Sanya Richards-Ross: All that was missing from Sanya Richards-Ross’ incredible resume was an individual Olympic gold medal. Also the reigning World Indoor champion, Richards-Ross saved her best kick for the final 100 meters before finally winning Olympic gold in a time of 49.55. The American record holder in the event, Richards-Ross now owns a total of six Olympic medals.
Women’s 4x100M: Team USA shattered the existing world record in the women’s 4x100m in winning the first American gold medal in the event since 1996 in a time of 40.82. The .55 seconds the quartet took off the existing world record of 41.37 set by East Germany in 1985 was the biggest drop in the record in the modern era.
FROM LEFT: ALLYSON FELIX, CARMELITA JETER, BIANCA KNIGHT, TIANNA MADISON
Allyson Felix: After having to settle for silver in both 2004 and 2008, Allyson Felix finally landed elusive
Olympic gold in the women’s 200m. A list that includes three World Outdoor Championships gold medals, at age 26, Felix now has seven Olympic and World Championships medals in the 200m.
Aries Merritt: Proving he is among elite company in the 110m hurdles, Aries Merritt’s time of 12.92 to win Olympic gold was a personal best and his fifth sub-13-second race in 2012. A break- through season that also included a World Indoor title in March, after winning gold in London Merritt held the five fastest times in the world in the 110m hurdles in 2012.