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Olympic medal count: US back on top

The United States surpassed China in total medal count on Wednesday, racking up seven medals in track and field and two in beach volleyball.

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Ben Curtis/AP
United States' bronze medalist Janay DeLoach, (l.), and gold medalist United States' Brittney Reese, celebrate their wins in the women's long jump during the Summer Olympics, Aug. 8.
Rich Clabaugh/Staff
  • By Laura Edwins Contributor

On Wednesday, the US was back on top in total medal count with 81 to China's 76.

Most of the medals came from the track; the US medaled in every track and field event held on Wednesday.

Brittney Reese, from Mississippi, won the gold in the women's long jump, and Janay DeLoach, from Florida, won the bronze. Reese, a two time world champion, had competed in Beijing, but finished fifth. On Wednesday she flew past the competition, with a jump of 7.12 meters. The silver-medal winner, Russia's Elena Sokolova landed at 7.07, and DeLoach walked away with a 6.89.

The US also took two medals in the men's 110-meter hurdles. Aries Merritt, from Georgia, won the gold medal and Jason Richardson, from Texas, won the silver. Both are hurdling all-stars. Merritt won the indoor world championship in the men's 60-meter hurdles this year, and in 2011 Richardson won the world championship in the 110-meter. Hansle Parchment, from Jamaica, won the bronze medal.

In the women's 400-meter hurdles Lashinda Demus, from California, won the silver medal. With a time of 52.77, Demus finished just behind Russia's Natalya Antyukh who ran a 52.70. Zuzana Hejnova, from the Czech Republic, won the bronze medal.

The most exciting race may have been the women's 200-meter. Allyson Felix, who had won silver in the 200-meter in both Athens and Beijing, finally got her Olympic gold.

Felix out-ran Jamaica's Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, who was the gold-medal winner in Beijing. It was a close race for the two, Fraser-Pryce ran a personal best with a time of 22.09, but couldn't keep up with Felix, who finished with a 21.88. Carmelita Jeter, from California, won the bronze with a time of 22.14.

It was also a good day for the US on the beach.

After the all-American gold medal match powerhouse veterans Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings can retire in peace, having won their third gold medal. April Ross and  Jen Kess, the champions from Beijing, walked away with silver. May-Treanor and Walsh Jennings had dominated beach volleyball play throughout the London Games, beating every team that came their way. 

On Wednesday, Russia surpassed Great Britain in total medal count with 52 to the Brits' 48.

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