United States' Caroline Marks wins surfing gold in Tahiti

TEAHUPO'O, Tahiti -- Caroline Marks of the United States won the women's surfing gold medal on Monday, moving the United States into a tie with China for the gold-medal lead.

Marks logged a close win over Brazil's Tatiana Weston-Webb in the championship match, prevailing 10.50-10.33. France's Johanne Defay took bronze, topping Costa Rica's Brisa Hennessy 12.66-4.93.

The gold medal was the 21st for Team USA this summer. After the U.S. team and China, host France and Australia are next with 13 golds apiece. France's gold total includes the men's surfing medal captured Monday by Kauli Vaast.

Vaast topped Australia's Jack Robinson 17.67-7.83 in the final. In the bronze-medal match, Brazil's Gabriel Medina topped Peru's Alonso Correa 15.54-12.43.

The surfing competition had been postponed last week because the waves were insufficient.

In the total medal count, Team USA has a whopping lead with 79. China is second with 53, and France is third with 48.

--Reuters, Special to Field Level Media