2008 - BEIJING, CHINA

2008 - BEIJING, CHINA. The United States had a memorable campaign in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China. The US won a total of 110 medals, setting a new record for the U.S. in Olympics without boycott. The US overcame the host China, which reached 100 medals. However, in terms of gold medals, China won 51 while the United States stayed limited to 36. As predicted, Swimming was the sport that more medals gave to Americans, with a total of 31, including 12 gold. Michael Phelps became the first athlete to win 8 gold medals in a single Olympic edition. He was the best athlete of the Beijing's Olympics. The US athletics team maintained its tradition of podium with a total of 23 medals, but only 7 gold, a bad result for North American standards. Still, the Athletics achieved the second best result to the US sport. Gymnastics also performed well and the US team achieved a total of 10 medals, although only 2 gold. The highlight was the women's team, which won 8 medals. The United States also conducted an excellent campaign in Shooting competitions and amounted a total of 6 medals, securing the second best performance among all participating countries. However, the greatest surprise occurred in the fencing competitions. The US team achieved six medals, including one gold. The result was really surprising but the US women in saber, with all 4 medals possible, commanded the success of the Americans. The country was ranked second in the medals table, something unthinkable a few years ago. The USA Cycling team also conducted a good campaign by adding five medals, 1 gold. USA had a good showing in Equestrian Sports and Rowing, with a total of 3 medals, including one gold, in each sport. Taekwondo also got 3 medals, but for the first time USA got no gold medal. U.S. kept its hegemony in Basketball and won the two gold medals, both with men as with women. The same occurred in Beach Volleyball, which secured two gold medals for the country. U.S. was a powerhouse in Sailing, but secured just two medals, but at least  the USA managed to climb once the highest spot of the podium. US Volleyball teams had an excellent campaign and the US won the gold medal in the men's tournament and silver medal in women's tournament, both times facing Brazil in the final. The USA team is a power in Wrestling but the US team was limited to only two medals, 1 gold, obtained in the male division. Tennis has also secured two medals to USA, one gold, again with the female duo formed by the Williams sisters. The USA Water Polo team arrived in two finals but lost both, securing two silver medals. In others sports, the USA team won single medals. In football, the women's team once again secured the gold medal, again beating Brazil. The USA's Softball team were amazed by Japan and had to settle for the silver medal at the last Olympic appearance of this sport in Olympics. The U.S. Baseball team also disappointed with only a bronze medal in a tournament marked by the victory of Korea over Cuba in the final. Boxing, Judo and Greco-Roman disappointed with only a bronze medal each. However, due to its ancient tradition, the Boxing's results was more disappointing than the Greco-Roman and Judo, sports no much traditional in USA . Overall the United States conducted a memorable campaign with a new record of 110 medals, including 36 gold, and reached the podium in 92 events.

USA MEDAL TALLY BY SPORT

SPORT	TOTAL	GOLD	SILVER	BRONZE	ME
SWIMMING	31	12	9	10	25
TRACK AND FIELD	23	7	9	7	17
GYMNASTICS	10	2	6	2	7
SHOOTING	6	2	2	2	6
FENCING	6	1	3	2	4
CYCLING	5	1	1	3	4
EQUESTRIAN SPORT	3	1	1	1	3
ROWING	3	1	1	1	3
TAEKWONDO	3	-	1	2	3
BASKETBALL	2	2	-	-	2
BEACH VOLLEYBALL	2	2	-	-	2
SAILING	2	1	1	-	2
VOLLEYBALL	2	1	1	-	2
FREESTYLE WRESTLING	2	1	-	1	2
TENNIS	2	1	-	1	2
WATER POLO	2	-	2	-	2
SOCCER	1	1	-	-	1
SOFTBALL	1	-	1	-	1
BEISEBOL	1	-	-	1	1
BOXING	1	-	-	1	1
JUDO	1	-	-	1	1
GRECO-ROMAN WRESTLING	1	-	-	1	1
TOTAL	110	36	38	36	92