Olympic Standings 2012: Track Alone Will Put Jamaica in Medal Count Top 15

When you ask Jamaicans if they’d rather fly or be invisible, they always choose “be invisible”—because they already fly.

In the 2012 Olympic standings, Jamaica are nowhere to be found. They have yet to medal, but because of the track events, they will eventually sprint their way into the top 15 for the medal count.

According to Bovada, the Jamaicans are favorites to win 11 medals on the track alone. While that likely wouldn’t catapult them in the top 15 in total medals, four of those 11 are projected to be gold. And thus far, there are only seven countries that have double-digit medals and at least four golds.

Jamaica could medal multiple times in each event.

In the women’s 100-meter dash, Shelly-Ann Fraser is the favorite while Veronica Campbell-Brown will compete for a spot to her right or left on the podium. In the men’s 100-meter and 200-meter, they could take all three medals back to Jamaica.

Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake are heavy favorites to win gold and silver in the 100 and 200. They could be joined, though, by Asafa Powell in the 100 and Warren Weir in the 200.

Nick Mulvenney of Reuters reported that Bolt believes there could be a historically fast field competing for the title of “The Fastest Man in the World” in London. He said:

"

I'm thinking this could be one of the fastest 100 meters anyone has ever seen because these guys have been showing potential all season, a lot of guys have been running fast because it's an Olympic year.

"

And in the relay competitions, you better believe that same depth will be on full display.

The Jamaican men’s 4x100-meter team has a chance to be legendary and should blow away the field. Their women’s 4x100-meter as well as their men’s and women’s 4x400-meter teams will also all make a strong push for gold.

Jamaica started slow, but they’re guaranteed to pick up the pace.

Here is the current medal count and full Olympic standings.

OLYMPIC MEDAL TRACKER
	United States  Total: 37	18	9	10
	China  Total: 34	18	11	5
	Japan  Total: 19	2	6	11
	Germany  Total: 17	4	8	5
	Russia  Total: 17	3	6	8

David Daniels is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer.

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