Olympics 2012

Bringing Home the Gold


2012 Summer Olympics



LONDON, ENGLAND



Submitted by Rick A. Talford



July 28th through August 12th, 2012 were the Summer Olympics held in London, England. The United States participated and won 46 Gold Medals, 29 Silver Medals and 29 Bronze Medals. The US won more medals than any other country. China was second with 88 medals. Russia was third with 82 medals, and Great Britain came in fourth with 65 total medals.



The United States Swimmer, Michael Phelps set a new record for most medals won by any Olympian. He won his 22nd medal in this years events. He finished with 18 gold, 2 silver and 2 bronze. Phelps is now retiring from competition.



There were many Olympic and World Record set in this years events. The following is a day by day medals count for the USA by event.



Day 1 - The Men’s 400 Individual Medley was won by R. Lochte. This was the first gold by a US Olympian. Silver medals were won by the Women’s 400 IM swimmer E. Beisel, and Team USA in Archery. Bronze medals were won by the Women’s 4x100m Relay by Team USA, and the Men’s 400m Freestyle swimmer P. Vanderkaay.



Day 2 - Gold medals were won by the Women’s Skeet Shooter, K. Rhode and the Women’s 100m Butterfly by D. Vollmer. Silver medals were won by the Women’s 400m Freestyle by A. Schmitt, Men’s 4x100m Freestyle Relay by Team USA and the Women‘s Synchronized 3m Springboard by K. Bryant and A. Johnston. A Bronze medal was won by B. Hansen in the Men’s 100m Backstroke.



Day 3 - Two Gold medals were won by the Women’s 100m Backstroke swimmer M. Franklin and the Men’s 100m Backstroke swimmer M. Grevers. Bronze medals were won in both the Men’s and Women’s 100m Backstroke by N. Thoman and R. Soni. Bronze medals were won by the Men’s Synchronized 10m Platform by N. McCrory and D. Boudia, as well as the Women’s Judo at 125 lbs. by M. Malloy.



Day 4 - Four Gold medals were won in Women’s Gymnastics- Team USA, 200m Freestyle swimmer A. Schmitt, Men’s 4x200m Freestyle Relay- Team USA and Skeet Shooting by V. Hancock. Silver was won by the Men’s 200m Butterfly swimmer M. Phelps. The Bronze was won by the Women’s 200m IM by C. Leverenz.



Day 5 - Gold was received by the Women’s Cycling- Individual time trial by K. Armstrong and Team USA in the 4x200m Freestyle Relay. The Men’s 100m Freestyle swimmer N. Adrian. Bronze medals were won by the Women’s Rowing- Quad. Skulls by Team USA and the Men’s Diving swimmers in the 3m Springboard by K. Ispen and T. Dumais and in Gymnastics- All Around by D. Levya.



Day 6 - Six Gold Medals came from the Women’s Eight Person Rowing- Team USA, the 200m Breaststroke by R. Soni, Gymnastics All-Around by G. Douglas and Judo at 172 lbs. by K. Harrison. The Men’s 200m Backstroke by T. Clary and the 200m IM by M. Phelps. Silver was won by the Men’s 200m IM by R. Lochte. The Bronze was won in the 200m Backstroke, also by R. Lochte.



Day 7 - Gold was won in the Men’s 100m Butterfly by M. Phelps and the Women’s 800m Freestyle by K. Ledecky and the 200m Backstroke by M. Franklin. Silver was won by C. Jones in the Men’s 50m Freestyle. Bronze medals were won in the Men’s Shot Put by R. Hoffa and the Women’s 200m Backstroke by E. Beisel.



Day 8 - Eleven medals were won on day eight. Gold was received in the Women’s Tennis by S. Williams, Men’s Tennis Doubles by M. Bryan and B. Bryan, Both the Men’s and Women’s 4x100m Medley Relays by both Team USA groups and the Women’s 50 Rifle- 3 position by J. Gray. Silver was won in the Women’s 100m Track and Field by C. Jeter, and Track Cycling by Team USA. The Men’s Track and Field 10,000m was by G. Rupp. Bronze was won in Women’s Fencing by Team USA, Men’s Four Man Rowing by Team USA and Track and Field - Long Jump by W. Claye.



Day 9 - Gold was won in the Women’s 400m Track and Field by S. Ross and Tennis Doubles by S. Williams and V. Williams. A Silver was won in the Women’s Gymnastics- Vault by M. Maroney. Bronze was received in Mixed Tennis Doubles by L. Raymond and M. Bryan, Men’s Track and Field 100m by J. Gatlin and Women’s Track and Field 400m D. Trotter.



Day 10 - Gold was won by J. Suhr in Track and Field - Pole Vault. Silver in the Men’s 400m Hurdles by M. Tinsley. Bronze by Men’s 50m Rifle - 3 position by M. Emmons.



Day 11 - Gold was received by the Women’s Floor Exercise by A. Raisman. Silver in the Men’s High Jump by E. Kynard and L. Manzano in the 1500m. The Women’s 100m Hurdles by D. Harper and S. Hammer in the Cycling Omnium. Bronze medals were won in the Women’s 100m Hurdles by K. Wells and in Gymnastics - Balance Beam by A. Raisman.



Day 12 - Another one of the best medal days for the US came on day twelve. Gold was won by the Men’s 100m Hurdles by A. Merritt. Women’s Beach Volleyball by M. May-Traynor and K. Walsh-Jennings, Long Jump by B. Reese and 200m by A. Felix. Silver was received in the Men’s 110m Hurdles by J. Richardson, and Women’s Beach Volleyball by A. Ross and J. Kessy, as well as in the 400m Hurdles by L. Demus. Bronze was won in the Women’s Long Jump by J. DeLoach, Boxing at 112 lbs. by M. Esparza, Wrestling at 105.5 lbs by C. Chun and C. Jeter in the 200m.



Day 13 - Gold was won in the Men’s Triple Jump by C. Taylor and the Decathlon by A. Eaton. The Women’s Boxing at 165 lbs by C. Shield, Soccer by Team USA and Water Polo by Team USA. Silver was won in the Men’s Triple Jump by W. Claye and the Decathlon by T. Hardee. The Women’s Open Water swimmer H. Anderson. Bronze was won in the Men’s Taekwondo at 150 lbs. by T. Jennings.



Day 14 - Gold was won in the Men’s Wrestling at 163 lbs. by J. Burroughs and Team USA in the Women’s 4x100m Relay. Silver was received in the Men’s 4x400m Relay by Team USA. Bronze was received by P. McPherson in Taekwondo at 148 lbs.



Day 15 - Gold was won in Women’s Basketball by Team USA, and the 4x400m Relay also by Team USA. Men’s Diving for the 10m Platform by D. Boudia. Silver was received in Women’s Volleyball by Team USA and the High Jump by B. Barrett. The Men’s 4x100m Relay by Team USA. Bronze was won in Men’s Wrestling at 132 lbs. by C. Scott and Women’s Mountain Bike by G. Gould.



Day 16 - The final medals were received on the last day, and they both were gold in Men’s Basketball by Team USA and Wrestling at 211.5 lbs. by J. Varner.



It was fun to watch all these athletes do their thing in London. 15 year old K. Ledecky was the youngest winner for the United States. Gabby Douglas was the first African-American to win the All-Around Gymnastics Gold. Phelps set a new record with 22 medals in his career at the Olympics. Many of our young Olympians did a great job, “Bringing Home the Gold.”



Congratulations to all the US Olympians, and I look forward to the next Olympics in Reo.