London’s Summer Olympic Games a Triumph
August 15, 2012
Pessimistic notes were being sounded throughout the United Kingdom in the weeks before the start of the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London. The media carried stories about inadequate security and the threat of terrorism. Some people predicted gridlock traffic congestion complicated by fears of bad weather that would ruin the Olympic experience. But the Games turned out to be a triumph, from the extravagant opening ceremonies on July 27 to the even more spectacular closing ceremonies on August 12.
In-between these spectacles, the world was treated to more than two weeks of dazzling athletic competition in 302 events, led by memorable performances from sprinter Usain Bolt of Jamaica and swimmer Michael Phelps of the United States. Phelps ended the Games with four gold medals, making him the all-time recordholder of Olympic gold–with a total of 18 medals from the 2004, 2008, and 2012 Games. Gabby Douglas of the United States won gold medals in both the individual and team all-around gymnastic competitions. She is the first African-American and the first woman of color to become the Olympic champion in the individual all-around event.
Usain Bolt (© Kyodo/Landov)
The United States and China led in medals, as they did in the 2008 Olympics, but other countries had glorious victories as well. Host United Kingdom outdid itself in medal accumulation, with 65 total and 29 gold compared with 47 total and 19 gold in the last Summer Games in 2008. The individual stars of the Australian team were gold medal winners Sally Pearson in the 100-meter hurdles and cyclist Anna Meares in the women’s sprint. Rosie MacLennan was the star of the Canadian team with her gold-medal performance in the women’s individual trampoline event. The Games were more than satisfying for Team New Zealand, which captured 13 medals, including 6 gold, the country’s best showing since the 1988 games in Seoul, South Korea. Five of the six gold medals were won on the water, in rowing and canoeing. Valerie Adams took the women’s gold medal in the shot-put. Adams was awarded the medal after the announced winner, Nadezhda Ostapchuck of Belarus, was disqualified for failing a drug test.
Additional World Book Article:
- The Winning Edge (a special report)
