Olympic News

US, China on track to dominate Olympics medal count

BY PAUL ALLEN Online reporter allenp@jamaicaobserver.com

Monday, July 30, 2012

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The US and China are set to dominate the Olympic medal table, yet again.

Although the US walked away with the most medals overall at the 2008 Beijing Games, 110, it was China that finished atop the medal table, as 51 of their 100 medals were gold.

The US had only 36 gold medals.

The Asian country, bent on improving their medal showing ahead of the home Games in Beijing four years ago, spent massively in areas in which they could win.

Typically the US dominate track and field and swimming while China, weak in these areas, spread its focus on events such as badminton, diving and table tennis, where they excel.

Currently in London, China leads the medal table with eight gold medals, 14 in total; the US is a distant second with three gold medals, 13 total.

In Beijing, Jamaica finished 14th bringing home an unprecedented 11 medals including six gold. Three of those wins were world records — Usain Bolt in the 100m and 200m and the men’s 4x100m relay team.

See link for Jamaica’s medal predictions.

Expectations high Jamaicans could exceed Beijing haul

With all our Beijing medalists returning, including Veronica Campbell-Brown in the 200m, Melaine Walker in the 400m hurdles and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce in the 100m, it should be interesting to see how Jamaica fares in London.

See link for athletics and full schedule.

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