USA set to defend Olympic medal supremacy in Beijing

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Americans will attempt to lead the overall medal table for the fourth Summer Olympics in a row next month in Beijing, but hosts China and Russia will challenge for supremacy in golds and total medals.

US teams had the greatest medal haul for a record fourth Games in a row at Los Angeles in 1932. While Soviet Union talent topped the table eight times from 1956 to 1992, it never equalled that mark.

US squads have led the medal charts at Atlanta in 1996, Sydney in 2000 and Athens four years ago. But this time, the Chinese are going for the medal crown as hosts and with a formidable squad backed by throngs of cheering supporters.

"Russia, China and the US are vying with the most legitimate shot at the top medal count at the Olympics," said Steve Roush, chief of sport performance for the US Olympic Committee (USOC).

"This is going to be a highly competitive field. It has created an excitement around these Olympics that has been missing for a while."

In 2004, Americans claimed 102 medals, 36 of them gold.

Russians took 92 overall, 27 gold, while China had 63 overall but most, 32, were gold.

China's challenge figures to be formidable. Could the US team hit the wall?

"China has an incredibly strong team. Host nations generally have home field advantage. There's a job to be done," Roush said.

"They've infused large numbers of people behind their sports program. We probably pale in comparison in terms of the level we're able to give support to our athletes.

"They've hired the world's best coaches to come in and not only coach their athletes but coach their coaches so they can improve for future generations."

But don't count on the Americans handing over the crown without a fight.

"We have a strong team. We're making no allusions about thinking the Chinese have the strongest team," USOC chief executive Jim Scherr said.

The 2004 US team won 28 medals in swimming and 25 in athletics, more than half the total American medal haul from Athens. But no one wants to toss out a medal goal for Beijing.

"We hope to do much better than the team in Athens," US swim coach Mark Schubert said.

"We want to win as many medals as possible," US women's athletics coach Jeanette Bolden said.

After US medal totals of 101, 92 and 102 in the past three Olympics, it is likely to be the range needed this time.