Top 10 Olympic Medal-Winning Nations Until 2024
A ranking of the top 10 nations, including the USSR, Great Britain, and the US, with the most Olympic medals earned until 2024
Starting on August 11 and lasting until August 11, the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris are a display of world-class athletics, with almost 10,500 athletes competing in 329 events to win 1,000 medals. The coveted medals have generated a furious competition among nations to earn the top rank since they are uniquely made with original iron elements from the renowned Eiffel Tower. With its illustrious Olympic past, the United States presently holds the record for the most medals won, but the results of this year's competition will show if they can continue to dominate or whether another nation will step up to the plate.
Interestingly, there are currently 156 National Olympic Committees (NOCs).
|
Team |
Summer Olympic Games |
Winter Olympic Games |
Combined total |
||||||||||||
|
Team (IOC code) |
No. |
Gold |
Silver |
Bronze |
Total |
No. |
Gold |
Silver |
Bronze |
Total |
No. |
Gold |
Silver |
Bronze |
Total |
|
United States |
1 |
1,088 |
865 |
770 |
2723 |
24 |
114 |
121 |
95 |
330 |
52 |
1202 |
951 |
833 |
2,959 |
|
USSR |
2 |
395 |
319 |
296 |
1,010 |
9 |
78 |
57 |
59 |
194 |
18 |
473 |
376 |
355 |
1,204 |
|
Great Britain |
3 |
296 |
335 |
334 |
965 |
24 |
12 |
5 |
17 |
34 |
53 |
296 |
323 |
331 |
999 |
|
Germany |
4 |
209 |
212 |
252 |
673 |
13 |
104 |
98 |
65 |
267 |
30 |
305 |
305 |
312 |
940 |
|
France |
5 |
236 |
268 |
297 |
801 |
24 |
41 |
42 |
55 |
138 |
53 |
264 |
293 |
332 |
939 |
|
Italy |
6 |
226 |
198 |
222 |
646 |
24 |
42 |
43 |
56 |
141 |
52 |
259 |
231 |
269 |
787 |
|
China |
7 |
288 |
222 |
191 |
701 |
12 |
22 |
32 |
23 |
77 |
23 |
285 |
231 |
197 |
778 |
|
Sweden |
8 |
150 |
180 |
181 |
511 |
24 |
65 |
51 |
60 |
176 |
52 |
212 |
228 |
239 |
687 |
|
Australia |
9 |
182 |
186 |
221 |
589 |
20 |
6 |
7 |
6 |
19 |
47 |
170 |
180 |
216 |
608 |
|
Japan |
10 |
181 |
156 |
191 |
528 |
22 |
17 |
29 |
30 |
76 |
45 |
186 |
179 |
208 |
604 |
The record set by the United States at the modern Olympic Games is unmatched by any other nation, past or present. Having won 2,655 medals in the Summer Games and 330 in the Winter Games since its debut in Athens in 1896, Team USA has an incredible 2,959 medals overall.
The overall quantity of Olympic medals is a contentious topic because, since 1896, the political borders that have defined the modern Olympics have changed numerous times. The dissolution of the Soviet Union is one instance. Numerous new countries were created as a result, including Moldova, Estonia, Lithuania, and Russia. Therefore, the IOCs of today have to choose how medals should be distributed among these newly constituted nations that were once a single, large nation. In addition to all of this, several athletes have participated in the Olympics without having a national identity or status due to political unrest or international sanctions against their home countries. In addition, the IOC has occasionally removed medals from competitors who disobeyed the rules and given them to equally deserving athletes. Everybody
Which athletes hold the record for the most Olympic medals in history?
Michael Phelps, an American swimmer, is often regarded as the greatest Olympian of all time, having amassed an unparalleled total of 23 gold medals, three silver medals, and two bronze medals across five Olympic Games. This remarkable achievement is unlikely to be surpassed by any current or future athlete in swimming or any other sport. Phelps made his Olympic debut at the 2000 Sydney Games.
On the other hand, Larisa Latynina, a legendary gymnast from the former Soviet Union, stands out as the most accomplished female Olympian, with a total of nine gold medals, four silver medals, and five bronze medals. Her record for female athletes was established over three consecutive Olympic Games (1956, 1960, and 1964), resulting in an impressive overall medal count of 18—the highest ever achieved by a woman. Among these, nine are gold medals, showcasing her dominance in the sport. This information was contributed by Matteo Faggin and Christian Di Palma.