Olympics Medal Tally 2012: Top Contenders for a Top 3 Finish

The Olympics are an event that brings the world together to play sports of all things, but that doesn't mean bragging rights aren't still on the line.

It's safe to say the United States and China will be taking home the top two spots in the medal count, but the fight for third is still raging on. Here are three nations with the best chance to capture that final top spot.

Great Britain

The host country is right in the thick of the medal count right now, currently holding a total of 22. That's good enough for third place, though they are tied with Russia for that spot.

There are still several events where Great Britain has a strong chance to win such as the men's pommel horse final in gymnastics as well as the women's 50-meter and men's 1500-meter freestyle in swimming.

All three of those finals will take place this weekend and could bring three more medals to their current total which could help separate Britain from the pack.

One of the main reasons Team GB has a great chance to take the third place overall is the fact that regardless of what event their athletes are in or what time of day it takes place, the majority of the audience will be rooting for their athletes to win.

You can never discount home field advantage in any sport, and it'll be Britain's not-so-secret weapon if they are able to finish third.

Russia

Another element one can never discount is history. Russia has finished third in the medal count the past two Summer Games and have every ability to do so in London.

The Russians have always been an Olympic powerhouse and this year is no different. They're one of two nations sitting at No. 3 overall in the count and it'll be tough for anyone to dethrone them.

With a few more women's gymnastics medals to be handed out, athletes Aliya Mustafina and Ksenia Afanseva could contribute more to Russia's cause. The nation is already guaranteed another coming to the total with Maria Sharapova in the women's tennis finals.

Russia is always one of the top contenders to finish among the top three nations at the Olympics and it has every ability to finish third overall for the third consecutive Summer Games.

France

Keeping with the European theme, France is another nation that could challenge for a top-three finish. Unlike the Russians, France hasn't seen a top-three or even a top-five finish in the Summer Games medal since the new millennium began. 

The closest the French have come to that kind of finish came during the 2000 Sydney Games, but this year they find themselves right in the thick of things. Their current medal count stands at 19, right behind Russia, Great Britain and Japan.

France is one of those countries that could come up and surprise the world with a top-three finish, and with the travel time to get to London relatively short, the nation should have plenty of supporters.

Factor in a healthy fan base with the current medal count, and France has a fighting chance to capture third.