Most Olympic Medals by Nation: Ranking the All-Time Top Countries
The Olympic medal rankings is an interesting view of how powerful countries are within the world of sports. There are some countries that always wave their flags on the podium, celebrating another victory for their athletes, while others have yet to experience this sweet feeling of winning a medal.
Top 10 Countries by Olympic Medal Count
The Olympic Medal Rankings give a view of those nations that have, over the years, been performing best since the beginning of the modern Olympics in 1896. Here are the top 10 nations by medal count:
- United States: 2,959 medals
- Soviet Union: 1,204 medals
- Germany: 922 medals
- Great Britain: 950 medals
- China: 713 medals
- France: 889 medals
- Italy: 759 medals
- Sweden: 679 medals
- Norway: 568 medals
- Russia: 544 medals
The United States maintains its place atop the Olympic Medal Rankings, with an impressive 2,959 total medals, having completely dominated in track and field with 827 medals and in swimming with 578. The Soviet Union was absolutely remarkable, having collected a total of 1,204 medals, effectively running the show between 1952 and 1991. China, though for quite some time not around, does well in gymnastics, diving, and badminton to sneak into the top five.
Countries That Have Never Won a Medal at the Olympics
Over sixty nations have yet to feature in the Olympic Medal Rankings. Bangladesh remains the most populous country without a single winning performance at an international event, as they appeared 10 times during summer games only to come back empty-handed each time. Congo, which has appeared in 13 Summer Games, is the second-highest populated country to not medal yet.
With 21 Summer and 10 Winter appearances, Monaco’s 32 total Olympics without a single medal are the most of any country. Andorra, which has competed in 25 Games (12 Summer, 13 Winter), has the next-longest streak among medal-less countries.
Athletes with the Most Olympic Medals
Several athletes have made significant contributions to their country’s Olympic Medal Rankings:
Michael Phelps
- The most decorated Olympian so far, Michael Phelps, got his gold, silver, and bronze medals totaling 23, brought home after five games swimming for the USA.
Larisa Latynina
- The former country’s best female Olympian is Larisa Latynina, who won 5 silver medals and earned 9 gold and 4 bronze.
Nikolay Andrianov
- The Soviet gymnast Nikolay Andrianov has 15 Olympic medals (7 gold, 5 silver, and 3 bronze).
Boris Shakhlin, Edoardo Mangiarotti, and Takashi Ono are some other well-known players who have won important medals.
Conclusion
Olympic medal rankings reflect the pursuit of glory. From the United States’ rise to power to the rise of the Soviet Union and China, these scores show how good athletes are. On the other hand, the fact that some countries don’t have any medals shows how hard it is to be successful at the Olympics.
