Complete American domination, and two individual athletes winning four gold medals each. Michael Phelps made it up to 18 gold medals in what were probably his final Olympic games, finishing strong after a disappointing start. Missy Franklin, only 17, was the female star of the American team with four gold medals, one bronze and two world records.

In all, the Americans won 30 medals in the 32 finals, winning 16 of them and missing out on a top 3 finish in only two events. The closest to them in terms of overall success were China with 10 medals and the emerging Sun Yang and Ye Shiwen; Australia with a total of 10 medals but only one of gold and Japan, with 11 medals but none of gold.

Number 1 – United States, 16 Gold Medals

Men – Nathan Adrian in the 100 meters freestyle with 47.52. Matt Grevers in the 100 meters backstroke with 52.16, a new Olympic record. Tylar Clary in the 200 meters backstroke with 1:53.41, a new Olympic record. Michael Phelps in the 100 meters butterfly with 51.21. Michael Phelps in the 200 meters individual medley with 1:54.27. Ryan Lochte in the 400 meters individual medley with 4:05.18. Ryan Lochte, Conor Dwyer, Ricky Berens and Michael Phelps in the 4×200 meters freestyle relay with 6:59.70. Matt Grevers, Brendan Hansen, Michael Phelps and Nathan Adrian in the 4×100 meters medley relay.

Women – Allison Scmitt in the 200 meters freestyle with 1:53.61, a new Olympic record. Katie Ledecky in the 800 meters freestyle with 8:14.63. Missy Franklin in the 100 meters backstroke with 58.33 and the 200 meters backstroke with 2:04.06, a new world record. Rebecca Soni in the 200 meters breaststroke with 2:19.59, a new world record. Dana Vollmer in the 100 meters butterfly with 55.98, a new world record. Missy Franklin, Dana Vollmer, Shannon Vreeland and Allison Schmitt in the 4×200 meters freestyle relay with 7:42.92, a new Olympic record. Missy Franklin, Rebecca Soni, Dana Vollmer and Allison Schmitt in the 4×100 meters medley relay with 3:52.05, a new world record.

They had 8 more silver medals and six more of bronze, 30 medals in total, finishing in the top 3 in all but two events.

Number 2 – China, 5 Gold Medals

China finished with 10 medals in total, adding 2 more of silver and three of bronze.Women – Jiao Liuyang in the 200 meters butterfly with 2:04.06, a new Olympic record. Ye Shiwen in the 200 meters individual medley with 2:07.56, a new Olympic record and the 400 meters individual medley with 4:28.43, a new world record.

Number 3 – France, 4 Gold Medals

Men – Florent Manaudou in the 50 meters freestyle with 21.34. Yannick Agnel in the 200 meters freestyle with 1:43.14. Amaury Leveaux, Fabien Gilot, Clement Lefert and Yannick Agnel in the 4×100 meters freestyle relay with 3:09.93.

Women – Camille Muffat in the 400 meters freestyle with a 4:01.45, a new Olympic record.

France finished with a total of 7 medals, adding 2 more of silver and one more of bronze.

Netherlands – 2 Gold Medals

Only one swimmer, Ranomi Kromowidjojo, won gold medals for the Dutch, winning both the 50 meters and 100 meters freestyle races, setting new Olympic records in them both. The Dutch won 2 more medals, one of silver and one of bronze.

South Africa – 2 Gold Medals

Both gold medals came for the South Africans in men’s event. Chad le Clos took gold in the 200 meters butterfly, with 1:52.46. Cameron van der Burgh set a new world record in the 100 meters breaststroke with 58.46. South Africa won one more medal, silver, going to Chad le Clos.

Three more nations won a single gold medal. Australia in the 4×100 meters freestyle relay thanks to Alicia Coutts, Cate Campbell, Brittany Elmslie and Melanie Schlanger; Hungary thanks to Daniel Gyurta in the men’s 200 meters breaststroke, setting a new world record with 2:07.28; Lithuania with 15 year old Ruta Meilutyte, winning the 100 meters breaststroke with 1:05.47.