5 countries which have most Summer Olympics medals ft. USA, Great Britain

The Olympics are the most anticipated event that any sporting nation looks forward to every four years. The pride and prestige the global event holds make it even more humongous in magnitude.

Thus, earning a medal in an event like the Olympics carries significant weight not only for the athlete but also for the entire country that it represents. Throughout the years, various countries have competed in the event and won medals, but only a few countable nations have made this stage their own.

With all this said, let's explore those countries that have been the most successful in the rich history of the Olympics.

Nations with the most medals in the history of the Summer Olympics

#5. France

France, the host country of the 2024 edition of the quadrennial event, is fifth on this list with a staggering 751 medals, including 223 gold medals, 251 silver medals, and 277 bronze medals. Fencing has contributed the most toward France's tally of medals, with 123 laurels (44 gold). Cycling and Judo take up the second and third positions with 93 and 57 medals, respectively.

#4. China

China has won 634 medals, encompassing 262 gold medals, 199 silver medals, and 173 bronze medals. China has found the most success in diving and artistic gymnastics, with 81 and 67 medals, respectively.

However, China has yet to open its account in various sports at the Olympics, such as surfing, water polo, and skateboarding. Wu Minxia (diving) is China's most decorated Olympian, with seven medals.

#3. Great Britain

Great Britain occupies the third position on this list with 918 medals in the quadrennial event, which includes 285 gold medals, 319 silver medals, and 314 bronze medals.

Great Britain's major success in the event has come in the athletics discipline, in which the nation has 210 medals to boast of. Jason Kenny (cycling track) is Great Britain's most successful Olympian, with nine medals.

#2. Soviet Union

The Soviet Union ranks third on this list, with 1010 medals, including 395 gold medals, 319 silver medals, and 296 bronze medals. Another notable element of the Soviet Union's medal total is that it competed in only nine editions of the event between 1952 and 1988.

Athletics and Gymnastics have been the most fruitful sports for the Soviets throughout the history of the Olympic Games, with a staggering 193 and 184 medals, respectively.

#1. United States of America

The United States of America has been the most successful country in the history of the quadrennial event, with 2638 medals (1065 gold medals, 835 silver medals, and 738 bronze medals).

The US also holds the world record for the most medals (239) in a single edition of the Olympics, registered in 1904. Moreover, Michael Phelps, hailing from the US, is also the most decorated Olympian, with 28 medals to his name.