China leads the field in the early stage of the 2012 London Olympics. As of early Tuesday China had won nine gold, five silver, and three bronze medals, well ahead of runner-up U.S. which has five gold, seven silver, and five bronze.

China wants to repeat its glory from four years ago when it finished first overall with 51 gold, 21 silver, and 28 bronze while the U.S. had 36 gold, 38 silver, and 36 bronze.

South Korea is in sixth place with two gold, two silver, and two bronze, behind France and North Korea. North Korea is in fourth place with three gold medals. It finished 33rd in Beijing.

Japan, which aims to win 15 to 18 gold medals, won one gold medal on Tuesday and is mired in ninth place with four silver and six bronze medals.

Fifteen out of 204 countries participating in the Olympics have won gold so far, and 31 countries stood on the podium.