Athletes from around the world come together to see who’s the best at various athletic events every four years. Even though athletes come and go, it sometimes seems like some countries are superior at certain sports and events. There are a multitude of reasons for this. Basketball is taken more seriously in the United States compared to other countries. Countries like China emphasize showcasing their abilities at table tennis and diving.
The United States often dominates both men’s and women’s swimming whenever the Olympics come around. The training in the United States is far superior to other countries. It’s also helped that the United States has had athletes like Michael Phelps and Katie Ledecky to carry the success of the nation. Even as Phelps has retired, swimmers like Ryan Murphy have carried the tradition on.
It’s no secret that Japan prides itself on its rich martial arts tradition. The country’s success at judo over the years comes as no shock to fans. Japan won three gold medals in various judo weight classes during the 2024 Olympics, which is the most among any country. During the games in 2021, which were held in Tokyo, Japan won an amazing nine gold medals, which blew every other nation out of the water. For more Olympic content, click here to read about quirky Olympic village traditions you’ve never heard of.
To compile this list of countries that dominate certain sports at the Summer Olympics, 24/7 Tempo consulted Olympic-related sources. These include CBS, The Pietist Schoolman, and Scroll.in.
United States – Women’s Basketball
It’s no secret that the best WNBA players come from the United States. Whenever the Olympics take place, it’s clear who the favorite every year is. The United States Women’s National Basketball Team hasn’t lost in the Olympics since 1992. As of the 2024 games in Paris, the team is 76 and three. There are plenty of countries around the world where women don’t have the opportunity to pursue basketball, which is part of the reason there’s such a discrepancy.
In other countries, women enjoy playing sports like soccer and following their track and field passions. There’s a chance this trend won’t last for long, though. Basketball is exploding in popularity around the world. The women’s game has fresh faces like Caitlyn Clark and Angel Reese who are international stars. The more exposure the women’s game gets, the better. For now, keep expecting the United States to dominate at international events.
Jamaica – Men’s 100-Meter Dash
Jamaica has been in front of the pack of the men’s 100-meter dash for years, even though the island has less than three million residents. Part of the reason is obviously because of Usain Bolt. Throughout his career, Bolt established himself as the single greatest sprinter in history. He won eight gold medals during his illustrious Olympic career. However, the country has continued producing top-tier sprinters, even after Bolt’s retirement.
During the 2024 Olympics in Paris, Kishane Thompson came in second place behind American Noah Lyles. Thompson was barely beaten out by Lyles. Some fans even called for a change to the rules, since Thompson’s foot crossed first. The rulebook clearly states that the winner is determined by who’s chest crosses the line. The rest of the world looks like they’re catching up to Jamaica in the men’s 100-meter dash.
China – Men’s Table Tennis
China has won a gold medal in table tennis during every Olympic Games since 2004 when South Korea took home the title. Even so, the athletes from China took home silver and bronze that year. It’s been nothing short of domination coming from China in table tennis since 2004. In 2008, Chinese table tennis stars took home the gold, silver, and bronze medals in table tennis. The Chinese won gold and silver in 2012, with a German taking home the bronze medal.
2016 was more of the same in table tennis, as China won both the gold and silver medals. A Japanese player named Jun Mizutani won the bronze medal match. The same happened again in 2020, except a German won bronze again. The world appears to be on the heels of Chinese table tennis stars. 2024 was the first year in a while where Chinese athletes didn’t take home both gold and silver. In fact, gold was the only medal China won in men’s table tennis. Fans are excited to see what happens at the 2028 games in Los Angeles.
United States – Men’s Basketball
Even though the best players in the NBA are from international countries, the United States Men’s National Basketball Team continues to run through most of their competition. The last time the United States didn’t stand atop the medal podium at the Olympics was in 2004, when Argentina beat the United States in the semifinals before ultimately winning against Italy in the gold medal match.
The 2008 team was nicknamed “The Redeem Team,” as the players on the roster were out to seek revenge for their loss in the previous games. Kobe Bryant led the squad during his first appearance as an Olympian. The United States has stayed as the top-dog in Olympic basketball, but the gap appears to be closing. The team had a close match with Serbia in the semifinals at the 2024 games and will face the host country of France in the gold medal match.
China – Women’s Badminton
Like men’s table tennis, China also dominates the circuits when it comes to women’s badminton. The only year they haven’t had someone medal since the 2000 games in Sydney was during the 2016 games. In 2020, Chen Yufei won the gold medal as the representative from China. He Bingjiao took home the silver medal in the 2024 Paris games. However, there was a long stretch when China was dominating women’s badminton.
Athletes from China took home the gold and silver medals during the 2012 games in London. They also took home gold and silver in 2008, when the games were hosted by Beijing. However, there’s a chance China’s run as the dominant women’s badminton country is starting to near its end. More countries are taking sports like badminton seriously, especially with how similar it is to pickleball. Fans are excited to see what transpires during the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Cuba – Boxing
There was once a time when boxing was near the top of most popular sports around the world. While it’s not quite at the mantle it once was, it’s still common to see tons of folks locked in when it comes on at the Olympics. During the competition, watching Cuban boxers dominate the matches has become quite common. The Caribbean island have placed near or at the top of total medals in boxing on a more consistent basis than any other nation.
During the 2020 games in Tokyo, Cuba took home four gold medals, clearing the next closest country by two. In 2016, Cuba brought a total of six medals home, three of which were gold. They won the second most amount of medals of any country that year. There’s still fighting going on at the 2024 games in Paris, but Cuba already has a gold medal in boxing. It’s clear Cuba takes boxing more seriously than most countries.
United States – Men’s Swimming
The United States men’s swimming and Jamaican men’s 100-meter dash histories are similar. Both have recently been represented by the greatest to ever do it. However, both are moving towards the future. For men’s swimming in the United States, it’s no secret that Michael Phelps is still the face of the sport. He has the most Olympic medals in history and holds countless world records.
However, Phelps retired from competing in the Olympics after the 2016 games. Ever since then, athletes like Luke Hobson and Bobby Finke have kept the United States in front of other countries when it comes to swimming. At the 2024 games, both Hobson and Finke have medaled, with Finke winning a gold and silver medal in individual events. The United States also won gold during the men’s 4 x 100-meter relay. The rest of the world is still looking to catch the United States at swimming.
Netherlands – Women’s Field Hockey
It’s challenging to be a dynasty at team sports at the Olympics. The country must continue to produce top athletes who have the same drive to win for their country as previous competitors. The Netherlands has figured out the right formula when it comes to women’s field hockey at the Olympics. They’ve won gold during three of the past five Olympic games. In the two they didn’t win, the Dutch took home a silver medal.
Field hockey is one of the most popular European sports. Folks across the pond love hockey, especially in the northern countries like the Netherlands and Sweden. Tons of young kids grow up with skates on their feet. However, plenty of athletes turn their attention to field hockey at one point. There’s no telling if the Netherlands will continue their run of dominance in field hockey, but fans are stoked to see how the 2028 games in Los Angeles play out. The winner of the 2024 games will be determined shortly. Unsurprisingly, the Netherlands is primed to win another gold.
South Korea – Women’s Archery
There’s something incredibly satisfying about watching an elite athlete hit the center of a target with ease. While it’s the farthest thing from actually being easy, fans have become used to watching South Korean women dominate in archery. Their precision is second to none, and they stay with the same routine for each shot. The 2024 games didn’t catch anyone by surprise, as South Korea took home both the gold and silver medals in women’s archery.
In fact, South Korea has won the gold medal in women’s archery dating back to the 2008 games in Beijing. That year, athletes from South Korea also took home both the silver and bronze medals in the women’s individual archery event. There’s no shame whatsoever in those finishes. Having a steady hand is key for archery. There are tons of finger muscles that can make all the difference, which South Korea has clearly figured out. Fans are excited to watch South Korea again in 2028.
China – Diving
One of the most daring sports at the Olympics is diving. Athletes must be comfortable launching themselves from a platform, completing numerous twists and flips, and landing in the water with as little splash as possible. Like archery, diving takes tons of precision and routine. China has dominated the sport because of their willingness to perfect these skills. As we near the end of the 2024 Olympics, China has ran away with the diving medals. They’ve won seven gold medals.
2024 isn’t the only year China has shown that they’re in complete control, though. In 2020, China also won seven golds. They took home a total of 12 medals in diving alone that year. 2016 was more of the same, as China won seven gold medals yet again. 2012 was the last time China didn’t win exactly seven gold medals. That year, they won six golds. Fans want to see if China’s dominance in diving will continue during the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Japan – Judo
Folks in Japan practice martial arts more than nearly every other country in the world. That should make it no surprise that they continually dominate the rest of the world at judo during the Olympics. Judo is a form of grappling and ground wrestling that’s been around since 1882. The first time judo was admitted into the Olympics was in 1964.
During the 2020 Olympics, Japan won an astonishing nine gold medals. The next closest country won only two gold medals. 2016 was the same story, as Japan took home an impressive 12 total medals. Martial arts has gotten more popular in recent years, as people are looking to defend themselves in whatever situation they find themselves in. There’s no telling how long Japan’s run at judo will go for, but they don’t appear to be slowing down.
Serbia – Men’s Water Polo
Few competitions take as much strength and endurance as water polo. Athletes are required to use their legs to stay afloat, while attempting to throw a ball into the back of the net. They do all of this while having their opponents come after them. The scrums in water polo are challenging to navigate for even the best swimmers. As of late, Serbia appears to be the next country to dominate the waters during the Olympics.
Serbia first announced their presence at the 2016 Olympics in Rio, where they won their first gold medal in water polo. They followed up their first gold by winning another gold in the 2020 games. Serbia beat the United States in the semifinal to advance to the gold medal match of the 2024 games in Paris. If they win the gold again, that will be an impressive three-peat for the European country.
United States – Women’s Swimming
The United States doesn’t just dominate at men’s swimming. Women from America typically find themselves on top of the medal podium. The face of swimming as a whole in the United States is Katie Ledecky. The swimmer known primarily for her freestyle stroke is right in her prime. The most impressive part about women’s swimming in the United States is the dominance has stretched for longer than a decade.
Before Ledecky, Missy Franklin took control of the 2012 games in London. She was a high schooler who swam through the competition, primarily in the backstroke. However, she didn’t have the same level of success after the London games. Swimming in the United States is wildly popular and doesn’t appear to be going anywhere in the future. For more Olympic content, click here to read about family dynasties that have dominated the Olympic games.
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