Germany won their first ever Olympic gold medal in women's football on Friday when they turned in a superior second half performance to beat Sweden 2-1 at the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro.
Earlier, Seventeen-year old Deanne Rose turned in a star performance to help Canada beat Brazil 2-1 and ensure the North Americans' second consecutive bronze medal in the women's football competition.
The no. 2 ranked Germans scored two goals in the second half, and although the Swedes got a goal back they could not snatch an equaliser that would take the game into extra time.
The win was Germany's sixth unbeaten match in the tournament and lifts them into an elite group alongside the United States and Norway as the only teams to win both the Women's World Cup and the Olympics.
Germany failed to qualify for the Olympics in 2012 but won the bronze the last three times they played, in 2000, 2004 and 2008.
Stina Blackstenius of Sweden scores a goal
"This is something completely new, so this is definitely a new summit for German women's football," said German coach Silvia Neid, who is retiring after the Olympics.
"I really don't have words to describe this, it doesn't matter if it's the World Cup or Euros, this is what you have earned through your hard work over weeks and months. It's really crazy when you get to the end. When you have finally reached your goal it is pure joy."
Olivia Schough hit an inviting low cross into the box from the right and Blackstenius slid in between two defenders and poked the ball home to cut the deficit.
Schough had a great chance to level the scores three minutes from time but her shot was blocked just yards from goal, much to the chagrin of a Brazilian crowd who were supporting the Swedes, perhaps because the German men's side hammered Brazil's men 7-1 in the World Cup two years ago.
"You just have to look back and be proud then it's easier to get a smile on your face," Swedish coach Pia Sundhage said of her unfancied team afterwards. "I think we should all be proud of what we have done and how we played."
In the broze medal decider, Rose, the youngest player in the Canadian squad, got the opening goal for Canada after 25 minutes when she was on hand to side-foot home a low cross from Ashley Lawrence, after the defender had run half the length of the field on a quick counter-attack.
Canada players celebrate winning the third place play-off as Poliana (R) of Brazil reacts
She then turned goal-maker seven minutes into the second half, when she crossed for Christine Sinclair to make it 2-0 from close in.
Brazil, who won silver in 2004 and 2008, looked tired after a punishing semi-final defeat against Sweden after extra time and penalties in the heat of Rio de Janeiro just three days ago.
The host nation pushed forward as the game went on and Beatriz pulled a goal back 11 minutes from time when she controlled the ball nicely in a packed box and turned to fire low into the net.
But the Canadians were worthy of their win and the scoreline could even have been wider, with the visitors smacking the woodwork once in each half.