2012 Olympics Medal Count: China Takes Early Lead After Day 1, U.S. Close Behind

2012 Olympics Medal Count: China

Takes Early Lead After Day 1, U.S.

Close Behind

The first complete day of events in the

2012 Olympics in London is in the books,

despite what your tape-delayed, prime-

time NBC television schedule may try to

tell you.

The race is officially under way to see

which country can emerge from the

Summer Games with the most Olympic

hardware. After Saturday's competitions,

China has jumped out to an early lead with

six total medals, but the United States and

Italy are both close behind, with five each.

China also has the easy gold medal lead

after the first day, with four. Italy's two

gold medals are the second-most, while the

United States is one of six countries with

one gold. Two of China's gold medals came

in swimming, one in weightlifting and one

in shooting. Ryan Lochte was responsible

for the lone United States gold, in

swimming, while Italy claimed a gold

medal in fencing and dramatically defeated

the U.S. on their last arrow in the team

archery competition.

China adds two bronze medals to their four

golds. Italy has two golds, two silver

medals and a bronze, while the U.S. has

two silver medals and two bronze to go

with the gold