The Rio 2016 Olympics entered Day 11 and to say “USA were expected to lead the medal table” is probably a hackneyed cliché, but never inaccurate.
The Western nation has produced more winners in this year’s games, 84, almost double what second ranked United Kingdom has produced, 50.
On Tuesday, Just a day after slipping on the balance beam and winning bronze, Simone Biles of the USA bounced back to end her Olympics on a high note.
She took home gold — her fourth of the Olympics — in the floor exercise, while teammate Aly Raisman won silver. Biles will leave Rio with five medals, while Raisman picks up three more to add to the three she won in London in 2012.
The U.S. also had major success on the track, taking home both gold and silver in the men’s triple jump. Christian Taylor won gold in the men’s triple jump on Tuesday at Olympic Stadium. Taylor leaped 17.86 meters (58 feet, 7 1/4 inches) on his first jump, defending his title from the 2012 London Games and becoming the first American to win back-to-back gold medals in the discipline since 1904.
For the United Kingdom, Laura Trott became the first British woman to win four Olympic gold medals by retaining her omnium (a multiple race event in track cycling) title.
The world champion, 24, moves ahead of Charlotte Dujardin, who won her third Olympic gold with victory in the individual dressage.
Her victory not only made history for the U.K. but also enabled her attain legendary status. Her reaction was evidently a happy one, “I can’t believe it. I didn’t expect that at all.”
On the tracks, Jamaica showed their dominance again both in the 200m and 110m hurdles.
A man rapidly making his mark as the greatest sprinter of all time, Jamaica’s seven-time Olympic champion Usain Bolt ran 20.28 seconds to reach the semi-finals of the men’s 200m.
Bolt, who won the 100m title on Sunday, jogged home in the final 50 meters to win the ninth of 10 heats?
Nigeria’s Divine Oduduru also qualified for the semi final of the men’s 200m race at the ongoing Rio Olympics after finishing in 2nd behind Bolt in the heats.
Britain’s Adam Gemili, Danny Talbot and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake qualified, as did USA’s Justin Gatlin of the United States.
Another Jamaican sprinter was Omar McLeod and he won Olympic gold in the men’s 110m hurdles.
The 22-year-old came in to the race as favorite and produced a strong performance to win in a time of 13.05 seconds.
Argentina will not be left out of the celebrations. Sailor Santiago Lange, who lost part of a lung to cancer last year, teamed up with Cecilia Carranza Saroli to win gold at the Olympics.
The 54-year-old, the oldest sailor competing in Rio, and his compatriot won the Nacra 17 mixed category.
There’s more opportunity for individuals and countries to win more medals as the games enter its 12th day on Wednesday with Men’s 200m semi-finals, Women’s 200m final and Women’s 100m hurdles final coming up.
By Thierry Nyann|3news.com|Ghana
Twitter: @3Newsgh
