Does the Olympics medal table reflect more than just sporting prowess? If you take a look at which countries have won the most golds since the first modern games in 1896, it certainly looks that way. Without exception, the winning nations are either those running the planet – or the ones who were about to try.
In fact, just six countries have occupied the top slot at the 27 Games so far over the past 120 years. Five of these are also permanent members of the United Nations Security Council; whilst the sixth, Germany, (who won in 1936) would also be on the Security Council, but for the inconvenient fact of the Second World War.
The biggest winner of all has been the USA, who topped the list 16 times: proof – not that we needed it – that the twentieth century really did belong to America. Uncle Sam is followed by Russia, which has pipped all comers to the post seven times.
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