London 2012: The Countdown Series: Chasing Larysa

Less than 48 hours away from the first activity in London! One of the more interesting stories of these Games of the XXX Olympiad is the record of most medals in the summer games (and in the Olympics period) that is held by the former Soviet gymnast Larysa Latynina.

Latynina has the record for most medals in the Olympics with eighteen. Not close behind is...

This man. Michael Phelps.

Phelps has sixteen medals, but as you can see, swimming and gymnastics can't be compared, even though I prefer swimming over gymnastics any day (that's my opinion)!

However, these numbers are so startling...

• Latynina's medals (18)
• Melbourne 1956 4 gold, silver, bronze
• Rome 1960 3, 2, 1
• Tokyo 1964 2, 2, 2
• Phelps' medals (16)
• Athens 2004 6 gold, 2 bronze
• Beijing 2008 8 gold

Phelps could break Latynina's record, even though Phelps will be in less events than he was at Beijing, including the 100m and 200m fly, and the 200m and 400m individual medley. The target day that we could see Phelps break the record is on August 2, in the 200m IM final (that is if he is fast enough to qualify for the final, never say never).

It is also noted that Phelps and Latynina met in person. There's an interesting link there.

All of this could and will possibly happen beginning this upcoming weekend.

Tuesday will be the last day I'm doing the Countdown Series, with a final thought before the action begins Wednesday.

London 2012: The Countdown Series: Artistic Gymnastics Preview

Only eight days remaining until the first day of the London Olympics! The final event at the London games that I will preview is the artistic gymnastics.

The venue for the artistic gymnastics will be the North Greenwich Arena (or O2 Arena, pictured). 196 men and women, representing 55 countries will compete in the event.

Yang Wei is the defending Olympic champion in the men's all around, an event that has been dominated by Alberto Braglia, Viktor Chukarin and the legendary Sawao Kato, who have two wins each. Yang could join those three with a gold medal effort. Zou Kai could tie Nikolai Andrianov for most wins at two in the floor exercise. Zou is also the defending champion in the horizontal bar, and could tie Takashi Ono and MItsuo Tsukahara for most wins in that event with two. Li Xiaopeng could break the mold in the parallel bars, an event that he shares the most wins with Kato at two.  Xiao Qin could join Boris Shaklin, Miroslav Cerar and Zoltan Magyar for most wins at two in the pommel horse, while Chen Yibing could do the same thing in the rings. Albert Azaryan and Akimori Nakayama have two wins in the rings-most in that event.

On the women's side, Nastia Liukin is the defending Olympic champion in the individual all-around, and a possible second win could tie Vera Caslavska and Larysa Latynina with most wins in that event. The legendary Nadia Comaneci's two wins in the balance beam is the most in that event, despite the fact that it was announced that defending Olympic champion Shawn Johnson is retiring from the sport. He Kexin could join Polina Astakhova and Svetlana Khorkina in most wins in uneven bars with two each, while Hong Un Jong could join Caslavska with most wins in the vault with two each.

This concludes the events preview; up next: the updated flag bearers!



London 2012: The Countdown Series: Rhythmic Gymnastics Preview

Only nine days left until the first day of the London Olympics! This is a preview of the rhythmic gymnastics at the London games.

The venue for rhythmic gymnastics will be Wembley Arena (pictured). 96 competitors from 24 countries will compete in this event.

There has never been a repeat champion in individual all around, while Russia, the defending Olympic champions from Beijing 2008, are looking for its fourth win in that event.

Evgeniya Karaeva is the defending Olympic champion in the individual all around.

Up next: a look at artistic gymnastics.