BEIJING, Aug. 24 (UPI) -- Sunday's Olympic highlights:
-- The 29th Summer Olympics, the third in Asia and the first in China, ended with the host nation winning 51 gold medals. There were nine wins in gymnastics, eight in weightlifting, seven in diving, five in shooting, four in table tennis, three in badminton and judo, two in trampoline and boxing and one each in taekwondo, rowing, sailing, wrestling, swimming, fencing, canoeing and archery.
-- The United States bested China in the overall medal race -- 110 to 100. The 110 medals represent the second largest American total in the last century, beaten only by the 174 won during the boycotted Games in Los Angeles.
-- It was harder than expected, but the U.S. men's basketball team returned to the top of the sport. After losing three times in Athens, the American squad laden with superstars won the gold by downing Spain 118-107. Spain was within two points early in the fourth quarter.
-- The U.S. volleyball team joined the basketball squad as a winner in a four-sets decision over Brazil. The U.S. water polo squad struggled in the second half and fell to Hungary, which won its third straight gold in the sport.
-- Cuba was in position to win eight boxing gold medals and came away with none. Four Cubans lost in the semifinals, two more lost their gold medal bouts on Saturday and two more were defeated Sunday. Cuba had won at least four boxing golds in each of the last four Olympics.
-- Kenya won its first Olympic marathon ever in the person of Samuel Wansiru. He pulled away with four miles to go and recorded an Olympic record time of 2:06.32.
