The US is dominating the Olympics (cost, rich, distance)

[Mattks]

I'm not sure how one can fairly compare countries and their medals they have won. Larger population countries may have a larger population to select from, but ultimately they can still only send the same amount of participants per sport. We are probably in every sport, so that's our real advantage.

Competition is big in the US, not just in sports, but all aspects of life. I think that's an advantage as well. Many countries are far more laid back and don't take sports as seriously, that's not necessarily bad, but they won't be winning as many medals either.

[Winterfall8324]

how is china losing to GB. https://www.google.com/#q=olympics+medal+count

I know GB has a pretty good Olympic record but weren't the Chinese suppose to dominate everything?

Also, US has twice the number of medals as the second spot country

[Gentoo]

Originally Posted by Mattks

I'm not sure how one can fairly compare countries and their medals they have won. Larger population countries may have a larger population to select from, but ultimately they can still only send the same amount of participants per sport. We are probably in every sport, so that's our real advantage.
.

^^^This

[Joe90]

Grrrr! -them pesky Grenadians beat us in the per capita count.

[artemis agrotera]

Australia spent around $340 million on our Olympic team... and it under performed... Its worked out to be around the cost of $12 million per medal.

This article suggests the US spent (at least in 2012) $1.042 Billion.

I'm sure the amount spent on the team, is a factor.

Originally Posted by Joe90

Grrrr! -them pesky Grenadians beat us in the per capita count.

lol! I like this method of counting.

[Logicist027]

We really did destroy in this Olympics. Go USA!!!

[Winterfall8324]

We won big league as Trump would say

[Ghengis]

In keeping with the orderly theme of this thread

Britain & China = Cheater Cheater Pumpkin Eaters

[415_s2k]

Originally Posted by England Dan

Sorry, 415, but every Chinese athlete is now viewed with suspicion . I would not let Russia and China compete for the next games either due to their pathological cheating, you are to athletics as what you are to wildlife conservation and the environment .

Thanks, but I'm a born and raised American of predominantly Scandinavian descent I moved to China 3 years ago... I will probably stay here for much of the rest of my life and I do love it here, but will freely admit that cheating is a huge problem in all segments of Chinese society.

From education to business to government to sports, China is purely results focused and thus whatever it takes to get to the top is fair game. Corruption in government leads to better urban development. IP theft results in faster integration of technology. Cheating results in higher university placement and national test scores. Doping leads to Olympic medals. It's quite sad really, but the reality one way or the other. Especially sad how Cameron was trying to buddy up with them and practically licked Uncle Xi's boots when he came to visit last year... My British expat friends here were humiliated.

I'm more exasperated with how you are trying to denigrate and discount the superior performance of the US - who are your allies, whose culture is largely descended from the UK. The UK did great, why cant you just admit the US did as well?

[Prickly Pear]

'Murica!