USA defeated Brazil 1-0 in the final at Parc des Princes through Mallory Swanson's goal just before the hour mark.

Hayes, the former Chelsea coach, only took over as head coach in May after leaving her role at the Blues and tasted success in her first tournament in charge.

"I'm very emotional. It's been a dream of mine," Hayes said.

"I have to thank my dad – he's the one who pushed me to this position. To be able to come and coach an unbelievable group of players."

Hayes's father, who she has long described as a cornerstone in her football career, passed away last year.

"I've got my dad's necklace on," Hayes said post-match. "It's got an American eagle, and he was with me today and that helped.

"The crowd were tremendous. Brazil were tremendous. I'm just speechless. I'm in shock."

USA has now won five Olympic gold medals in women's final – four more than any other nation – but this was the first since London 2012.

Swanson calmly converted to give USA the victory in the French capital on her landmark 100th senior appearance for her national side.

This latest triumph comes 10 games into Hayes's tenure and puts the poor showings at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and 2023 FIFA World Cup in the past.

"They have received me so well and taken on board everything I've asked," Hayes added. "They're tremendous people, players and role models and I love them."

Brazil has still yet to win an Olympic gold in the women's tournament, with this its third runner-up finish after also falling short in 2004 and 2008.

It thought it had taken the lead early on, only for Ludmila's strike to be rightly ruled out for offside.

The Selecao suffered another blow early in the second period when Vitoria Yaya was forced off the field on a stretcher and its outing soon got worse when Swanson fired home.

Brazil could have taken a game of few clear-cut chances to extra-time, but an unmarked Adriana saw her header kept out by Alyssa Naeher in stoppage-time as Hayes's team claimed gold.