2012 - LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM

2012 - LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM. The United States was the strongest country of the Summer Olympic Games of 2012 to win a total of 104 medals, 46 gold. The total U.S. was quite impressive, but their total medals fell short, for example, of their medals total achieved in the previous Beijing Games in 2008, when USA won 110 medals,  or Barcelona in 1992, when USA totaled 108 medals, or in Mexico City in 1968 when USA amassed 107 total medals. However, the United States established their new record of gold medals in Olympics without boycotts, reaching a total of 46, surpassing their previous record of 45 gold medals obtained in the Games of 1924 in Paris and Mexico City olympics in 1968. In London-2012, once again the country followed its traditional model of getting most of their medals in swimming and athletics (60 medals), completing their total medals in other sports, with more 44 medals. The U.S. sports have a pyramid with a broad base, but narrows rapidly. Swimming was the sport that more medals assured the U.S., with a total of 31 medals, 16 gold. The U.S. performance in the sport is so expressive, that the country got medal in 27 of the 34 constested events. The Athletics also conducted an excellent campaign, with the women getting a strong performance. Altogether, the sport secured 29 medals to the U.S., and 14 of them came from women's events, including 6 of 9 gold medals. Although the U.S. has failed in men's short races, the US women dominated the female section and they have excelled in the jump events. Gymnastics appeared as the third sport which more podiums assured to the United States, with a total of 6 medals, three gold. The good performance of the women's team, with five medals, including all 3 gold, was decisive for the excellent US result. Tennis and Shooting also appeared with great emphasis on the list of sports that gave prominence to the United States. Each of the both sports won four medals, three gold and one bronze. In tennis, the predictable domain happened strongly, while in Shooting the results surprised several people, especially considering the fact that China has been left with only 2 gold medals and Russia with none. Results in Shooting caused a reasonable balance in US favour in the confrontation against China and the U.S. in gold medals basis. In 2008, the score was 5-2 to China, but now the U.S. won by 3-2, which represented a difference of 4 gold medals in the final performance. USA's Wrestling team also caused great surprise, although the country be a traditional force in this sport.In men's competition USA had the best performance on the criterion of gold medals, along with Azerbaijan, but lost to Russia in total medals. Still, USA surpassed Russia in gold medals criteria, since the dominant nation in this sport won only one gold medal in London-2012. The U.S. Cycling team also conducted a good campaign with four medals, 1 gold, but they all came from female events. In Diving competition, USA athletes also made a good presentation, with 4 medals in total, including one gold, beating China in the men's individual platform event. In Rowing events, USA won a total of 3 medals and the women crew were responsible for the only gold medal, as occurred four years ago in Beijing olympics. The United States were the dominant country in Beach Volleyball, with 2 medals, 1 gold, but only among women. In Basketball, USA was the dominant nation one more time, winning both men's and women's competition. The U.S. Boxing team lived a nightmare in London olympic, at least among men, who have not won a single medal, something that had not occurred since 1908, when the country was not represented in the sport, curiously, in London. A bit of USA's glory was restored with two medals, one gold, in the debutant women's tournament. In Judo competitions, USA obtained an exceptional result by winning their first olympic gold medal, with Kayla Harrison's win in the women's division up to 78 kg. The feat served to record the best result in the country's history in Judo. In Soccer competition the U.S. team stayed again with the women's gold medal, increasing their olympic record to a total of 5 medals, 4 gold and one silver medal in 5 constested tournaments. In water polo, the United States women's team finally secured the gold medal, after they getting the podium position from 2000 to 2008, but never in the highest place. Archery, with a silver medal, Volleyball, with the women's silver medal, Fencing, with a bronze medal, and Taekowndo, with 2 bronze medals, completed the U.S. total medals in London 2012. Interestingly, the USA team reached the podium in 18 sports, considering Volleyball and Beach Volleyball as a single sport, and It won gold medal in 15 of them.

USA MEDAL TALLY BY SPORT

SPORT	TOTAL	GOLD	SILVER	BRONZE	ME
SWIMMING	31	16	9	6	27
ATHLETICS	29	9	13	7	22
GYMNASTICS	6	3	1	2	6
TENNIS	4	3	-	1	4
SHOOTING	4	3	-	1	4
FREESTYLE WRESTLING	4	2	-	2	4
CYCLING	4	1	2	1	4
DIVING	4	1	1	2	4
ROWING	3	1	-	2	3
BASKETBALL	2	2	-	-	2
BEACH VOLLEYBALL	2	1	1	-	1
BOXING	2	1	-	1	2
JUDO	2	1	-	1	2
TAEKWONDO	2	-	-	2	2
SOCCER	1	1	-	-	1
WATER POLO	1	1	-	-	1
ARCHERY	1	-	1	-	1
VOLLEYBALL	1	-	1	-	1
FENCING	1	-	-	1	1
TOTAL	104	46	29	29	92