The first complete day of events in the 2012 Olympics in London is in the books, despite what your tape-delayed, prime-time NBC television schedule may try to tell you.
2012 Olympics Medal Count: China Takes Early Lead After Day 1, U.S. Close Behind
The United States is in second place in the medal total following the first full day of Olympics competition. China is the early leader with six medals, including four gold.
Bill Hanstock is a writer, author and Emmy Award-winning producer. He began writing for SB Nation in 2011.
The race is officially under way to see which country can emerge from the Summer Games with the most Olympic hardware. After Saturday’s competitions, China has jumped out to an early lead with six total medals, but the United States and Italy are both close behind, with five each.
China also has the easy gold medal lead after the first day, with four. Italy’s two gold medals are the second-most, while the United States is one of six countries with one gold. Two of China’s gold medals came in swimming, one in weightlifting and one in shooting. Ryan Lochte was responsible for the lone United States gold, in swimming, while Italy claimed a gold medal in fencing and dramatically defeated the U.S. on their last arrow in the team archery competition.
China adds two bronze medals to their four golds. Italy has two golds, two silver medals and a bronze, while the U.S. has two silver medals and two bronze to go with the gold.
For complete coverage of the 2012 London Olympics, visit SB Nation’s Summer Olympics hub.
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