From Mexican soccer to U.S. men’s boxing, Olympics’ winners and losers

The U.S. men’s boxing team, which included Terrell Gausha (left), was among the losers, coming home with zero medals. Getty Images
Mexico’s soccer team was a winner at the London Games, taking the gold. Marco Fabian (foreground) rejoices as Brazil’s Romulo walks off the field during the men’s final. Hassan Ammar • associated press

The winners and losers from the London Olympics:


Money: If we learned anything from the medals table at these Games, it’s that winning is directly related to spending. Great Britain lavished millions of pounds on its athletes, and the payoff was its most gold medals (29) in a century. India has 1.2 billion people and spends minimally on its Olympic athletes. It won none.

Title IX: The U.S. team has more women than men for the first time, and the women win 63 percent of its gold medals. A fitting tribute to the landmark legislation on its 40th anniversary.

Hope Solo: The goalkeeper saves Team USA in the final against Japan with her saves, tipping one shot off the crossbar and blocking a point-blank blast late in the second half that would have tied it. Very clutch.

Doug Logan: As CEO of USA Track & Field, he outlined an ambitious plan for a 30-medal haul in London. What happens? He gets fired for ruffling too many feathers, and Team USA goes on to win 29 track and field medals. Can USA Boxing hire him?

Jerry Colangelo: The mastermind behind the U.S. men’s resurgence in Olympic basketball. He did the impossible: getting NBA players to actually care when large sums of money aren’t involved.

The Caribbean: The islands continue to assert themselves as a track power. Jamaica dominates the sprints again, Grenada’s Kirani James wins the men’s 400 meters at age 19, the Bahamas wins the men’s 4x400 relay. Shoot, a guy from Trinidad and Tobago won the javelin.

Mexican soccer: In the last few years, El Tri has two under-17 world titles, third place at the under-20 World Cup and now an Olympic gold medal. U.S. Soccer, if it can deflate its ego long enough, might want to take notes.

Construction workers: They get to build London’s temporary venues. Then they get to tear them down.


Badminton: Blame the four women’s doubles teams, if you must, that were booted for purposely trying to lose in hopes of getting a more favorable quarterfinal draw. But doesn’t the real fault lie with the world governing body that decided pool play would be a good idea instead of the traditional single-elimination tournament? Either way, it was a mess.

London cauldron: First, it wasn’t really a cauldron. Then, seven no-name athletes lit it at the Opening Ceremony. Then it was transported to one end of the stadium and kept at field level, so no one else in Olympic Park could see it. Then again, keeping this abomination out of public view might not have been the worst thing.

Hope Solo: Fires Twitter darts at U.S. national team legend Brandi Chastain because, as a television commentator, she actually stated an informed opinion that happened to be critical. Solo has gone from a largely sympathetic figure to a less and less likable one.

Ryan Lochte: This might be a little harsh for a guy who won two golds. But don’t walk into the interview room on the first night of the swim meet and proclaim, “This is my time,” then blow a huge lead on the anchor leg of the freestyle relay the following day.


