The Country With the Most Summer Olympic Medals Ever Has Over 2,600

Once every four years, the world comes together to watch the best athletes compete in the Summer Olympics. The 2024 version of the games will take place in and around Paris, France.

Folks take great pride whenever their national anthem is played. The top three finalists each get to bring home a medal. Some countries have had more success than others when it comes to collecting medals.

The most successful country in the modern Summer Olympics is the United States. Since the modern games started in 1896, the United States has brought home 2,655 Summer Olympic medals. Given how large the population of the United States is, it makes sense that the country has the most medals. The country routinely produces some of the best athletes in the sports of gymnastics and swimming. Those are two sports where countries and athletes can stack medals.

Surprisingly, the country that’s won the second most medals since the modern games began is the Soviet Union. Given that their empire fell in 1991, the fact that they’re still as high as second place on this list is amazing. The athletes from that country specialized in various events. They also produced tons of great gymnasts, which helped them collect medals during their time as a country. For more sports content, click here to read about the oldest Olympic athletes in history.

To compile this list of countries with the most Summer Olympic medals ever, 24/7 Tempo consulted sports-related sources. These include ESPN, Olympedia, and Sportskeeda.

United States

• Total medals: 2,655
• Gold: 1070
• Silver: 841
• Bronze: 744

Ever since the first modern Summer Olympic games took place in 1896, the United States has dominated the rest of the world. The country has won 2,655 total medals. 1,070 of those were gold. The United States has one of the biggest populations in the world. There are also numerous training facilities all across the nation where athletes go to perfect their skills. There are countless young kids who start training from the time they’re born to be an athlete representing the country.

One of the reasons America has so many medals compared to other nations is because of how great they are at events like swimming, track and field, and gymnastics. Unlike sports like basketball and tennis, countries can win more than one medal at each event. There are also countless different disciplines in swimming to bring home as many medals as possible. There’s no sign that the United States is slowing down anytime soon when it comes to leading the Summer Olympics in medal count.

Soviet Union

• Total medals: 1,010
• Gold: 395
• Silver: 319
• Bronze: 296

The most remarkable stat on this list is that the Soviet Union remains in second place as the most successful nation at the Summer Olympic games. If you combine the Soviet Union with the Russian Olympic Federation, the gap between the United States and Soviet Union shrinks dramatically. The Soviet Union dissolved in 1991, opening the door for the United States to widen the gap between first and second place.

The Soviet Union took home 1,010 Summer Olympic medals during their time as a country. 395 of those medals were gold. Much like the United States, the Soviet Union has a large population and pumps out athletes who participate in events where medals can be stacked. There’s no telling if the Soviet Union would be in first place if they hadn’t fallen more than 30 years ago. The fact that they’re still second shows how dominant of a nation they were during their time.

Great Britain

• Total medals: 930
• Gold: 292
• Silver: 323
• Bronze: 315

There’s an outside chance Great Britain surpasses the Soviet Union in terms of medal count once the 2024 games in Paris conclude. To do so, the country would need to score 81 total medals. While that seems like a high number, there are enough events where it’s possible to see them do so. Great Britain has won a total of 930 medals during the modern Summer Olympics. 292 of those medals have been gold.

Throughout time, Great Britain has consistently produced amazing swimmers. That’s one of the main reasons why their medal count is so high. Sadly for Great Britain, only two soccer medals are awarded each year. It’s no secret that Great Britain’s most popular sport is soccer. If there were ways for countries to win more medals at individual skill events in the sport, Great Britain would be leaps and bounds higher on this list for sure.

Germany

• Total medals: 797
• Gold: 239
• Silver: 267
• Bronze: 291

Germany has had one of the most fascinating histories among countries in the Summer Olympics. For a long time, the Berlin wall stood between Germany and East Germany. The two countries never combined their medal count, even though they both were technically from the same country we know in 2024. Throughout time, Germany has won 797 medals in the Summer Olympics. 239 of those medals were gold.

Germans have always dominated in various lifting and European dominated sports. The country is also known for producing world-class swimmers. There are a ton of “what ifs?” on this list, but none are more interesting than if Germany hadn’t been split up for such a long time. They undoubtedly would be leaps and bounds higher on this list. Germans will continue to be proud of their fellow country-people whenever they bring home the top prize.

France

• Total medals: 773
• Gold: 231
• Silver: 257
• Bronze: 285

The host country for the 2024 Olympics is France. The games will take place in the beautiful city of Paris. The entire area is being redecorated with the Olympic rings. The Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe are two of the cities main focal points that will be lit up with the rings. France as a country is considered one of the most successful countries in the history of the Olympics. Ever since the modern games began, they’ve won 773 total medals. 231 of those medals have been gold.

The country mimics the United States in terms of what sports they dominate at. Swimming and track and field are two of the best sports for France to control. They also have a hold on the European sports like handball and soccer. As time progresses, France will continue to put out the best athletes possible to have their medal count rise up.

China

• Total medals: 636
• Gold: 263
• Silver: 199
• Bronze: 174

China has one of the largest populations in the world. It’s not surprising to see them so high on the list of successful countries. Given the fact that China took a hiatus from participating in the games, the fact that they’re in fourth place is remarkable. The country is known for having some of the most technically sound divers and gymnasts in the world. Young people in China begin training at an incredibly young age if they show signs of excelling at a sport.

Throughout time, China has won a total of 636 Summer Olympic medals. They’ve won 263 gold medals so far. Folks from China are proud to represent their nation at the highest level of competition. As time progresses, China will continue to shoot up the medal count list.

Italy

• Total medals: 632
• Gold: 222
• Silver: 195
• Bronze: 215

Another European country that’s seen incredible amounts of success in the Summer Olympics is Italy. Throughout time, Italians have won 632 total medals. More than a third of those have been gold medals. Italy has dominated the rest of the world in sports like fencing and cycling. Given how much time people in Italy spend outside and getting exercise, it makes sense that these two types of sports would be near the top of the list.

The Italian countryside is beautiful. Kids grow up riding their bikes and exploring every part of the country. There’s also a long history of fencing in Italy. The sport takes a lot of discipline and patience, both of which Italians have. You’re not going to want to get into a sword fight with an Italian anytime in the future. Like the other European nations on this list, Italy would likely have more medals if there were individual competitions in soccer.

Australia

• Total medals: 541
• Gold: 162
• Silver: 170
• Bronze: 209

It’s no secret that Australians are some of the best swimmers in the world. From the time they’re born, tons of Australians learn to spend time in the water. Most of the population lives near some sort of beach, since the outback is seemingly too hot for anyone to survive in. Instead of feeling like they’re constantly training from such a young age, Australians feel as though they’re living their normal lives in the water.

Throughout time, Australia has won 541 total medals. 162 of those medals have been gold. There’s a deep rivalry with the United States when it comes to the water. Australians take great pride in water sports. They also have some of the best track and field athletes in the world. These two sports are where tons of countries stack their medals.

Hungary

• Total medals: 515
• Gold: 182
• Silver: 156
• Bronze: 177

Hungary is yet another European nation that appears high on the list of winners at the Olympics. Over the years, the country has won 515 total medals. 182 of those medals have been gold. Like Italy, Hungary has dominated when it comes to fencing. The two countries are close to each other, which means the discipline has spread from Italy to Hungary. Even though it’s entirely landlocked, Hungary has also done well at kayaking and swimming.

While there aren’t oceans to spend time in as a kid in Hungary, there are plenty of lakes and rivers to enjoy the great outdoors in. Agnes Keleti is a famous gymnast who represented Hungary during her legendary career. She’s one of the few gymnasts to come from the country. Hungary will look to continue its dominance in the 2024 games.

Sweden

• Total medals: 507
• Gold: 149
• Silver: 177
• Bronze: 181

While most folks think of Sweden as a country that dominates during the Winter Olympics, they also continually show up during the Summer games. Most countries want to show out in events like swimming and track and field. While Sweden doesn’t have a big reputation for doing well in those events, they do dominate in canoeing and shooting. There are tons of times in the summer where people spend their days outdoors. The days are long in Sweden, which means there’s plenty of time to be outside.

Another sport Swedish people excel in is equestrian. Like many other European countries, there’s tons of open spaces in Sweden to take a horse to. Folks enjoy spending their time with their animals. They’re used to being on horses and enjoy training their animals. Over time, Sweden has won 507 total medals. 149 of those medals are gold. Sweden will continue to be a powerhouse in these sports, as well as at the Winter Games in two years.

Japan

• Total medals: 499
• Gold: 169
• Silver: 150
• Bronze: 180

Even though Japan is small in size, the country continually produces some of the best athletes in the world. It’s no secret that Japanese people practice different self-defense disciplines. This has translated to tons of success over the years in sports like Judo and wrestling. However, these aren’t the only sports Japan has seen success in. They’ve also done quite well in swimming and gymnastics. Japanese people are highly skilled and bring discipline that folks from other countries don’t have to the games.

Japan has won 499 total medals since the modern version of the games started in 1896. Of those 499 medals, 169 were gold. It’s somewhat surprising Japan isn’t higher on this list, given how healthy people from the country are. Folks from Japan have the longest lifespan in the world, which means they take care of their bodies incredibly well. Don’t be shocked when Japan does well at the 2024 games in Paris.

Russian Olympic Committee

• Total medals: 431
• Gold: 148
• Silver: 130
• Bronze: 153

The Russian Olympic Committee is how athletes from Russia participate in the Summer Olympics. However, in the 2024 games, athletes from Russia will participate under the Individual Neutral Athletes delegation. These athletes must be approved by the International Olympic Committee. They won’t be allowed to participate in the opening parade commemorating the athletes for their hard work.

The Russian Olympic Committee won 431 medals during their time in the games. There’s no telling what the future holds for the Russian Olympic Committee. The politics of Russia invading Ukraine is part of the reason why they were barred from the Paris games. Each athlete will have to plead their case for being allowed to participate. The same rule applies for athletes from Belarus. For more sports content, click here to read about the athletes with the most Summer Olympic medals in history.

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