Source: CRI

08-24-2008 22:42

China tops the Olympic gold medal table for the first time but lost men's hurdles and women's volleyball, the two golds voted by Chinese netizens as "the most valuable" of the country's tally in Athens.

The Chinese athletes had such a runaway success at the two-week sports gala that International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge had to ask them to slow down a little bit.

"The Chinese delegation has achieved tremendous success. Mr. Liu Peng, please leave something for the other countries," Rogge joked with the Chinese sports head on Friday when speaking during an dinner offered by top Chinese officials.

With a collection of 51 golds, 21 silvers and 28 bronzes, China surpassed perennial sports powerhouse the United States for the first time in history.

Just like in the Athens Games in 2004, the five sports of weightlifting, shooting, diving, table tennis and badminton combined to contribute most golds for the Chinese sports delegation with Chinese strong men and women grabbing eight golds and Chinese "dream team" of diving sweeping seven titles out of eight.