Paralympics medals: National winners and losers at London 2012 - BBC Sport BBC Sport Paralympics medals: National winners and losers at London 2012 10 Sep 2012 From the section Disability Sport Share this page Read more about sharing. The Paralympics have been a huge success for Great Britain, and not only within the sporting arenas. The public have been out in force to support the events while Team GB have responded with a record haul of 120 medals. London v Beijing medal placings London USA 3 But leaving the hosts aside, who are the big winners and losers in the London 2012 medal table? China have continued their dominance, which began at their own home games in Beijing four years ago. But the biggest disappointment has come from traditional powerhouse the United States, who slid down the Paralympics medal table despite regaining their number one status at the Olympics. Elsewhere, Russia, Ukraine and Australia have all produced healthy medal hauls to cheer their nations. Here, BBC Sport assesses the achievements of a number of countries and how their relative success or failure has been perceived at home.

CHINA MEDALS AT LONDON 2012: 95 golds, 71 silvers and 65 bronzes MEDALS AT BEIJING: 89 golds, 70 silvers and 52 bronzes PERCEPTION: The London Paralympics has been met with a lot of enthusiasm in China. The country has around 82 million disabled people so there is a big audience. Chinese state media sent out a 100-strong team of journalists to cover the London Games. And it is clear from Chinese social media that many young people have been eager to find out about Team China's progress. HOW'S IT GONE? China has triumphed again at the Paralympics, after topping the medal tables in both Athens and Beijing. Yang Yang, 15, won four swimming golds The country won the first gold medal of the London Games in rifle shooting and on Thursday celebrated its 300th Paralympic gold medal, won by Zhao Xu in the men's 100m-T46 final. Its team was smaller than in Beijing but highly successful across a range of sports nonetheless.

TOP PERFORMING ATHLETE: China has so many Paralympic stars but one of the stand-out performances came from the youngest athlete in the team. Swimmer Yang Yang is only 15 years old but marked his Games debut by bagging four gold medals. He also broke the world record in the men's 50m backstroke S2 category. WHAT THEY SAID: Chinese coach Zhang Honggu (as quoted by Xinhua news agency): "China has developed fast in recent years and the government and people attach great importance to disabled people, which guarantees high-level systematic training for all the Paralympians. All our Paralympians train hard and they are eager to show their power in high-level competitions." UNITED STATES MEDALS AT LONDON 2012: 31 golds, 29 silvers and 38 bronzes MEDALS AT BEIJING: 36 golds, 35 silvers and 28 bronzes PERCEPTION: The Paralympics have received scant attention in the US.

The country was saturated with Olympic coverage last month, but amid the start of the American football season and the final few weeks of the baseball season, television viewers had other sport to watch. NBC, the official US broadcaster, did not air the opening ceremony and only showed about five-and-a-half hours of sport, none of it live. HOW'S IT GONE? The US finished sixth in the Paralympic medal count. Jessica Long won seven medals for the US If Americans were paying more attention, they might be disappointed to learn that rivals China won more than three times as many Paralympic gold medals. Most news coverage has focused not on results or the medal chase, but on human interest stories or curiosities, with headlines such as "Shark attack survivor wins bronze" - the tale about South African swimmer Achmat Hassiem. TOP PERFORMING ATHLETE: Swimmer Jessica Long, 20, won five gold medals, two silvers and a bronze. Long, who was born in Siberia and raised in Baltimore, was born without most of the bones in her feet.

WHAT THEY SAID: Josh George, US wheelchair racer, in the New York Times: "Even more amazing than the fact that Londoners have opened their arms and hearts to the Paralympics is the fact that they are interested in us for our athletic ability, not the fact that we don't spend every day in our rooms crying about the fact that we can't walk, or are missing a limb or two." RUSSIA MEDALS AT LONDON 2012: 36 golds, 38 silvers and 28 bronzes MEDALS AT BEIJING: 18 golds, 23 silvers and 22 bronzes PERCEPTION: Even though the Russian team performed well, there was only brief coverage in the Russian media. But attitudes are changing, something that Russia's strong performance in London will help. The Paralympic Games are gradually becoming a source of national pride, and the government are playing their part in that. Oxana Savchenko won gold in all five of her events For instance, the government will pay substantial cash prizes which are equal to those won by successful Olympians. HOW'S IT GONE?

Russia's performance was perhaps the biggest surprise of the Paralympics as the nation climbed to second in the medals table. This was a huge improvement from Beijing, when Russia finished eighth with 63 medals, 18 of which were gold. In London, the number of golds doubled to 36, while the overall medals tally climbed to 102. Most of those medals came in athletics and swimming. TOP PERFORMING ATHLETE: Without doubt, Russia's top Paralympian in London was Oxana Savchenko. The 21-year-old swimmer won gold in all five of her events, to add to the three she gained in Beijing four years ago. WHAT THEY SAID: Vladimir Lukin, the president of Russia's Paralympic committee: "Before the Paralympics, we didn't promise medals.

After Beijing, we decided to try to get into the elite of the Paralympic sport - and we have done it." AUSTRALIA MEDALS AT LONDON 2012: 32 golds, 23 silvers and 30 bronzes MEDALS AT BEIJING: 23 golds, 29 silvers and 27 bronzes PERCEPTION: The Paralympics have received widespread coverage in Australian media, with multiple stories each day on the highs and lows of athletes' performances, and more than 100 hours of televised coverage. Considerable pride is being shown in Australia's Paralympic achievements and the way the country has invested in its sportsmen and women. Jacqueline Freney won eight golds in the pool HOW'S IT GONE? Australia surpassed its haul of 23 gold medals from Beijing with three days of competition remaining. It is something the Australian media was quick to highlight, and follows the country's strong showing at the last four Paralympic Games. The country's swimmers have shone, but gold medals have also come in sailing, cycling and on the track.

TOP PERFORMING ATHLETE: Two names have stood out - Jacqueline Freney, the 20-year-old swimmer who has become Australia's most successful Paralympian at a single Games. She ended with eight gold medals in the pool. The other is Matthew Cowdrey, another swimmer who has become the first Australian man to win the same event - the 100m freestyle S9 - at three different Games. WHAT THEY SAID: Jacqueline Freney, after winning her seventh of her eight gold medals: "It is just unbelievable how good this meet has been." UKRAINE MEDALS AT LONDON 2012: 32 golds, 24 silvers and 28 bronzes MEDALS AT BEIJING: 24 golds, 18 silvers and 32 bronzes PERCEPTION: After Ukraine's incredible success in Beijing, the media started paying attention to the Paralympics but the level of coverage remains way below that enjoyed by the country's Olympians, even though they are less successful. Ukraine's main TV channel showed some of the action from London, though, mainly athletics and swimming, in which most of the country's medals came.

Nataliia Prologaieva won her first golds at the age of 31 Slowly but surely, Ukraine's Paralympians are becoming the pride of the nation. The government has recognised this, paying substantial cash prizes to medallists. HOW'S IT GONE? After causing a surprise by finishing fourth in the medals table in Beijing, Ukraine cemented its status as one of the strongest contenders in Paralympic sport. A tally of 32 golds in London comfortably surpassed the total of four years ago, and suggests there is a strong base on which to build for Rio. Ukraine's Paralympians proved far more successful in London than their Olympic counterparts, who won only six golds. TOP PERFORMING ATHLETE: At the age of 31, swimmer Nataliia Prologaieva made a fantastic Paralympic debut. She got four medals - three gold and one silver - dedicating all of her wins to her two sons, who were supporting her back home in Ukraine. WHAT THEY SAID: Swimmer Oleksii Fedyna, who won a gold and a bronze in London: "The Ukrainian team is a lot stronger, and their results keep getting better.

The spectator support was very good. Thank you England - London has been the best Games." WHAT ABOUT PARALYMPICSGB? London 2012 saw swimmer turned cyclist Sarah Storey ride into the record books, equalling the 11 career gold medals won by Britain's top modern-day Paralympians Baroness Tanni-Grey Thompson and Dave Roberts. Sarah Storey has 11 Paralympic medals to her name Sprinter Jonnie Peacock, aged 19, beat three-time Paralympic champion Oscar Pistorius to become the fastest amputee sprinter in the world. Peacock took the 100m T44 gold in a world-record time. Among a host of heroes, wheelchair athlete David Weir collected four golds - proving as adept in the 800m as in the marathon - while Ellie Simmonds was twice a Paralympic champion in the pool. Great Britain won a record 120 Paralympic medals in London, a rise from 102 in Beijing - although the number of golds fell from 42 to 34, and with it came a drop from second to third in the medals table.

Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, 11-time Paralympic champion: "The overall performance has been good, although I think the medal target was tough. "Great Britain won some unexpected medals, while some established athletes who were expected to win did not. "Tennis player Peter Norfolk and rower Tom Aggar did not do as well as they should have but equestrian pair Natasha Baker and Sophie Christiansen were both successful. "It was good to see the younger people come through. It makes me feel positive for Rio and beyond." Marc Woods, four-time Paralympic swimming gold medallist: "As a whole Great Britain have done pretty well, but there have been some disappointing performances. "There have been people who have come here and have not swum lifetime bests and I think if you come to a home Games and don't do that then that has to be a disappointment. "Whether it is because people have been unlucky with illness and injury or whether their focus and commitments have been elsewhere is difficult to say.

"But I think there are at least four swimmers who did not deliver and could have made up the different between the gold medals won in Beijing and here in London." Share this page London 2012 Paralympics - Ceremonies, Medals, Torch Relay London 2012 Qualification Criteria SPORTS The Games featured 20 sports, most of which took place in London with the exception of Sailing at Weymouth and Portland, Rowing at Eton Dorney and Road Cycling which was staged at Brands Hatch. Archery Para athletics Boccia Cycling Equestrian Football 5-a-side Football 7-a-side Goalball Judo Para powerlifting Rowing Sailing Shooting Para sport Para swimming Table tennis Sitting volleyball Wheelchair basketball Wheelchair fencing Wheelchair rugby Wheelchair tennis TORCH RELAY IPC President Sir Philip Craven was among the first five Torchbearers to carry the London 2012 Paralympic Flame after it was created at an emotional ceremony at Stoke Mandeville Stadium.

He was joined by four other legends of the Paralympics – Baroness Susan Masham of Ilton, Caz Walton, Sally Haynes and Jane Blackburn – after the four national flames were joined at the birthplace of the Paralympic Movement. The Paralympic Flame then left on a 92-mile journey to the Olympic Stadium in a 24-hour torch relay that involved 580 Torchbearers working in teams of five. Prior to the Stoke Mandeville event, National Flames were created at the summit of the highest peaks of the four home nations: Scafell Pike (England), Snowdon/Yr Wyddfa (Wales), Ben Nevis (Scotland) and Slieve Donard (Northern Ireland). The four individual Flames were then placed in a miner's lantern and transferred to the nation's capital cities. Paralympic celebrations took place in London, Belfast Edinburgh and Cardiff. Find out more about the London 2012 Torch Relay here. OPENING CEREMONY London 2012 launched in unforgettable style with leading scientist Professor Stephen Hawking and renowned actor Sir Ian McKellen appearing in a memorable event.

The Ceremony took the form of a play, with Hawking introducing proceedings before Sir Ian took over, taking the role of William Shakespeare’s The Tempest and guiding the principle character Miranda through the evening’s proceedings. All of the athletes received a huge ovation when they entered an Olympic Stadium drenched in colour, before gathering in the centre to play their part in the remainder of the ceremony. The Games were officially opened by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, before Royal Marine Joe Townsend brought the Paralympic Flame into the stadium. Great Britain 5-a-side footballer David Clarke carried the Flame on, before the country’s first ever Paralympic gold medalist Margaret Maughan lit the Paralympic Cauldron. MEDALS For the third consecuitve Games China topped the medals table winning 231 in total. This was 20 more than they won on homesoil in 2008 underlining their position as the Paralympic superpower. After finishing eighth in 2008, Russia showed the greatest imporvement climbing to second overall with 36 gold medals.

Host nation Great Britain, who won 18 more medals than in Beijing, finished third whilst Ukraine and Australia finished fourth and fifth for the second consecutive Games. In total 75 of the 164 competing countries won at least one medal. OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCES Swimmers were the athletes to take home the most medals from London 2012 with Australia's Jacqueline Freney (8 golds) and Brazil's Daniel Dias (6 golds) leading the way. On the track Great Britain's David Weir and USA's Martin Raymond were in unbeatable form. Bouyed on by a vocal home crowd Weir took T54 gold in the 800m, 1,500m, 5,000m and marathon whereas 18 year old Raymond, who was making his Games debut, took T52 gold in the 100m, 200m, 400m and 800m. In wheelchair tennis , Dutch sensation Esther Vergeer was reduced to tears winning her fourth Paralympic gold and 470th consecutive match. There were also some big upsets in the Games.

Brazil's Alan Oliveira beat South Africa's Oscar Pistorius to 200m T44 gold and Canada halted USA's hopes of a fourth wheelchair rugby gold in five Games with a semi-final defeat. Australia eventually picked up the gold. ATTENDANCE AND COVERAGE A record 2.7 million tickets were sold for the Games with most events and sessions selling out. The Games were broadcast to over 100 countries and territories, the most ever. In the UK rights holder Channel 4 screened over 150 hours of live coverage, achieving record audiences. More than 11.2 million watched the Opening Ceremony - the channel's biggest audience of a decade - and most days the channel enjoyed the biggest audience share of all the main UK channels. Channel 4's coverage reached 39.9 million people - over 69% of the UK population. London 2012 was the first truly social and online Games. Throughout the course of the Games there were 1.3 million tweets mentioning 'Paralympic', 25 million people visited London 2012.com and over 5.8 million people upgraded to the London 2012 Paralympic App.

The IPC also saw huge visitor numbers to its online channels. Nearly 2 million people visited - which broadcast over 780 hours of live action - and there were more than 5.1 million downloads of videos on demand during the Games from the official IPC YouTube channel A full schedule of the daily live streams can be found here. The IPC's Facebook following increased by 350% and there were 82.1 million views of its pages. Twitter followers grew by 50%. Samsung Bloggers , an innovative collaboration between the IPC, LOCOG and Samsung whereby many of the world's top athletes provided behind the scenes video blogs, also proved extremely popular. Over 600 video blogs were uploaded and were viewed by over 300,000 people. CLOSING CEREMONY The Closing Ceremony was a spectacular affair with Coldplay, Jay-Z and Rihanna playing to a capacity crowd. His Royal Highness Prince Edward the Earl of Wessex was present to witness a spectacular show that illustrated the four seasons. Paralympians Michael McKillop of Ireland, and Kenya’s Mary Nakhumicha Zakayo were given the Whang Youn Dai award for those exemplifying the spirit of the Games.

Speeches by Sir Philip and Sebastian Coe, Chair of the London 2012 Organising Committee, were followed by The Final Flame – a section to mark the closing of the Paralympic Games and the last night of London 2012. The ceremony ended with a spectacular firework display over the Olympic Stadium and Park, providing a fitting finale to an entirely unforgettable London 2012. Beijing 2008 Paralympics - Ceremonies, Medals, Torch Relay Mascot Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games. Opening Ceremony of the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games The Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games were record breaking in more ways than one. More athletes and countries competed than ever before and the Games were seen by the most people ever either as spectators in venues or viewers on television or the internet. Click here to view a stunning highlights video of the Games . SPORTS With the addition of rowing to the sport programme for the first time, a total of 20 sports took place in China. All but sailing and equestrian events were held in Beijing.

Archery Para athletics Boccia Cycling Equestrian Football 5-a-side Football 7-a-side Goalball Judo Para powerlifting Rowing Sailing Shooting Para sport Para swimming Table tennis Sitting volleyball Wheelchair basketball Wheelchair fencing Wheelchair rugby Wheelchair tennis TORCH RELAY The 10 day long Paralympic Torch Relay involved 850 torch bearers in the two-route run. The “Ancient China” route covered the historic cities of Xi’an, Hohhot, Changsha, Nanjing and Luoyang. The “Modern China” route took in Shenzhen, Wuhan, Shanghai, Qingdao and Dalian. The Paralympic Torch Relay Launch Ceremony took place at the Temple of Heaven and was attended by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao. OPENING CEREMONY The 90,000 seat Bird’s Nest Stadium staged the spectacular Opening Ceremony which involved the contributions of 4,813 performers. Three times Paralympic champion in the men’s high jump and Paralympian Ambassador Hou Bin lit the Paralympic torch in sensational style climbing a rope to the roof of the Bird’s Nest using nothing but the strength in his arms.

The Games were officially opened by Hu Jintao, President of the People’s Republic of China. MEDALS In a repeat of the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games, China and Great Britain held the top two positions in the medals table. The host nation took home 89 golds, whilst Great Britain, who will stage the next Paralympic Games in 2012, took home 42 gold medals. OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCES In the Birds Nest stadium, Canada’s T54 wheelchair racer Chantal Petitclerc was unbeatable taking five gold medals in all distances from 100m through to 1,500m. South African Oscar Pistorius claimed three golds in the 100m, 200m and 400m T44 races, setting a new world record of 47.49 seconds in the 400m. Ireland’s Jason Smyth was equally impressive setting new world records on his way to gold in the 100m and 200m T13 races.

Brazil’s Daniel Dias was the man to beat in ‘Water Cube’ taking home a total of nine swimming medals consisting of four golds, four silvers and one bronze. South Africa’s Natalie du Toit was equally as impressive winning five gold medals out five swimming events. At the closing ceremony du Toit was awarded the Whand Youn Dai Achievement Award, in recognition of her exemplary role in practicing the Paralympic motto “Spirit in Motion”. Dutch wheelchair tennis player Ester Vergeer collected her third consecutive Paralympic Games gold medal with victory in the women’s singles, whist Polish table tennis player Natalie Partyka competed in both the Olympic and Paralympic Games, taking gold in the women’s individual TT10 final in the latter event. Australia’s 19 year old rugby player Ryley Batt scored a record 23 points as his country took home silver. ATTENDANCE AND COVERAGE The Games saw 1.82 million tickets sold and a further 1.62 million tickets provided to children, education and community groups. The Opening and Closing Ceremonies were sold out, as were all swimming events and most athletics sessions.

With 64 rights holders covering 80 countries from all five continents, the Beijing Games had more TV coverage than ever before. A cumulated audience of 3.8 billion watched the Games and the total broadcasting time increased by 200 per cent compared to the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games. China’s CCTV and BTV broadcast 22 hours of coverage daily on different channels. The Games were also broadcast on the IPC’s online TV channel as well as on , a new channel launched prior to Beijing. This gave those without access to TV coverage the opportunity to watch the event on their computer screen. CLOSING CEREMONY The Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games came to close on 17 September. Taking the theme ‘A Letter to the Future’ the Ceremony featured about 2,000 performers. London, the host of the 2012 Paralympic Games, staged an eight minute performance and aimed to show how sport can promote the Paralympic Movement and positively influence young people’s lives.

South Africa at the Paralympic Games South Africa at the Paralympic Games South Africa at the Paralympic Games 23 Aug 2012 Tweet on Twitter 23 August 2012 Did you know that Natalie du Toit was the first person in history to carry her country’s flag at both the Olympic and Paralympic Games? And that South African Paralympians have won over 100 gold medals – an astonishing 21 of these in Beijing in 2008? Find out more about Team SA at the Paralympics. The Stoke Mandeville Games South Africa made its first appearance at the Summer Paralympic Games, then known as the Stoke Mandeville Games, in Tokyo in 1964. Those Games are now recognised as the second edition of the Paralympics. At that time, the Stoke Mandeville Games concentrated on events for wheelchair-bound athletes. Competition for athletes with other disabilities would follow at later editions of the Paralympics.

Interestingly, in 1964 South Africa was banned from the Olympic Games because of its apartheid policies, but its athletes continued competing at the Paralympics for another 12 years after that. The ban was extended thereafter, however, and South African Paralympians missed the Games of 1980, 1984 and 1988. Tokyo 1964 In 1964, only nine different sports were contested in Tokyo with just 375 athletes taking part. South African athletes performed well, finishing sixth on the medal table, with eight gold, eight silver and three bronze medals. The United States finished in first place, with 50 gold medals, 41 silver medals and 32 bronze medals, for a total of 123 medals in all. Great Britain, with 18 gold, 23 silver, and 20 bronze medals for a total of 61 medals, placed second. Daniel Erasmus was the star of the show for the South Africa, winning medals in all four events he entered, with golds in the shot put and discus and silver medals in the club throw and javelin.

Tel Aviv 1968 The 1964 Games were, until the 1988 Paralympics, the last Paralympic Games to be held in the same city as the Olympics, so, while Mexico City hosted the Olympics in 1968, Tel Aviv was the venue for the Paralympics. At the time, they were known as the 17th International Stoke Mandeville Games. The numbers at the 1968 Paralympics doubled from 375 to 750 athletes. Once again South Africa performed well, winning 26 medals, nine of them gold. They also claimed silvers, and seven bronze medals to end in 10th place in the medal count. Daniel Erasmus repeated his feat of four years earlier in Tokyo by winning two gold medals and two silvers in athletics. This time around, he was crowned champion in the shot put and javelin and runner-up in the club throw and discus. He also added a gold medal in the men’s singles in lawn bowls and claimed a silver medal in the pairs.

Maragaret Harriman, who had previously represented Rhodesia with great success, claiming five gold medals, one silver and two bronze medals in the previous two Paralympics, won two gold medals in archery. The USA topped the medal table with 33, 27, and 39 for a total of 99 medals in all. Great Britain, with 29, 20 and 20 for a tally of 69 medals placed second, with hosts, Israel, in third. Heidelberg 1972 Heidelberg, Germany, hosted the 1972 Summer Paralympics as the total number of competitors rose to just over 1 000. As had been the case with previous Paralympics, they were intended for wheelchair athletes only, but demonstration events were held for athletes with other disabilities. Eleven sports, with goalball being a demonstration event, were contested. South Africa excelled, finishing fourth on the medal table, the highest finish the country has ever achieved in the Paralympics.

It produced 16 champions, 12 runners-up, and 13 bronze medallists for a total of 41 medals, which remains the highest number of medals the country has won at the Paralympics to this day. Swimming proved to be the team’s strongest suit as it picked up 18 medals, including eight golds. Athletics was a close second with 17 medals, including five golds. West Germany displaced the Americans from the top of the medal table, thanks to their 28 Paralympic champions. They added 17 silver and 22 bronze medals for a total of 67 in all. The USA, however, won the most medals, 74, with 17 gold, 27 silver and 30 bronze medals. Third placed Great Britain, like South Africa, won 16 gold medals. They added 15 silver and 21 bronze medals for a haul of 52 medals in all. Toronto 1976 While Montreal, Canada, hosted the 1976 Olympic Games, Toronto was the venue for the Paralympics, which featured 1 657 competitors.

They were to be South Africa’s last Paralympics until Barcelona in 1992. From the highs of 1972, when the country finished fourth, South Africa plunged down to 19th place in 1976, winning 26 medals and producing only six Paralympic champions to go with nine silver and 11 bronze medals. Fourteen of the medals were won in athletics. Competing close to home, the Americans dominated the Games, capturing 66 gold, 44 silver and 45 bronze medals for a total of 155 medals in all. The Netherlands finished in second place with 45 gold, 25 silver, and 14 bronze medals for a total of 84, with Israel taking third spot thanks to a return of 40 gold, 13 silver, and 16 bronze medals and a tally of 69 medals. Barcelona 1992 When South Africa returned to the Paralympic Games in 1992, the numbers had grown to over 3 000 athletes competing in 15 sports.

The country managed a 27th place finish on the medal table, with eight medals in all, made up of four gold, one silver and three bronze medals. That year remains the only time in history that South African Paralympians have failed to reach double figures in the medal count. Seven of the South African medals came in athletics, with Pieter Badenhorst winning a gold in the 400 metres and a silver medal in the 200 metres in the men’s TS3 category. One gold medal was won in swimming by Tadhg Slattery in the 100m breaststroke SB5 category. That team included Ernst van Dyk, who has since gone on to win the Boston Marathon a record nine times. In Barcelona, he competed in swimming and wheelchair racing, finishing fifth in the pool and making the semi-finals in his wheelchair events. While the USA topped the medal table with 175 medals – 75 gold, 52 silver and 48 bronze medals – Germany pushed them hard for top spot, producing 61 champions, 51 runners-up and 59 bronze medal winners for a total of 171 medals.

Atlanta 1996 At Atlanta in 1996, South Africa’s results were much improved. A total of 28 medals were won, including 10 gold, eight silver and 10 bronze medals, which was good for 15th place in the standings. The event drew 3 259 competitors in 20 sports. The hosts, the USA, finished top of the table with 47 gold, 47 silver and 68 bronze medals, for an overall count of 162 medals. Great Britain was second with a remarkably even spread of 42 gold, 42 silver and 41 bronze medals, 124 in total, and Australia, with 42 gold, 37 silver and 27 bronze medals for a total of 106 was third. Included in the South African medal haul was a bronze won by Maragaret Harriman in lawn bowls in the women’s singles LB2 category. It came 20 years after she had last won a Paralympic medal and an amazing 36 years after she had first mounted the Olympic podium for Rhodesia.

In total, during an outstanding Paralympic career, Harriman won 11 gold medals, two silver medals and four bronze medals. Other outstanding performers included Steyn Humphries, who won gold, silver and bronze in field events. Fanie Lombaard won two gold medals and a bronze medal, also in field events, and Malcolm Pringle captured a gold medal and two silvers on the track. In the swimming pool, Ebert Kleynhans won gold medals in the 50 and 100 metres freestyle in the B3 class. Sydney 2000 South Africa improved to 13th place at the Sydney Paralympics in 2000 as the country’s athletes won 13 gold, 12 silver and 13 bronze medals for a total of 38 medals in total. A total of 3 846 athletes took part in 20 sports. The advantage of hosting the Paralympics was underlined when Australia topped the medal table for the first time. They won 63 gold, 39 silver and 47 bronze medals for a total of 149 medals.

Great Britain was second with 41 gold, 43 silver, and 47 bronze medals for a total of 131 medals in all. Canada placed third, with a haul of 38 gold, 33 silver, and 25 bronzes for a haul of 96 medals overall. Fanie Lombaard led the way for South Africa with gold medals in the pentathlon, discus and shot put, as well as a silver medal in the javelin. Christelle Bosker claimed two gold and one bronze medal in field events and Zanele Situ made history by becoming the first black South African athlete to win a Paralympic medal as she lifted gold in the javelin and silver in the discus. Ebert Kleynhans, now competing in the S12 class, repeated his feat of four years earlier by winning gold medals in the 50 and 100 metres freestyle. Athens 2004 In Athens in 2004, South Africa’s Paralympians once again finished 13th in the standings as 3 806 athletes competed in 19 sports.

The country won 15 gold medals, 13 silvers and 7 bronzes for a total of 35 in all. That team included for the first time two athletes, Oscar Pistorius and Natalie du Toit, who would go on to become superstars for bridging the gap between Paralympic and Olympic competition. Pistorius began his Paralympic career with a gold medal in the men’s T44 200 metres and a bronze medal in the 100 metres. Du Toit, who had lost her left leg below the knee in an accident in 2001, was already known for her feat of qualifying for the final of the 800 metres freestyle at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester. It was the first time an athlete with a disability had qualified for the final of an able-bodied event at a major competition. In Athens, she made (pardon the pun) a big splash, winning five gold medals, three of them in freestyle, one in backstroke, and the other in the individual medley.

Zanele Situ successfully defended her javelin title, Fanie Lombaard added two golds and a silver medal to his collection, Teboho Mokgalagadi did the 100 and 200 metres double in the T35 class, and Ernst van Dyk won three medals. In the swimming pool, Scott Field won four medals, while Tadhg Slattery, 12 years after he first won a gold medal at his first Paralympic Games, won gold again in the men’s 100m breaststroke SB5 class. Beijing 2008 With over 4 200 athletes participating, South Africa won the most gold medals in the country’s history at the Paralympics in Beijing in 2008. The country won 30 medals in all with an incredible 21 of those being gold. That was enough for a sixth place finish on the medal table. China easily topped the standings, producing 89 champions, 70 runners-up and another 52 podium finishers for a total of 211 medals.

Great Britain, with 42 gold, 29 silver and 31 bronze medals, a total of 102 medals, placed second. The USA, with 35 gold, 35 silver and 28 bronzes, won 99 medals in total and finished third in the medal count. Natalie du Toit, as one of only two athletes with disabilities in the Beijing Olympics, had finished 16th in the 10 kilometre open water swim at the Olympics the previous month. She had also carried the South African flag in the Games’ opening ceremony. When she carried the flag for the Paralympic team, she became the first person in history to do so at both the Olympics and Paralympics. Du Toit shone in the Paralympics, taking home five gold medals in the women’s 50, and 100 and 400m freestyle, the 100m butterfly, and the 200m individual medley.

Oscar Pistorius, known as “The Blade Runner” because of the artificial limbs he runs on, was crowned Paralympic champion in 100, 200 and 400 metres in the T44 class. Hilton Langenhoven also won three titles in the long jump, pentathlon, and 200 metres. Fanie van der Merwe won the 100 and 200 metres in the T37 class. Philippa Johnson, a winner of two silver medals in Athens four years earlier, won two gold medals in equestrian competition. Olympic history In 2012, Pistorius became the first Paralympian to compete in athletics at the Olympics Games themselves in London. With an inspirational display, he proved he wasn’t there to make up the numbers by making it through to the semi-finals of the 400 metres. He was later given the honour of carrying the South African flag at the Olympics’ closing ceremony. London 2012 In London, 164 nations and 4 294 athletes competed in 20 sports.

The standard of competition soared to an all-time high with 251 world records being set in just 11 days! South African Paralympians won eight gold, 12 silver and nine bronze medals for a total of 29 medals and the Team South Africa finished in 18th place on the medal table, second among African nations, with Tunisia (9, 5, 5, 19) leading the way. Natalie du Toit, in her final Paralympic Games, once again led the South African medal haul. She was not in her best form, she admitted, but she was still good enough to sign off with three more gold medals and a silver in the swimming pool. That took her to a South African Paralympic record of 13 gold and two silver medals in her career. Oscar Pistorius, like Du Toit one of the most recognisable faces of the Games, suffered a shock defeat, losing for the first time ever in the men’s T44 200 metres.

He, however, won gold in the 400 metres, finishing a massive three-and-a-half seconds ahead of the second placed runner, and also anchored South Africa to a gold medal in the men’s 4 x 100m relay T42/46 in a world record 41.78 seconds. Arnu Fourie kept Pistorius out of the medals in the 100 metres T44 race by finishing third in a regional record of 11.08 seconds and was also part of the world record setting relay squad. Ilse Hayes was the leading South African woman in athletics, winning the F13 long jump with a leap of 5.70 metres and picking up silver in the 100 metres with a time of 12.41 seconds. Anrune Liebenberg set a personal best time of 56.65 to claim bronze in the women’s T46 400 metres and secured bronze in the 200 metres in a regional record of 25.55.

In the pool, the leading South African men’s medal winner was Charl Bouwer, who set an African record of 23.99 to capture gold in the 50 metres freestyle. He added further African records in silver medal winning efforts in the 100, backstroke and freestyle. Ernst van Dyk, the 2006 winner of the Laureus Sportsperson with a Disability of the Year Award and a nine-time Boston Marathon champion, finished second in the men’s individual hand cycling road race, just one second behind the winner, former Formula One driver Alex Zanardi.

SA MEDALS AT THE PARALYMPICS (gold, silver, bronze, total) 1964 Tokyo: 8, 8, 3, 19 1968 Tel Aviv: 9, 10, 7, 26 1972 Heidelberg: 16, 12, 13, 41 1976 Toronto: 6, 9, 11, 26 1992 Barcelona: 4, 1, 3, 8 1996 Atlanta: 10, 8, 10, 28 2000 Sydney: 13, 12, 13, 38 2004 Athens: 15, 13, 7, 35 2008 Beijing: 21, 3, 6, 30 2012 London: 8, 12, 9, 29 ——————- 110, 88, 82, 280 Would you like to use this article in your publication or

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See: Using SAinfo material TAGS BBC SPORT | Other sport... | Disability Sport | Where will Paralympic medals be won? Printable version Where will Paralympic medals be won? Great Britain have their sights firmly set on success at the Beijing Paralympics, which begin with the opening ceremony on Saturday 6 September. Team GB take part in 18 of the 20 sports on the Paralympic programme - goalball and sitting volleyball are the only ones without British interest. Four years ago Great Britain finished with 94 medals in Athens, including 35 golds, and were second in the medals table behind China, who will be expecting to top the standings again. TUESDAY 16 SEPTEMBER Athletics Nathan Stephens, who competed for Great Britain in the sledge hockey event at the 2006 Winter Paralympics, competes in the F57/58 javelin in the morning on the final day of action.

Shelly Woods will compete in the women's T54 1500m heats There could be further success in the later session with Libby Clegg (T12 200m) and Tracey Hinton (T11 200m). Dave Weir goes in the T54 1500m heats while Shelly Woods races in the women's equivalent. However, the highlight could be Oscar Pistorius taking on Britain's Ian Jones in the T44 400m final. Rugby Great Britain missed out on gold in Athens four years ago - will they still be involved on finals day in the Beijing medal games? The top two sides after the round-robin games will play off for gold and silver, with the third and fourth placed teams up against each other for bronze. Football - seven-a-side Great Britain are competing in the seven-a-side football competition for the first time since the 1992 Games in Barcelona, but will need luck to go their way if they are to come back with a medal. The event is for athletes with cerebral palsy and Ukraine are the defending Paralympic champions, but Russia won last year's world championships.

WEDNESDAY 17 SEPTEMBER Athletics The marathons bring down the curtain on the track programme with London Marathon winner Dave Weir hoping to add the Paralympic crown to his successes in the men's T54 1500m race, while Shelly Woods could come back with a medal in the women's T54 race. More medals await on the track for GB superstar Dave Weir Fencing Lee Fawcett, Britain's sole wheelchair fencer in Beijing, goes in the sabre event. The former wheelchair basketball player won bronze in the event at the 2006 World Cup in Turin. Five-a-side football The final placings will be decided on the last day of action, with medals up for grabs and the classification matches to decide placings. Bronze is probably the most Great Britain can expect. Bookmark with: In which countries did Paralympians outperform Olympians? - BBC News BBC News In which countries did Paralympians outperform Olympians? By Ruth Alexander BBC News 11 September 2012 Read more about sharing.

Close share panel It's been hailed by the organisers as the greatest Paralympic Games ever, but which teams of Paralympians outperformed their Olympian compatriots? And why did the US Paralympic team only manage sixth? The United States topped the Olympic Games league table with 46 gold medals, but they won about a third fewer in the Paralympics - 31, placing them outside the top five, in sixth place. More or Less: Behind the stats Listen to More or Less on BBC Radio 4 and the World Service, or download the free podcast More stories from More or Less This performance is quite a puzzle, because the US has two of the big vital ingredients for success - wealth and a large population. Population and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) explain about 53% of a nation's a success in the Olympic Games, and more than 60% in the Paralympic Games, according to the calculations of Simon Shibli, a professor of sport management at Sheffield Hallam University in the UK. A big population means a big pool of talent to fish from, and wealth means good healthcare and the money to spend on sports training and facilities.

But a further puzzle is that, if you look at the historical figures, you see the US is actually top of the all-time Paralympic gold medal league table. This can partly be explained by the fact the US dominated in the 1980s, when there were twice as many medals to win. In the 1984 Paralympics there were 345 gold medals for swimming, alone. There were 447 gold medals for athletics. Now there are only 503 gold medals in total, compared to 973 then. Unit is % share of Paralympic medals divided by % share of Olympic medals Austria, Nigeria and Algeria won many more Paralympic medals than Olympic medals Kazakhstan and North Korea won several Olympic medals but no Paralympic medals In the last few games, the US Paralympic ranking has failed to match its Olympic ranking. So what's changed? The fact that more countries are taking part, according to Shibli, which means the economic law of supply and demand comes into play. "The demand for success increases as more nations invest money in their elite sports systems and so the price of those medals will increase," he says.

"And what's happening is that, as more nations invest and take part in that global sporting arms race, it makes it difficult for the previously dominant nations to maintain their share of the medals." It surely won't have escaped the notice of the US that China is top of the medals table with 95 golds - a cool 59 gold medals clear of the second-placed Russian Federation. China's Paralympic story is the opposite of the US's. It didn't used to do particularly well. It first entered in 1984 and came 28th. Four years later, the Paralympics was first held at the same venue as the Olympics, and China's performance strengthened from then on. By the year 2000, it was sixth. Then a year later, it was announced that Beijing had got the 2008 games and in 2004 in Athens, China topped the medals table. It has stayed there ever since. "China does even better, I think, in the Paralympic Games than in the Olympic Games," says Shibli, who has analysed the proportion of available medals.

"What you've got is the world's largest population at 1.3bn, so a bigger talent pool, and a growing GDP - probably the fastest-growing GDP for a developing nation, and you've also got a government which is very determined to show the new China to the globe." According to US sports journalist Jim Ferstle, the country has had a very different attitude to the Paralympics. Did the US under-perform? By Ann CodyBlazesports, a US-based disability campaign group The US is near where we thought it would be, but there is a disparity between Olympic and Paralympic athletes and we're working to bridge that gap. Some of the Paralympians train full-time but they have to provide the resources themselves. They receive a small amount annually, from private contributions, significantly under £10,000 and that isn't enough to support their living expenses, travel and training full-time. We're definitely making strides in developing programmes in communities to reach out to physical educators and high school coaches to help us reach and identify individuals who would qualify for Paralympic competition.

I don't think anyone would be satisfied that we're doing anything but scratching the surface, but this is where increased media coverage would be incredibly helpful. Lack of US TV coverage under scrutiny "It isn't a priority, they don't get the funding, they don't get the attention and they aren't sold the same way the Olympics are," he says. "They have training centres and training programmes all over the country for able-bodied athletes but they don't have those for Paralympians. "They pop up now and then, but it's seen as these people are being helped out with their disability - they're not being trained to be athletes." Meanwhile the US TV broadcaster NBC has been criticised for failing to show any live TV coverage of the Paralympic games. The US Paralympic committee has told the BBC that it is "very aware of the need to focus on Paralympic grassroots development… In too many events at these Games, the US doesn't have athletes entered to even compete for a medal." And it says a Paralympics sports programme has been set up to address this, operating across the nation in nearly 200 deprived areas.

There are other countries which are doing better in the Paralympics than in the Olympics. Ireland exceeds expectations "I am delighted that the Paralympic team [including Jason Smyth, above] has exceeded its medal targets by a considerable margin, sixteen medals is an astonishing achievement. The combined efforts and success of our Olympic and Paralympic athletes makes all of us feel so proud and we are indebted to them." Ireland President Michael Higgins Read full story in the Irish Times Take Nigeria - no medals in the Olympics but 12 medals (six of them gold) in the Paralympics. And Nigeria's GDP per capita is around seven times smaller than Mexico's, which also got six golds. Its comparative spending on healthcare is 10 times smaller. "What's probably not appreciated fully about that nation is that it's got a population of about 160m," says Shibli. "So they've got quite a significant pool from which to fish for talent." He speculates that Nigeria may prioritise its Paralympic team, because you can get more wins for less money.

Rwanda, Bosnia Herzegovina, Iran and Iraq also stand out - they've all entered more athletes into the Paralympics than the Olympics. And for Iran this paid off, as they finished joint 10th in the final medals table. Top 10 Athletes of the London Olympic Games - Listverse Top 10 Athletes of the London Olympic Games Caleb Compton September 7, 2012 There have been many great achievements made by athletes from all around the world in the London Olympics. More than 200 countries took part in the XXX Olympiad and many countries gained their first medals including Grenada, Cyprus and El Salvador. Millions around the world witnessed Usain Bolt defend his 100m, 200m and 100m relay titles and Michael Phelps became the most decorated Olympian of all time. Many young stars have done well at London too and will continue the legacy. This list shows the 10 highest achieving athletes in London.

10 Missy Franklin Country: USA Young star Missy Franklin became the 2nd most successful Olympian in the London Olympics after winning four golds and one bronze in various swimming events including the 200m backstroke where she set the world record. She has also won three golds in the World Championships. She will be a huge favorite in games to come and may even challenge Phelps for the title of the greatest Olympian of all time in the future if she continues her success. 9 David Rudisha Country: Kenya David Rudisha has been described as ‘the greatest Olympian you’ve never heard of.’ Before the 2012 Games, he was almost unknown outside of his home country. He set the new world record for the 800m in London at 1:40.91, beating Wilson Kipketer’s record in 1997. Rudisha also holds the three best times for the 800m and half of the 20 best times ever. Rudisha is also the world junior, African and world champion in the 800m.

8 Shelly-Ann Fraser-Price Country: Jamaica Fraser-Price – also known as the ‘pocket rocket’ – is another example of a great Jamaican sprinter. She won gold in the 100m in Beijing with a time of 10.78s and then did the double for London – winning in 10.75s. Fracer-Price, along with Bolt, made history as the first team (Jamaica) to win both golds in the 100m twice in a row. She also achieved a silver in the 200m and a silver in the 4x100m relay. Fraser-Price has the 4th fastest time ever for the women’s 100m. 7 Felix Sanchez Country: Dominican Republic After taking gold in the 400m hurdles at Athens in 2004, no one expected Sanchez to do it again in London. He beat the favorites Javier Culson and Michael Tinsley in a great time of 47 seconds to become one of the greatest 400m hurdlers of all time. Sanchez stated after his victory, ‘No-one expected this.

A lot of people said I should retire but I stuck with it.’ You can see how much the medal meant to Sanchez on the medal podium with one of the most emotional reactions of the games. 6 Oscar Pistorius Country: South Africa Oscar Pistorius, dubbed the ‘fastest man on no legs’ made history at the London Games as the first double amputee to compete in the Olympics. He competed in the 400m and 4x400m sprints. He is the record holder for the Paralympic T44 100m, 200m and 400m. In the 2004 Paralympics, Pistorius gained a gold and bronze in the 200m and 100m respectively. In Beijing, he won gold in the 100m, 200m and 400m. He is the favorite for these events in the London Paralympics. In 2008, Pistorius was featured on TIME’s 100 most influential people.

5 Ben Ainslie Country: Great Britain After securing his 4th Olympic gold at London, Cornish Olympian Ben Ainslie became the greatest sailor in Olympic history. In Atlanta in 1996, Ainslie won silver and since then, he has won gold in four consecutive Olympic Games. Ainslie is the eight-time World Champion in a range of disciplines including Finn, Laser and Laser Radical. He has been awarded an MBE, OBE and CBE. He has also been the ISAF world sailor of the year three times, more than any other sailor. Ainslie was the first person to receive the 2012 Olympic Flame in Lands End, Cornwall and carried the flag for GB at the closing ceremony. 4 Wu Minxia Country: China Wu Minxia is one of the greatest divers of all time. Her career spans from 2001 to present. Her Olympic career started in Athens with a gold in the sychro and silver in 3m. In Beijing, Minxia achieved a gold in the synchro and bronze in the 3m. In the London Olympics, she gained her third synchro gold and finally the gold in the 3m.

Minxia is also the five-time World Champion in the synchro and 3m World Champion. She has also won four gold medals in the Asian Games. 3 Sir Chris Hoy Country: Great Britain Chris Hoy became GB’s most decorated Olympian after achieving two more golds in cycling at London – a sport that Great Britain has dominated over the past few Olympics. Chris Hoy started his Olympic journey in Sydney where he won silver in the Team Sprint. In Athens he won gold in the 1km time trial and in Beijing he won three golds in the Sprint, Team Sprint and Keirin. In London with the home crowd cheering him on, he achieved a gold in the Team Sprint and a gold in the Keirin. Hoy has a total of six Olympic golds and one silver. Chris Hoy has also been the 1km time trial World Champion four times, the Keirin World Champion four times, the Team Sprint World Champion twice and the Sprint World Champion. Hoy has also attained two golds and two bronze in the Commonwealth Games and has a total of 37 medals in major competitions. He has won numerous world records and Olympic records in cycling.

Hoy has been awarded an MBE for his services to cycling and the velodrome for the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games has been named in his honor. Hoy carried the flag for GB in the opening ceremony. 2 Michael Phelps Country: USA Phelps is officially the most decorated Olympian in history and has claimed 22 medals with an astonishing 18 golds along with two silvers and two bronze. To put this in perspective, if a country achieved the same Olympic medals in London that Michael Phelps has won over his career, they would be 5th in the medal table, ahead of South Korea! Phelps started his amazing Olympic career in Athens getting six golds and two bronze in various swimming events. He beat this achievement four years later at Beijing gaining eight gold medals and setting eight world records in the process. This was also the most 1st place finishes at any single Olympic games. At London he continued his legacy with four golds and two silvers. Phelps was the most successful athlete in Athens, Beijing and London. Phelps has also won medals in the World Championships and the Pan Pacific Championships and has a total of 71 medals in major competitions from 2001-2012.

Michael Phelps is the six-time world swimmer of the year. Phelps has been honored with countless awards and has had a total of 39 world records – the most out of any swimmer. Michael Phelps truly is an Olympic Legend. 1 Usain Bolt Country: Jamaica I found it almost impossible to come to a decision on the #1 spot. Choosing between Phelps and Bolt is really difficult as they are so different in personality and the sports that they compete in. Bolt will never win 22 medals simply because there isn’t that many medals for him to win in sprinting. For that reason, and the fact that he has achieved a ‘double triple’ and is the fastest man ever, Bolt tops this list. Usain Bolt is undeniably the greatest sprinter in Olympic history. In Beijing, he achieved three golds in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay. He also set the world record in each final. He destroyed the competition in the 100m whilst also having his shoelace untied! He lowered the world record again years later in the Berlin world championships to 9.58.

In the London Games, it is fair to say there were a lot of doubts about his performance, even Usain himself said he was only 95% ready for the games. And I guess that is what made it even more interesting when he achieved a ‘double triple’ winning once again the gold in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay. He is not only the first to achieve a ‘double triple’ in sprinting with three golds back-to-back, but he is the first to achieve a ‘double double.’ In the 100m, Bolt beat the Olympic record he set in Beijing clocking a time of 9.63s with Blake coming second and Gatlin third. He also beat fellow Jamaicans Blake and Weir to become the 200m champion. And with the two fastest 100m sprinters on the 4x100m relay team, it was obvious who would win and Bolt took his third gold and became an Olympic Legend. Bolt has a certain swagger which is incredible to watch. Everyone around him is so tense and stressed at the start line and Bolt is as calm as it gets.

Millions all around the world are doing his trademark lightning bolt. He is one of the most famous Olympians in history and will go down as a Legend. More Great Lists

Question: Which country won the most medals at the Paralympics in Beijing?
Answer: China