China tops Olympic medal tally

Zou Shiming of China celebrates victory after Men's Light Fly(48kg) Final Bout against Serdamba Purevdorj of Mongolia at Beijing 2008 Olympic Games boxing event at Workers' Gymnasium in Beijing. Zou Shiming won the gold medal of the event.[Xinhua]

With a collection of 51 golds, 21 silvers and 28 bronzes, China surpassed perennial sports powerhouse the United States for the first time in history and topped the Beijing Olympic medal tally. Just like in the Athens Games in 2004, the five sports of weightlifting, shooting, diving, table tennis and badminton combined to contribute a bagful of golds for the Chinese team with Chinese strong men and women grabbing eight golds and Chinese "dream team" of diving sweeping seven titles out of eight. Chinese gymnasts rebounded from their disappointing one-gold performance in Athens to take nine titles in Beijing. Chinese athletes also won gold for the first time in sailing, archery, trampoline and rowing, adding to the team's remarkable tally.

Related: China tops Olympic medal tally with 51 golds