2012 Summer Olympics Recap: Day 4 — Michael Phelps Sets Medals Record; US Women’s Gymnastics Team Wins Gold
American swimmer Michael Phelps became the most decorated athlete in Olympic history Tuesday, while the United States and China remained tied atop the overall medal count of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. Here's a recap of the day's Olympic action:
American Olympic hero Michael Phelps swam the anchor leg for the US men's 4x200-meter freestyle relay team, leading them to the gold medal Tuesday night. With the victory, Phelps earned a record 19th career Olympic medal and his 15th gold. Phelps' career medal count is one more than former Soviet gymnast Larisa Latynina, who won nine golds, five silvers and four bronzes from 1956 to 1964. Phelps tied Latynina earlier in the day by claiming the silver medal in the 200-meter butterfly event won by South African Chad le Clos.
Led by a marvelous performance from Jordyn Wieber, the US women's gymnastics squad won the team gold medal, easily besting Russia and Romania. It's the first gold medal for the US women's team since 1996.
US swimmer Allison Schmitt collected her third medal of the London Games by winning the women's 200-meter freestyle in an Olympic record-time of 1 minute, 53.61 seconds. Teammate Missy Franklin finished fourth. US swimmer Caitlin Leverenz captured bronze in the women's 200-meter individual medley.
Completing the American medal roundup from Tuesday, Vincent Hancock of the US won his second consecutive Olympic gold in the men's skeet shooting competition.
In other results, Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Love scored 16 points apiece to lead the US men's basketball team to a 110-63 rout over Tunisia. The US women's soccer team beat North Korea, 1-0, clinching their group title prior to the elimination rounds.
In men's tennis, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France defeated Milos Raonic of Canada (6-3, 3-6, 25-23) in the longest match in Olympic history, meanwhile Serbia's Novak Djokovic knocked out American Andy Roddick. Britian's Andy Murray also won. On the women's side, Venus Williams and Maria Sharapova each advanced.
Overall Medal Leader Board
China — 23 medals
13 Gold, 6 Silver, 4 Bronze
United States — 23 medals
9 Gold, 8 Silver, 6 Bronze
Japan — 13 medals
1 Gold, 4 Silver, 8 Bronze
France — 11 medals
4 Gold, 3 Silver, 4 Bronze
South Korea — 8 medals
3 Gold, 2 Silver, 3 Bronze
Italy — 8 medals
2 Gold, 4 Silver, 2 Bronze
Russia — 8 medals
2 Gold, 2 Silver, 4 Bronze