United States tops medal tally at Pyeongchang 2018 Paralympics

The United States finished at the top of the medal table at the Pyeongchang 2018 Paralympic Games, with the last events taking place on Sunday.

With 36 medals (13 gold, 15 silver, and 8 bronze), the United States surpassed the Olympic athletes from Russia, who won 24 medals (8 gold, 10 silver, and 6 bronze).

Canada earned more medals than the Russian athletes (28), but finished in third place as they only collected four silver medals compared to Russia's 10.

Spain concluded its participation with a silver and a bronze medal.

Paralympics in Pyeongchang close with tribute to Stephen Hawking

The President of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), Andrew Parsons, officially closed the Pyeongchang Winter Paralympic Games (South Korea) on Sunday in a ceremony that paid homage to the late British astrophysicist, Stephen Hawking.

"It is time to declare the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Paralympic Games closed," said Parsons after a show that combined dance, music, sound, and light games.

In his speech, Parsons wanted to remember the figure of Stephen Hawking.

"He was a genius, a pioneer, and an inspiration to each one of us," explained the IPC President.

The eminent scientist, who had Charcot's disease and passed away at the age of 76 on Wednesday, had participated in the opening ceremony of the London Paralympics in 2012.

"Hawking constantly pushed the limits of his imagination. We, as Paralympic athletes, have once again pushed the boundaries of human effort," added Andrew Parsons.

At the end of the closing ceremony, the Paralympic flag was handed over to the mayor of Beijing, the city that will host the 2022 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.

In Pyeongchang, nearly 670 athletes from 45 countries competed in nine days of events, where 80 gold medals were awarded across six disciplines: alpine skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, biathlon, ice hockey, and curling.