Posted on 08/12/2012 6:23:58 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
The 2012 London Olympic Games have officially come to a close and, once again, the U.S. sits atop the medal count.
In Beijing they did the same thing, but the host nation China made it interesting. America topped the Chinese by 10 in the overall medal count, but China earned 15 more gold medals than America—China had 51 and the U.S. had 36.
However, in London, the U.S. reemerged as the dominant athletic country.
The United States earned 104 medals, 15 more than any other country—China was second with 87. Plus, the Americans took back their lead in golds, winning 46 of those, eight more than the second ranked Chinese.
Team USA did this by winning medals in a mix of its traditional strengths and by winning surprising medals in lesser-known events.
The U.S. got its medal total kick started with a predictably strong performance in the pool.
Swimmers like Michael Phelps, Ryan Lochte and Missy Franklin all earned multiple medals. Plus, fresh faces emerged from the water such as 100-meter freestyle winner Nathan Adrian and 15-year-old Katie Ledecky, who earned gold in the 800-meter free.
America also continued its superiority on the track.
Allyson Felix won three gold medals, Sanya Richards-Ross finally captured her gold in the 400-meters and Ashton Eaton won the decathlon.
In total the Americans won 29 medals on the track, only one short of their lofty pre-London goal of 30. But as Scott Blackmon of the U.S. Olympic Committee told the AP, nobody’s going home disappointed.
America also took home gold in men’s and women’s basketball, took gold and silver in women’s beach volleyball and the U.S. women's soccer team grabbed the nation’s attention with its thrilling gold medal run.
However, it wasn't just about the big sports, plenty of Americans were successful in the smaller sports.
David Boudia upset the favored Chinese divers to take gold in the men's 10-meter platform. Kayla Harrison took home America's first ever gold in Judo. Jake Varner and Jordan Burroughs both took home the gold in wrestling for the U.S. over the last few days of competition.
And that's just the tip of the iceberg. Hundreds of athletes contributed to America's outstanding medal haul, whether they competed as a team or individually.
One thing is for sure, though. There is no question about America's standing as the foremost country at the Olympics.
China put that status into question in 2008, but this time around, the U.S. showed that it was up to the challenge.
Now, it's on to Rio. And once again, the U.S. will do its best to hold off a number of hard-charging nations that could outshine America's medal glory.
Only four more years, till we get to see.
Easily. Beach volleyball, at the level at which US athletes (and their closest competitors) played, requires great skill and athleticism.
having it be a concert at all just seems... unseemly
especially considering most of the ‘artists’ are detestable human beings
I love it!!! That’ll teach all those freedom haters (including BO and his Rats). USA USA!!!!!!
I turned off the closing Olympics show after 20 minutes. Boring!!! Turned on “42nd Street” on TCM.
I was very impressed with the skill and athleticism of the synchronized swimming teams.
Weighted Final Rankings
Rank Total Points
1 United States 296
2 China 276
3 Russia 178
4 Great Britain 146
5 Germany 109
6 France 87
7 South Korea 81
8 Australia 79
9 Japan 79
10 Italy 59
11 Hungary 55
12 Netherlands 46
13 Ukraine 33
14 Spain 33
15 Kazakhstan 33
16 Cuba 30
17 Brazil 28
18 New Zealand 27
19 Iran 27
20 Jamaica 26
21 Belarus 26
22 Canada 25
23 Czech Republic 24
24 North Korea 23
25 South Africa 22
26 Ethoipia 21
27 Croatia 19
We already have that. In 2010 the USA got 882,250 scientific citations. That is more than the UK, Germany, China, France and Russia COMBINED.
We also have over 400,000 patent applications every year.
That’s funny. I would watch that.
I don’t question the athleticism of the event or the competitors. I’m just wondering how that kind of “sport” ever made it into the Summer Olympics in the first place — and how many countries even send teams to compete in that event.
Congratulations China and my native country Great Britain.
Commiserations to Canada women's soccer team.
I thought the closing ceremonies were trying to be bigger than the games themselves. Not to be too critical though. Would have preferred a quiet Guinness in London pub myself,had I been in London.
OK
Weighted Final Rankings
Rank Total Points
1 United States 296
2 China 276
3 Russia 178
4 Great Britain 146
5 Germany 109
6 France 87
7 South Korea 81
8 Australia 79
9 Japan 79
10 Italy 59
11 Hungary 55
12 Netherlands 46
13 Ukraine 33
14 Spain 33
15 Kazakhstan 33
16 Cuba 30
17 Brazil 28
18 New Zealand 27
19 Iran 27
20 Jamaica 26
21 Belarus 26
22 Canada 25
23 Czech Republic 24
24 North Korea 23
25 South Africa 22
26 Ethoipia 21
27 Croatia 19
Clearly the participants have great skill and ability. But its just not a real “sport” in my opinion. People just don’t break out into games of synchronized swimming. Stuff by judges always makes me wonder how rigged the event is.
You know, I was thinking the gray uniforms weren’t that great ..... until I noticed how well the medals/ribbons showed up against that color.
Yes they looked good with purple ribbons but so would white with red and blue. I saw the same way as you but still think it should have beemn red white and blue
With the fall of Communism in the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, many sports coaches who had cushy careers east of the Iron Curtain had to leave in order to earn a living. That’s why we saw many of them head to the USA, and as a result the US Olympic teams—especially in the Summer Olympics—have become quite a bit stronger.
And replace them with baseball (zzzzzz) and softball (seriously?)?.
Many of the Olympic events are not "games."
Lebron James didn’t earn that GOLD medal today.
He drove on roads provided by government. ...
The joy of Coach Mike K., Lebron, Kobe, all the players when they won.
The greatest players in the world. Every one has their own story.
NO BARACK, WE DIDN”T NEED A GOVERNMENT PROGRAM FOR BASKETBALL.
We BUILT IT. Naismith invented basketball in Springfield, Mass. —
not GOVERNMENT.
Kobe had a dream. To be the best player in the world. to win NBA championships. To play and win gold in his final Olympics.
The USA athletes were not sponsored by their government for the most part.
They were not identified as in China, at an early age.
Michael Phelps just started in his little club pool in Baltimore neighborhood.
The talent, desire, hard work and determination of the USA athletes
remind us that life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness
can take you to great heights. we are blessed in this country.
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