USA Wins Most Olympic Overall Medals and Golds

Photo © flickr.com/geetarchurchy

The last day of the 2012 Olympic games ended with America on top of the medal standings, winning 104 overall, including 46 gold.

China's finished second with 87 medals that included 38 gold. Britain finished third in the gold medal count, winning five more than Russia. Russia finished third in overall medals, while Britain landed in fourth.

85 countries won at least one medal.

British pop stars rocked out the Olympics closing ceremony, titled “A Symphony of British Music.” Artists Adele, George Michael, Annie Lennox, and the Pet Shop Boys performed during the three-hour celebration in front of 80,000 spectators.

Brazil, the host of the 2016 Games, created a Rio-style carnival featuring drummers, dancers and elaborate carnival costumes, for the games' close.

The biggest surprise during the day's competition came as Uganda's Stephen Kiprotich won gold in the men's marathon, Uganda's first gold medal in 40 years.

Kiprotich surged ahead in the race through the streets of London with less than 5 kilometers to go to take a lead he never relinquished.

His winning time of two hours, eight minutes, and one second was 26 seconds ahead of silver medalist Abel Kirui of Kenya. Another Kenyan, Wilson Kipsang Kiprotich, won the bronze.

In men's basketball, the United States' so-called Dream Team clinched a gold medal by defeating Spain 107-100. Russia beat Argentina to win the bronze.

Women's modern pentathlon was the last competition at the 17-day extravaganza of sport. Lithuania's Laura Asadauskaite won the gold medal and Britain's Samantha Murray took silver.---VOA News