2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES
- When: Saturday, July 24 – Sunday, August 7, 2021
- Where: Tatsumi International Swimming Centre / Tokyo, Japan
- Full aquatics schedule
- What You Need to Know
- Stream on NBC Olympics
- Results
The Tokyo 2020 Olympics have concluded, and now it’s time to dig into the numbers. Across all 46 sports competed at the 2020 Olympic Games, the United States led all countries in medals won. The USA totaled 113 medals, 39 of of which were Gold, 41 Silver, and 33 Bronze.
The U.S. had a 25 total medal lead over the next highest earner, China, however, China won 38 Gold medals, just one less than the U.S. In fact, China was leading the Gold medal tally late into the Games, and it wasn’t until the final day of the Games that the U.S. retook the lead.
That marks the Americans’ third-straight medals table win (which isn’t officially recorded anywhere, but is still considered by the public) after China led with the most golds in 2008, by a wide margin, in their hosted Olympics.
The U.S. has had the most total medals at every Olympics since 1992, where the Unified Team that emerged after the breakup of the USSR recorded 112 to the Americans’ 108.
Host country Japan won the 3rd most Gold medals (27), and the 5th-most total medals (58). The Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) had the 3rd-highest overall medal total with 71 medals.
In spite of the lack of fans, Japan’s 27 gold medals among 58 total medals are still the most they’ve ever earned, continuing support for the idea of an Olympic host country boost.
Tokyo 2020 Full Medal Table (all sports)
*Note: The medal tables in the post are ranked by Gold medal totals, then silver medal totals, then bronze medal totals*
| Rank | Country | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 1 | United States | 39 | 41 | 33 | 113 |
| 2 | China | 38 | 32 | 18 | 88 |
| 3 | Japan | 27 | 14 | 17 | 58 |
| 4 | Great Britain | 22 | 21 | 22 | 65 |
| 5 | ROC | 20 | 28 | 23 | 71 |
| 6 | Australia | 17 | 7 | 22 | 46 |
| 7 | Netherlands | 10 | 12 | 14 | 36 |
| 8 | France | 10 | 12 | 11 | 33 |
| 9 | Germany | 10 | 11 | 16 | 37 |
| 10 | Italy | 10 | 10 | 20 | 40 |
| 11 | Canada | 7 | 6 | 11 | 24 |
| 12 | Brazil | 7 | 6 | 8 | 21 |
| 13 | New Zealand | 7 | 6 | 7 | 20 |
| 14 | Cuba | 7 | 3 | 5 | 15 |
| 15 | Hungary | 6 | 7 | 7 | 20 |
| 16 | South Korea | 6 | 4 | 10 | 20 |
| 17 | Poland | 4 | 5 | 5 | 14 |
| 18 | Czech Republic | 4 | 4 | 3 | 11 |
| 19 | Kenya | 4 | 4 | 2 | 10 |
| 20 | Norway | 4 | 2 | 2 | 8 |
| 21 | Jamaica | 4 | 1 | 4 | 9 |
| 22 | Spain | 3 | 8 | 6 | 17 |
| 23 | Sweden | 3 | 6 | 0 | 9 |
| 24 | Switzerland | 3 | 4 | 6 | 13 |
| 25 | Denmark | 3 | 4 | 4 | 11 |
| 26 | Croatia | 3 | 3 | 2 | 8 |
| 27 | Iran | 3 | 2 | 2 | 7 |
| 28 | Serbia | 3 | 1 | 5 | 9 |
| 29 | Belgium | 3 | 1 | 3 | 7 |
| 30 | Bulgaria | 3 | 1 | 2 | 6 |
| 31 | Slovenia | 3 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| 32 | Uzbekistan | 3 | 0 | 2 | 5 |
| 33 | Georgia | 2 | 5 | 1 | 8 |
| 34 | Chinese Taipei | 2 | 4 | 6 | 12 |
| 35 | Turkey | 2 | 2 | 9 | 13 |
| 36 | Greece | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 36 | Uganda | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| 38 | Ecuador | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| 39 | Ireland | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| 39 | Israel | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| 41 | Qatar | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| 42 | Bahamas | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 42 | Kosovo | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 44 | Ukraine | 1 | 6 | 12 | 19 |
| 45 | Belarus | 1 | 3 | 3 | 7 |
| 46 | Romania | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 |
| 46 | Venezuela | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 |
| 48 | India | 1 | 2 | 4 | 7 |
| 49 | Hong Kong | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
| 50 | Philippines | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| 50 | Slovakia | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| 52 | South Africa | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 53 | Austria | 1 | 1 | 5 | 7 |
| 54 | Egypt | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 |
| 55 | Indonesia | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 |
| 56 | Ethiopia | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| 56 | Portugal | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| 58 | Tunisia | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 59 | Estonia | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 59 | Fiji | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 59 | Latvia | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 59 | Thailand | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 63 | Bermuda | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 63 | Morocco | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 63 | Puerto Rico | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 66 | Colombia | 0 | 4 | 1 | 5 |
| 67 | Azerbaijan | 0 | 3 | 4 | 7 |
| 68 | Dominican Republic | 0 | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| 69 | Armenia | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| 70 | Kyrgyzstan | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 71 | Mongolia | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| 72 | Argentina | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 72 | San Marino | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 74 | Jordan | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 74 | Malaysia | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 74 | Nigeria | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 77 | Bahrain | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 77 | Saudi Arabia | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 77 | Lithuania | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 77 | North Macedonia | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 77 | Namibia | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 77 | Turkmenistan | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 83 | Kazakhstan | 0 | 0 | 8 | 8 |
| 84 | Mexico | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| 85 | Finland | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 86 | Botswana | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 86 | Burkina Faso | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 86 | Côte d’Ivoire | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 86 | Ghana | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 86 | Grenada | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 86 | Kuwait | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 86 | Moldova | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 86 | Syria | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
The United States also led the medal table for all aquatic sports at these Olympic Games, earning 12 more aquatics medals than the next highest country (Australia). As they did in the overall medal count, the Americans earned the most Gold medals in aquatics as well, ranking up 12 Golds.
China had the 2nd-most aquatics Gold medals (10), and the 3rd-most total medals (20). China picked up a massive medal haul from the diving events, winning 12 of the 24 available medals. Of those 12 medals, 7 were Gold, and 5 were Silver.
Tokyo Aquatics Medal Table (swimming, diving, water polo, artistic swimming)
| Rank | Country | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 1 | United States | 12 | 12 | 10 | 34 |
| 2 | China | 10 | 9 | 1 | 20 |
| 3 | Australia | 9 | 3 | 10 | 22 |
| 4 | Great Britain | 5 | 3 | 3 | 11 |
| 5 | ROC | 4 | 2 | 2 | 8 |
| 6 | Japan | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| 7 | Canada | 1 | 4 | 2 | 7 |
| 8 | Hungary | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
| 9 | South Africa | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 10 | Brazil | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| 11 | Germany | 1 | 0 | 4 | 5 |
| 12 | Tunisia | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 12 | Serbia | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 14 | Netherlands | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 15 | Italy | 0 | 2 | 5 | 7 |
| 16 | Hong Kong | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 17 | Ukraine | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| 18 | France | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 18 | Sweden | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 18 | Greece | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 18 | Spain | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 22 | Switzerland | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 23 | Denmark | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 23 | Finland | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 23 | Mexico | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Australia, who won the 3rd-most aquatics Gold medals (9), and the 2nd-most total aquatics medals (22), won nearly all their medals in swimming. The Australians had a historic performance in swimming this year, winning 21 medals, including 9 Golds.
The Aussies were 2nd only to the Americans in swimming. The U.S. accumulated 30 swimming medals at these Olympics, 11 of which were Gold.
Tokyo 2020 Swimming Medal Table (includes men’s & women’s open water 10K)
| Rank | Country | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 1 | United States | 11 | 10 | 9 | 30 |
| 2 | Australia | 9 | 3 | 9 | 21 |
| 3 | Great Britain | 4 | 3 | 1 | 8 |
| 4 | China | 3 | 2 | 1 | 6 |
| 5 | ROC | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| 6 | Japan | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| 7 | Canada | 1 | 3 | 2 | 6 |
| 8 | Hungary | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 9 | South Africa | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 10 | Brazil | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| 11 | Germany | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| 12 | Tunisia | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 13 | Netherlands | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 14 | Italy | 0 | 2 | 5 | 7 |
| 15 | Hong Kong | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 16 | Ukraine | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 17 | France | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 18 | Sweden | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 19 | Switzerland | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 20 | Denmark | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 20 | Finland | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
The men of the USA were anemic:
3×3 Basketball – failed to qualify
Football (soccer) – failed to qualify
Beach Volleyball – failed to medal
Canoeing – failed to medal
Cycling – failed to medal
Gymnastics – failed to medal
Surfing – failed to medal
Volleyball – failed to medal
Water Polo – failed to medal
Continental Europe (France/Italy/Germany/ Hungary/ Sweden etc) seemed to have a particularly poor Olympics….
Might be because that part of Europe has had the highest total of days under “strict” lockdown mesures. Islands (like NZ or GB), the US and scandinavia weren’t impacted as much (either by the measures, which weren’t as strict, or by the virus thanks to a form of isolation). In France for example a lot of swimmers (even big names like Flo Manaudou) had a looong time out of the water, half a year or more if you sum it up during the pandemic, because every sport facility was shut down by law
For Hungary, Hosszu and Kapas were past their prime. For Italy, Pellegrini was past her prime. For Sweden, Sjostrom was coming off a broken elbow. For France, the women have disappeared off the planet.
Sorry – but the U.K. lockdown rules – whilst slow to start – were then as strict as pretty much anywhere in continental Europe when it came to elite sport
Also, Sweden famously had no lockdown
Not saying covid might have not been a factor but it doesn’t give the narrative you’ve tried to articulate
The women of Great Britain were vastly overrated.
In what way?
Personally I was a bit disappointed by Molly Renshaw in the 200Br but otherwise I’m struggling to think of anyone who was a potential finalist who underperformed?
Maybe Freya A? I thought Kathleen Dawson would go quicker but her placing was in line with expectations.
Tunesia! Also grabbing a silver in Taekwondo.
So proud of the Aussie team! 55th biggest country in the world. 2nd in swimming, 3rd in overall aquatics, 6th in overall medals. Our second best Olympics of all time. The smallest country ahead of Australia in the Mesa tally is GB with over double the population.
That is the beauty of statistics – you can play with numbers any way you want to please yourself with results. Whenever you are talking about population and per capita numbers don’t forget about demographic. I want be surprised if GB is older country than Australia and the difference between young people who can be competitive athletes may not that dramatic as you trying to show. Also the traditional popularity of different sport activities are different in different countries. It was absolutely logical to me that gold medals in surfing went to Australia and Hawaii. I would be really shocked if it was let say Slovakia and Kyrgyzstan.
This national pride in sport kills the real sport spirit. It… Read more »
I wasn’t trying to please myself. I was just saying I’m proud of how well we did considering how small we are.
Also, not that it matters becuase your premise is flawed, but the UK has 17.5 million people aged between 15 and 34, while Australia has 7.5 million. So yes, they have more than double the amount of people at prime Olympic age.
Also, Australia didn’t get any gold medals in surfing. We got one bronze.
Yozhik just makes stuff up and sees if it sounds good, then hopes no one bothers to check.
If you combine Australia & New Zealand it’s:
24 Golds
13 Silvers
29 Bronze
66 Total medals
That’s one medal ahead of GB, and using 3, 2, 1 scoring for medals won, one point ahead of Japan for 3rd place. Very, very impressive!
Please compare the medal tally for USA Swimming to the previous Summer Olympics. What about maintaing a “gold standard”?
Tokyo 2021 Olympics – 11 gold medals
Rio 2016 Olympics – 16 gold medals
London 2012 Olympics – 16 gold medals
Plus 3 more events vs previous Olympics. Usa had some good swims but was less than stellar.
Take away Ledecky’s 1500 and Finke’s 800 to compare 2021 vs 2016 and it’s 9 golds vs 16 golds. Good thing we didn’t medal in mixed relay to confuse things even more.
Australian women were just too good this year. 6 individual gold plus 2 relay gold.
No Phelps plus Australian women being historically strong.
It was good to see the USA, despite the fact that they did not do well in their “bread & butter events” (Swimming & T/F) still manage to pull out a “win”. If you read the Chinese media, they were already congratulating themselves and mocking the Americans just to see it slip away on the last day. Plus, the fact that this took place in Asia will not be lost on them .
Which Chinese media outlets are you referring to? I’d love to see those.
All the media does it. Talk up our own country.
Our media in Australia tried to say we won the gold medal per capita table.
Someone pointed out that our neighbours across the ditch smashed us in the per capita table. We actually ended 13th on the per capita table.
Bermuda won the per capita table with 1 gold with a Population of 63K. Cuba with silver & Bahamas with Bronze on the gold per capita table.
San Marino says hi!
Greg Meehan has alot to answer for.
USA Swimming
Women’s National Team
Tokyo 2021 Olympics – 3 gold medals
Rio 2016 Olympics – 8 gold medals
London 2012 Olympics – 8 gold medals