2012 Summer Olympics Recap: Day 12 — Allyson Felix Wins Gold as US Track Team Nabs 7 Medals
Led by seven medals from its track athletes, the United States ran past China into the lead in the overall medal count at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London on Wednesday. Here’s a recap of the day’s highlights:
After finishing second in the race in both the 2004 and 2008 Olympics, US sprinter Allyson Felix won the women’s 200-meters, running ahead of Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce of Jamaica and teammate Carmelita Jeter, who won bronze. Jeter became the first American woman to medal in the 100- and 200-meters in the same Olympics since Florence Griffith-Joyner in 1988.
The US women also captured two medals in the long jump, as Brittney Reese won the gold and Janay Deloach took the bronze. Russian jumper Elena Sokolova earned the silver medal. American hurdler Lashinda Demus won the silver medal in the women’s 400-meters, bested only by Natalya Antyukh of Russia. Czechoslovakia’s Zuzana Hejnova captured the bronze.
In the men’s track events, American Aries Meritt edged teammate Jason Richardson for the gold in the 110-meter hurdles, while US decathlete Ashton Eaton broke the Olympic decathlon record in the 100-meters by running it in 10.35 seconds. The segment victory gave Eaton the early lead in the 10-event competition.
In women’s beach volleyball, the all-US final went to Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings, who defeated fellow Americans Jennifer Kessy and April Ross, 21-16; 21-18, to win their third straight gold medal. Elsewhere, Clarissa Kyoko Mei Ling Chun won a bronze medal in the 48 kg weight class of women’s freestyle wrestling.
In other results, Kobe Bryant scored 20 points, and LeBron James had the first Olympic triple-double by an American player, to lead the US men’s basketball team to a 119-86 win over Australia. The Americans advanced to the semifinals where they will face Argentina, an 82-77 winner over Brazil. Russia will play Spain in the other men’s basketball semifinal after each advanced on Wednesday.
The defending Olympic champion US men’s volleyball team lost to Italy in straight sets on Wednesday, eliminating themselves from medal contention. Italy will face Brazil in one of Friday’s semifinals, while Bulgaria takes on Russia in the other match.
American flyweight boxer Marlen Esparza won a bronze medal on Wednesday in the first Olympic women’s boxing tournament, while US middleweight Claressa Shields defeated Kazakhstan’s Marina Volnova, 29-15, to guarantee herself at least a medal. Shields will fight Nadezda Torlopova of Russia on Thursday for the championship.
Overall Medal Leader Board
United States — 81 medals
34 Gold, 22 Silver, 25 Bronze
China — 77 medals
36 Gold, 22 Silver, 19 Bronze
Russia — 52 medals
11 Gold, 19 Silver, 22 Bronze
Great Britain — 48 medals
22 Gold, 13 Silver, 13 Bronze
Germany — 32 medals
7 Gold, 15 Silver, 10 Bronze