2016 Rio Olympic Games in Brazil Aug 05-21,2016 - USA — quite the sporting superpower

 

The dominance began at the very first modern Olympics at Athens in 1896. USA finished on top of the medals table with 11 gold. 

The Americans topped the tally in the last Olympics at London too.

In the 26 Olympics they have participated, they have finished first on 16 occasions and were second eight times. 

Twice they took the third place.

And it is by some distance that they have beaten the competition in the historical medals table. They have so far won 2399 medals, of which 976 are gold.

It is swimmers and athletes who have won a high percentage of medals for USA. Between them, they have won 1287 medals but there are more medals to be won on the track and the swimming pool.

The Americans have lorded over many other sports too, including basketball, tennis and shooting. 

They are the leading medal-winners in all those disciplines. In fact, there are only a few sports — like badminton, table tennis and handball — in which they are yet to reach the podium.

Second-placed Soviet Union has 1010 medals. That country has dissolved into various nations, including Russia. But even if you add all those medals of the former Soviet countries to the account of the USSR, the resultant total will still not challenge the United States.

Russia is no longer the main challenger