Opals bronze and pair of cycling medals wrap up Australia’s Olympics campaign

The 2024 Paris Olympics and the closing ceremony are done and dusted.

Australia scored three more medals on Day 16 to wrap up what has been the nation’s most successful Games.

The Opals overcame Belgium 85-81 to claim a bronze medal in the women’s basketball courtesy of a masterclass from Ezi Magbegor.

Magbegor scored 30 points while bringing down 13 rebounds as the Opals won their first medal since the 2002 Games. It was veteran Laure Jackson’s fifth Olympics medal.

Two medals in the cycling were added with Matthew Richardson and Mathew Glaetzer finishing second and third in the men’s keirin event.

Australia’s medal tally ended up on 18 gold, 19 silver and 16 bronze.

That had the Aussies finish fourth on the overall standings behind the USA (40 gold, 44 silver, 42 bronze), China (40 gold, 27 silver, 24 bronze) and Japan (20 gold, 12 silver, 13 bronze).

The total of 53 medals is five less than the 58 from Sydney 2000, but the 18 gold is a new record for Australia, beating 17 from both Tokyo 2020 and Athens 2004.