The US sailing team failed to win a medal for the first time in its 80-year history of competing at Olympic sailing regattas.
With the exception of the 1936 Games, which was boycotted, US sailors have participated in and won at least one medal at every summer Games since 1932.
The nation's last hope of winning a sailing medal at the London Games vanished on Wednesday as the world No.1 match racing crew, skippered by Anna Tunnicliffe, were beaten in a quarter final clash with Finland.
The US, normally a powerful force at Olympic regattas, also had hopes of winning medals in the Finn, Laser Radial and the men's 470.
And the US team came into the Games boasting of having one of the fittest squads in the world.
But woeful performances meant they went home empty handed.
The US finished joint third on the 2008 sailing medal table, with one gold and one silver.
They finished fourth on the table in Athens and Sydney.
AAP md
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