United States led the charge for Americas

The twin Continents of the Americas have always been a force to reckon with at the Paralympic Games and Tokyo 2020 was no different. The Americas held their own against the Chinese and European onslaught, though their medal haul was slightly lower than that at Rio 2016.

The United States kept the flag flying for the Continents by finishing third in the overall medal tally with 104 medals - 37 gold, 36 silver, and 31 bronze. Though China and Great Britain overshadowed the United States, the latter had several milestones to celebrate at Tokyo. They achieved their best position in medal tally since Beijing 2008. In 2012, the US finished sixth on the table (115 - 40 gold, 44 silver and 31 bronze), four years later in 2016 they were fourth overall.

Swimmer Jessica Long led from the front and emerged as the most successful athlete from the US with a medal haul of six - three gold, two silver, and one bronze. Already the country’s second-most decorated Paralympian and the world’s most decorated active Paralympian at age 29, she was also the most successful woman athlete at the Tokyo 2020 Games. Her six medals in S8 and SM8 category among others bulged her career total to 29.

Sprinter Nick Mayhugh led for the men with four medals, three of which were gold. The 25-year-old in his maiden Paralympic Games, set World records in the 100m T37, 200m T37, and 4x100m universal relay, plus an American record for his silver-medal performance in the 400m T37.

Seven Americans – Noah Malone (track and field), Elizabeth Marks (swimming), Raymond Martin (track and field), Brittni Mason (track and field), Tatyana McFadden (track and field), Roxanne Trunnell (equestrian), Mallory Weggemann (swimming) took home three medals apiece while 17 athletes earned two medals, each.

In 19 sports that the US figured in, they won medals in 15 - it was their most diverse share of medals in 17 years, that also included their firsts in Para Canoe and Para Taekwondo.

For the first time since 2004, the US won medals in table tennis with Ian Seidenfeld claiming gold in the men’s singles Class 6 and Jenson Van Emburgh bagging a bronze in men’s singles Class 3. This was also their best tally in table tennis since 1996.

At the age of 58, cyclist Alicia Dana was the oldest US medallist in Tokyo, winning bronze medals in road race H1-4 and mixed team relay H1-5.

The US also did well in team events, defending its gold medals in women’s Sitting Volleyball and men’s Wheelchair Basketball. The US teams also took home medals in women’s Goalball (silver), women’s Wheelchair Basketball (bronze), and Wheelchair Rugby (silver).

US sportspersons also set five World records in Tokyo:  Breanna Clark – 400m T20; Mayhugh – 100m T37, 200m T37; Roderick Townsend – high jump T47, and in the universal relay.

Brazil was the second most successful nation from the Americas in Tokyo, finishing seventh in the total number of medals. They took home 72 medals in all, 22 gold, 20 silver, and 30 bronze.

They dominated swimming and athletics, winning eight gold medals in each. Para swimmer Maria Carolina Gomes Santiago was their most successful athlete in Tokyo, winning five medals in all - three gold, one silver, and one bronze in S12, SB12, and SB 13 categories. Gabriel Araújo also took home two gold and a silver medal.

The Brazil men's team won gold in Goalball and Football 5-a-side - sweeping to its fifth successful gold medal in Paralympics.

Mexico won 22 medals in all - seven gold, two silver, and 13 bronze medals. Para swimmer Diego López Díaz, was their most successful Mexican in Tokyo with a gold, silver, and bronze.

Among other countries from the Americas in Tokyo 2020, Canada finished 23rd in the medals table with 21 medals (five gold, 10 silver, six bronze), Cuba was 35th with six medals (four gold, one silver, one bronze), Colombia 24 medals stood 37th (three gold, seven silver and 14 bronze), Venezuela was 38th with seven medals (three gold, two silver and two bronze) and Chile took home six medals (2 gold, three silver and one bronze) to finish 45th in the table.