Heavy medal band

ATHENS -- They did everything but find a random medal in the back of a taxicab. The US Olympic team, all 500-plus of them, was hoping for 100 medals at these Games. They won 103 (assuming the Koreans can't find an intergalactic tribunal to confiscate Paul Hamm's gold), their best showing since Barcelona in 1992 and their third best at an overseas Games.

As usual, the track and swimming types, who won 53 among them, carried the bulk of the load. But the gymnasts added an extraordinary nine, the wrestlers grappled six, the horsey set five. But these Games were also about breakthroughs -- fencing's first gold in a century, the women winning a couple on the beach.

Thanks to the US Olympic Committee's "money for medals" approach that linked funding to performance, there was improvement across the board. But given China's massive investment in its home team for 2008, $500 million won't be nearly enough of an ante for the Americans next time.

A sport-by-sport look at how the US fared in Athens:

Archery: Two medals last time, none this time. A close call for the men's team, though. Maybe the air flow will be better in Beijing.

Badminton: Howard Bach and Kevin Han made the second round, which is where they figured to be. But if the US ever wants to make the podium in the shuttlecock sport, it needs more Chinese emigres.

Basketball: The women, who took gold for the third straight time, were the overlooked story of the Games. All Dawn, Lisa & Co. do is show up, play hard, and win. The men actually ended up where they belonged, which tells you more about the NBA than anything else. If the federation can't assemble the A team next time, it might as well send Princeton.

Boxing: The gold by light heavyweight Andre Ward was a pleasant surprise, but there's no hiding it: The Americans finished below Thailand and it wasn't a fluke. If ever there was a program (and a federation) that needs to be rebuilt from the bottom up, it's this one.

Canoe/kayak: The silver by Rebecca Giddens in the women's slalom was one to cherish, but the flatwater types flatlined. Can't win a medal if you can't make a final.

Cycling: Terrific job on the road, where Tyler Hamilton of Marblehead, Mass., and Bobby Julich went 1-3 in the time trial and Dede Demet-Barry grabbed the women's silver. But if Erin Mirabella hadn't gotten a gift from the doping lab, the track people would have been blanked for the first time since 1976. The mountain bikers weren't anywhere near the podium.

Diving: Worst showing since 1912 and it wasn't a surprise. If Laura Wilkinson hadn't pulled out a surprise platform gold, it would have happened last time. Where have you gone, Greg Louganis?

Equestrian: No golds this time, but the equine set picked up five medals in six events, including at least one in every discipline. That's no horsefeathers.

Fencing: Fantastic showing on the piste. The two medals in women's sabre were the first against a full field since 1960 and the gold by late addition Mariel Zagunis was the first since 1904. Overlooked were the two fourth places by the men's foil and sabre teams, which are on the rise. En garde for 2008.

Gymnastics: After the black hole in Sydney, nine medals -- including the all-around golds by Hamm and Carly Patterson -- were beyond fantasy. By far the best turnaround of any federation during the quadrennium. But Beijing will be a tougher fortune cookie to crack.

Judo: The bronze by Jimmy Pedro of Methuen, Mass., was heartening, but nobody else came close to the podium. If there are no prospects on the horizon once Pedro moves on, the USOC may put its chips on taekwondo next time.

Modern pentathlon: After a silver medal and two near-misses last time, hopes were high here. But the Iagorashvili double didn't come in and nobody else stepped up. The question, though, isn't how to get the Yanks back on the podium but whether the sport survives at Olympus after the next quadrennium.

Rowing: Only two medals, but they were the ones they wanted: the first gold by the men's eight since 1964 and the first medal by the women (a silver) since 1984. That'll ease the squeeze from the USOC. Now, to get those small boats moving again.

Sailing: The gold by Paul Foerster and Kevin Burnham in the men's 470 and silver by John Lovell and Charlie Ogletree in Tornado were welcome, but too many others weren't anywhere near the podium. With a little more breeze and skill, there should be half a dozen next time.

Shooting: They didn't bag as much as the USOC was hoping for, but it was quality: a gold by trapshooter Kim Rhode and gold and silver by riflemen Matt Emmons and Michael Anti. Still, the quota was around half a dozen. Given what the Chinese are gunning for, there needs to be an upgrade on the firing line.

Soccer: The Class of '91 went out with class, holding off the younger, fleeter Brazilians in overtime for their second gold in three tries. Is there life after Mia and Friends? The Heathers say yes.

Softball: The most dominant team in any sport at Olympus. Nine games, one run allowed, a third straight gold medal. If they'd doubled up in men's baseball, who knows what might have happened?

Swimming: What can you say? The great chlorinated medal machine kept on cranking with 28, more than its next two rivals combined. The men, who won 18, had their best meet since 1976. Best of all, the estimable Mr. Phelps is sticking around for another quadrennium.

Synchronized swimming: After the nose-clip sisters missed the podium in Sydney, the bronzes by the team and by Alison Bartosik and Anna Kozlova in duet were satisfying upgrades. The golden days may be past, but the medals are back.

Table tennis: The US was hoping for a quarterfinal finish from Gao Jun, but progress comes slowly on the table. At least the American pongers aren't one-and-done any more.

Taekwondo: Two medals from an army of two. Another gold from welterweight Steve Lopez, a surprise silver from featherweight Nia Abdallah. If there's any federation that's earned an infusion of USOC dollars, it's this one.

Tennis: Even with Serena Williams and Jennifer Capriati pulling out, the Americans figured to have a medal shot in all four events. They got one, a silver from Mardy Fish. Hope they fare better at Flushing Meadow this week.

Track and field: Nobody counted on 25 medals, not with the BALCO cloud still overhead. Kudos to the men, who brought back the old days with sweeps of the 200 and 400 and 1-2 finishes in the long jump and pole vault. Justin Gatlin leads the spiked parade to Beijing.

Triathlon: A bronze by Susan Williams was nice, but the Americans were hoping for more, especially from the women. The "suffer-fest" conditions didn't help, but there's no question the US underachieved.

Volleyball: The girls on the beach finally came through, with Misty May and Kerri Walsh winning gold and Holly McPeak and Elaine Youngs taking the bronze from Australia's one-armed bandits. The men's indoor team made a huge jump to fourth after coming in a winless 11th at Sydney. But their female counterparts, who missed the medal round after being favored for a possible silver, were a big disappointment.

Water polo: The bronze was a decent consolation prize for the women, but they were favored for gold. The young males finished seventh, roughly where they figured to be.

Weightlifting: The bar was too heavy this time, although both Shane Hamman and Cheryl Haworth were in the thick of the chase. With the Chinese pumping serious iron, the US lifters will have to bulk up just to stand still next time.

Wrestling: The freestylers, with five medals (including two from the female debutantes) helped pushed Uncle Sam over the century mark. Though Rulon Gardner fashioned a courageous farewell with his bronze, the Greco-Roman guys need to take it up a level during the next quad.