The winners and losers of London 2012

LONDON – Whether triumphing against the odds or failing to justify the hype, London 2012 served up its usual mix of contrasting fortunes.

AFP looks back at the winners and losers of the 30th Olympic Games.

Winners

MICHAEL PHELPS
The US swimming superstar became the most decorated Olympian of all time to finish with 22 medals, including 18 golds, before heading into retirement.

US swimmer Michael Phelps poses after he received the trophy of the greatest olympic athlete of all time after he won gold in the men's 4x100m medley relay final during the swimming event at the London 2012 Olympic Games on August 4, 2012 in London. AFP PHOTO / LEON NEAL

MISSY FRANKLIN
As Phelps exited, US swimming introduced another teen phenomenon. The 17-year-old Franklin opened her account with four gold medals; first of many?

USAIN BOLT
The Jamaican sprint king became first man to successfully defend 100m and 200m titles.

JESSICA ENNIS
The poster-girl of British athletics coped with the pressure to deliver the desired gold medal in the heptathlon.

DAVID RUDISHA
The Kenyan middle distance runner confirmed his status as the king of the 800m with a magical world record-breaking display to seal gold.

OSCAR PISTORIUS
After years of wrangling, the South African became the first double amputee to compete in an athletics event at the Olympics, running in the 400m.

YE SHIWEN
The 16-year-old Chinese prodigy smashed the 400m individual medley record on the way to gold, before adding the 200 medley crown three days later.

ANDY MURRAY
One month after losing to Roger Federer in the Wimbledon final, the Scot’s revenge was sweet as he demolished the Swiss No.1 6-2, 6-1, 6-4 to win gold.

LONDON
The British capital put its best foot forward for the Olympics, proudly showcasing the city to a global audience in a fornight-long tourism advert.

Losers

JAMES MAGNUSSEN
Australia’s 100m freestyle world champion spearheaded an Australian team dubbed the “Weapons of Mass Destruction.” But he left London without a gold.

USA MEN’S BOXING TEAM
The country whose past Olympians include Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard and Roy Jones Jr failed to win a men’s medal for the first time in history.

JAPAN’S JUDOKAS
With no male judoka winning gold for the first time ever, the country which gave judo to the world suffered their worst Olympic performance for 24 years.

WOMEN’S BADMINTON PLAYERS
Four South Koreans, two Chinese and two Indonesian doubles players were kicked out of the Olympics for trying to lose matches deliberately.

BRITISH SWIMMERS
While the rest of Britain’s team were striking gold on a regular basis, the swimmers were a disappointment, finishing with only one silver and two bronze.

BRITISH FOOTBALLERS
On the same night that Jessica Ennis, Mo Farah and Greg Rutherford won gold, Britain’s footballers suffered an all-too familiar fate – beaten on penalties.

BRAZIL’S FOOTBALLERS
Desperate to win their first Olympic gold medal, Brazil may never have a better chance than they had in London. A 2-1 defeat to Mexico ensured the wait continued.

PHILLIPS IDOWU
Idowu’s hopes of improving on his Beijing silver medal ended when he failed to qualify for the triple jump final. – Agence-France Presse