Atlanta, GA 8/22/2008 12:50:04 AM
News / Sports

2008 Beijing Olympics Results: U.S. Leads Overall, China Leads Gold Medal Count on Thursday

The United States and China lead the medal count thus far in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, according to reports on Thursday.

 

The U.S. is second to China with 29 gold medals. The U.S. has also earned 34 silver medals and 32 bronze medals to bring their medal count to 82 overall, the highest of all nations.

 

The U.S. women's soccer team won the gold medal against Brazil, while the U.S. women's softball won silver after losing to Japan. Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor defended their gold medal in women's beach volleyball.

 

The U.S. swept the men's 400m in track and field as LaShawn Merritt outlasted rival Jeremy Wariner to win the gold.

 

On Sunday, Michael Phelps set the all-time Olympic record for eight gold medals in a single Olympics, breaking Mark Spitz's record from the 1972 Olympics. Phelps extended his all-time record for most Olympic gold medals to 14. 

 

Phelps set Olympic records in each event, but set seven, not eight, world records. Phelps missed the world record in the 100-meter freestyle (50.58), but set an Olympic record in the event.

 

Phelps set a world and Olympic record in the 200-meter individual medley (1:54.23), the 200-meter freestyle (1:42.96), 200-meter butterfly (1:52.03), 4x200 freestyle relay (6:58.56), the 4x100 medley relay (3:29.34), the 400m individual medley (4:03.84) and 4x100 freestyle relay (3:08.24).

 

Phelps won the exhilarating 4x100 freestyle relay, along with Cullen Jones, Garrett Weber-Gale and anchor Jason Lesak on last Sunday. 

 

Nastia Luikin won the individual all-around final in women's gymnastics as she totaled four medals during the Olympics. Shawn Johnson won the gold medal for the balance beam to add to her two silver medals. The women's team won silver in the team final, while the men's team won bronze.

 

Venus and Serena Williams won the gold medal in the women's doubles final in tennis. In track and field, Angelo Taylor won the 400m hurdles, Dawn Harper won the 110m hurdles and Stephanie Brown Trafton won the women's discus throw.

China leads all nations with 46 gold medals, winning 15 silver medals and 22 bronze medals to give them a medal count of 79 thus far.

Wei Yang continued China's dominance in gymnastics by winning the gold in the men's individual all-around final on Wednesday. He Kexin won the gold for the women's uneven bars, while Zou Kai (floor exercise, horizontal bars), Li Xiaopeng (parallel bars), Xiao Qin (pommel horse) and Chen Yibing (rings) won gold medals for the men. The men's and women's team swept the team final in gymnastics.

 

Zhang Juan Juan won the gold for women's individual archery and Liu Zige set a world and Olympic record as she won the gold in the women's 200-meter butterfly in swimming.

 

China won five gold medals in synchronized diving: Tian Liang and Jinghui Yang (women's 10m platform); Guo Jingjing and Wu Minxia (women's 3m springboard); Lin Yue and Huo Liang (men's 10m platform); and Feng Wang and Qin Kai (men's 3m springboard)

 

The host nation won nine weightlifting gold medals: Long Qingquan (men's 56kg), Zhang Xiangxiang (men's 62kg), Chen Xiexia (women's 48kg), Chen Yanqing (women's 58kg), Liao Hui (men's 69kg), Lu Yong (men's 85kg), Cao Lei (women's 78kg), Liu Chunhong (women's 69kg) and Wang Jiao (women's freestyle 72kg).

 

China also won three gold medals in women's judo (Xian Dongmei, 52kg; Tong Wen, +78kg; Yang Xiuli, 78kg) and four in shooting: Pang Wei (men's 10m air pistol), Guo Wenjun (women's 10m air pistol), Chen Ying (women's 25m pistol), and du Li (women's 50m rifle 3 position).

 

Guo Wenjun, Liu ChunhongCao Lei, Chen Xiexia, Chen Yanqing and Liu Chunhong all set Olympic records. On Monday, Zhong Man won the fencing gold medal for China in the men’s individual saber.

 

China swept the trampoline event as Lu Chunlong won the men's trampoline and He Wenna won the women's trampoline.

 

Great Britain is third behind China and the U.S. in total number of gold medals with 17, while Australia and Germany have 11. Russia is third in total medals with 51 (16 gold), while Great Britain is fourth with 40.

 

Although Jamaica has just five gold medals and nine altogether, all of their medals have come in track and field. Usain Bolt became the first runner since Carl Lewis in 1984 to win the gold medal in the 100m and 200m, setting world and Olympic records in both. Bolt ran a 9.69 in the 100m and 19.30 in 200m.

 

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