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Athens 2004 Wrap

A record number of Chinese athletes, 407 in all, competed in 26 sports at the 16-day Athens 2004 Olympic Games.

China aimed to finish in the top three in the medal standings, a conservative yet motivating goal based on its performance in Sydney four years ago, when China won 28 gold, 16 silver, and 15 bronze medals, trailing only the United States and Russia. This goal was achieved in style, with a prodigious medal haul -- second on the medal table - of 32 gold, 17 silver, and 14 bronze medals.

Watching the medal count became almost an Olympic sport in itself, since games in which China is traditionally strong, such as shooting, weightlifting, badminton, table tennis, were all completed during the first half of the Games. For a while, China was in the lead, with Australia's swimmers pushing the Aussie team into the top rankings as well. In the end, it was the two traditional Olympic superpowers the United States and Russia whose strong track and field performances bracketed China's spot, taking first and third places. Australia and Japan rounded out the top five.

All eyes will now turn to Beijing 2008, where many are already predicting that China will "run the table" on the medal count.