The 2004 Summer Olympic Games were contested in Athens, Greece, from August 13 until August 29 and marked the 28th Olympiad. This was only the second time the modern-era Olympics were staged in Greece. The results of the 2004 Summer Olympics in terms of gold, silver and bronze medals left the United States, Russia and China in the top spots among the competing nations.
Significance
The 2004 Summer Games marked an historic moment, because Greece is the birthplace of both the ancient and modern Olympics. The 2004 Olympics set records for the largest number of participating National Olympic Committees and program events, and access to television coverage of the Games, Olympic.org, the official website of the Olympics, states. The marathon, shot put and archery events were staged at historic sites in Greece where the ancient Olympics were contested.
Medals
Of the medals awarded at the 2004 Summer Olympics, the United States took home the most total medals with 102 and the most gold and silver medals with 36 and 39, respectively. Russia came in second place with 92 medals, China in third with 63, Australia and Germany tied for fourth place with 49 medals and Japan was sixth with 37 medals. France won 33 medals, Italy won 32, and South Korea and the United Kingdom each won 30 medals. The host country of Greece won 16 medals, with six gold, six silver and four bronze medals. China took home the second-most amount of gold medals with 32 and Russia was third with 27 gold medals. Of the silver medals, Russia was second with 27 and China was third with 17. For the bronze medals, Russia won 38, the United States won 27 and Germany earned 20.
Records Set
Competing athletes at the 2004 Summer Olympics set several new records, including U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps earning eight medals -- six of which were gold -- in one Olympic Games. U.S. swimmer Aaron Peirsol set an Olympic record in the men's 100-meter backstroke, while Xuejuan Luo of China set an Olympic record in the men's 100-meter breaststroke. The People's Republic of China also set records in men's 110-meter hurdles and 10-meter air rifle. Athletes representing the Russian Federation set Olympic records in men's trap shooting, women's 10-meter air rifle and men's 10-meter air pistol. Virgilijus Alekna of Lithuania set an Olympic record for the men's discus throw, Joanna Hayes of the United States set a record in the women's 100-meter hurdles, Cuba set a record for the women's javelin throw, and Sarah Ulmer of New Zealand set an Olympic record in women's individual pursuit. The 2004 Summer Games also featured Olympic records in men's 77-kilogram weightlifting and women's 48-kilogram weightlifting -- both by Turkey.
Firsts
The United Arab Emirates won its first gold medal, thanks to Ahmed Almaktoum's victory in double trap shooting. Teams from the nations of Timor-Leste and Kiribati competed for the first time in the Olympics in the 2004 Games, and Greece won its first gold medal in judo. Other first-time gold medals were awarded to China and Chile in tennis, the United States and Switzerland in fencing, Thailand in women's weightlifting, and Greece in men's synchronized springboard diving. Women's events in wrestling and the saber fencing debuted at the 2004 Summer Games.
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