Olympic Medal Count 2012: Guide to Big Friday Events with Medals on the Line

The 2012 Summer Olympics in London are quickly winding down, but the events are getting more and more exciting as many reach the finals.

While Saturday and Sunday will be absolutely jam-packed with medals to be won on the final weekend, Friday has quite a few awesome competitions going on as well.

Let’s take a look at a few that will be taking place and highlight any Americans that have a chance to medal.

Men’s Pole Vault Final

Steve Hooker, the Australian who won gold in 2008 at Beijing and looks to repeat in 2012, headlines this exciting event.

It won’t be easy, as 14 other competitors are in the field and looking to vault ahead of the 30-year-old champion.

American’s best hope to hit the podium is Brad Walker. He finished third in qualification with a 5.60-meter jump and will have to hit that mark or better to bring home a prize.

Women’s 4x100-Meter Relay Final

This is one track event that the Americans have a great chance of winning with their excellent team, highlighted by Carmelita Jeter. Allyson Felix, Tianna Madison and Sanya Richards-Ross will likely join her, but anything can happen between now and race time (3:40 p.m. ET)

Jamaica also qualified for the final, and will be looking to extract revenge after failing to qualify in 2008. The event was the only blemish on their sprinting record in that Olympiad.

Expect it to be an extremely close race between these two nations.

Men’s 4x400-Meter Relay Final

This is another event that the stars and stripes should be able to capture.

Having said that, all eyes will be on “Blade Runner” Oscar Pistorius.

The Bahamas team is the favorite, but the United States is breathing down their neck and could easily end up atop the podium.

South Africa and Pistorius have been allowed to re-enter the competition and will compete in the finals. They are a long-shot, but could pull an upset.