At every Olympic Games, countries like the U.S., China, Russia, and the United Kingdom consistently dominate the medal count, largely due to their vast resources and large populations. These nations have a significant advantage in identifying and nurturing athletic talent and investing in their Olympic teams.
However, when adjusting medal counts relative to a country’s population or GDP, the rankings tell a different story.
In the 2024 Paris Olympics, Kenya once again led Africa’s medal tally, continuing its dominance from the 2020 and 2016 Games.
Known for its exceptional middle-distance and long-distance runners, Kenya secured 17th place overall with four golds, two silvers, and five bronzes. Algeria followed in 39th place with two golds and one bronze, while South Africa ranked 44th with one gold, three silvers, and two bronzes.
Kenya also placed second only to the U.S. in track and field events.
Africa as a whole won 39 medals, slightly more than the 37 in Tokyo but fewer than the 45 in Rio, falling short of the African Union’s target of 50. Even Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, failed to secure a single medal.
Rwanda’s performance was particularly disappointing. None of the eight athletes from the country reached the podium or even came close. Yves Nimubona’s 21st place in the 10,000-meter run was the best result for Rwanda—a stark reminder of how far the nation needs to go to compete at an Olympic level.
SENS Magazine dissects the Olympic medal results, highlighting the rankings that truly count:
Which country won the most Olympic medals?
Every Olympics, the medal tables are dominated by giants like the USA and China.
However, when you factor in population size, the achievements of smaller nations stand out. According to Eurosport, Grenada topped the list for medals per capita, winning two medals with a population of just 112,000.
Dominica followed with one medal for its 67,000 citizens, and St. Lucia ranked third with two medals across a population of 184,000.
Which country won the most gold medals?
The USA and China tied for the most gold medals, each securing 40. The final event, where Team USA’s women’s basketball team triumphed, clinched the tie.
Japan ranked third with 20 golds, followed by Australia (18), France (16), the Netherlands (15), and Great Britain (14).
Which country won the most medals overall?
The USA led the medal count with a remarkable 126 total medals, outpacing China’s 91. Team Great Britain coming in third with 65 medals, just one ahead of France.
Which athlete won the most Olympic medals?
Swimmers dominated the individual rankings. China’s Yufei Zhang earned the most medals, with one silver and five bronze.
Five other Olympic swimmers—Leon Marchand, Torri Huske, Mollie O’Callaghan, Regan Smith, and Kaylee McKeown—each claimed five medals, solidifying their status as the most decorated athletes of these Games.
Five National Olympic Committees celebrated their first-ever Olympic medals at the Paris 2024 Games.
Dominica
The Caribbean nation of Dominica made history at the Paris Olympics. Thea LaFond, a world indoor champion earlier this year, secured the country’s first-ever Olympic medal with a stunning performance in the triple jump. On August 3, she soared to 15.02 meters, setting a national record and clinching Olympic gold, a proud moment for Dominica in its eighth Olympic appearance.
Albania
Albania also celebrated a breakthrough at the Paris 2024 Games, winning not just one, but two bronze medals in wrestling.
On August 10, Valiev Chermen earned Albania’s first Olympic medal in the under 74 kg category with a 6-2 victory over Tajikistan’s Viktor Rassadin. The following day, Islam Dudaev added a second bronze in the under 65 kg category, narrowly defeating Hungary’s Iszmail Muszukajev 13-12.
For a nation with just eight athletes competing, a quarter of them brought medals home.
Saint Lucia
Just a ferry ride away from Dominica, Saint Lucia also had its moment of glory, thanks to sprinter Julien Alfred. On August 3, Alfred made history by winning the 100m race in 10.72 seconds, setting a new national record and earning Saint Lucia its first Olympic gold.
She didn’t stop there; on August 6, Alfred claimed silver in the 200m, narrowly missing out on gold. Her two medals were the first in Saint Lucia’s Olympic history.
Cape Verde
Cape Verde experienced its historic moment when David de Pina won a bronze medal in boxing. De Pina’s quarter-final victory over Zambia’s Patrick Chinyemba secured the medal, making him Cape Verde’s first Olympic medalist.
Although he lost in the semi-finals, his achievement marked a milestone for Cape Verde in its eighth Olympic appearance.
Refugee Olympic Team
One of the most inspiring stories of the Paris 2024 Olympics came from the Refugee Olympic Team. Cindy Winner Djankeu Ngamba, a Cameroonian-born boxer who faced numerous challenges, including rejection from her home country due to her sexual orientation, represented the Refugee Olympic Team in the under 75 kg category.
After a hard-fought victory in the quarterfinals against France’s Davina Michel, Ngamba secured a bronze medal, making her the first-ever medalist for the Refugee Olympic Team since its creation in 2016.
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