Ryan Lochte with his gold medal and patriotic-colored mouthpiece (inset)
Jeff Moore/Splash News Online
Only a couple of days into the 2012 Olympics, Team U.S.A is already showing some impressive victories in London. The country currently ranks second in the medal count with ten total, including three gold medals. China currently leads the medal count with 12 total.
Perhaps the biggest highlight from the games so far: Ryan Lochte’s golden triumph in the 400 IM Saturday, where the 27-year-old beat out teammate (and rival) Michael Phelps, 27, who placed fourth.
That’s not to say there haven’t been other amazing wins for Team U.S.A. From favorites Kerri Walsh, 33, and 34-year-old Misty May-Treanor’s advancing in beach volleyball to a new record set in skeet shooting, check out a recap of the U.S. highlights so far. (WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!)
Ryan LochteThe swimmer took home his first Gold medal in the 400 IM and has already qualified for the 200 M freestyle. Lochte was perhaps so overwhelmed with his win that he could barely sleep last night. “I didn’t get to bed until like 2 a.m., so I’m a little tired,” he told NBC. Phelps, meanwhile, was gracious about his loss. “Congrats to Ryan,” he posted on Facebook. “Way to keep that title in the country where it belongs!”
Kim RhodeThe female athlete, 33, won the gold in women’s skeet shooting Sunday, making her the first U.S. contender to take an individual-sport medal in five back-to-back Olympics, according to the AP. She also tied the world record and set an Olympic record: she shot 99 out of 100 targets.
Dana VollmerThe 24-year-old swimmer and defending world champion set a world record in the 100 M butterfly with a time of 55.98 seconds Sunday – good enough to earn her the gold medal, according to the AP.
Misty May-Treanor and Kerri WalshThe beach volleyball contenders are trying for a third consecutive gold medal – and they’re already well on their way to securing that win. On Saturday, the duo beat out Australians Tasmin Hinchley and Natalie Cook in a tense match that went way past 11 p.m. local time. The final score: 21-18 and 21-19. “I was worried,” Walsh said of playing so late. “At home, it hits 11 and I’m a zombie. But we could play at 4 in the morning, we don’t care.”
Kerri Walsh
Dave Martin / AP