It's the Gold That Counts
By Jeff Moffitt
@moffittjc (128832)
Gainesville, Florida
August 12, 2016 7:52am CST
On at least three separate occasions, I have had people ask me about the Olympic standings, and how they determine how to rank the countries in the medal count standings. Is it the total number of gold medals won that determines the rankings, or the overall medal count?
Looking at the current medal standings, the United States is in 1st place with 38 total medals, followed by China with 30 total medals. The United States also has the most gold medals right now, at 16, followed by China with 11. So, is the United States at the top of the rankings right now because they have the most gold medals at 16, or because they have the most total medals at 38?
If you look a little farther down in the standings, Russia currently stands in 7th place with 19 total medals. But wait...Australia is listed in 4th place, yet they only have 15 total medals, four fewer than Russia!
Therein lies the answer to the question! Australia is in 4th place because they have five gold medals, while Russia is down in 7th place because they only have four gold medals!
Were you aware of how the Olympic standings were determined? And do you think the standings should be determined by the total number of golds, or should it be tracked by the total medals won?
5 people like this
7 responses
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
12 Aug 16
I only worry/care about what the USA does.
3 people like this
@miniam (9151)
• Bern, Switzerland
12 Aug 16
@AbbyGreenhill
will no longer communicate with you lol,how can you be so patriotic but forget you have other friends at myLot? we have 2 gold,very happy.
4 people like this
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
12 Aug 16
@miniam Well, I look out for my own first LOL!
1 person likes this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
12 Aug 16
If two countries have an equal number of Gold then they would be ordered according to Silver medals.
Personally I think that they should be arranged by points, with Gold being 3, Silver being 2 and Bronze being 1. If a country wins only 1 medal, which happens to be Gold, then a country with several Silver and Bronze should not be rated as below.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128832)
• Gainesville, Florida
12 Aug 16
I agree with your point system. It's about as fair a system as you can get!
1 person likes this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
13 Aug 16
@moffittjc Using a Gold only approach would mean that a country could acquire a medal in every event and be rated below a country with one medal.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128832)
• Gainesville, Florida
13 Aug 16
@Asylum And in the IOC's ranking system, there are many countries in which this is actually the case! But it's all just a matter of subjectivity anyway, because a country can choose whatever method they want to glorify their own rankings. Did you see the swimming event last night in which the kid from Singapore beat Michael Phelps to take the gold medal? It very well could be Singapore's only medal of the Olympics, and I'm sure they are going to brag about their athlete beating the world's all-time greatest swimmer! I guess if your country is only going to win one medal in the Olympics, you couldn't ask for a better way to do it!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128832)
• Gainesville, Florida
13 Aug 16
I think that tonight is the last night of swimming. It's my favorite part of the Olympics, probably followed closely by gymnastics. They are ramping up the track and field events today, and those contests will continue for the next 3-4 days. Track and Field isn't one of my favorites, but it's still pretty fun to watch.
@jillybean1222 (6406)
•
13 Aug 16
nope, i never really knew that. i'm enjoying watching.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128832)
• Gainesville, Florida
13 Aug 16
I really enjoy watching it too! For some reason, I thought we were farther along in the days, but we are only on day 8 of 16 total days. Which makes me very happy, because for some reason I thought we were nearing the end.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128832)
• Gainesville, Florida
13 Aug 16
@jillybean1222 I think you hit the nail on the head! Once swimming and gymnastics are over, it feels like the end, since those are two of the most popular sports in the Olympics!
@jillybean1222 (6406)
•
13 Aug 16
@moffittjc It always feels like the end when the gymnastics slow down, and the swimming.... but the whole thing is fun to watch. i love it. i'm glad it's only once every 4 years because it makes it more exciting, but i'm a little sad too when it's over.
1 person likes this
@Poppylicious (11134)
• United Kingdom
12 Aug 16
I suppose that if you're Russian you might want it to be total number. But most gold makes more sense. I suspect that there might not be much overall difference if looked at either way.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128832)
• Gainesville, Florida
12 Aug 16
Well, regardless, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) makes the rules for the Olympics, so we have to follow what they say! lol
@moffittjc (128832)
• Gainesville, Florida
12 Aug 16
I think small countries such as yours should be very, very proud of the medals you earn! It's very difficult to compete against the many athletes from the larger countries!
@miniam (9151)
• Bern, Switzerland
12 Aug 16
@moffittjc
Agreed,small countries do not have stiff competition while qualifying in their respective countries so their best might appear like some big joke when put with the big guys. Here is a video l found in Youtube,Tuvalu sent their best to compete in 100M
Sogelau Tuvalu 100m - 15.66 "the slowest 100m time at a championship" BREAKING Trevor Misapeka RECORD which was held at 100m - 14.23
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128832)
• Gainesville, Florida
12 Aug 16
I was looking back at the results of the 2012 Olympic Games in London, and in that Olympics there were 300 total medal events, and out of those 300, the United States took home 46 gold medals. Looking at the overall medal count, the USA took home 103 total medals out of 300 events, or about 1/3 of all medals available. I wonder if we'll do as well in this Olympics as we did in the last one?
1 person likes this
