24/7 Wall St.: Countries That Will Win the Most Olympic Medals
1. United States
Predicted 2012 Medal Count: 103
All-Time Medals: 2,302
Population: 311.59 million
GDP: $15.09 trillion
GDP Per Capita: $48,442
The United States is irrefutably the most dominant participating country in Olympic history. The country’s cumulative 2,302 medals is more than double its nearest rival, the USSR, which has won only 1,122 (1,445 including post-Soviet Russia). The U.S. won more gold medals than any other country at 929, compared to the USSR’s 440 (549 including post-Soviet Russia). This year, Williams predicts that 35 of the U.S.’s 103 expected medals will be gold. The U.S. won 110 medals in 24 different sports in 2008. Swimmers won 31 of those medals, while track and field athletes won 23 of them. In 2012, swimming rivals Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte could win a combined count of 14 medals, while up-and-coming swimmer Missy Franklin could alone win seven medals herself. Meanwhile, track sprinters Allyson Felix and Sanya Richards-Ross are in contention for several medals each. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
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The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
All-Time Medals: 2,302
Population: 311.59 million
GDP: $15.09 trillion
GDP Per Capita: $48,442
The United States is irrefutably the most dominant participating country in Olympic history. The country’s cumulative 2,302 medals is more than double its nearest rival, the USSR, which has won only 1,122 (1,445 including post-Soviet Russia). The U.S. won more gold medals than any other country at 929, compared to the USSR’s 440 (549 including post-Soviet Russia). This year, Williams predicts that 35 of the U.S.’s 103 expected medals will be gold. The U.S. won 110 medals in 24 different sports in 2008. Swimmers won 31 of those medals, while track and field athletes won 23 of them. In 2012, swimming rivals Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte could win a combined count of 14 medals, while up-and-coming swimmer Missy Franklin could alone win seven medals herself. Meanwhile, track sprinters Allyson Felix and Sanya Richards-Ross are in contention for several medals each. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
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Highest-Paid Players of All Time
Cities Where Homes Cost Less Than a Car
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The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
