The 2012 edition of the Olympics in London had a different feel to them this year. Maybe it was the emergence of social media. Or maybe it was all the compelling stories that drew more attention than usual. There was Michael Phelps attempting to become the most decorated Olympian in history, young Gabby Douglas carrying the US women’s gymnastics team to Usain Bolt solidifying his claim as the fastest man on the planet.
Whatever it was that captured your attention, it was apparent that the 2012 Olympics were special. And after over two weeks of competition, Team USA came away with the most medals, racking up an impressive 104 medals (46 gold, 29 silver, 29 bronze), topping the total of 88 by second-place Team China. Here’s a list of the top 10 medal count (you can view the full list here):
Even more impressive is Team USA claiming four of the top five spots individually, with Phelps leading the way with 6 medals (bringing his career total to 22), followed by fellow American swimmers Missy Franklin, Allison Schmidt, Ryan Lochte and Australia’s Alicia Coutts with five each.
So what does this all mean? It signifies that when it comes to athletic competitions, the United States still sets the bar for other countries to be measured by. The gap may be closing, but until Rio in 2016, Team USA holds the crown as top Olympic nation and will be ready to defend that crown in four years.
And we can’t wait.
-ALR
