olympics

Though it was a light day for medals, there was still plenty of drama at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London on Monday. Here’s a recap of the day’s action:

When it comes to the 2012 Olympics, British bookshop owner David Mitchell said it best, “Performance levels have become so much higher that it’s so hard now to get a medal.” Just think about Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte, both of whom have won medals by mere seconds ahead of their competitors. But does that make those Olympians who came just shy of placing any less athletic?

Last Sunday, Chinese diver Wu Minxia took home gold in the 3m synchronized springboard and became the first woman in history to win three consecutive Olympic golds. But her remarkable accomplishment was marred somewhat when it was revealed that her family intentionally hid devastating secrets as she pursued her career.

Olympics medals aren’t worth much, so it may surprise you to know that medalists also get stuck with a hefty tax bill.

The United States won six gold medals on Thursday to jump ahead of China in the overall medal count. Here’s Thursday’s Olympic Games’ recap:

The US women’s 4×200-meter freestyle relay team won gold at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London on Wednesday, but China claimed the lead in the overall medal count. Here’s Wednesday’s Olympic Games’ recap:

Michael Phelps has managed to swim into history.

Like many Olympians, British diver Tom Daley uses Twitter to communicate with his fans. On Monday, one of his over 700,000 followers stepped out of line with a vicious taunt after the 18-year-old failed to medal in the 10m synchronized diving event.

Olympic athletes often train for years in the hopes of someday getting a medal. But while the 4,700 medals currently being doled out in London are priceless to the athletes who win them, the actual value of the raw materials may be less than you think.

Despite being eight months pregnant, Nur Suryani Mohammed Taibi of Maylasia finished 34th among the competitors in the women’s 10-meter air rifle event at the Summer Olympics in London on Saturday. Taibi, 29, entered the London Games ranked 47th in the world in the 10-meter air rifle.

The Opening Ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London highlights the TV sports offerings this weekend. Here’s what else to watch this weekend in sports:

The Opening Ceremonies for the 2012 Olympics is set to take place this Friday, but two of the fine faces we were hoping to see partake in the infamous orgies at Olympic Village won’t be in attendance thanks to a ‘racist’ tweet and a flat out failure to qualify.