LONDON -- Top Chinese sports bodies hailed the Chinese Olympic delegation's successes in the London Games on Tuesday, saying "a new chapter has been written for Chinese sports."
In a joint letter to the Chinese delegation, the State General Administration of Sport, the All-China Sports Federation and the Chinese Olympic Committee congratulated on the country's "best ever results achieved in the Olympic Games which have been held outside China."
Gymnast Deng Linlin won the beam final Tuesday afternoon to claim China's 33rd gold medal in the London Games, beating the country's 2004 final record of 32.
"The Chinese Olympic delegation just won their 33rd gold medal in London, creating China's best results in the Olympic Games which have been held outside China," said the letter.
"Chinese athletes have confronted seriously unfavorable conditions and challenges, and they have overcome hardships and have been fighting bravely..."
China won its first ever Olympic gold medal among its tally of 15 in the 1984 Los Angeles Games and slumped to five golds in Seoul in 1988. In the following Games held in Barcelona, Atlanta, Sydney and Athens, China won 16, 16, 28 and 32 golds respectively.
China topped the gold tally with 51 when Beijing hosted the 2008 Games, beating the United States, which had 36 golds, into second place.
