CHINA’S BREAKTHROUGHS

Gong Jinjie and Zhong Tianshi Track cycling: Women’s team sprint The first Olympic cycling gold medal won by the “Bicycle Kingdom” is also the first for an Asian nation. China previously won three silvers and two bronzes.

Xu Jiayu Swimming: Men’s 100-meter backstroke Xu became the first Chinese male swimmer to win an Olympic medal in the backstroke, and the third man to stand on the podium for an individual event, after Zhang Lin and Sun Yang.

Dong Bin Track and Field: Men’s triple jump Dong won China’s first Olympic medal in triple jump and, at the Indoor World Championships earlier this year, also became the third Chinese to be crowned.

Zhao Shuai Taekwondo: Men’s 58 kg Zhao is China’s first male taekwondo Olympic champion. Chinese women have won five gold medals in the past four Olympics, and the men have won two bronze medals.

Cheng Xunzhao Judo: Men’s 90 kg In earning the bronze, China’s first men’s judo Olympic medal, Cheng upset Greek Olympic champion Ilias Iliadis, who won gold at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

Wang Shun Swimming: Men’s 200-meter individual medley Though Ye Shiwen won women’s 200-meter and 400-meter individual medley in London, Wang’s is China’s first Olympic individual medley medal by a male swimmer.

Duan Jingli Scull: Women’s single sculls Duan’s victory was China’s first-ever medal in the event. The nation’s previous best performance was fourth place by Zhang Xiuyun at the Beijing Olympics.