Winners And Losers

? While the U.S. performed largely as expected, winning a Games-high 103 medals (six more than in Sydney), several other countries surprisingly fared well or faltered.

? THE WINNERS

China With 32 gold and 63 total medals, the 2008 host established itself as a power player for the Beijing Games (page 52).

Japan Its 37 medals--10 in judo and eight in swimming--more than doubled its 2000 haul.

Israel Windsurfer Gal Fridman (inset) won the country's first-ever gold.

Greece Apart from hosting a better Games than anyone could have predicted, it won 16 medals--most since the 1896 Games.

? THE LOSERS

Canada Its 12 medals were its fewest since 1988.

Serbia & Montenegro Its touted men's basketball and volleyball teams failed to reach the podium.

Nigeria Africa's most populous nation won two medals, its worst showing since 1988.