HistoryData
sports2012

China at the 2012 Summer Olympics — sporting event delegation

January 1, 2012

China finished second in the 2012 London Olympics medal standings with 88 medals, including dominant performances in badminton and table tennis.

Quick Facts

Year
2012
Category
sports

Key Facts

Total medals won
88 (38 gold, 27 silver, 23 bronze)
Athletes competing
396 (171 men, 225 women)
Sports contested
23
Medal table rank
2nd (behind United States)
Title defenders
11 athletes defended 2008 Olympic titles
First medal in
Modern pentathlon

By the Numbers

88
Total medals won
396
Athletes competing
23
Sports contested
2
Medal table rank

Location

Map of London, United KingdomMap of London, United KingdomLondon, United Kingdom

Cause → Event → Consequence

Cause

As a major Olympic power and the host of the 2008 Beijing Games, China entered the 2012 London Olympics with a large, well-funded delegation. The Chinese Olympic Committee selected 396 athletes across 23 sports, with women outnumbering men for the fourth time in the country's Olympic history, reflecting sustained investment in elite sports programs.

Event

China competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London from 27 July to 12 August 2012, fielding 396 athletes. The delegation excelled across multiple disciplines, winning all available gold medals in badminton and table tennis, and accumulating twelve gymnastics medals, ten in diving and swimming, and seven each in weightlifting and shooting. Swimmers Sun Yang and Ye Shiwen each broke world or Olympic records.

Consequence

China finished second in the global medal standings with 88 medals, behind only the United States. Several athletes achieved historic milestones, including Wu Minxia winning gold in a single event at three consecutive Games and Zou Kai becoming China's most decorated Olympian. Post-event doping disqualifications of Russian athletes resulted in multiple Chinese competitors being upgraded to higher placements.

Result

China
38 gold, 27 silver, 23 bronze (2nd overall)

at London 2012 Summer Olympics venues, London, United Kingdom

Sun Yang set a world record; Ye Shiwen set an Olympic record in swimming

Timeline Context

Timeline around 201220122009201020112013201420152012 Summer Olympics — Games of the XXX Olympiad, in London, United KingdomUEFA Euro 2012 — 14th European association football championship2012 Summer Paralympics — 2012 edition of the Summer ParalympicsJanuary 2012 — month of 20122012 Formula One World Championship — 63rd season of Formula One motor racingAthletics at the 2012 Summer Olympics — athletics events at the OlympicsFootball at the 2012 Summer Olympics — 2012 edition of the association football torunaments during the Olympic Summer Games2012 Africa Cup of Nations — football tournamentchina-at-the-2012-summer-olympics-sporting-event-delegatio-2012