France's Estelle Mossely celebrated her 24th birthday by winning the women's Olympic lightweight boxing gold medal on Friday after she had watched boyfriend Tony Yoka reach the super-heavyweight final.
Yin Junhua, beaten on a split decision after the four rounds had ended with the two boxers level on the three judges' scorecards, took silver for China's first medal of the boxing competition.
Losing semi-finalists Mira Potkonen of Finland, a 35-year-old mother of two, and Anastasia Belyakova of Russia took bronze medals.
Ireland's Katie Taylor, the 2012 gold medallist, was beaten in the quarter-finals by Potkonen who was then defeated by Yin.
The medal was France's first in women's boxing, which was introduced in London four years ago, and the country's first Olympic gold in the ring since light-flyweight Brahim Asloum at the 2000 Sydney Games.
With Yoka watching in the crowd, the two women made a cagey start and Mossely ended the first round behind the Chinese 10-9, 10-9, 10-9.
She began to turn things around in the second and then came on strong to sweep the third and start the final round with all to play for and her fighting spirits up.
The final scores showed the Ecuadorean judge had scored the fight 39-37 for Yin, with the Puerto Rican's tally tied 38-38 and the Cuban judge's score tilted 39-37 to Mossely. The decisive vote went to the Frenchwoman.
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