IAAF World Indoor Championships closes with USA on top
Yelena Soboleva of Russia celebrates winning Gold in World Record time in the Womens 1500 metre Final during the 12th IAAF World Indoor Championships at the Palau Lluis Puig on March 9, 2008 in Valencia, Spain. Yuliya Fomenko of Russia won Silver and Gelete Burka of Ethiopia won Bronze. (Photo credit: Michael Steele/Getty Images)

(BEIJING, Mar. 10) -- The 12th IAAF World Indoor Championships have ended in Valencia, Spain. Topping the medal chart, the United States grabbed five golds, five silvers and three bronzes, while Russia ranked second with five golds, four silvers and three bronzes.

Team USA's five golds were in the men's shot put, women's 60m, women's 60m hurdles, men's 4X400m relay and men's heptathlon. The Russian team won golds in the men's and women's pole vault, women's 4X400m relay, women's 1,500m and women's 400m, all of which are their strong events.

The 25-year-old Yelena Soboleva of Russia was crowned on the final day of the championships with a new all-time-best indoor record of 3:57.71.

The African team won six golds, five of which were in middle-distance races, which are their strong events. Ethiopia ranked third on the medal chart, with three golds, one silver and two bronzes.

The Chinese team stood eighth overall, with one gold and one bronze, topping the Asian countries and region. Bahrain, Kazakhstan and Saudi Arabia took one bronze each.

Six Chinese male athletes and five females took part in the 12th IAAF World Indoor Championships. Liu Xiang took a gold medal for China in the men's 60m hurdles, while Liu Meiju took the bronze in the women's shot put. Xie Limei stood eighth in the women's triple jump. The Chinese team had disappointing results in the women's high jump, men's pole vault, women's 3,000m, men's long jump and men's triple jump.