Team USA at Tokyo 2020 Olympics: Medals, Results, and Top Moments

Tokyo 2020, in 2021, was a monumental Olympic Games for the United States.

An extra year of waiting was rewarded with Olympic memories that will surely endure lifetimes.

Spectators watching from home all around the world saw tears of joys, glimpses of pain, rallies of resilience and history being rewritten over, and over again by the athletes heralding from America.

Simone Biles reminded everyone what it means to prioritise your own mental health, and how to be the best supporter as your team-mates step up when you know you can’t.

Allyson Felix, a 35-year-old mother, overtook Carl Lewis to become the most decorated American track and field athlete of all time.

Kevin Durant, Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi showed us the true meaning of dominance in sport. The veterans, when called upon again, took to the floor in the same fashion they have always done and walked away as champion.

It was not all plain sailing for Team USA with the track teams failing to meet expectations and the USWNT only taking bronze in football, and it was not until the final day that they overtook China for most golds at the Games.

That said, it was still a hugely successful 16 days and compiling a list of highlights is no easy task. Here are just some the some of the top moments brought to you by Team USA from Tokyo 2020.

You can also find a full list of all the medals won by the U.S. below.

Simone Biles: taking control of her own narrative

Coming into Tokyo 2020, everyone waited with bated breath to see what artistic gymnastics star Simone Biles might achieve at her second Olympic Games.

When the 24-year-old announced that she would not be taking part in the team final to focus on her mental health after she lost herself in the air during the vault in the team final, the world witnessed athlete’s bravery and grace.

Biles then went on to demonstrate all the qualities of a top team-mate, becoming their loudest supporter as they took silver medal.

And after days of physical and mental assessment, she showed remarkable resolve to return and take bronze in the balance beam final.

Caeleb Dressel and Katie Ledecky: authors of an impeccable Olympic Games

In the swimming pool, American swimming sensation Caeleb Dressel put on a masterpiece.

Not only did the Olympian strike gold five times at Tokyo 2020, but he also set two new world records and two new Olympic records to boot.

To cap off his Games, Dressel also showed that he is a real team player.

Just after he and the U.S. men’s relay 4x100m freestyle team received their gold medals for their scintillating win, Dressel tossed his medal to team-mate Brooks Curry who deputised for him in the heats.

Curry will receive his own gold medal but, at that moment, it was a sweet gesture of Dressel to allow him to get his hands on a gold medal there and then.

As for Ledecky, while she came up short in her blockbuster 400m freestyle clash with Ariarne Titmus of Australia, she restated her dominance in the 800m freestyle and won the first Olympic women's 1500m freestyle.

Adding another silver to her tally courtesy of a second-place finish in the 4x200m freestyle relay, Ledecky left Tokyo with four Olympic medals, taking her to 10 in total.

Ryan Crouser: this one’s for you grandpa

Hot off setting a new shot-put world record in June (23.37m), Ryan Crouser carried on his blazing form all the way to Tokyo.

The 2.01m-tall thrower retained his Olympic title in the men’s shot put and did so in some style. He set an Olympic record three times to ensure that his chasing rivals could not even come close.

His final throw of 23.30 metres fell just short of his world record, but the American wasn’t too bothered.

After clinching the gold Crouser brought out a note to show cameras, which he had written ahead of time. On it was written – ‘Grandpa, we did it. 2020 Olympic Champion!’

The sign was a tribute to his late grandfather, Larry, who passed away shortly before Crouser left for Tokyo. It was in his grandfather’s backyard that the American first threw a shot put, a moment which altered the course of his life forever.

Suni Lee: seizing an Olympic moment

When USA Gymnastics announced that 2016 Olympic all-around champion Biles would not participate in the gymnastics all-around final, the spotlight fell on her American team-mates.

The U.S. had won the event in each of the last five Olympic Games: a formidable winning streak was on the line.

Sunisa Lee embraced the moment and stood tall to deliver for her country. She totalled 57.433 to hold off Rebeca Andrade of Brazil (57.298) to clinch the title.

Lee, also made history of her own. With victory in the all-around she became the first Hmong American gymnast to win an Olympic gold medal. With a silver in the women’s team final and bronze in the individual uneven bars Lee left Tokyo with an impressive three Olympic medals.

Lydia Jacoby: Alaska’s swimming sweetheart

Lydia Jacoby already made history when she was the first Alaskan swimmer selected to make the U.S. Olympic swim team.

It was a joke among locals in her hometown well before the 17-year-old left for Japan that she trained alongside whales and sea lions.

When the swimmer stunned the world to secure victory in the women’s 100m breaststroke, her hometown of Seward roared in celebration. The teen swimmer bested South Africa’s Tatjana Schoenmaker and U.S. team-mate Lilly King who took silver and bronze respectively.

Nelly Korda and Xander Schauffele: golden golf sweep

It was an impressive golf outing for Team USA at Tokyo 2020.

Recent major champion Nelly Korda followed the winning ways of compatriot Xander Schauffele to take home gold in the women’s golf competition.

The American clean sweep at the Kasumigaseki Country Club was not without its nerves.

Korda double-bogeyed on the seventh in the final round before bouncing back with three birdies, while Schauffele’s overnight lead going into his final day was wiped out before he birdied the 17th to win by one stroke on 18 under par.

Allyson Felix: a track G.O.A.T

American track sprinter, and mother, Allyson Felix did not bow to the might of history at Tokyo 2020; instead, she grabbed it by the horns and seized her moment to go down as the most decorated U.S. track athlete in Olympic history.

Her achievement marks a track career that spans over a decade. Her first medal was a silver in the women’s 200m back at Athens 2004, her last was a gold in the 4x400m relay at Tokyo 2020.

Gable Steveson and Tamyra Mensah Stock: stunning world wrestling

Tamyra Mensah Stock made history as she became the first black woman to win gold for Team USA in freestyle wrestling.

The number one seed fended off Blessing Oborududu, the number two seed from Nigeria, in the women’s 68kg freestyle final.

The 28-year-old sobbed tears of joy as the buzzer rang out signalling her victory.

Meanwhile, 21-year-old Gable Steveson sent shockwaves through the wrestling mat when he upset top-seeded triple world champion Geno Petriashvili of Georgia to take home Olympic gold in the men’s freestyle 125kg.

Steven becomes the first American to win the event since 1992 and it did so in glorious fashion.

With just 10 seconds to go Stevenson dramatically turned the tables on his super heavyweight opponent with two spin-behind takedowns. The second came just as the buzzer rang signalling the end of the bout.

The Georgian’s team challenged the decision on the final takedown, but it wasn’t enough and with his head in his hands Steveson stood tall, not quite believing what he had achieved before performing a perfectly-executed backflip. Not bad for a man weighing 125kg!

Jessica Springsteen: Olympic glory days

Jessica Springsteen, the daughter of rock legend Bruce Springsteen, is now an Olympic silver medallist after Team USA came in second in a jump-off for equestrian team jumping title.

Incredibly, neither USA's trio - Springsteen and Olympic gold medallists McLain Ward and Laura Kraut - nor Sweden's three had a fence down in the jump-off.

It was decided on time with final Swedish rider Peder Fredricson whizzing round to ensure his nation came away with the gold.

Springsteen has now played her part in making U.S. Olympic equestrian history with the jumping team clinching a record 10th medal.

Team USA continue their basketball supremacy

The U.S. maintains its iron grip on both the men’s and women’s Olympic basketball gold medals as both teams prevailed in Tokyo.

While the men did not emerge totally unscathed, thanks to a preliminary stage loss to France, the team led by Kevin Durant only got better and better as the tournament progressed.

When the time came to play France again in the final, the U.S. were not to be denied.

Durant became the highest-scoring American man in Olympic history in Tokyo, and joined Carmelo Anthony on a record three golds in men's basketball.

Unbeaten from start to finish, the women’s basketball team picked up the same honours by defeating the hosts in the final.

As well as banking the U.S. it’s seventh consecutive women’s basketball gold medal, Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi also made history of their own. The two became the first Olympic basketball players to win five gold medals in the sport.

April Ross and Alix Klineman: the longer you wait, the sweeter it tastes

April Ross and Alix Klineman’s Olympic gold medal in beach volleyball wasn’t just about victory, but also about pride.

For Ross, gold was the metal missing from her collection. Klineman had failed three times to make the indoor Olympic team.

When the duo took out Germany's reigning Olympic champion Laura Ludwig and her new partner Margareta Kozuch in the quarter-finals, gold looked like a distinct possibility.

And they secured it with victory over Australian pair Taliqua Clancy and Mariafe Artacho del Solar.in the final.

Their triumph even caught the attention of none other than Mr. T.

Team USA: shooting for success with skeet sweep

Two skeet shotgun events, two American golds – it doesn’t get any better than that.

Of the six shooting medals accrued by Team USA at Tokyo 2020, Amber English and Vincent Hancock stand out for the emphatic way in which they won theirs.

English hit 56 out of 60 targets, beating defending skeet champion Diana Bacosi of Italy by one.

Hancock triumphed in similarly impressive fashion as he hit 59 from 60 to regain the title he won at Beijing 2008 and London 2012.

Carissa Moore: winner of the first women’s surfing gold medal

There were several new sports at Tokyo 2020 including skateboarding, sport climbing and 3x3 basketball.

USA's women took gold in the first Olympic 3x3 basketball competition, beating ROC 18-15 in the final.

In the inaugural women’s surf competition, hosted by Tsurigasaki beach, Carissa Moore gave more reason for American cheer as she clinched the title.

The Hawaii native and reigning world champion defeated South Africa’s surprise package Bianca Buitendag 14.93 to 8.46 to take gold.

Moore, who grew up surfing with her father off Waikiki Beach in Honolulu, became the youngest world champion surfer at just 18 years old. Now at 28, she’s the first women’s surfing Olympic gold medallist.

Going where no American has gone before (or in a while...)

It wasn’t just the returning medallists that sparked life into Team USA at Tokyo 2020. There were victories in events the like of which America has never enjoyed before.

Teenager Anastasija Zolotic defeated ROC’s Tatiana Minina to become the first woman from the U.S. to ever win a medal in taekwondo. It was the 18-year-old's first Olympic outing and one she never forgets.

Nevin Harrison also made history for the United States. She surged home in the inaugural canoe 200 sprint final to overtake Canadian world record holder Laurence Vincent-Lapointe and claim the first ever gold medal in the event.

The 19-year-old’s victory marks the first U.S. sprint canoe or kayak medal since 1992.

In fencing, 27-year-old Lee Kiefer became the first American to win gold in individual foil fencing.

The medal comes after some years of waiting. The American had returned from London 2012 and Rio 2016 empty handed but claimed USA's third fencing gold in Olympic history.

Women’s volleyball: gold at last

Going into Tokyo 2020, the USA women's volleyball team had won six medals since its Games debut in 1964 but never gold.

Recently, they took silver and Beijing 2008 and London 2012, and bronze at Rio 2016.

But this time, there was no stopping them as they defeated Brazil in the final.

For veteran players Foluke Akinradewo and Jordan Larson, who have been in the Olympic team since 2012, it was a long time coming. And it was achieved in style courtesy of an emphatic 3-0 victory.

Gold medallists:

Lee Kiefer, fencing, women's foil individual

William Shaner, shooting, 10m air rifle men

Vincent Hancock, shooting, skeet men

Amber English, shooting, skeet women

Carissa Moore, surfing, women

Caeleb Dressel, swimming, men's 100m freestyle

United States, swimming, men's 4x100m freestyle relay

Chase Kalisz, swimming, men's 400m individual medley

Robert Finke, swimming, men's 800m freestyle

Lydia Jacoby, swimming, women's 100m breaststroke

Katie Ledecky, swimming, women's 1500m freestyle

Anastasija Zolotic, taekwondo, women's -57kg

United States, basketball 3x3, women

Sunisa Lee, artistic gymnastics, women's all-around

Caeleb Dressel, swimming, men's 100m butterfly

Ketie Ledecky, swimming, women's 800m freestyle

Xander Schauffele, gold, men's individual stroke play

Robert Finke, swimming, men's 1500 freestyle

United States, swimming, men's 4x100m medley relay

Caeleb Dressel, swimming, men's 50m freestyle

Valarie Allman, athletics, women's discus throw

Jade Carey, artistic gymnastics, women's floor exercise

Athing Mu, athletics, women's 800m

Tamyra Stock Mensah, wrestling, women's freestyle 68kg

Sydney McLaughlin, athletics, women's 400m hurdles

Ryan Crouser, athletics, men's shot put

Katie Nageotte, athletics, women's pole vault

Nevin Harrison, canoe, women's canoe single 200m

David Morris Taylor III, wrestling, men's freestyle 86kg

April/Alix, beach volleyball, women

Gable Dan Stevenson, wrestling, men's freestyle 125kg

United States, athletics, men's 4x400m relay

United States, athletics, women's 4x400m relay

United States, basketball, men

United States, basketball, women

Jennifer Valente, cycling track, women's omnium

United States, volleyball, women

Nelly Korda, gold, women's individual stroke play

United States, water polo, women

Silver medallists:

United States, diving, women's synchronised 10m platform

Jay Litherland, swimming, men's 400m individual medley

Kathleen Ledecky, swimming, women's 400m freestyle

Emma Weyant, swimming, women's 400m individual medley

United States, artistic gymnastics, women's team

United States, softball

United States, equestrian, dressage team

United States, shooting, 10m air rifle mixed team

United States, diving, men's synchronised 3m springboard

Erica Sutherland, swimming, women's 1500 freestyle

Alex Walsh, swimming, women's 200m individual medley

Kayle Browning, shooting, trap women

Regan Smith, swimming, women's 200m butterfly

United States, swimming, women's 4x200m freestyle relay

Ryan Murphy, swimming, 200m backstroke

Lilly King, swimming, women's 200m breaststroke

United States, triathlon, mixed relay

MyKayla Skinner, artistic gymnastics, women's vault

Fred Kerley, athletics, men's 100m

Kendra Harrison, athletics, women's 100m hurdles

Raven Saunders, athletics, women's shot put

Hannah Roberts, BMX freestyle, women's park

United States, swimming, women's 4x100m medley relay

Katherin Nye, weightlifting, women's 76kg

Kendra Harrison, athletic, women's 100m hurdles

Rai Benjamin, athletics, men's 400m hurdles

Christopher Nilsen, athletics, men's pole vault

Brittney Reese, athletics, women's long jump

Adeline Gray, wrestling, women's freestyle 76kg

Kenneth Bednarek, athletics, men's 200m

Grant Holloway, athletics, men's 110m hurdles

Joe Kovacs, athletics, men's shot put

Courtney Frerichs, athletics, women's 3000m steeplechase

Duke Ragan, boxing, men's feather (52-57kg)

Nathaniel Coleman, sport climbing, men's combined

United States, athletics, women's 4x100, relay

United States, baseball

Keyshawn Davis, boxing, men's lightweight

Richard Torrez Jr. boxing, men's super heavyweight

Kyle Snyder, wrestling, men's freestyle 97kg

United States, equestrian, jumping team

Bronze medallists:

Jagger Eaton, skateboarding, men's street

Ryan Murphy, swimming, men's 100m backstroke

Kieran Smith, swimming, men's 400m freestyle

Regan Smith, swimming, women's 100m backstroke

Lilly King, swimming, women's 100m breaststroke

Kate Douglass, swimming, women's 200m individual medley

United States, swimming, women's 4x100, freestyle relay

Hali Flickinger, swimming, women's 400m individual medley

Katie Zaferes, triathlon, women's individual

Hali Flickinger, swimming, women's 200m butterfly

Annie Lazor, swimming, women's 200m breaststroke

United States, athletics, 4x400 mixed relay

United States, shooting, trap mixed team

Sunisa Lee, artistic gymnastics, women's uneven bars

Krysta Palmer, diving, women's 3m springboard

United States, fencing, men's team foil

Simone Biles, artistic gymnastics, women's balance beam

Gabby Thomas, athletics, women's 200m

Raevyn Rogers, athletics, women's 800m

Sarah Robles, weightlifting, women's +87kg

Oshae Jones, boxing, women's welterweight

Noah Lyles, athletics, men's 200m

United States, cycling track, women's team pursuit

United States, football, women

Cory Juneau, skateboarding, men's park

Patrick Gilman, wrestling, men's freestyle 57kg

Helen Louis Maroulis, wrestling, women's freestyle 57kg

Paul Chelimo, athletics, men's 5000m

Allyson Felix, athletics, women's 400m

Molly Seidel, athletics, women's marathon

Ariel Torres Gutierrez, karate, men's kata

Kyle Douglas Dake, wrestling, men's freestyle 74kg

Sarah Ann Hilderbrandt, wrestling, women's freestyle 50kg