In this article, we will be taking a look at the 15 countries that produce the best athletes in the world. To skip our detailed analysis, you can go directly to see the 5 countries that produce the best athletes in the world.
Sports has always fascinated people, from thousands of years ago to today. While fame has always been a given for athletes, with the level of fame depending on the popularity of the sport they've engaged in, the world of sports has changed significantly in the last century especially in terms of money. Half a century ago, only players at the very top of the game earned handsome salaries with most of the other players not earning more than the average person.
15 countries that produce the best athletes in the world
Nowadays, every corner of the world is inundated with sporting events including World Cups of different sports, with the most popular by far being the FIFA World Cup for football. The latest event was held in Qatar, which spend billions officially on ensuring that the World Cup was a massive success, which it did end up being. With the popularity of such sports, many sporting companies have become multi-billion dollar empires and provide sponsorships to top athletes to ensure that their name is out there front and center, with such companies including NIKE, Inc. (NYSE:NKE), which is worth nearly $200 billion currently and is the biggest sporting company in the world, Under Armour, Inc. (NYSE:UA) and Lululemon Athletica Inc. (NASDAQ:LULU).
These companies have realized the massive potential and returns that they can earn in the sporting world, with NIKE, Inc. (NYSE:NKE) arguably being the most successful company in this field. For many countries, their sporting market is an important part of their influence and an excellent source of revenue as well, as can seen in England where the England Premier League brings in revenues worth billions of pounds and is the highest-earning football league in the world. In the U.S., while most popular sports such as baseball, basketball and American football are popular in the country alone, they still bring in some of the highest revenue for any sports leagues in the world because of the American obsession with these sports. This is why some of the most valuable sports companies in the world are American sports teams. This is why many nations are investing heavily in discovering and supporting athletes, especially the countries that produce the best athletes in the world.
While many are calling out the sports world for exorbitant values and paying unbelievable salaries to athletes, changes seem unlikely considering the ever increasing demand for sports by spectators and the revenue that TV streaming rights provide to various sporting leagues. That's why many people consider sports clubs as investment opportunities. After all, Chelsea Football Club, one of the most successful football clubs in the world in the last two decades, was sold for £4.25 billion in 2022. 19 years ago, Roman Abramovich bought the club for a reported £140 million. That is a return of over 3,000% in 19 years. Sales of Liverpool Football Club and Manchester United plc (NYSE:MANU), the two most successful English football clubs in history, which are seeming more likely as time passes by, will also see huge returns for owners.
To determine the countries that produce the best athletes, we couldn't focus on any one sport as many nations participate in different competitions and have superiority over the other in different competitions. This is why the Olympics were the best option for our ranking, as the Olympics have hundreds of events across all sports and athletics, showcasing the best from each country in various fields. The Olympics are interesting from an economical point of view as massive costs to host the Olympics continue to increase while benefits are uncertain, leaving countries with a massive loss which is why fewer countries are now bidding to host one of the most prestigious competitions in the world. According to a 2012 study by the University of Oxford, from 1976 to 2012, the average cost overrun for each Summer Olympics is around 252%. Despite this, over 250 companies advertise in the Olympics even though companies which aren't official partner of the Olympics aren't even allowed to use the term "Olympics". We obtained data for the last 3 Olympic events, and combined each country's haul in gold, silver and bronze medals, assigning 50% weightage to each country's ranking for total gold medals, 30% weightage to each country's ranking for total silver medals, and 20% weightage to each country's ranking for total bronze medals. So, without further, ado, let's take a look at the athletic nations, starting with:
15. Spain
Total gold medals in last 3 Olympics: 14
Total silver medals in last 3 Olympics: 22
Total bronze medals in last 3 Olympics: 18
Spain has ensured that it is counted among the best sporting countries in the world through meticulous planning and execution. Surprisingly, despite the U.S. dominating basketball over almost a century, winning 16 of 19 tournaments in the Summer Olympics, Spain is currently ranked as the top team in basketball according to the International Basketball Federation.
14. Hungary
Total gold medals in last 3 Olympics: 22
Total silver medals in last 3 Olympics: 14
Total bronze medals in last 3 Olympics: 17
Hungary has excelled in sports where there are multiple opportunities of winning medals, which is why despite a small population, it has collected over 50 medals in the last 3 Olympics.
13. New Zealand
Total gold medals in last 3 Olympics: 17
Total silver medals in last 3 Olympics: 17
Total bronze medals in last 3 Olympics: 17
New Zealand has the smallest population by far among countries in our list, which is why it is amazing that it is still counted among the countries that produce the best athletes.
12. Brazil
Total gold medals in last 3 Olympics: 17
Total silver medals in last 3 Olympics: 17
Total bronze medals in last 3 Olympics: 23
The most successful country in athletics in Latin America, the culture in Brazil regarding sports is one of the main reasons behind the country's success.
11. Netherlands
Total gold medals in last 3 Olympics: 24
Total silver medals in last 3 Olympics: 25
Total bronze medals in last 3 Olympics: 26
Despite a smaller population especially relative to most other countries in the list of the countries that produce the best athletes, a strong national coordination of activities has ensured that the Dutch continue to produce top athletes, with the government spending tens of millions of euros each year to ensure development of top talent in various sports.
10. South Korea
Total gold medals in last 3 Olympics: 28
Total silver medals in last 3 Olympics: 16
Total bronze medals in last 3 Olympics: 27
One of the most successful country in athletics in Asia, South Korea is easily among the countries that produce the best athletes in the world. However, the country is also emerging among the best in the world of esports, which is an industry with massive growth potential and could be ripe for potential investment.
9. Italy
Total gold medals in last 3 Olympics: 26
Total silver medals in last 3 Olympics: 31
Total bronze medals in last 3 Olympics: 39
Sports in Italy have had a long, storied tradition and while it is the second most successful football team in the world with four World Cups and are the current reigning European champions, Italy has also made a successful foray into various other sports with its men and women's teams considered to be among the best in the world.
8. France
Total gold medals in last 3 Olympics: 31
Total silver medals in last 3 Olympics: 41
Total bronze medals in last 3 Olympics: 38
Sports are part of France's culture and hosts some of the most prestigious sporting evens in the world including Tour de France and the French Open, while also winning the football World Cup in 2018. The country has also achieved significant success in the Olympics.
7. Australia
Total gold medals in last 3 Olympics: 33
Total silver medals in last 3 Olympics: 33
Total bronze medals in last 3 Olympics: 44
Australia is easily among the countries that produce the best athletes, having won over 100 medals in the last 3 Olympics. This success is despite a relatively smaller population of just over 22 million people, and in terms of medals per capita, it would be far ahead of even the U.S.
6. Germany
Total gold medals in last 3 Olympics: 38
Total silver medals in last 3 Olympics: 41
Total bronze medals in last 3 Olympics: 44
Germany is one of the most successful football nations in the world, winning four World Cups and three Euros, but its success has extended to various other sports as well.
