How women athletes pushed US, others ahead in Olympic medal tally

Women athletes in a way shaped the Olympic medal table, winning more medals than their male counterparts for some of the top performing nations.

New games were introduced, old records were broken, and controversies were aplenty - all in the shadow of the Covid-19 pandemic - as Tokyo became the only Asian city to host the Olympics twice. But amid the sporting gala emerged stories of sheer grit, determination and female dominance. Women athletes in a way shaped the Olympic medal table, winning more medals than their male counterparts for some of the top performing nations. For example, of the 39 gold medals the United States won, as many as 23 were won courtesy women athletes. But for the spectacular performances of US women athletes on the concluding day of the Olympics, the US risked losing the top slot on the medals tally.