Updated Aug 8, 2021 - Sports

U.S. clinches most Olympic gold medals after women's volleyball win

Rebecca Falconer

USA's players celebrate their victory in the women's gold medal volleyball match between Brazil and USA during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Ariake Arena in Tokyo on August 8 — Team USA celebrate their victory in the women's Olympic gold medal volleyball match against Brazil at Ariake Arena in Tokyo on Sunday. Photo: Jung Yeon-je/AFP via Getty Images

The U.S. women's indoor volleyball team beat Brazil in three straight sets to win their Olympic final game and clinch Team USA the Tokyo Games' top spot for gold medals on Sunday.

Of note: The 25-21, 25-20, 25-14 win marked the first ever Olympic gold medal for the U.S. women's indoor volleyball team.

What they're saying: An emotional volleyball head coach Karch Kiraly, himself a three-time Olympic gold medal winner, said on NBC after the game that he told the team "not only are they bad asses, but they are now gold medalists!"

The big picture: China had been leading the gold medal count during the Olympics. But wins in the women's volleyball, cycling and basketball events Sunday helped propel Team USA to the top spot.

The volleyball win took Team USA's Olympic gold medal count to 39, with 112 medals overall.
China won 38 gold medals after the country's final chance for gold, boxer Li Qian, lost out to Great Britain's Lauren Price on points in the women's middleweight boxing final.

Go deeper: Full Axios Olympics coverage

Editor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.

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U.S. clinches most Olympic gold medals after women's volleyball win

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