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This is How Dominant the U.S. Has Been in the Summer Olympics

Gold, silver and bronze medal with numbers One, Two and Three. Sport trophy. Blue background. Original photo for winter olympic game in pyeongchang 2018.

This is How Dominant the U.S. Has Been in the Summer Olympics

Published: by David Beren

Although the Summer Olympics occur only every four years, it remains Earth’s most popular sporting event. Over 200 nations will participate and the door is wide open to see which country can get the most medals. Still, the story is almost always the same as the United States remains the most dominant country in the Olympics. 

While the U.S. might not be the only country with a strong medal showing every four years, it is undisputedly the most dominant, and this list of the 15 most dominant countries in descending order shows exactly how many more medals the US has over the next closest country. 

15. South Korea

Aerial shot of the Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) at night, Seoul,South Korea.
South Korea has won a considerable amount of medals between 18 Olympic games.

©FenlioQ/Shutterstock.com

  • Gold: 96
  • Silver: 91
  • Bronze: 100
  • Total medals: 287
  • Number of Olympic games: 18

14. Finland

Finland football supporter on stadium. Finnish fans on soccer pitch watching team play. Group of supporters with flag and national jersey cheering for Suomi. Championship game.
The Finnish have participated in many Olympic games over the last hundred years.

©683398/Shutterstock.com

  • Gold: 101
  • Silver: 85
  • Bronze: 119
  • Total medals: 305
  • Number of Olympic games: 26

13. Sweden

The Swedish medal count is high, considering its small size.

©"Sweden Grunge Flag" by Free Grunge Textures - www.freestock.ca is licensed under BY 2.0. - Original / License

  • Gold: 148
  • Silver: 176
  • Bronze: 179
  • Total medals: 503
  • Number of Olympic games: 28

12. Russia

Russia has already racked up a high medal count over the last six Olympics.

©Reidl/Shutterstock.com

  • Gold: 149
  • Silver: 126
  • Bronze: 151
  • Total medals: 426
  • Number of Olympic games: 6

11. East Germany

Before the fall of the Berlin Wall, East Germany won a high number of Olympic medals.

©iStock.com/serkansenturk

  • Gold: 153
  • Silver: 129
  • Bronze: 127
  • Total medals: 409
  • Number of Olympic games: 5

10. Australia

Australia has won a lot of medals at some of the most recent Olympic games.

©saita_yoko/Shutterstock.com

  • Gold: 164
  • Silver: 173
  • Bronze: 210
  • Total medals: 547
  • Number of Olympic games: 27

9. Japan

Silhouette of tree medal: Gold, Silver an Bronze. Japan flag in background.
Japan has won many gold medals over the last 23 Olympic games.

©kovop/Shutterstock.com

  • Gold: 169
  • Silver: 150
  • Bronze: 178
  • Total medals: 497
  • Number of Olympic games: 23

8. Hungary

Hungary football supporter on stadium. Hungarian fans on soccer pitch watching team play. Group of supporters with flag and national jersey cheering for Hungary. Championship game.
The nation of Hungary has participated in 27 Olympic games.

©FamVeld/Shutterstock.com

  • Gold: 181
  • Silver: 154
  • Bronze: 176
  • Total medals: 511
  • Number of Olympic games: 27

7. Germany

Germany is a definite force in many sports at the Olympic games.

©Hyotographics/Shutterstock.com

  • Gold: 201
  • Silver: 207
  • Bronze: 247
  • Total medals: 655
  • Number of Olympic games: 17

6. Italy

the Flag of italy in the world map
Italy has participated in 28 Olympic games, winning over 600 medals.

©Taras Vykhopen/Shutterstock.com

  • Gold: 217
  • Silver: 188
  • Bronze: 213
  • Total medals: 618
  • Number of Olympic games: 28

5. France

France has participated in 29 Olympic games with more than 750 medals.
  • Gold: 223
  • Silver: 251
  • Bronze: 277
  • Total medals: 751
  • Number of Olympic games: 29

4. China

The exterior of the National aquatic center in Olympic park in Beijing China lit up at night blue.
The National Aquatic Center at Olympic Park in Beijing as the country has hosted multiple Olympics.

©Dan Hanscom/Shutterstock.com

  • Gold: 262
  • Silver: 199
  • Bronze: 173
  • Total medals: 634
  • Number of Olympic games: 11

3. Great Britain

Winner medals of the XXXII Summer Olympic Games 2020 in Tokyo of the flag of Great Britain.
Great Britain has won over 900 medals at the Olympic games, including 285 gold medals.

©Billion Photos/Shutterstock.com

  • Gold: 285
  • Silver: 319
  • Bronze: 314
  • Total medals: 918
  • Number of Olympic games: 29

2. Soviet Union

Flag of the Soviet Union. Russia is trying to restore the Soviet Union
The Soviet Union has won over 1,000 Olympic medals.

©Svet foto/Shutterstock.com

  • Gold: 395
  • Silver: 319
  • Bronze: 296
  • Total medals: 1010
  • Number of Olympic games: 9

1. United States

colorful big national flag and map of united states of america on a grunge old paper texture background
The United States has more than double the Olympic medals as the next closest competitor.

©esfera/Shutterstock.com

  • Gold: 1065
  • Silver: 835
  • Bronze: 738
  • Total medals: 2638
  • Number of Olympic games: 28

The image featured at the top of this post is ©kovop/Shutterstock.com.

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