Top 10 Medal-Winning Countries in Summer Olympics: Interactive Graphic

Author: Editorial Team

The 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris is gearing up to get started on Friday, July 26 with the Opening Ceremony. A total of 204 nations are set to compete in the event, with 10,500 athletes carrying the flags of their countries. That’s a lot of sportsmen competing to win gold, silver and bronze Olympic medals.

The first modern Olympic Games began in April of 1896, hosted in Athens, Greece. At that time, only 13 nations competed in 43 events in front of a crowd of 60,000 spectators. The USA took home the largest number of gold medals at that event, although Greece claimed the biggest number of medals in total, securing 47 altogether. They were followed on by the USA (20), Germany (13), France (11) and the United Kingdom (7).

Four years later, the Olympics were held in Paris, where France claimed the biggest number of medals. Now, 124 years later, the Summer Games are scheduled to take place in the same city. That got our specialists at CasinoReviews wondering – which nations exist as the top 10 Olympic gold medal winners? Here’s an insight for you.

1. United States of America

There is little wonder that the USA sits in the peak position, considering the country has sent athletes to every single Olympic Games (except the 1980 Summer Olympics). The United States is also one of the only major Olympic teams in the world to receive zero government funding.

In total, the USA has won 2,629 medals, with 1,019 of those being golds and 835 being silver medals. The country’s biggest haul came in 1904 when the Olympics were held in St. Louis. In that year, the team achieved 231 medals, with 76 of them being golds.

2. Soviet Union

Even though the Soviet Union is no longer a country, it existed between 1922 and 1991. A total of 15 modern day countries, including Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia and Kazakhstan, were part of the Soviet Union, and participated in the Games for the country, starting in 1952.

A total of 1,010 medals have been won by the Soviet Union, including 395 gold medals and 319 silvers. At six of the Soviet Union’s nine appearances in the Summer Olympics, it ranked first for the total number of Olympic gold medals won. The highlight of its history table came in 1980 when the games were hosted in Moscow, and it achieved 195 medals altogether.

3. United Kingdom

Slipping into third place is the United Kingdom, comprising England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The country has been represented by athletes appearing at every modern Olympic Games, usually competing under the Great Britain and Northern Ireland Olympic Team.

A total of 916 medals have been won by the team, including 284 gold medals and 318 silver ones. Its best achievement for number of medals won came in 1908 when London hosted the Summer Games. At that point, the UK team acquired 146 medals, with 56 of those being gold. London also hosted the Olympics in 1948 and 2012.

4. People’s Republic of China

China first appeared at the Summer Games in 1952 and then didn’t reappear until the 1984 Olympics held in Los Angeles. The country boycotted the Games throughout the years between ’56 and ’80 for various reasons. Even so, it has earned a great amount of Olympic gold medals, with 263 of its total 636 being gold awards.

5. France

At the moment, the French Olympics team has 751 medals to its name. Of that total, 223 of them are gold medals, with the nation often doing well in fencing and cycling. It was a Frenchman who founded the modern Olympic Games – Pierre de Coubertin – and the nation has been represented at every edition of the event, both Summar and Winter versions.

Paris first hosted the Olympics in 1900, where France took home 102 medals and had 491 athletes competing at the event. Of that total for that year, 27 of the medals were golds and 38 were silver awards.

6. Italy

In terms of gold medals, Italy has won 217 altogether since its first participation in 1896. It was only in 1904 that the country did not participate as a national delegation. In total, the country has taken home 618 medals. It is the most successful country when it comes to fencing, holding 49 gold medals in the sport. Cycling is another sport it excels in.

Italy was most successful with gold medal wins in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games, grasping 14 of them to make up its 32-medal total. When it hosted the Games in Rome in 1960, it managed to win 13 golds.

7. Germany

The German Olympics team often excels in canoeing and equestrian events at the Olympics, which is where most of the gold medals for the country have come from. Rowing is another area where the team does well. The 1936 Olympics in Berlin under Adolf Hitler’s reign saw the country experience its best results, taking home 89 medals in total, with 33 golds included in that figure.

Altogether, Germany has won 655 medals at the Summer Games. Of that total, 201 of them have been golds. It is important to remember that Germany participated as West Germany and East Germany between 1968 and 1988, and as the United Team of Germany between 1956 and 1964.

8. Hungary

The inaugural modern Olympic Games in 1896 is when Hungary first took part, and it has appeared at all following events, except the 1920 and 1984 competitions. The country has won a total of 511 medals at the Summer Games, with the total of gold medals altogether standing at 181. It is the country that has won the most Summer Olympic medals to never have hosted the Games.

Hungary’s best result occurred in the Helsinki-hosted Games of 1952, when it achieved 16 gold medals and 42 medals in total. It is the leading country in the modern pentathlon and water polo results.

9. Australia

With 164 gold medals to its name out of the 511 it holds in total; Australia sits in ninth position for gold awards. The country has sent athletes to every edition of the modern Games since 1896 and it was the first nation in the Southern Hemisphere to host the games, which occurred in Melbourne in 1956. The country does exceptionally well in swimming, with 67 of its gold medals coming from that area.

Its best result came in the 2000 Sydney Olympics, where the country took home 58 medals. 16 of those were gold medals. It claimed 17 gold medals in the 2004 Olympics and the same again in the 2020 Olympics, although the total medal score wasn’t quite as high.

10. Sweden

The Swedish Olympic team tends to do exceptionally well in wrestling, athletics and equestrian events. It has claimed 28 gold medals for the former as well as 27 silver awards. The country had its biggest success at the 1912 Stockholm Olympic Games, where it took home 65 medals altogether; 23 of those were golds.

In total across all its Summer Games participation, Sweden has achieved 147 gold medals. Combining these with its 177 silver medals and 179 bronze medals gives it a grand total of 503 Olympic Summer Games medals.

Celebrating the Evolution and Impact of the Olympic Games

In conclusion, the journey from the first modern Olympic Games in 1896 to the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris highlights the incredible evolution and global impact of this monumental sporting event. From a humble beginning with 13 nations to a massive assembly of 204 nations and 10,500 athletes, the Olympics have become a symbol of international unity and excellence. The historical insights into the top ten gold medal-winning nations showcase the enduring legacies of these countries in the world of sports.

As Paris prepares to host the Games once more, the anticipation and excitement are palpable, promising new records, unforgettable moments, and the continuation of a tradition that celebrates the very best of human athletic achievement. The Olympic Games not only honor past achievements but also inspire future generations to strive for greatness on the world stage.

When Is the Next Olympic Games?

The next Summer Olympic Games will be held in Paris, France, from July 26 to August 11, 2024. This marks the third time Paris will host the Olympics, having previously hosted in 1900 and 1924. The Paris 2024 Games promise to be a celebration of sports, culture, and innovation, set against the backdrop of one of the world's most iconic cities. With new sports, cutting-edge venues, and a focus on sustainability, the Paris Olympics aim to inspire and captivate audiences around the globe. We at CasinoReviews.net can’t help but wonder: what are the odds of the French team taking home the most medals?