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2012 Olympics Medal Count: Team USA Finishes On Top

The United States finished atop the medal table at the 2012 Summer Olympics, winning a total of 104 medals, including 46 gold. China was second with 87 medals. The hosts, Great Britain, tallied 65. Visit SI.com for a complete Medal Tracker.

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57 Total Updates since July 28, 2012
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2012 Olympic Medal Count: A Graphical Breakdown

With the 2012 Summer Olympics behind us, it's time to delve into the medal count for a better idea of what just happened and who the big winners were.

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2012 Olympics: Full Medal Count And Results

The United States took top honors at the 2012 London Olympics, finishing with more total medals and gold medals at the Summer Games. China, Russia, Great Britain and Germany rounded out the Top 5.

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U.S. Medal Count: Americans Avenge Second-Place Finish In Beijing

Before the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, the US had finished at the top of the gold medal count in four consecutive Olympics.

China snapped that streak in 2008, finishing with 51 gold medals to only 36 for the US. Without the benefit of home-field advantage, things returned to "normal" in London, with the US at 46 golds to China's 38.

America made up golds across all three major events: swimming (12 to 16), track and field (8 to 9) and gymnastics (2 to 3).

Most of the Chinese decline came from a slip in gymnastics (11 down to 5) and weightlifting (8 to 5). They maintained their powerhouse programs in table tennis, badminton and diving. They've been very good at finding "sports" like trampolining where it's pretty easy to turn money into medals.

They'd probably say the sheer number of swimming medals and relays unfairly tilts the tables towards the US. Either way, order has been restored to the universe.

For a complete breakdown, visit Sports Illustrated's medal count tracker.

For more on the Olympics, check out SB Nation's London 2012 Olympics hub.

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Olympic Medal Count 2012: United States Reigns Supreme

For nearly two weeks at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, it was a dogfight at the top of the medal count leaderboard between the United States and China.

Over the last weekend of events, the United States pulled away. They gained such a lead, in fact, that entering the final day of events on Sunday, they had already ensured they would leave as the winners in total medals and gold medals. Still, the U.S. managed to add two final gold medals to their tally on Sunday, in wrestling and in men's basketball, to make it 46 gold medals in total.

China failed to medal in any event on Sunday and will finish with 87 total medals and 38 gold medals. Russia nabbed four more medals on Sunday to nearly catch up to China, and will wrap things up with 82 total medals.

Host country Great Britain was no slouch, picking up a gold and two silver medals to finish in fourth place with 65. Their 29 gold medals are good for third place in that column, which is something Britain will be very proud of.

Here is how the top five looks in the latest medal count:

  1. United States, 104 (46 gold, 29 silver, 29 bronze)
  2. China, 87 (38, 27, 22)
  3. Russia, 82 (24, 25, 33)
  4. Great Britain, 65 (29, 17, 19)
  5. Germany, 44 (11, 19, 14)

For a complete breakdown, visit Sports Illustrated's medal count tracker.

For more on the Olympics, check out SB Nation's London 2012 Olympics hub.

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2012 Olympic Medal Count: United States Will Finish On Top

The United States added to their large medal haul on Saturday, going over 100 total medals for the 2012 London Olympics and ensuring that they'll finish on top of the medal count, whether one chooses to determine that count by gold medals or total medals. The United States captured gold medals in women's basketball, men's diving and women's track on Saturday.

China continues to have a strong Olympics and added to their total with a men's boxing gold and numerous other medals on Saturday. Russia was boosted by a huge day in track and field, where they won four gold medals to expand their lead over Great Britain in third place.

Here is how the top five looks in the latest medal count:

  1. United States, 102 (44 gold, 29 silver, 29 bronze)
  2. China, 87 (38, 27, 22)
  3. Russia, 78 (21, 25, 32)
  4. Great Britain, 62 (28, 15, 19)
  5. Germany, 44 (11, 19, 14)

For a complete breakdown, visit Sports Illustrated's medal count tracker.

For more on the Olympics, check out SB Nation's London 2012 Olympics hub.

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2012 Olympics Medal Count: Team USA Comfortably Ahead; Hello Phelps!

Michael Phelps! Usain Bolt! An 8-bit Olympic medal count video! Let's end Friday on a high note, friends.

Watch this superb video from SB Nation Studios closely. There are Easter eggs. Wonder Easter eggs.

PHELPS!

As for the day itself, the USA picked up four gold medals, two of which were on the track, to take a 13-medal lead over China. Team USA was golden in the women's 4x100 relay, setting a world record while showing off blazing speed. On the men's side, the 4x400 team was shocked by the Bahamas, setting for second and the silver medal.

The medal count is as follows:

  • USA: 94 (41 G, 26 S, 27 B)
  • China: 81 (37 G, 25 S, 19 B)
  • Russia: 63 (15 G, 21 S, 27 B)
  • Great Britain: 57 (25 G, 15 S, 17 B)
  • Germany: 42 (10 G, 18 S, 14 B)

For a complete breakdown, visit Sports Illustrated's medal count tracker.

For more on the Olympics, check out SB Nation's London 2012 Olympics hub.

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2012 Olympics Medal Count: U.S. Builds Lead With Track, Team Sports

The United States had taken the lead on China in the overall medal count, but lagged behind their primary rival in the gold medal tally. After Day 13, which brought a flurry of U.S. medals on the track and in team sports, that's no longer the case.

Team USA won 10 medals on the day, twice the haul of Germany, second-best on the day with five, and collected five golds, from boxer Claressa Shields, triple jumper Christian Taylor, decathlete Ashton Eaton, women's water polo and women's soccer.

The U.S. also scored 1-2 finishes in both the triple jump, where Will Claye added a silver medal to his long jump bronze, and the decathlon, with Trey Hardee taking silver. In all, a staggering 39 American athletes were awarded medals on Thursday.

Combine that rush with China's struggles on the day -- the Chinese took just four medals, and only one gold -- and the U.S. has opened a lead that is unlikely to be challenged for the rest of the Olympics, with many track events remaining and Team USA still possessing strong chances of medaling in men's and women's basketball and volleyball.

Here is how the top five looks in the latest medal count:

  1. United States, 90 (39 gold, 25 silver, 26 bronze)
  2. China, 80 (37, 24, 19)
  3. Russia, 56 (12, 21, 23)
  4. Great Britain, 52 (25, 13, 14)
  5. Germany, 37 (10, 16, 11)

For more on the Olympics, check out SB Nation's London 2012 Olympics hub.

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2012 Olympic Medal Count: Team USA Overtakes China With Pack Of Track Medals

The United States took back the lead in the overall medal count at the 2012 Olympics on Wednesday's Day 12. Seven medals from four events on the track, including gold medals by Allyson Felix, Aries Merritt and Brittney Reese, helped propel Team USA past China.

Felix broke through for her first individual gold in the women's 200 meters on Wednesday, making her the first woman ever with three Olympic medals in the 200 meters and ending an eight-year rivalry with Jamaica's Veronica Campbell-Brown. Merritt and countryman Jason Richardson won gold and silver in the men's 110m hurdles. And Reese won just the second U.S. gold in the women's long jump, giving the U.S. three of the four individual track and field golds awarded on the day. In the fourth event, Lashinda Demus won silver in the women's 400m hurdles.

Bronze medals from Carmelita Jeter in the 200 meters and Janay DeLoach in the women's long jump helped push the U.S. tally on the track to 20 medals. That's far and away the best effort by a nation in athletics; Russia is second to the U.S. with nine medals.

The U.S.'s 11 medals on Wednesday erased a Chinese lead in the medal count, and give Team USA a four-medal advantage after Day 12.

Here is how the top five looks in the latest medal count:

  1. United States, 80 (34 gold, 22 silver, 24 bronze)
  2. China, 77 (36, 22, 19)
  3. Russia, 52 (11, 19, 22)
  4. Great Britain, 48 (22, 13, 13)
  5. Germany, 32 (7, 15, 10)

And for a more aesthetically-pleasing version of that, here's the Day 12 8-bit medal count video.

For more on the Olympics, check out SB Nation's London 2012 Olympics hub.

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Olympic Medal Count: U.S., China Continue Battle For Top Spot

The United States and China are separated by just three total medals entering Day 12 of the 2012 Summer Olympics, but the U.S. finds itself on the wrong end of that count. China has 73 total medals and 34 gold medals, the latter four more than the United States.

The two countries can switch positions on Wednesday if things fall correctly for the United States. The United States is guaranteed a gold medal in beach volleyball as that matchup pits Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings, two-time defending champions, against fellow U.S. athletes April Ross and Jen Kessy.

There are also four gold medal events in track and field. The United States will have competitors in the women's long jump, 400-meter hurdles and women's 200-meter. The men's 110-meter hurdles event also has the semifinal, but there are three U.S. athletes with the potential to make the finals.

China will look for gold in table tennis when it goes up against South Korea. The Chinese beach volleyball team faces a tough bronze medal match against Brazil's Juliana and Larissa.

Entering Wednesday, here is how the medal count looks:

  1. China, 73 (34 gold, 21 silver, 18 bronze)
  2. United States, 70 (30, 19, 21)
  3. Great Britain, 48 (22, 13, 13)
  4. Russia, 48 (10, 18, 20)
  5. Japan, 29 (2, 13, 14)

For more on the Olympics, check out SB Nation's London 2012 Olympics hub.

Check out the SB Nation Channel on YouTube

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2012 Olympics Medal Count: Great Britain, Russia Battle For 3rd Place Behind China, U.S.

At the conclusion of Day 11 at the 2012 London Olympics, China and the United States still battle for overall supremacy, but the battle for third place is now in a tie between host-country Great Britain and Russia. The two countries each have 48 total medals, but Great Britain has an edge in gold medals, 22-10.

Russia picked up three gold medals on Tuesday (synchronized swimming women's duet, men's high jump, men's 3-meter springboard) while Great Britain took gold in four events (equestrian team dressage, men's triathlon, women's omnium, men's keirin).

China won the day with nine total medals, including gold in men's parallel bars and women's balance beam. The United States added seven medals, though just one gold. Aly Raisman grabbed that medal in the women's floor exercise after taking bronze in the women's balance beam.

Here is how the top five looks in the latest medal count:

  1. China, 73 (34 gold, 21 silver, 18 bronze)
  2. United States, 70 (30, 19, 21)
  3. Great Britain, 48 (22, 13, 13)
  4. Russia, 48 (10, 18, 20)
  5. Japan, 29 (2, 13, 14)

For more on the Olympics, check out SB Nation's London 2012 Olympics hub.

Check out the SB Nation Channel on YouTube

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2012 Olympic Medal Count: China Holds Lead On U.S. After Day 11

After Day 11 of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, China has a lead on Team USA in the total medal count, despite the United States adding four medals on the track in the afternoon.

Leo Manzano won maybe the biggest of the four, taking silver in the men's 1,500 meters, an event in which no American had medaled since 1968, 44 years ago. Dawn Harper and Kellie Wells won silver and bronze, respectively, in the women's 100m hurdles, though Lolo Jones failed to medal. And Erik Kynard took silver in the men's high jump.

But China won nine medals on the day to lead all nations, scoring big wins in women's team table tennis, and men's and women's gymnastics. The U.S. also trails China by four gold medals, with Aly Raisman winning the only U.S. gold of the day in the women's floor exercise.

The U.S. was one of two nations to win more than three medals on Tuesday and only win one gold. Germany was the other.

Here's a more complete look at the medal count:

  1. China, 73 (34 gold, 21 silver, 18 bronze)
  2. United States, 70 (30, 19, 21)
  3. Great Britain, 48 (22, 13, 13)
  4. Russia, 48 (10, 18, 20)
  5. Japan, 29 (2, 13, 14)

For more on the Olympics, check out SB Nation's London 2012 Olympics hub.

Check out the SB Nation Channel on YouTube

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2012 Olympic Medal Count: China Adds To Lead On U.S., Despite Aly Raisman

Aly Raisman snagged two medals for the U.S. on Tuesday, including another individual gold. But midway through Day 11 of the 2012 Olympics, China has a large lead on Team USA in the medal count.

China (71 total medals) is up by five medals on the U.S. in the total medal count, having added seven medals on the day. The Chinese got gold from Feng Zhe on men's parallel bars and from Deng Linlin on women's balance beam in gymnastics, and added to their haul from table tennis by winning the women's team competition.

The U.S.'s lone gold on the day so far came from Raisman, who stole the show on the women's floor exercise, the final event of the gymnastics slate. She also added a bronze on the beam. But despite the U.S. women taking five medals from gymnastics (Raisman's two, Gabby Douglas' all-around gold, McKayla Maroney's vault silver, and team gold), China and Great Britain snagged the most medals from the sport, with eight each to the U.S.'s six.

The third U.S. medal of the day came from Sarah Hammer, who took silver in women's omnium.

The U.S. could still make up some of its medal deficit to China on the track later on Tuesday, but it is in no danger of falling any lower than second at this point. Great Britain, currently third in the medal count, is 19 medals behind Team USA.

Here's a more complete look at the medal count:

  1. China, 71 (34 gold, 20 silver, 17 bronze)
  2. United States, 66 (30, 16, 20)
  3. Great Britain, 47 (22, 13, 12)
  4. Russia, 44 (8, 17, 19)
  5. Japan, 29 (2, 13, 14)

For more on the Olympics, check out SB Nation's London 2012 Olympics hub.

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Olympics Medal Count: United States Retakes Narrow Lead Over China

The United States began Day 8 of the 2012 Olympics with a narrow lead in the medal count and, after China briefly tied them for No. 1, the USA has now retaken the lead by one medal.

The United States surged back into the lead thanks to another strong day in the pool. Team USA won gold in both the men's and women's 4x100m medley relays. The men's team won thanks in part to strong performances from Michael Phelps and Nathan Adrian. Adrain swam the final leg in 46.85.

Team USA also got off to a good start in Track & Field with Carmelita Jeter taking home a sliver medal in the women's 100m and Galen Rupp winning a silver medal in the men's 10,000m. Will Claye also added a bronze medal in the men's long jump.

Here's a more complete look at the medal count:

United States: 54 (26 gold, 13 silver, 15 bronze)

China: 53 (25, 16, 12)

Great Britain: 29 (14, 7, 8)

Russia: 28 (3, 15, 10)

Japan: 24 (2, 10, 12)

For a complete breakdown, visit Sports Illustrated's medal count tracker.

For more on the Olympics, check out SB Nation's London 2012 Olympics Hub.

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Olympics Medal Count: United States Holds Lead On Day 7

The United States held the lead in the Olympic medal count heading into Day 7. The Chinese ruled the morning in London and took it back. And then a surge in the pool by the fantastic U.S. swimming crew put Team USA back on top.

China won eight medals on the day, with golds from mixed badminton and from Dong Dong in the trampoline, which is as fun as it sounds. And the U.S. could only manage six medals, but came within the .20 seconds Cullen Jones lost by in the men's 50m freestyle from sweeping gold in the pool on Friday, with Michael Phelps winning what was likely his last individual Olympic medal and teenagers Missy Franklin and Katie Ledecky showing the future is blindingly bright.

South Korea touched gold in men's team sabre fencing, with Romania taking silver and Italy bronze. Russia snagged two of its six silver medals on the day from weightlifting, with Russians finishing second to Kazakhstan in women's 75kg weightlifting and Poland in men's 85kg. Iran — officially listed as the Islamic Republic of Iran — won its first medal of these games, a bronze, in the men's event, while Belarus won its fourth in women's.

For the first time in the 2012 Olympics, the U.S. has a lead on China in both the overall medal count and the medal rankings, which international news services use, with 21 golds to China's 20 and 43 medals to 42 for the Chinese. But the big moves on the day came from Russia, which leaped to third, and Great Britain, which got seven medals on the day and rose to fourth in the medal count.

Here's a more complete look at the medal count:

  1. United States, 43 (21 gold, 10 silver, 12 bronze)
  2. China, 42 (20, 13, 9)
  3. Russia, 23 (3, 12, 8)
  4. Great Britain, 17 (8, 6, 8)
  5. Japan, 17 (2, 8, 11)

For more on the Olympics, check out SB Nation's London 2012 Olympics Hub

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Olympic Medal Count: USA Pulls Ahead Of China In Overall Medals

The United States caught and surpassed China on Thursday in the overall medal count to take a 37 to 34 lead. Both nations still have the same amount of gold medals as the United States closed that gap as well to match the Chinese with 18.

The big winners in Team USA's efforts on Thursday included Gabby Douglas, Tyler Clary, Rebecca Soni, and Kayla Harrison. Douglas became the third straight American to win the women's all-around gymnastics competition -- the first time that's ever happened in Team USA history. Harrison also made history, becoming the first American to ever win a gold in judo. In the pool, Soni captured the women's 200m breakstroke while Clary beat out Ryan Lochte in 200m backstroke.

And then there was Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian in history. Matched up against Lochte in the 200m IM, Phelps added to his totals by capturing his 20th medal and 16th gold in Olympics history (more than most nations). The big day in the pool was certainly played a role in USA chasing down China.

Here's a more complete look at the medal count:

  1. United States, 37 (18 gold, 9 silver, 10 bronze)
  2. China, 34 (18, 11, 5)
  3. Japan, 19 (2, 6, 11)
  4. Germany, 17 (4, 8, 5)
  5. Russia, 17 (3, 6, 8)

For more on the Olympics, check out SB Nation's London 2012 Olympics Hub

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2012 Olympic Medal Count: U.S. Opens Lead On China After Day 6, Sort Of

Propelled by another fantastic day in the pool, Team USA has finally taken the lead on China in the Olympic medal count. Sort of, anyway.

Rebecca Soni's victory in the women's 200-meter breaststroke, Tyler Clary's win in the men's 200m backstroke and Michael Phelps' triumph in the men's 200 IM added three golds to the U.S. tally late on Day 6, tying China's 18 golds for the most in London. But a slew of lesser U.S. medals -- like the silver and bronze that Ryan Lochte took in the 200 IM and 200 backstroke, respectively -- helped vault the U.S. to the top of the overall medal list.

Also helping the U.S. vault? Gabby Douglas, whose all-around gymnastics gold was historic in its own right, and gave the U.S. both women's gymnastics gold medals awarded so far.

But while the U.S. leads the medal count used by SB Nation and other American media outlets, the official London 2012 medal count counts gold and silver medals first, and China's advantage in silvers (11 to the U.S.'s nine) has it on top in that table.

The U.S. dominance of the pool has helped pad America's tally. Team USA's 23 swimming medals account for more than half of the total of 37, and are more medals than any nation besides the U.S. and China have in sum.

Here's a more complete look at the medal count:

  1. United States, 37 (18 gold, 9 silver, 10 bronze)
  2. China, 34 (18, 11, 5)
  3. Japan, 19 (2, 6, 11)
  4. Germany, 17 (4, 8, 5)
  5. Russia, 17 (3, 6, 8)

For more on the Olympics, check out SB Nation's London 2012 Olympics hub.

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2012 Olympics Medal Count: China Leads USA; 11-Way Tie For 39th Place

The 2012 Summer Olympics medal count is something that we at SB Nation have constantly been keeping tabs on -- much like the rest of the world, probably -- but amid the focus on the top of the leaderboard, there seem to be times when other things get overlooked by those reporting on lovely London. Sure, China holds a small lead over Team USA when it comes to overall medals, but that certainly isn't the only thing that matters.

And yes, It's definitely cool to know that American swimmer Allison Schmitt is tied with Australia's Alicia Coutts for the most medals this summer with four apiece (though Schmitt has a 2-1 advantage in golds following Wednesday's relay win), but what about Vavrinec Hradilek of the Czech Republic breaking through to get his country's first medal of the summer? And in kayaking, no less!

In an effort to bring those stories to light, here are all 11 of the countries tied for 39th -- or last, if you prefer -- place in the medal count through Wednesday: Uzbekistan, Serbia, Singapore, Qatar, Mongolia, the Republic of Moldova, India, Greece, Belarus, Belgium and Azerbaijan. (While the Czech Republic has only Hradilek's medal, they are ranked 29th because silver ranks higher than bronze.)

We all know it's not always fun to cheer for the top teams, so remember to remember the aforementioned 39th-place teams when seeking an underdog to support in the weeks ahead. Who knows? Maybe you'll even become a big fan of Azerbaijan (pro tip: fan and Azerbaijan kind of rhyme, so it was probably meant to happen).

For the visual learners -- and anyone still interested in keeping tabs on the top medal performances -- the below video should come in handy.

For more on the Olympics, check out SB Nation's London 2012 Olympics Hub.

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2012 Olympics Medal Count: China Holds Slim Lead Over Team USA

Day 5 gave China a one-medal edge on the United States in the 2012 Summer Olympics medal count. Chinese domination of table tennis and weightlifting has helped cancel out American brilliance in the water.

China went 1-2 in both women's table tennis and men's 77kg weightlifting, scoring four of its seven medals on the day from just two events. The Chinese also got their fourth gold medal in diving on Wednesday.

The U.S. surged back to just one medal off the Chinese pace with another fantastic day in swimming. Nathan Adrian won another U.S. gold in a thrilling 100m freestyle, and the U.S. women's 4x200 freestyle relay team set an Olympic record en route to America's 18th medal in swimming.

To put that in perspective: the United States has more medals in swimming than any nation but China or the U.S. has in the entire Olympics.

And with Ryan Lochte, Michael Phelps, and Rebecca Soni all qualifying well for Thursday finals, that total's likely to break 20 by the end of Day 6.

Here's a more complete look at the medal count:

  1. China, 30 (17 gold, 9 silver, 4 bronze)
  2. United States, 29 (12, 8, 9)
  3. Japan, 17 (2, 4, 11)
  4. France, 13 (5, 3, 5)
  5. Germany, 13 (3, 8, 2)

For more on the Olympics, check out SB Nation's London 2012 Olympics Hub.

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London 2012 Olympic Medal Count: United States Seeks To Rise Above China

Another day of competition is underway at the London Summer Olympics on Wednesday, which, for the United States, means another attempt at moving ahead of China in the total medal lead. At the conclusion of Tuesday's events, the two nations were tied with 23 medals apiece, but China held a 13-9 lead in gold medals.

There will once again be plenty of attention on the swimming events, with Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte competing in individual events, but neither will be in a medal contest. However, 17-year-old Missy Franklin will take part in the 4x200 meter freestyle relay, which has both the qualifying and final rounds on Wednesday.

The United States does have a strong chance at winning gold in the women's cycling time trial with Kristin Armstrong, 38, looking to repeat her gold-medal performance from the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The men's individual time trial features 22-year-old Taylor Phinney as a possible medal winner.

Other events for the United States to medal in on Wednesday include but are not limited to: women's individual sabre, men's individual all-around gymnastics and men's synchronized 3m springboard. Mariel Zagunis, the United States' flag bearer, will compete in the sabre competition. In non-medal action, the U.S. women's basketball team plays Turkey, and Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings continue their pursuit of gold in beach volleyball with a contest against Austria in group play.

For a complete breakdown, visit Sports Illustrated's medal count tracker.

For complete coverage of the 2012 London Olympics, visit SB Nation's Summer Olympics hub.

Check out the SB Nation Channel on YouTube

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2012 Olympic Medal Count: United States Still Tied With China In Total Medals, But Lacking In Gold

At the conclusion of Day 4 of the 2012 London Olympics, the United States added six more medals for a total of 23 so fat. However, China also kept pace with the United States and is tied for the overall medal lead. China does maintain the lead in gold medals over the United States, 13 to nine.

The United States' swimmers kept the medals flowing on Tuesday with victories on both the men's and women's teams. Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte helped Team USA swimming to a gold in the 4x200 meter relay, an impressive victory to say the least. Allison Schmitt was dominant in her gold-medal victory in the 200 meter freestyle.

Additionally, Phelps took the silver medal in the men's 200 meter butterfly. With those two medals, Phelps now has 19 career medals, putting him ahead of Soviet gymnast Larissa Latynina for the all-time Olympic record.

The women's gymnastics team also added a gold medal with its victory in the team competition on Tuesday. This was the first gold medal for the women's team since the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

The United States will have more chances on Wednesday to pull ahead of China in the total medal and gold counts. Some of the medal events include the men's and women's cycling time trials, the men's individual all-around gymnastics and the women's 4x200 meter freestyle relay.

Here is a look at the top five countries in the medal count after four days of action:

  1. China, 23 (13 gold, 6 silver, 4 bronze)
  2. United States, 23 (9, 8, 6)
  3. Japan, 13 (1, 4, 8)
  4. France, 11 (4, 3, 4)
  5. South Korea, 8 (3, 2, 3)

For complete coverage of the 2012 London Olympics, visit SB Nation's Summer Olympics hub.

Check out the SB Nation Channel on YouTube

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London 2012 Olympic Medal Count: Michael Phelps Helps U.S. Keep Pace With China

Teamwork helped the United States tie China midway through Day 4 in the 2012 Summer Olympics medal count. Teamwork also helped the U.S. keep pace with China after the evening's swimming in London was done.

Ryan Lochte and Michael Phelps swam the first and last legs of the 4x200m relay for Team USA in the day's last swimming final, and they helped the Americans to a victory that ceased to be in doubt about 100 meters into Lochte's first leg.

The medal was the 19th of Phelps' Olympic career and gave him the all-time Olympic medal record, breaking a tie that existed for less than an hour after Phelps tied Soviet gymnast Larissa Latynina with his 18th medal, a silver in the men's 200m butterfly.

But neither of those wins could break a tie with China and gave the U.S. the lead in the overall medal count. Neither could Allison Schmitt preceding Phelps' swim with some dominance of her own in the women's 200m freestyle, earning the U.S.'s fifth individual gold in the pool.

That's because China's Ye Shiwen earned her second individual gold in the women's 200m IM, and Lin Qingfeng picked up a gold in weightlifting, extending the Chinese lead in the gold medal race, and the Chinese team took a distant bronze in the men's relay, leaving both nations tied at 23 medals after Day 4's final medal event.

Here's a more complete look at the medal count:

  1. China, 23 (13 gold, 6 silver, 4 bronze)
  2. United States, 23 (9, 8, 6)
  3. Japan, 13 (1, 4, 8)
  4. France, 11 (4, 3, 4)
  5. South Korea, 8 (3, 2, 3)

And for a slightly more sprite-ly version of that medal count:

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2012 London Olympic Medal Count: U.S Gymnastics Gold Ties China For Lead

China's surprising prowess in the pool has been one of the storylines of the Olympics. But it's the traditional Chinese dominance in diving that has been their bread and butter in London, and another gold medal on Tuesday morning propelled the Chinese to the top of the medal count. Then the U.S. tied them up with a big win in women's team gymnastics.

China's team of Chen Ruolin and Wang Hao blew away the field in women's synchronized 10m platform diving, scoring the third Chinese goal of the London Games. It also makes a clean sweep for China in diving: three finals have been held, and China has taken three gold medals from them.

A brilliant performance from the U.S. women's gymnastics team, however, gave Team USA its first gold medal in the team competition since 1996, when Kerri Strug's sensational vault on an injured ankle gave America its signature moment of its home nation Games.

The U.S. got another gold medal on the day, from U.S. Army sergeant Vincent Hancock in skeet shooting, but wasn't able to score its third medal in as many diving events. So Team USA remains tied with China, which got a silver medal from women's 63kg judo and failed to reach the medal podium in women's team gymnastics, through midday on Day 4. Both nations have 19 medals for the Olympics.

Here's a more complete look at the medal count:

  1. China, 19 (10 gold, 6 silver, 3 bronze)
  2. United States, 19 (7, 7, 5)
  3. Japan, 12 (1, 4, 7)
  4. France, 9 (4, 1, 4)
  5. Italy, 8 (2, 4, 2)

For complete coverage of the 2012 London Olympics, visit SB Nation's Summer Olympics hub.

Check out the SB Nation Channel on YouTube

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2012 London Olympics Medal Count: U.S. Ties China With Swimming Haul

China and the United States will trade the medal lead back and forth over the course of the 2012 London Olympics. Monday afternoon's swimming events helped the Americans tie China for the lead, but a couple of disappointments prevented the U.S. from taking it outright heading into Tuesday.

Matt Grevers kicked off the U.S. pool party with an Olympic record and an easy gold medal victory in the men's 100m backstroke, thoroughly outclassing the field in the race's second 50 meters. Fortunately for Team USA, though, the silver went to Nick Thoman, making the event the first time in the 2012 Olympics that the U.S. has gotten two medals from one event.

Missy Franklin also made good on being the favorite in the water, pulling away for a win in the women's 100m backstroke for her first Olympic gold medal. She'll have four more chances to add to the Team USA tally.

However, Ryan Lochte, projected to dominate these Olympics by many, surprised in the men's 200m freestyle, finishing fourth and well behind Yannick Agnel, the French star of the pool so far. Agnel has helped France get three medals in the pool, nearly doubling its lifetime total entering 2012.

And the chances of a U.S. double in the women's 100m breaststroke by Rebecca Soni and Breeja Larson were dashed in part by Lithuania's 15-year-old Ruta Meilutyte, who repeated a stunning semifinal performance by taking gold, relegating Soni to silver. Larson finished sixth in the event.

With four medals in the water, though, Team USA erased lead China had (the Chinese won just one swimming medal on Monday, Sun Yang's silver in the men's 200m freestyle), and gave itself another good chance to take the lead on Tuesday. The U.S.'s 12 swimming medals to this point are by far the most any nation has in one sport at the 2012 Olympics, and more than any other nation, save China, has won across all sports.

Team USA also accomplished a significant lifetime goal: Soni's silver was the U.S.'s 500th swimming medal in Olympic history, which only outstrips Australia's second-best tally by 333 medals.

Here's a more complete look at the medal count:

  1. China, 17 (9 gold, 5 silver, 3 bronze)
  2. United States, 17 (5, 7, 5)
  3. Japan, 11 (1, 4, 6)
  4. Italy, 8 (2, 4, 2)
  5. France, 7 (3, 1, 3)

Other notables: The only team beyond that top five with three gold medals is North Korea; Great Britain moved into a five-way tie for ninth with its third medal; mighty Moldova still has one bronze medal.

You can find a more viewer-friendly medal count right here:

For complete coverage of the 2012 London Olympics, visit SB Nation's Summer Olympics hub.

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London 2012 Medal Count: China Adds More Golds On Day 3

China and the United States seem likely to do battle for the top spot in the 2012 Olympics medal count for the better part of a fortnight. On Day Three, though, the Chinese are extending their lead.

On Day Three, China was dominant in the morning and midday events, taking gold in men's 10m synchronized diving and women's 58kg weightlifting to push its gold medal tally to eight. That was as many gold medals as Italy, France, Russia, and South Korea have combined, and five more than the United States.

Then China scored a gold medal in men's team gymnastics, in a bit of an upset. The U.S. team had scored the top spot in qualifying, but finished off the podium in the event final.

The U.S. didn't fall in total medal count, though, scoring two bronze medals of its own. Marti Malloy took the U.S.'s second medal ever in women's judo, and the American team of David Boudia and Nick McCrory won bronze in men's 10m synchronized diving, giving the U.S. 13 medals, second only to China. America also leads the 2012 Olympics in bronze medals, with five, not that anyone's bragging about that.

But the American chance to overtake China will come shortly, and in the water, where it can add to its haul of eight medals. Ryan Lochte should win another medal, perhaps his second gold, in the 200m freestyle, Matt Grevers is the gold favorite in the 100m backstroke, the gold for women's 100m backstroke could end up around Missy Franklin's neck, and Breeja Larson and Rebecca Soni will likely vie with each other for gold and silver in the 100m breaststroke. Barring more upsets, the U.S. could have a slim lead in the total medal count by the end of Monday afternoon on the East Coast.

Here's a more complete look at current top five of the medal count:

  1. China, 15 (9 gold, 4 silver, 2 bronze)
  2. United States, 13 (3, 5, 5)
  3. Italy, 8 (2, 4, 2)
  4. Japan, 8 (1, 4, 3)
  5. France, 6 (2, 1, 3)

Other notables: Russia and South Korea are tied for sixth with five medals each, Great Britain trails the University of Florida with one silver and one bronze, pushed off the podium in men's team gymnastics, and Moldova's medal count remains one bronze.

You can find a complete medal tracker over at SI.com.

For complete coverage of the 2012 London Olympics, visit SB Nation's Summer Olympics hub.

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2012 Olympics Medal Count: Breaking Down USA, China Totals So Far

A look at how the medals have been won by the USA and China so far. China holds a one-medal lead and tops the rest of the world with six golds so far.

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2012 Olympics Medal Count: China Still Leads After Day 2, U.S. Keeping Pace

The second full day of gold medal competition is in the books at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. The United States trails China in overall medals and in gold medals.

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