Every four years, countries from all across the globe compete in the ultimate sporting event in the history of sports, the Summer Olympics.
Since 1896, countries have competed for the chance at becoming the world’s leader in sports. From track and field events like the 100 meter sprint to indoor sports like basketball and water polo, the summer games have been hosted in 20 different countries, with America hosting the most with four.
When Athens, Greece hosted the first games in 1896, it featured 241 athletes from 14 countries and was the biggest international participation sporting event of the time. It has since become even larger with 207 countries competing and a record breaking 10,500 expected athletes competing.
As the games continue to grow, so does the fans from each of the countries involved. From Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, all fans head to the games looking for one thing, pride of their country. The only thing that matters is who wins and who loses, there is no religious persecution or politics at the Olympics, only competition.
We decided to honor the fans and countries that participate in the Summer Olympics by ranking the top 50 countries.
50. Kenya
- Total Medal Count: 86
- Gold Medals: 25
- Best Sport: Men’s 3000 M Steeplechase
- Top Athlete: Kipchoge Keino
49. Georgia
- Total Medal Count: 25
- Gold Medals: 6
- Best Sport: Wrestling
- Top Athlete: George Asanidze & George Gogshelidze
48. Kazakhstan
- Total Medal Count: 52
- Gold Medals: 16
- Best Sport: Boxing
- Top Athlete: Yermakhan Ibraimov
47. Croatia
- Total Medal Count: 23
- Gold Medals: 6
- Best Sport: Handball
- Top Athlete: Toni Kukoc
46. Colombia
- Total Medal Count: 19
- Gold Medals: 2
- Best Sport: Weightlifting
- Top Athlete: Helmut Bellingrodt
45. Portugal
- Total Medal Count: 23
- Gold Medals: 4
- Best Sport: Marathon
- Top Athlete: Carlos Lopes
44. India
- Total Medal Count: 26
- Gold Medals: 9
- Best Sport: Field Hockey
- Top Athlete: Men’s National Field Hockey Team from 1928 to 1936
43. Slovakia
- Total Medal Count: 24
- Gold Medals: 7
- Best Sport: Canoeing
- Top Athlete: Pavol Hochschorner & Peter Hochschorner
42. Indonesia
- Total Medal Count: 27
- Gold Medals: 6
- Best Sport: Badminton
- Top Athlete: Susi Susanti
41. Ethiopia
- Total Medal Count: 45
- Gold Medals: 21
- Best Sport: 10,000 M
- Top Athlete: Tirunesh Dibaba
40. Egypt
- Total Medal Count: 26
- Gold Medals: 7
- Best Sport: Weightlifting
- Top Athlete: Karam Gaber
39. New Zealand
- Total Medal Count: 99
- Gold Medals: 42
- Best Sport: Rowing
- Top Athlete: Ian Ferguson & Paul McDonald
38. Czech Republic
- Total Medal Count: 44
- Gold Medals: 14
- Best Sport: Canoeing
- Top Athlete: Martin Doktor
37. Austria
- Total Medal Count: 86
- Gold Medals: 18
- Best Sport: Canoeing
- Top Athlete: Peter Seisenbacher
36. Mexico
- Total Medal Count: 62
- Gold Medals: 13
- Best Sport: Diving
- Top Athlete: Joaquin Capilla
35. Turkey
- Total Medal Count: 88
- Gold Medals: 39
- Best Sport: Wrestling
- Top Athlete: Elvan Abeylegesse
34. Belarus
- Total Medal Count: 75
- Gold Medals: 12
- Best Sport: Track & Field
- Top Athlete: Ekaterina Karsten
33. Ireland
- Total Medal Count: 29
- Gold Medals: 9
- Best Sport: Track & Field
- Top Athlete: Pat O’Callaghan
32. Iran
- Total Medal Count: 60
- Gold Medals: 15
- Best Sport: Wrestling
- Top Athlete: Hadi Saei, Taekwondo
31. North Korea
- Total Medal Count: 47
- Gold Medals: 14
- Best Sport: Weightlifting
- Top Athlete: Kye Sun-Hui
30. Argentina
- Total Medal Count: 70
- Gold Medals: 18
- Best Sport: Boxing
- Top Athlete: Carlos Espinola & Lucha Aymar
29. Denmark
- Total Medal Count: 179
- Gold Medals: 43
- Best Sport: Sailing
- Top Athlete: Eskild Ebbesen, Rowing
28. Ukraine
- Total Medal Count: 115
- Gold Medals: 33
- Best Sport: Gymnastics
- Top Athlete: Yana Klochkova, Swimming
27. Jamaica
- Total Medal Count: 67
- Gold Medals: 17
- Best Sport: Track & Field
- Top Athlete: Usain Bolt
26. South Africa
- Total Medal Count: 76
- Gold Medals: 23
- Best Sport: Track & Field
- Top Athlete: Penelope Heyns, Swimming
25. Brazil
- Total Medal Count: 108
- Gold Medals: 23
- Best Sport: Sailing
- Top Athlete: Torben Grael & Robert Scheidt
24. Cuba
- Total Medal Count: 209
- Gold Medals: 72
- Best Sport: Boxing
- Top Athlete: Ramon Frost
23. Belgium
- Total Medal Count: 142
- Gold Medals: 37
- Best Sport: Archery
- Top Athlete: Hubert Van Innis
22. Greece
- Total Medal Count: 111
- Gold Medals: 30
- Best Sport: Weightlifting
- Top Athlete: Pyrros Dimas
21. Switzerland
- Total Medal Count: 185
- Gold Medals: 47
- Best Sport: Gymnastics
- Top Athlete: Eugen Mack & Georges Miez
20. Poland
- Total Medal Count: 271
- Gold Medals: 64
- Best Sport: Track & Field
- Top Athlete: Irena Szewinska
19. Bulgaria
- Total Medal Count: 214
- Gold Medals: 51
- Best Sport: Wrestling
- Top Athlete: Mariya Grozdeva
18. Romania
- Total Medal Count: 301
- Gold Medals: 88
- Best Sport: Gymnastics
- Top Athlete: Nadia Comaneci
17. Netherlands
- Total Medal Count: 266
- Gold Medals: 77
- Best Sport: Swimming
- Top Athlete: Inge de Bruijn
16. Finland
- Total Medal Count: 302
- Gold Medals: 101
- Best Sport: Track & Field
- Top Athlete: Paavo Nurmi
15. Norway
- Total Medal Count: 148
- Gold Medals: 56
- Best Sport: Sailing
- Top Athlete: Otto Olsen, Shooting
14. Spain
- Total Medal Count: 131
- Gold Medals: 37
- Best Sport: Sailing
- Top Athlete: David Cal, Canoeing
13. Canada
- Total Medal Count: 279
- Gold Medals: 59
- Best Sport: Cycling
- Top Athlete: Lesley Thompson-Willie & Phil Edwards
12. Hungary
- Total Medal Count: 476
- Gold Medals: 167
- Best Sport: Fencing
- Top Athlete: Aladar Gerevich
11. South Korea
- Total Medal Count: 243
- Gold Medals: 81
- Best Sport: Archery
- Top Athlete: Kim Soo-Nyung
10. Italy
- Total Medal Count: 549
- Gold Medals: 198
- Best Sport: Fencing
- Top Athlete: Edoardo Mangiarotti
9. Japan
- Total Medal Count: 398
- Gold Medals: 130
- Best Sport: Gymnastics
- Top Athlete: Takashi Ono
8. Australia
- Total Medal Count: 468
- Gold Medals: 139
- Best Sport: Swimming
- Top Athlete: Ian Thorpe
7. Russia
- Total Medal Count: 395
- Gold Medals: 132
- Best Sport: Track & Field
- Top Athlete: Aleksey Nemov, Gymnastics
6. Germany
- Total Medal Count: 573
- Gold Medals: 174
- Best Sport: Canoeing
- Top Athlete: Birgit Fischer
5. China
- Total Medal Count: 473
- Gold Medals: 201
- Best Sport: Diving
- Top Athlete: Zou Kai, Gymnastics
4. Sweden
- Total Medal Count: 483
- Gold Medals: 143
- Best Sport: Wrestling
- Top Athlete: Alf Swahn, Shooting
3. France
- Total Medal Count: 671
- Gold Medals: 202
- Best Sport: Fencing
- Top Athlete: Philippe Cattiau & Roger Ducret
2. Great Britain
- Total Medal Count: 780
- Gold Medals: 236
- Best Sport: Track & Field
- Top Athlete: Chris Hoy, Cycling
1. USA
- Total Medal Count: 2,399
- Gold Medals: 976
- Best Sport: Track & Field
- Top Athlete: Michael Phelps, Swimming