!
— Team USA (@TeamUSA) August 8, 2021
With 5 gold medals EACH, @DianaTaurasi and @S10Bird have the record for most gold medals in Olympic basketball history. #TokyoOlympics pic.twitter.com/d34PDLOxXD
A brief list of basketball players who have five Olympic gold medals ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/sFFF0PT4lx
— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) August 8, 2021
The two vets, who won their first golds for Team USA in Athens in 2004, helped get the Americans out to a big lead Sunday.
Swish, swish.@DianaTaurasi hits it! #TokyoOlympics x @TeamUSA
— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) August 8, 2021
📺 NBC
💻 https://t.co/1Mh4tA9Mxl
📱 NBC Sports App pic.twitter.com/oIGjydr6dw
Birdie with the 3️⃣. #TokyoOlympicspic.twitter.com/oBuBdP0RC1
— Team USA (@TeamUSA) August 8, 2021
Brittney Griner also did quality work for the Americans, scoring 30 points to help extend Team USA's Olympic winning streak to 55 games.
She blocks, she shoots, she scores.
— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) August 8, 2021
6'9" @brittneygriner is a force to be reckoned with. #TokyoOlympics x @TeamUSA
📺 NBC
💻 https://t.co/1Mh4tA9Mxl
📱 NBC Sports App pic.twitter.com/NSbWnMAGRL
'@BrittneyGriner continues to shine tonight!#TokyoOlympics x @TeamUSA
— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) August 8, 2021
📺 NBC
💻 https://t.co/1Mh4tA9Mxl
📱 NBC Sports App pic.twitter.com/KeiZeYCJXW
A gold medal game performance for the record books for Brittney Griner. #OlympicHERstory #TokyoOlympics pic.twitter.com/GTWk9CZJky
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) August 8, 2021
Bird and Taurasi might not be done with Olympics hoops quite yet, though.
"See you in Paris." -@DianaTaurasi @Paris2024 | #OlympicHERstory #TokyoOlympics pic.twitter.com/Nb6OschdwK
— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) August 8, 2021
Cycling to gold
The United States' Jennifer Valente rode to gold in the women's omnium, putting the U.S. at 38 gold medals, at that point tied with China for tops of any country.
Raced straight to GOLD!
— Team USA (@TeamUSA) August 8, 2021
Jennifer Valente claims the gold medal in women's omnium. #TokyoOlympics pic.twitter.com/kUr98ujIut
Ingebrigtsen sets Olympic record
Norway's Jakob Ingebrigtsen ended his Olympics with an epic performance, as the 20-year-old raced to gold in the men's 1,500-meter run with a time of 3 minutes, 28.32 seconds.
Another gold from the track is going to Norway!
— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) August 8, 2021
An Olympic record for 20-year-old Jakob Ingebrigtsen in the men's 1500m! #TokyoOlympics
📺 NBC
💻 https://t.co/1Mh4tA9Mxl
📱 NBC Sports App pic.twitter.com/BeBlqEhz4T
Kipchoge goes back-to-back
Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge ran it back for gold, literally, in the men's marathon in Sapporo, pulling away down the stretch to win his second consecutive gold medal. Kipchoge's winning time of 2 hours, 8 minutes, 38 seconds was more than a minute better than the silver medalist, Netherlands' Abdi Nageeye.
Here's Kipchoge putting a bow on his dominant performance.
IT'S KIPCHOGE'S WORLD. 🐐
— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) August 8, 2021
Eliud Kipchoge goes BACK-TO-BACK in the Olympic men's marathon! #TokyoOlympics
📺 NBC
💻 https://t.co/1Mh4tA9Mxl
📱 NBC Sports App pic.twitter.com/ZSf4kz4Jd1
The battle for silver and bronze was also pretty epic.
"We can BOTH be Olympic medalists!"
— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) August 8, 2021
What a finish for silver and bronze in the men's marathon between Nageeye, Abdi, and Cherono! #TokyoOlympics
📺 NBC
💻 https://t.co/1Mh4tA9Mxl
📱 NBC Sports App pic.twitter.com/M4vguRhcwF
The marathoner's philosophy
"I don't believe in limits."
— Olympics (@Olympics) August 7, 2021
Get inspired by marathon record holder @EliudKipchoge, the running philosopher.#Tokyo2020 | #StrongerTogether | #Olympics pic.twitter.com/c2QROPElXg
Backing it up
As the Olympics come to a close, here's an alternative, fun look at the action in Tokyo.
The @Olympics, but in reverse. ⏪#TokyoOlympics pic.twitter.com/cVJ13Ly7vd
— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) August 7, 2021
Shot-putting in real life
Gold medalist Ryan Crouser is the best in the world at shot put, but how does that relate to everyday life? Crouser shows us by shot-putting things.
Ok, we all agree that 2x gold medalist @RCrouserThrows is really good at shot putting.
— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) August 8, 2021
But how good is he at shot putting random objects? #TokyoOlympics pic.twitter.com/u8zNvPzar1