Olympics 2012: Nation Power Rankings, Day 12 Edition

The Americans dominated Day 12 of the 2012 Summer Olympics. 

Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh won their third straight gold medal in women's volleyball, Allyson Felix dominated in the women's 200-meter, and Aries Merritt did the same in the men's 110-meter hurdles. 

Team USA put up 11 medals in total in Wednesday action.

There were plenty of other phenomenal performances from other nations, though, and in this installment of our daily power rankings, we'll explore which nations came through in a big way on Day 12.

10. India

Before today, India's total medal count stood at three.

Chungneijang Mery Kom Hmangte changed that with a bronze medal in women's boxing. 

She was pitted against Great Britain's Nicola Adams in the semifinals of the women's flyweight division, and though the Indian lost, she still earned a bronze medal for her nation, along with USA's Marlen Esparza.

For a country that isn't used to winning a ton of medals, this is a huge boost for India. They now have earned one more medal than they did in 2008. 

Well done. 

9. Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan had only three medals through the first 11 days of the 2012 Olympics, just like India. 

Mariya Stadnyk came within one match of becoming the new Olympic champion in the women's 48 kilogram wrestling division, but she came up just short. She lost to Japan's Hitomi Obara in the gold-medal match, settling instead for the silver.

Now Azerbaijan has four medals, and they're one step closer to matching the seven total medals they earned in Beijing. 

8. Czech Republic

Zuzana Hejnova became the first woman from the Czech Republic to ever medal in a race on the Olympic track, with a bronze medal in the women's 400-meter hurdles. Only two women in the history of her country had ever previously won a medal in athletics, period.

Furthermore, Hejnova's medal came in one of the most closely contested races we've seen so far in the 2012 Summer Games, making her accomplishment all the more remarkable. 

Finally, to put a cherry on top of her feat, Hejnova's medal brings the total medal count for the Czech Republic up from five to six. 

That's a 17 percent increase in one day. Boom. 

7. Jamaica

Jamaica's dominance on the track was in full evidence once again on Day 12. 

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce won the silver medal for her performance in the women's 200-meter, falling behind American star Allyson Felix.

Hansle Parchment put together a fantastic performance in the men's 110-meter hurdles, earning a bronze medal for his efforts. 

Oh, and don't forget about a guy named Usain Bolt. After today's semifinals, he leads a group of three Jamaican sprinters who will be competing in the men's 200-meter final on Day 13. Yohan Blake and Warren Wier could both end up on the podium with Bolt if things work out in their favor. 

6. Tajikistan

Tajikistan hadn't earned a single medal until today; it only earned two medals in 2008. 

Mavzuna Chorieva scored a major victory for her country by earning the bronze medal in women's boxing. She made it all the way to the semifinals before being defeated by Ireland's Katie Taylor, who will compete in the gold-medal match. 

Her medal is only the third Olympic medal in the history of her country, which is why we ranked it so high, catapulting Tajikistan up to No. 6 in our daily rankings. 

5. Germany

Germany had a rather nice haul on Day 12, pulling in five total medals, one of which was of the gold variety.

Four of their five medals came in kayaking events. Sebastian Brendel earned their lone gold medal for his masterful performance in the men's C-2 1,000-meter competition. He beat out the field by the better part of a full second.

Germany's only non-kayaking medal came in the men's team table tennis event, as they beat Hong Kong three games to one in the bronze-medal match. 

4. Japan

Japan only earned two medals on Day 12, but both were gold. It was a double-dip for gold in women's wrestling, no less. 

Hitomi Obara and Kaori Icho both dominated their weight classes throughout the Olympics, and they both capped off the Games with resounding victories in their gold-medal matches. 

Better still, the two of them helped Japan double its gold-medal count for the 2012 Summer Games. 

Big win. 

3. China

Compared to some, Day 12 was a rather quiet day for the Chinese. But they made the most of their opportunities, hauling in two gold medals and another silver medal.

It's not really a surprise that the men's table tennis team won the gold. They beat the team from South Korea three games to zero to win handily.

Wu Jingyu won the women's less-than 49 kilogram division in taekwondo, beating Spain's Brigitte Yague Enrique by a whopping score of eight to one in the gold-medal match. 

Finally, Jing Ruixue earned a silver medal for her performance in the women's 63 kilogram wrestling division. She lost to Japan's Kaori Icho in the gold-medal match. 

Still, even on a slow day, China is leading all nations with 36 golds for the summer. They are second to the USA by only four medals in the overall medal count. 

2. Russia

Natalya Antyukh's performance in the women's 400-meter hurdles was one of the most exhilarating highlights of Day 12. She earned the gold medal over U.S. hurdler Lashinda Demus, who finished only seven-hundredths of a second behind her.

Russia's athletes also pulled in three additional medals. 

Elena Sokolova came in second place behind American long-jumper Brittney Reese to win silver.

Lubov Volosova earned a bronze medal for her performance in women's wrestling, and Alexey Denisenko did the same in men's taekwondo. 

Solid work for one day, and the Russian Federation is now sitting pretty in third place for total medals in the 2012 Summer Games. 

1. USA

The Americans have already had some phenomenal days throughout these Olympic Games, but by my account, Day 12 tops them all.

Team USA earned 11 total medals, consisting of four golds, three silvers and four bronzes. 

Talk about a massive haul. 

In four track and field finals, they earned seven total medals—doubling up in three of those events to earn multiple medals. 

Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh unbelievably won their third straight gold medal in women's beach volleyball, defeating their own countrywomen, April Ross and Jennifer Kessy, who had to settle for silver

Two of our women in combat sports also took home bronze medals—Clarissa Chun in wrestling, and Marlen Esparza in boxing.

All in all, Day 12 was a landslide victory for U.S. athletes against the rest of the world. 

Follow @JesseReed78