WATCH: Republic of China President Xi Jinping greets country's Olympic team following impressive performance at the Paris Olympics

By Marie Amani

Modified Aug 20, 2024 17:57 GMT

The Paris Olympics concluded on Sunday, August 11, and the celebrations continue for the medal-winning nations. China is the latest to join the festivities, honoring its athletes for a stellar performance that secured the second spot on the medal table behind the United States.

China clinched 91 medals at the Paris Olympics, placing second on the medal table behind the United States. The U.S. dominated with 126 medals, including 40 gold, 44 silver, and 42 bronze. China followed with an impressive tally of 40 gold, 27 silver, and 24 bronze. Japan rounded out the top three, securing 45 medals with 20 gold, 12 silver, and 13 bronze.

China’s Paris Olympics performance was an improvement from the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, where the nation won 89 medals (38 gold, 32 silver, and 19 bronze medals). Chinese President Xi Jinping met the athletes at the Great Hall of the People in China and honored them for their outstanding performances.

Chinese journalist Li Zexin shared a post on X with the following caption:

"President Xi Jinping met with China's Paris Olympic delegation today. Xi said they had brought glory to China.🏅. He pointed to the 6 medals of 🏊‍♀️Zhang Yufei and talked with 🏊‍♂️Pan Zhanle, 🎾Zheng Qinwen, 🌊Quan Hongchan,🏓Ma Long, 🏋️‍♀️Li Wenwen and many other athletes."

At the Paris Olympics, the East Asian nation clinched eight gold medals in diving and five gold medals apiece in table tennis, diving, and weightlifting. They secured three gold medals each in gymnastics and boxing. Additionally, they claimed two gold medals each in swimming, badminton, artistic swimming, and canoeing. China also won a gold medal each in the athletics, tennis, and cycling events.

China secured two silver medals apiece in diving, shooting, boxing, and sport climbing. They amassed six silvers in gymnastics and clinched three silvers each in swimming and badminton. Additionally, they earned a silver medal in each of the following: athletics, table tennis, tennis, wrestling, taekwondo, archery, and field hockey.

The nation also claimed one bronze medal in diving and three in shooting. Gymnastics contributed three bronze medals to the tally, while swimming amassed an impressive seven. Athletics and wrestling secured two and four bronze medals, respectively. Finally, the nation earned a bronze medal each in taekwondo, breaking, golf, and judo.

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Chinese President Xi Jinping claims Olympians competed fairly at Paris Olympics

Chinese President Xi Jinping defends Paris Olympics Olympians (Image via Getty)

Chinese President Xi Jinping lauded the delegation of Olympians for their unwavering dedication that saw them finish second on the medal table at the Paris Olympics.

As reported by Reuters, the President claimed that the athletes maintained a high level of discipline during the Paris Olympics.

"On the field, (Chinese Olympians) obeyed the rules, respected the opponents ... maintained good race discipline and civilized etiquette," Xi said.

In the recent past, the Chinese swimming team has faced a lot of criticism due to doping scandals. According to the Times, 23 Chinese swimmers tested positive for a banned substance, trimetazidine, at the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. However, the athletes were cleared to compete after Chinese anti-doping officials attributed the positive tests to contaminated food.

Leading up to the Paris Olympics, China Daily claimed all the Chinese swimmers were tested on average 21 times since the start of the year, with some even being tested seven times a day in the Olympic Village.