US Olympic Medal Count 2012: United States and China Developing Fierce Rivalry

It wasn't until the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games that China started becoming a threat to the United States.

But since then, the Chinese have become the main rivals of the U.S. in Olympic competition.

As of this writing, China has more medals (64) in the 2012 London Games than the United States (63). China also leads the U.S. in gold medals (31 to 29) and silver medals (19 to 15).

This is concurrent to what China was doing in 2008, when the country captured 51 gold medals in 2008, 15 more than the United States.

This year, China has particularly excelled in swimming, diving, badminton and weightlifting. The country has five gold medals in each sport. In fact, the only sports China hasn't captured a gold medal in are archery, cycling, judo and rowing (although China has two silver medals in cycling).

Most of the United States' damage has predictably come in swimming. The U.S. has amassed an amazing 30 of its 63 medals in swimming, including 16 gold medals in the sport. The United States doesn't have more than three gold medals in any other sport.

China's rise hasn't come without controversy, however.

Swimmer Ye Shiwen, just 16 years of age, won the gold medal in the 400 meters, setting the women's world record in the process. It led to many questioning whether she had doped.

There was also the whole badminton fiasco. Yu Yang and her teammate Wang Xiaoli were disqualified by badminton's governing body for allegedly throwing matches.

Track cycling team Guo Shuang and Gong Jinjie were stripped of their gold medal in the team sprint final and instead given a silver after an alleged illegal relay.

But, even with the controversy, China has still proven itself as a world power in the Olympic Games. The country has earned the designation as a top-two player in 2012, excelling in multiple sports and events and putting the U.S. to the test.

It sets up what is sure to be a thrilling rivalry at the Olympic Games for years to come.

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