United States

• The United States won 110 medals, the most of any country. The U.S. earned 36 gold medals, 38 silver and 36 bronze. It also had the top three individual medalists, with Michael Phelps winning eight medals (all gold), Natalie Coughlin won six and Nastia Liukin won five.
  
  

China

• The host country had the medals lead for most of the first week and finished the Games in second place with 100 medals. China led all countries with 51 gold medals.
  
  

Russia

• Russia won 72 total medals, third most overall. It won six gold medals in wrestling, the most by any country.
  
  

Great Britain

• Great Britain, which finished the Games with 47 medals, made one of the biggest leaps in athletic competition. It jumped from 10th overall with 30 medals at the 2004 Olympics to fourth overall in Beijing. It won 14 medals, including eight gold, in cycling.
  
  

First-Time Medalists

• Several countries won medals for the first time, including Afghanistan, Bahrain, Mauritius, Sudan, Tajikistan and Togo all earned their first medals.