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The United States earned its 1,000th gold medal at the Summer Olympics when Jeff Henderson won the long jump at Olympic Stadium. Thats over 600 more golds than any other country has won. (And no, Michael Phelps hasnt won them all.)Of the athletes who contributed to that grand total, who are the 10 greatest U.S. gold medalists? Its a matter of opinion, but such a narrow list means a lot of superb athletes wont make the podium. Cassius Clay, for instance, won gold in 1960, but he is known more for his pro boxing career as Muhammad Ali than his Olympic feat (plus, legend has it he might have tossed his medal in the Ohio River). As renowned as Bruce Jenner was for winning the decathlon and waving the U.S. flag in 1976, that was only a single victory. And the 1992 Dream Team isnt on this list because our pro players were so much better than those of the other countries that it was hardly even a competition.So with apologies to the above (along with Edwin Moses, Matt Biondi, Al Oerter and others), here are the top 10 American gold medalists in the Summer Olympics, based on performance and lasting influence:10. Bob BeamonSure, he won only a single gold medal, the only athlete on this list to do so. But he did so by breaking the world record in the long jump by nearly 2 feet at the 1968 Olympics. That would be like Usain Bolt suddenly running the 100 in under nine seconds. Beamons record stood for 23 years, inspiring many jumpers, such as Mike Powell and Carl Lewis.9. Mark SpitzPrior to Phelps, Spitz was the legend of swimming, winning seven gold medals (and breaking the world record in each event) at the 1972 Olympics. No swimmer was able to attain that gold total until Phelps won eight in 2008. Spitz famously posed for a poster with the seven golds draped around his neck while sporting his famous mustache and wearing his swimsuit -- and it was so popular the poster sold more than a million copies. Perhaps only Farrah Fawcetts sold more, but she never medaled in her swimsuit.8. Florence Griffith-JoynerFlo-Jo set the world record in the womens 100 meters at the 1988 Olympic trials with a time of 10.49. While the record in the mens 100 has been steadily declining in the 28 years since then, Griffith-Joyners mark still stands. In fact, no other woman has come closer than Carmelita Jeters 10.64 in 2009. Griffith-Joyners world record in the 200, set during the 1988 Seoul Games, also still stands. In addition to the 200 gold in Seoul, she set the Olympic record in the 100, winning by 0.3 seconds, and added a third gold in 4x100 relay. She might rank higher, but there were rumors of steroid use, though she never tested positive. Maybe it was just her ultralong fingernails that got her across the line so fast.7. Simone BilesMary Lou Rettons all-around gold medal in 1984 dazzled the country and got her on a Wheaties box, but she says Biles might be the best American gymnast ever. So do others. Biles has won two gold and a chance for more golds in Rio -- and she hasnt lost a world or national all-around in three years. Watching her leap, twist and fly through her routines is like watching Spider-Man swing through the city, only Biles is real, not a CGI creation. Expect to see her image on more than just a cereal box.6. Jackie Joyner-KerseeJoyner-Kersee won two gold medals (1988, 1992) and a silver (1984) in the heptathlon, plus a gold (1988) and two bronzes (1992, 1996) in the long jump. To compete -- and win -- in the heptathlon and the long jump? That is simply stupendous, and a reason she continues to inspire athletes. Shes a mentor to me, 2012 long jump gold medalist Brittney Reese said.5. Bob MathiasThe U.S. has dominated the Olympic decathlon, where the winner is hailed as the worlds greatest athlete. Thats quite an honor, but its even more so if you hold that title for not just four years, but eight years. Mathias did the latter, becoming the first athlete to win the decathlon in two Olympics (1948 and 1952). Only Great Britains Daley Thompson has matched that feat, but 2012 champ Adam?Eaton of the U.S. is a good bet to make it a trio in Rio. If he does, this list may need to change.4. Wilma RudolphRudolph is the first American woman to win three gold medals in a single Games. Rudolph was, and remains, an inspiration. Born prematurely, she was the 20th of 22 children in her family. She had double pneumonia, scarlet fever, whooping cough and measles as a child. She also had polio, which forced her to wear a brace on her left leg from ages 6 to 9. Rudolph overcame all that to race in the 1956 Olympics at age 16, where she won a bronze. At Rome in 1960, she won gold in the 100 and 200 meters as well as the 4x100 relay, running the anchor leg. When Rudolph died in 1994, Ollan Cassell, then the executive director of USA Track & Field, said, Shes a legend in track and field, like Jesse Owens. After Jesse died, she became the icon, a symbol of what the Olympics mean to this country and this sport. Speaking of Owens ...3. Jesse OwensWith Adolph Hitler and Nazi Germany spouting white supremacy and hatred, Owens threw their racism back in their face at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. He won the 100 meters. He won the 200. He won the long jump. And he also ran the opening leg of the 4x100 for his fourth gold medal. Owens was so amazing that even the German crowd cheered him (though not Hitler). Unfortunately, there still was enough racial prejudice in the United States at the time that when Owens returned to America and was honored with a ticker-tape parade in New York, he had to take a freight elevator to a reception for him at the Waldorf-Astoria. He also was reduced to running against horses to earn money. Even so, he remains an icon of sport. He was the inspiration for the 2016 movie Race, and the street outside the Olympic Stadium in Berlin is named for him.2. Michael PhelpsHe has been so great for so long -- Rio is his fifth Olympics -- he is essentially the Dream Team of swimming. No Olympian has ever won as many gold medals in a single Olympics as Phelps did when he took home eight in 2008 (after winning six in 2004). No Olympian has ever won nearly as many combined medals as Phelps (28 overall, including 23 gold). For that matter, hes won more gold medals than at least 110 countries! And whos to say that he wont come back and win even more at Tokyo in 2020? I honestly dont think this is going to be his last Olympics, fellow U.S. swimmer Ryan Lochte said. Im saying hes going to come back again.1. Carl LewisThe International Olympic Committee named him the athlete of the 20th century, and Sports Illustrated named him the Olympian of the century. For good reason. At the 1984 Olympics, Lewis duplicated Owens feat of winning four gold medals (100, 200, long jump and 4x100). Lewis won the long jump in four consecutive Olympics, something no one else has done. He won nine gold medals, and 10 medals overall. So how does he end up ahead of Phelps with 16 fewer medals and 13 fewer golds? Well, he competes in a sport where you cant win that many medals, because track doesnt have additional events where you run backward or with your arms maneuvering in bizarre ways. You just run and jump as fast and far as you can. And thats what King Carl did.Wholesale Air Max 90 White . The parade and rally were held to celebrate the Saskatchewan Roughriders 45-23 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Sunday in the CFLs championship game. Cheap Air Max 90 Essential .Y. -- Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone has drawn on his Syracuse connections once again by hiring Rob Moore to take over as receivers coach. http://www.outletairmax90cheap.com/outlet-air-max-90-the-starry-sky-black-cheap.html .H. -- Matt Kenseth made it 2 for 2 in the Chase, holding off teammate Kyle Busch to win Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Cheap Air Max 90 Ultra China . Peter Gammons, an analyst for Major League Baseballs network and website, drew the ire of hockey fans on Sunday when he criticized the two NHL teams on Twitter for their physical game the night before. Wholesale Air Max 90 Mens . -- Catcher Brett Hayes has agreed to a $630,000, one-year contract with the Kansas City Royals, avoiding salary arbitration.Horse racing in Hong Kong. It sounds exotic, doesnt it? Actually, it is.On the second Sunday of December each year, Hong Kong racing and in particular Sha Tin racecourse takes the main stage of the global sport as the Longines Hong Kong International Races not only delivers a celebration of top-quality racing, but also a calendar year finale that packs plenty of punting punch.Apart from sanctioned betting on selected sporting events, horse racing has a virtual monopoly on the punting dollar. It isnt unusual for the win pool on the Tote-only betting facility to fly beyond the AU$5 million mark for even the lower graded races. It just shows how the twice-weekly racing programs in this major city sees literally every race being an event in itself.It isnt clouded, diluted or even drowned by a glut of other races before and after.Sydney-based trainer Gary Moore is no stranger to this part of the world. His family name is one of the most synonymous with the sport globally - his late father George was considered one of the worlds best jockeys and was recently elevated to legend status in the Australian Racing Hall of Fame.Despite having such a towering figure in the sport as your father, there doesnt seem to have been any great shadow hanging over the next generation. Should Garys charge Takedown win the AU$3.2 million Longines Hong Kong Sprint (1200m), anyone looking on at the event will see a post-race celebration that would make even the most hardened of racing pundits smile.As he showed after Takedown won at Group 2 level in Sydney earlier this year, then after the success in the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) in Perth a fortnight ago, Gary celebrates like no other: he jumps the fence, dances down the straight, waves his arms in delight, hugs the horse ... he even once planted a kiss on a male television presenters cheek, and doesnt hold back in saying how special it is to win at the highest level.Its emotion, joy, and I look up and think wow look what weve done. So I just like to show my feelings and I find it hard to contain myself, Moore told ESPN.Moores excitement with each win is quite the compliment to all of the events themselves given that, as a jockey, he won the worlds best race, the Prix de lArc de Triomphe in France in 1981 and was Hong Kongs premier jockey over seven seasons.It just means so much to me to accomplish this kind of success as a trainer, he said. Were on the world stage here. If I could pull it off then itll be a great result.Moore said his father was an undoubted influence on his career.Dad sent me away early to improve my riding. I couldnt ride much [very well] in the beginning and I only came good when I got to my 20s. Like a bottle of red wine, I got better with age, he chuckled.I never thought if it like that. I knew I had a famous father but I was still determined to succeed as a rider which I was lucky enough to be able to do.Takedown takes on an excellent field in the Sprint at Sha Tin on a card that boasts more than $15 million in prizemoney. There is little doubt that should he win, it will be well earned.Hes done fantastically well (since arriving in Hong Kong). He looked great on the track and the compliments about his appearance have been unbelievable. From barrier six, I think hes going to be hard to beat, Moore said.I still like the Japanese horse, Big Arthur. References have been made to Big Arthur being as good as (topline Japanese sprinnter) Lord Kanaloa.dddddddddddd. If that is the case, then were just running for a place. But he has to jump from barrier 13 and weve got a good gate to be able to take a prominent position in the run.Hes an amazing horse (Takedown). Hes traveled from Melbourne to Perth, then onto Hong Kong and still looks and is so well. What has stood us in good stead is that hes had 10 days to settle in.After spending most of his training life in Macau, a move to take on the tough Sydney training marketplace came about two years ago as Moore ticked into his sixties. He now returns to the Asian racing hub as a Group 1-winning trainer in Australia.Its an honour to be here. Ive had great success here. To come back to Hong Kong as a Group 1-winning trainer is something that I didnt expect to happen so quickly. Ive got the horse that has put me there and I just hope that he can perform to my expectations, Moore said.Takedown was invited to come to this race when he was still only a Group 2 winner. So since he won at Group 1 after that, it gives great face to the HKJCs foresight in inviting him.Not unlike many other successful modern day trainers, Moores racing business is just as strategic about winning races. It isnt just winning them, but which ones.A midweek maiden run at Doomben in Brisbane in July is a long way from the bright lights and cheers Hong Kong, but it is back toward his old stomping ground that even minor races like that play a role in bigger things to come.Host Win Legend started a $2.50 favourite for Moore on that day. With the horses Chinese owners on track for the race, it was apparent that Moore had made the trip from Sydney for a reason.As Host Win Legend bounded from the starting gates with jockey Luke Dittman pushing him vigoursly to an early lead over the sprint trip, and kicked away around the Doomben home turn to win, Moore was the most animated person the course may well have seen for a very long time.Go Baby! Go Baby! he shouted over the last 200 metres, which was as much about Moores pleasure of a plan coming together as it was about giving discerning Asian ownership confidence in what they had just seen.I said to Jason Tan, the owner, youve got a permit buy a horse to race in Hong Kong - why spend a lot of money in getting one when we can get this horse there for you, Moore recalled.I had to win that race, he said as the result saw the horses rating reach the required level to be accepted by the Hong Kong Jockey Club into their horse population.And so the strategy had delivered and Host Win Legend now races in Hong Kong as Magic Legend but is yet to have a start in his new home.It is all about taking on races that you can win, he said. Yesterday we had a winner at Goulburn, on Sunday we won a race a Hawkesbury. We are traveling around with the horsepower that we have. Well be racing at Rosehill on Saturday, back at Hawkesbury on Sunday and here in Hong Kong too.Theres a lot of planning and that is where Dad was such a great trainer too.I go to bed at night with the racing calendar.Come Sunday night, Gary Moore may well be taking some extra items with him as he drifts off into dreamland - a shiny prestige watch and a decent Hong Kong dollar cheque.And dont forget that celebration too. It may just become as legendary as his famous family name. ' ' '