August 16, 2016

On Saturday, August 13, the United States became the first nation to win 1,000 gold medals since the modern Summer Olympic Games began in 1896. Hundreds of athletes have contributed to that gold medal count over the years, but during this summer’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, attention has focused on three stars of Team USA’s roster of 555 extraordinary athletes. Over the first week and a half of competition, gymnast Simone Biles and swimmers Michael Phelps and Katie Ledecky have left the competition largely behind, winning a total of 13 gold medals between them. To this point, the rest of Team USA has 15 golds in Rio.

U.S. gymnast Simone Biles performs the floor exercise during the women’s all-around final at the world gymnastics championships in Glasgow, Scotland, on Oct. 29, 2015. Credit: © Kyodo/AP Photo

Biles, competing in her first Olympics, led her talented teammates to gold in the Women’s team all-around—a tough combined test of the balance beam, floor exercise, uneven bars, and vault. Biles scored highest on the vault with an “Amanar,” a demanding vault consisting of a roundoff onto the springboard, a back handspring onto the vaulting table, 2½ twists in the air, and a blind landing. Team USA’s Aly Raisman—who scored second highest in the vault—also executed a difficult Amanar. Biles scored highest on the balance beam and floor exercise, as well. Together with Team USA’s Madison Kocian (who won the uneven bars) and Laurie Hernandez (who had consistently high scores and dazzled on the beam), the women crushed the competition, winning gold by more than 8 points (teams are often separated by tenths of a point) over silver medal-winning Russia. Simone Biles followed the team performance by dominating the individual all-around competition, winning gold over silver medalist Raisman. Biles went on to take individual gold in both the vault and floor exercise as well.

U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps competes in the butterfly leg of the 4×100-meter medley relay at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China.
Credit: © Cameron Spencer, Getty Images

Michael Phelps, already the greatest swimmer in Olympic history, came out of retirement to compete in his fifth Olympic Games in 2016. Unwilling to loosen his grip on that “greatest” title, he added 5 gold medals to his already massive haul (23 now in his career—the most for any athlete ever). Phelps helped his teammates win gold in the 4×100-meter and 4×200-meter freestyle relays, as well as in the 4×100-meter medley relay. He also took individual gold in the 200-meter medley and the 200-meter butterfly—a grudge match against rival Chad le Clos of South Africa. Le Clos narrowly beat Phelps in the 200-meter butterfly at the 2012 Olympics, and the two had since developed a somewhat contentious rivalry.

U.S. swimmer Katie Ledecky competes in the women’s 800-meter freestyle race during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, England. Credit: © Jae C. Hong, AP Photo

Katie Ledecky, competing in her second Olympics, dominated her opponents in Rio, taking individual gold in the 200-meter, 400-meter, and 800-meter freestyle races. She also earned team gold in the 4×100-meter relay. Ledecky burst onto the international swimming stage at the 2012 games, winning a surprise gold in the 800-meter freestyle at just 15 years of age. Look for Ledecky to add to her medal count at the 2020 games in Tokyo, Japan.

If you’re wondering what national team has the second-most gold medals in Summer Olympic Games history, it’s the Russians. Including games when they competed as part of the Soviet Union, the Russians have won 582 golds (as of today). The next three in order (all with fewer than 300) are Germany, the United Kingdom, and Italy.

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)

Aug. 7, 2012

A lanky swimmer and a tiny gymnast from the United States have grabbed headlines as well as gold at the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London. Michael Phelps, at age 27, solidified his position as the greatest swimmer and, arguably, the greatest individual athlete in Olympic history. At the same time, 16-year old Gabby Douglas won the hearts of fans by doing what no other American gymnast had ever accomplished in the Olympics.

Michael Phelps (© Cameron Spencer, Getty Images)

Phelps ended the Summer Games with a career total of 22 medals, 18 of them gold. Phelps built his medal count over three Olympics, in 2004, 2008, and 2012. He started slowly at the 2012 games in London, failing to collect a medal in his first race and finishing second in the next two races. But he earned gold medals in his final four events. He won the 100-meter butterfly and the 200-meter individual medley, his third consecutive victories in both events dating back to the 2004 Olympics, an unprecedented accomplishment.  After Phelps helped the U.S. team win the 4×100-meter relay, the final event on the swimming program, he announced his retirement as a competitive swimmer.

Gabby Douglas built her own legacy in the 2012 games with a pair of impressive firsts. The 16-year-old, who stands only 4 feet 11 inches (1.5 meters) tall, won gold medals in both the individual and team all-around competition. With her twin triumphs, Douglas became the first African American in Olympic history to win the individual all-around championship. She was also the first American gymnast to win a gold medal in both the all-around and team competitions at the same Olympics. Her bubbly personality combined with her grace and athleticism made her an instant darling of the crowds.

Usain Bolt (© Kyodo/Landov)

The third headline grabber at the Summer Games was Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt. The flamboyant Bolt was out to defend his Olympic 100-meter dash title and status as the world’s premiere sprinter. With the rise of a group of young world-class athletes ready to challenge Bolt’s supremacy, the 100-meter race was perhaps the most anticipated event of the 2012 games. Bolt did not disappoint. He won the sprint in 9.63 seconds, the second-fastest time in track history. Only one person has run the event in a faster time–Bolt himself. Bolt is also the defending Olympic champion in the 200-meter sprint, scheduled for later in the week.

Additional World Book articles:

• International Olympic Committee
• Special Olympics
• The Winning Edge (a Special Report)