Medal Tally Leaders from each Summer Olympic Games
Across Olympic history, different nations have topped the medal table at various Games. Early editions saw the USA and Great Britain dominate, while the Soviet Union rose strongly mid-century. In recent decades, the USA and China have frequently led.
| Year | Country | Golds |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | USA | 40 |
| 2021 | USA | 39 |
| 2016 | USA | 46 |
| 2012 | USA | 46 |
| 2008 | China * | 51 |
| 2004 | USA | 35 |
| 2000 | USA | 40 |
| 1996 | USA * | 44 |
| 1992 | Unified Team | 45 |
| 1988 | USSR | 55 |
| 1984 | USA * | 83 |
| 1980 | USSR * | 80 |
| 1976 | USSR | 49 |
| 1972 | USSR | 50 |
| 1968 | USA | 45 |
| 1964 | USA | 36 |
| 1960 | USSR | 43 |
| 1956 | USSR | 37 |
| 1952 | USA | 40 |
| 1948 | USA | 38 |
| 1936 | Germany * | 33 |
| 1932 | USA * | 41 |
| 1928 | USA | 22 |
| 1924 | USA | 45 |
| 1920 | USA | 41 |
| 1912 | USA | 25 |
| 1908 | Great Britain * | 56 |
| 1904 | USA * | 78 |
| 1900 | France * | 25 |
| 1896 | USA | 11 |
Notes
- The USA has led the medal tally the most times (19 times out of 29)
- If results for East and West Germany are combined, German athletes would have won the most gold medals at the 1976 Summer Olympics, in place of the Soviet Union.
- The * denotes that they are the host nation. The host nation has lead the tally nine times
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Summer Olympic Games
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