2008 Summer Olympics Medal Winners

The 2008 Summer Olympics are in the book, and the event was widely considered to be a smashing success for the host country of China. 10,500 athletes competed in over 302 events, and China and the United States sent the largest teams (639 and 596, respectively). In some cases, countries were represented by only a single athlete, and Tuvalu, Montenegro and the Marshall Islands all competed for the first time.

OLYMPIC EVENTS

There was one event more than Athens, with 165 men’s events being held to 127 women’s events and 10 mixed. Nine new Olympic events were held, including two from the new BMX cycling category. For the first time, women competed in the 3000 meter steeplechase, and longer swimming events were offered for both men and women.

In table tennis, the doubles event was replaced with team events. In fencing, the men’s team foil and women’s team epee were replaced with the women’s team foil and women’s team sabre.

OLYMPIC RECORDS

43 new world records were set during the 2008 Summer Olympics, and 132 Olympic records were also set. In all, 87 countries won medals during the game, and the Chinese led the pack with the most gold medals.

American swimmer Michael Phelps won eight gold medals, setting the record for the most gold medals won in one Olympics. He also has more career gold medals than any other competitor in Olympic history. New records were also set in the 100m and 200m dash, as Usain “Lightning” Bolt secured the title of the “World’s Fastest Man.”

TOP 10 OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL WINNERS

The following countries finished with the most 2008 Olympic gold medals:

1. China 51

2. United States 36

3. Russia 23

4. Great Britain 19

5. Germany 16

6. Australia 14

7. South Korea 13

8. Japan 9

9. Italy 8

10. France 7

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2008 Summer Olympics Medal Winners