Beijing 2008 - The Final Medal Tally

The final gold medal tally of the 2008 Olympic Games was 51 to 36 in favor of China over the United States. The United States led in the overall medal count by 110 to 100 over the host city, China. Russia won 72 medals and Great Britian, host of the 2012 Olympic Games won 47.

The United States failed to medal in 16 of 38 disciplines or sub-disciplines, and in several sports was unable to achieve even a single top-eight finish. Weightlifting, track, and diving will need to be the focus for United States improvement in London 2012.

Beijing 2008 Olympic Game Highlights:

The Stars

Michael Phelps - United States - A human fish in the Water Cube in Beijing 2008. Eight Gold Medals

Usain Bolt - Jamaica - Fastest human alive even though she was competing in a Bird's Nest.

Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh - 108 match winning streak in volleyball is still in tact after Beijing gold. Great photo with President Bush as well.

Olga Kharlan - The Zorro of Sabre won gold for Ukraine.

Yukiko Ueno - Japan - Threw 21 innings in a single day and the last 28 innings overall to win gold for Japan in softball.

Maarten van der Weijden - Netherlands - overcame long odds battling leukemia in 2001 to win Olympic gold in 2008.

Other Notable Medal Winners:

United States’ Jason Lezak - Two swimming Golds and a Bronze

Australia’s Stephanie Rice - Three swimming Golds

China’s Yang Wei - Gymnastics - All Around Gold

United States’ Nastia Liukin - Gymnastics - All Around Gold

China’s Guo Jingjing - Two Diving Golds

British cyclist Chris Hoy, won three gold medals in Beijing, and British sailor Ben Ainslie, has now won gold in three straight Olympic Games.

Future Story To Watch:

He Kexin, Jiang Yuyuan and Yang Yilin - China - gymnastic team won gold but these three gymnasts were probably all under the age requirement of 16.