steviemitchelltt: London 2012 Olympics: By the Numbers

Sunday 19 August 2012

London 2012 Olympics: By the Numbers

Posted by dwilliams on Friday, August 17, 2012 ? Leave a Comment?

2012 turned out to be an outstanding year for Gator Olympians. See how many ways UF can count its Olympic blessings.

Will Claye and Christian Taylor do the Gator chomp on the medal stand at the 2012 London Olympic Games.

Will Claye, left, and Christian Taylor won silver and gold, respectively, for Team USA in the men?s triple jump.

Number of nations represented by UF athletes at the London Olympic Games. Between UF?s first appearance at the 1968 Mexico City games through the 2008 Beijing Olympics, UF-connected athletes represented more than 30 different countries.

Number of Olympic athletes from The Gator Nation who won medals. The Gator Nation won 21 medals overall, including nine gold, six silver and six bronze.

Place The Gator Nation would have received in the overall medal count if it were recognized as a sovereign nation. It placed behind Italy and South Korea, who tied for ninth with 28 medals.

Total estimated value of all medals won by The Gator Nation at the 2012 Olympics. The actual value of the metal in each medal was estimated at $644 for gold, $330 for silver and $4.70 for bronze.

Number of medals won in a single day by Gator athletes at the London Olympics. On Aug. 9, Christian Taylor (3HHP) and Will Claye (3LAS) won gold and silver, respectively, in a U.S. one-two punch during the men?s triple jump. Meanwhile, Heather Mitts (BSADV ?01) and Abby Wambach (?98-?01) won gold with the U.S. women?s soccer team and Mel Booth (BSAPK ?08) won bronze with the Canadian women?s soccer team. It was UF?s best single-day showing at the Olympics since 1984.

The Pride of the Sunshine Marching Band was the first non-UK band to play in front of Buckingham Palace. It was also the only American marching band invited to the party. Click the photo to see more photos on the band?s Facebook page.

Funds needed to send 216?members of The Pride of the Sunshine Marching Band and staff to perform in London before the Olympic opening ceremonies. The band was the only college marching band invited to the Olympic Games.

The amount of time Gator swimmers actually spent in the pool competing. Eleven of The Gator Nation?s 21 medals came from swimming events this year.

Ryan Lochte, a former Gator swimmer who still trains with UF and Olympic swimming coach Gregg Troy, won two gold, two silver and a bronze at his second Olympic Games. Photo by Mitchell Haaseth/NBC

The number of seconds between the old world record in the 100 meter butterfly event and the new record set by Dana Vollmer (?05-?06). Her time of 55.98 seconds toppled a record which had stood since 2009.

Number of decibels reached in Olympic Stadium during this summer?s Olympic Games. The number registered about 15 decibels higher than was ever recorded in a college football stadium.?The registered level ranks?10 decibels higher than the pain threshold for the average person.

Number of meters run by The Gator Nation during London Olympics. Two silver medals and one bronze medal were awarded to athletes competing in?events on the track.

A rough estimate of the value of the grill Ryan Lochte brandished during one of his medal ceremonies. The grill, which Lochte designed himself, used diamonds to form the stars and stripes of the American flag.

The date CW?s ?90210? is scheduled to air featuring UF athlete Ryan Lochte (BSR ?11). He is scripted to appear as a hotel guest.

? David Williams (3PR)