As London gears up to host the Closing Ceremony of Olympics 2012, here's a random selection of golden moments that had adrenalin rushing and fans awestruck! The assorted selection of images aims to capture the glory and honor of the Games and do not in any manner attempt to take the limelight away from winners. IBTimes salutes the spirit of sportsmanship among all participants in the epic event.
The United States Olympic Team emerged the clear winners with the highest Olympic Gold medal tally of 44 at the time of writing this article. Team China was not far behind though, having clocked 38 gold medals in the Games.
Golden Snapshots From the Games
In surprise to a very few, the U.S. women team earned gold in women's basketball. The Americans defeated France in convincing fashion, 86-50. With a 19-0 run in the third quarter, the U.S. team was able to break the game open. Candace Parker scored 21 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for the U.S. It was the fifth-consecutive gold medal for the U.S. women.
In the women's 4x100m relay, team U.S. shattered a 27-year-old world record to claim their gold. The US team comprising Tianna Madison, Allyson Felix, Bianca Knight, and Carmelita Jeter ran to stop the clock at 40.82s and break the world record of 41.37s set in Canberra in 1985, and held by East Germany.ReutersThe greatest duo in women's beach volleyball history took home the gold once again at the 2012 Olympics on Wednesday. The U.S.'s Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings defeated fellow Americans April Ross and Jennifer Kessy in the finals in London. They won their third straight gold medal after also winning the event at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics.ReutersUsain Bolt went three-for-three, setting world record in 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay. In the latter, Jamaica's quartet shattered the world record with a time of 36.84 seconds. Bolt's third gold was a fitting way to cap a memorable Olympics.Bolt picked up a London 2012 Olympic mascot and held his arms in the 'lightning bolt' pose after winning the gold in the 100m final.ReutersIn long-distance running, Mo Farah became the seventh athlete in Olympic history to win the 5,000m and 10,000m title after sprinting to a second gold medal to etch his name in history.Farah repeated the feat of 5,000m victory to enter the pantheon of long distance running greats.ReutersIn men's pole vault event, Renaud Lavillenie of France smashed the Olympic record to win the gold medal at the London Olympics 2012, with a towering jump of 5.97 meters. The world record is 6.14m. Germany's Bjorn Otto and Raphael Holzdeppe collected silver and bronze medal respectively, after both succeeded in clearing 5.91m, a personal best for Holzdeppe.In the 4x400m relay, the island nation of Bahamas surprised Olympic fans after a superb sprint to win the gold medal. They set a new national record of 2:56.72s in the process.ReutersIn the 4x400m relay, the island nation of Bahamas surprised Olympic fans after a superb sprint to win the gold medal. They set a new national record of 2:56.72s in the process.ReutersIn London Olympics 2012, Michael Phelps, the 27-year-old American swimmer from Baltimore won the honor of being "the most decorated Olympian" in sporting history. Amassing a total of 22 Olympic medals from three games, 18 of them gold, he bade goodbye to competitive swimming. Phelps redefined swimming excellence and dominated the sport in ways no other athlete has done before.Reuters
