LONDON – In the world of sports, fans relish the heated rivalry — sometimes live for it. Yankees-Red Sox. Cowboys-Redskins. Canadiens-Bruins. Lakers-Celtics.
But USA-China?
Americans who remember the USA-Soviet Olympic battles during the Cold War might shrug at the emerging threat on the athletic stage, but over the dozen years — heating up in 2008 in Beijing and gaining strength this summer in London — Chinese athletes have become the greatest challenge to American dominance.
Indeed, on Thursday night, as the sun set over Olympic Park, the medals race was on between the United States and China.
At the Aquatics Centre, China's dominant diving team was making a splash. Just across the park, the USA's star-spangled track team was making its own statement of superiority. Two Olympic superpowers, flexing before the global crowd.
The USA likely will finish atop the medals table, just as the Americans have done in the previous four Summer Games. With three days of competition remaining before Sunday's closing ceremony, the USA leads China 90-80 in the overall medal race. However, the gold medal duel is too close to call. The USA had 39 golds compared with China's 37 through Thursday.
"The Olympic Games is a competition between athletes, not nations," USOC chief executive officer Scott Blackmun wrote in an e-mail Thursday before watching the U.S. women's soccer team's 2-1 victory against Japan — securing the gold. "With that said, we are very proud of our American athletes in London."
Taking a more modest approach into the Olympics, the USOC didn't set a public goal for medals as it had in recent Games. But with 63 events remaining — 15 of those in track and field, a sport in which the USA excels — the medal title is again within reach.
China traditionally dominates diving, table tennis and badminton — sports that had mostly wrapped up before the final weekend. In the Games' final days, the USA likely will continue to pile up medals in track and field and basketball.
But USA-China?
Americans who remember the USA-Soviet Olympic battles during the Cold War might shrug at the emerging threat on the athletic stage, but over the dozen years — heating up in 2008 in Beijing and gaining strength this summer in London — Chinese athletes have become the greatest challenge to American dominance.
Indeed, on Thursday night, as the sun set over Olympic Park, the medals race was on between the United States and China.
At the Aquatics Centre, China's dominant diving team was making a splash. Just across the park, the USA's star-spangled track team was making its own statement of superiority. Two Olympic superpowers, flexing before the global crowd.
The USA likely will finish atop the medals table, just as the Americans have done in the previous four Summer Games. With three days of competition remaining before Sunday's closing ceremony, the USA leads China 90-80 in the overall medal race. However, the gold medal duel is too close to call. The USA had 39 golds compared with China's 37 through Thursday.
"The Olympic Games is a competition between athletes, not nations," USOC chief executive officer Scott Blackmun wrote in an e-mail Thursday before watching the U.S. women's soccer team's 2-1 victory against Japan — securing the gold. "With that said, we are very proud of our American athletes in London."
Taking a more modest approach into the Olympics, the USOC didn't set a public goal for medals as it had in recent Games. But with 63 events remaining — 15 of those in track and field, a sport in which the USA excels — the medal title is again within reach.
China traditionally dominates diving, table tennis and badminton — sports that had mostly wrapped up before the final weekend. In the Games' final days, the USA likely will continue to pile up medals in track and field and basketball.
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