With the 2008 Olympics in Beijing in China is underway and the host country welcomes world class athletes from all over the world with a grand opening held on day one of the 2008 Beijing Olympics we see China as the biggest threat for United States to capture the overall championship and to win more gold medals.
USA, China, and Russia are the top three countries to collect the most medals. They have been the biggest powerhouses for the past years. In the 2004 Olympics, the medal count consisted of team USA winning 102 medals with 32 golds then followed by Russia with 92 medals then at the third spot is the now host country China with 63 medals. China had the fourth-highest medal total at Atlanta in 1996, third-best behind the U.S. and Russia in 2000 and third-best at Athens in 2004 -- although it was second to the U.S. in gold medals, 36-32.
China is expected to excel in gymnastics, diving, badminton and table tennis. As expected the Chinese and the American anthems will be heard often during the gymnastics competition. China's men won the team title at last year's world championships, led by all-around winner Yang Wei. Xiao Qin won on pommel horse and Chen Yibing won on still rings. The U.S. men were shut out in the event finals but had two fourth-place finishes.
The U.S. women defeated China for the 2007 world team title by nearly a point. Shawn Johnson won gold in the all-around and floor exercise, Nastia Liukin won gold on balance beam and silver on the uneven bars, and Alicia Sacramone won bronze on vault and silver on floor exercise. China's Cheng Fei won gold on vault, Yang Yilin won bronze on the uneven bars and Li Shanshan won bronze on the beam.
China won't face much competition from the U.S. China has a stranglehold on all four table tennis events and should dominate diving. At the 2007 world championships, Chinese athletes won gold in nine of 10 events and a medal in all 10.
China should also thrive in weightlifting, having led the medal table at last year's world championships, with seven gold medals and 12 overall. The U.S. won none. Rowing will also put Chinese athletes on the podium thanks to a $10-million, government-built training complex.
The U.S. will clean up in swimming. Michael Phelps could win eight gold medals and that's a fact.
Women's basketball could also end with a U.S.-China final, as hinted by China's victory over the U.S. in the final of a test event at the Olympic venue in April. On the other hand, the U.S. men won't have to worry about China, but the rest of the world will push them.
At the end of the both these countries need all those competitive instincts to win the medal race.
China is expected to excel in gymnastics, diving, badminton and table tennis. As expected the Chinese and the American anthems will be heard often during the gymnastics competition. China's men won the team title at last year's world championships, led by all-around winner Yang Wei. Xiao Qin won on pommel horse and Chen Yibing won on still rings. The U.S. men were shut out in the event finals but had two fourth-place finishes.
The U.S. women defeated China for the 2007 world team title by nearly a point. Shawn Johnson won gold in the all-around and floor exercise, Nastia Liukin won gold on balance beam and silver on the uneven bars, and Alicia Sacramone won bronze on vault and silver on floor exercise. China's Cheng Fei won gold on vault, Yang Yilin won bronze on the uneven bars and Li Shanshan won bronze on the beam.
China won't face much competition from the U.S. China has a stranglehold on all four table tennis events and should dominate diving. At the 2007 world championships, Chinese athletes won gold in nine of 10 events and a medal in all 10.
China should also thrive in weightlifting, having led the medal table at last year's world championships, with seven gold medals and 12 overall. The U.S. won none. Rowing will also put Chinese athletes on the podium thanks to a $10-million, government-built training complex.
The U.S. will clean up in swimming. Michael Phelps could win eight gold medals and that's a fact.
Women's basketball could also end with a U.S.-China final, as hinted by China's victory over the U.S. in the final of a test event at the Olympic venue in April. On the other hand, the U.S. men won't have to worry about China, but the rest of the world will push them.
At the end of the both these countries need all those competitive instincts to win the medal race.