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© 2012 AFPJapan finishes with 38 medals, including 7 gold
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© 2012 AFP
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Daijoboots
38 medals is better than their total at any previous Olympics.
Congrats Japan.
Don Thieme
Congratulations, Japan!
Yubaru
Tepid public support was cited as a reason when Tokyo lost out to Rio de Janeiro in bidding for 2016.
Here's to hoping that "tepid support" continues and Tokyo doesn't win the bid again!
While the athlete's themselves should be congratulated for their participation and outstanding effort, the nation as a whole, particularly the central government should be doing some serious soul searching.
For a country with a population nearly double that of England the total medal count and number of gold medals doesnt measure up to what the potential should be for a country of this size AND sports participation.
Wishing for the medals, putting inordinate pressure on athletes to perform, "telling" the world we are going to do this or that because "we" invented the sport, does not put winners on the medal podium.
Congrats again to the athletes and thanks for an exciting Olympics!
CrazyJoe
Second best for Japan was 37 medals in the Athens 2004 Olympics.
herefornow
Japanese Olympic leaders are getting good at putting a "positive spin" on mediocre results. Certainly much better than they are at predicting the team's success -- 15 golds. Which mean they either need to learn from the error of their ways and stop setting such unrealistic expectations, or, look hard at the way potential Olympians are trained in Japan, and make the needed changes.
adjutant
I'm sorry, but this "per capita" argument for olympic medals is poppycock. Yes, it does help, but only to a certain extent. Overall, it doesn't mean a damn thing and it would be used to diminish anyone's earned medal.
Julie Varley
Congratulations Japan!
sourpuss
Yubaru
apart from the wishing part, which every single athlete in the world does incessantly, and putting pressure on athletes (again which happens all over the world) where did you get your info? what you're pointing at is either something you "made up," or is ubiquitous and not unique to Japan.
Alphaape
Since they got silver, does this mean that they get to sit in business class or will the men's team still get the business class and the women's team gets put back in coach?
MainframeSysop
Congratulations Japan!!!
GI_Jane
I heard that tops past records for the last 30 or 40 years (something like that). I always wanted to visit Japan.
paulinusa
They finished 6th in total medal count with the US, China, Russia, Great Britain and Germany ahead. That doesn't look so bad now, does it?
AlternateUniverse
I believe the women are responsible for the large majority of those medals?
Yubaru
GB made a concerted effort to support and train their athletes for these games. The information is out there if you google it. "Per capita"....Hmmm....did you read what else I wrote? Here let me quote myself "the total medal count and number of gold medals doesnt measure up to what the potential should be for a country of this size AND sports participation", the key words are SPORTS PARTICIPATION. Kids from a young age are actively encouraged to participate in all sorts of sports, yes mainly baseball, soccer, and volleyball, but a host of others as well.
The national government COULD if it so determined that it was a goal, to better identify those with potential and help train and mentor them into becoming Olympians. They do it for HS sports tournaments already, they could extend it nationally and fund and train these athletes.
Del Ihle
Congratulations Japan!
BurakuminDes
Well done Japan - and my mob Australia too. We both finished at roughly the same level (Aus 10th, Japan 11th). Yes - both teams have come in for some stinging criticism in some quarters - especially the Japanese Judoka and Aussie Swimmers. No - they did not meet their gold medal targets (IMO 15 was too optimistic for Japan, 15 would have been acceptable for us Aussies). However, Japan can take heart in dominating the wrestling mat - if their astonishing performances there can inspire some kids to join a wrestling club now and start pumping iron to get huge in time for Tokyo 2020, it's all good. Likewise for us Aussies, we won 7 golds in 5 different sports so let's just hope it inspires some kids.
However, the real star of the Games was Britain - they dominated on the sporting arena and put on a great show. 29 Golds is simply stunning. Japan and Australia should be looking to their programme and see what we can adapt for ours.
Yubaru
I can understand if all you read for your news is what you get here on JT. However if you have been watching TV up to and throughout the Olympics, or picked up a newspaper you will intimately understand fully just what I was talking about.
Carcharodon
comparing to the past doesn't count much as there are so many new sports especially womans sports that just didn't exist until the IOC went hardcore on equality, for example shooting (1984), Wrestling (2004), Boxing(2012), Football(1996), weightlifting (2000), Olympic medal inflation. Japanese women saved the gold medal tally this olympics, yet in 2000 there was no wrestling for woman. Still pretty decent overall for Japan these games, could have been a lot more. Japan's grade? - B room for improvement.
mrmalice
i guess congratulations are in order
theeastisred
More than double the population of the UK actually (125m vs 60m), and well more than double the population of England (50m).
paulinusa
There's always an expected "home field advantage" in the Olympics. Great Britain gave a good account of themselves.
kwatt
The total number of Japanese athletes is 305 and they got 38 medals. That is 12.5%. Not bad. The US got 104 medals out of 539 athletes. That is 19.3%. China is 22.6%. UK is 11.5%.
lucabrasi
@kwatt
Nice point, but bad stats. The reason the Japanese had 305 athletes is that only 305 people managed to qualify for the Olympics. You have to include all the people who might have been there to get a fair figure. So you're basically looking at the entire healthy population of each country aged between fifteen and thirty-five.
Julian Onyali
You know, the other reason 'per capita' arguments are stupid is because of the breakdown of medals/sports. I mean, in football for instance, a country needs a squad of 18 players to get a shot at the 1 gold that's available in the whole sport.
Contrast that with Judo, where 1 competitor means 1 potential gold medal or stuff like swimming, gymnastics, athletics, archery, tennis, shooting, etc. where 1 person can win multiple gold medals.
Unless you adjust for that, 'per capita' comparisons are meaningless.
Well baseball's not in the Olympics but the Japanese women got medals in both football and volleyball whilst the men came close to winning something in the football.
Consume my pain
@ Ktwatt
Also it is gold that is most important.
kwatt
I think the population of each country is nothing to do with Olympic games and ages don't matter. The most important thing is always how many good athletes (chosen) each country send to the Olympic games.
moomoochoo
I'm glad it's finally over.
bicultural
Yubaru, the "population" argument is really stupid. Look at India, Indonesia, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. They all have a larger population than Japan. Do you see them getting more medals? Why don't we just offer a big congrats and "otsukaresama" to the Japanese athletes.
Utrack
Congrats to all the athletes world wide who made it to the Olympics. You worked very hard to make it to the Olympics even if you did not receive a medal, you at least made it there. Really proud of the athletes from my country, you can tell they put their all into training for the Olympics 46 Gold, 29 Silver and 29 Bronze U.S.A.
kwatt
If you really think so, It seems that Gold medal only would have to be given on Olympic games and nothing else. The gold medal is the most valuable one but all medals are very important and valuable because silver is #2 and bronze is #3.
GW
Nice, once again the fools of the JOC stick their feet in their mouth.
JAPAN GOT THEIR BIGGEST MEDAL HAUL EVER! Surely you cant ask for more than that!
Congrats to Japan! Nice to see them getting medals in a VARIETY of sports unstead of all the unrelalistic dwelling on Judo! Also makes for much better tv viewing!
lucabrasi
Think what you're saying statistically. Country A sends a total of one athlete to the games and wins one gold medal. Country B sends twenty athletes and wins eighteen golds and a silver. According to you, Country A's record is better.
m6bob
In the aftermath of 3/11, this is a great achievement in my view. Considerable physical and mental efforts have gone into disaster recovery and I salute Japan for standing up again and may the country win the right to host the 2020 Olympics. The spread of the medals is more important for the future sportsmen & women of Japan.
Yubaru
You as well didnt read to the end of what I wrote, and level of sports participation, which is very important as well.
nath
Congrats to All of the teams at the Olympics and all the athletes.
With that it is a shame that the spirit of the games is disappearing. These governments are putting to much pressure on these athletes. Its sad. Most of the people here that i have talked to act like there is only one medal. The medals dont really even matter. Being able to go to the Olympics is the most difficult thing. Just going automatically makes you a champion.
So many are saying Kosuke Kitajima "should" have one. Like he was cheated or something. Like it was already decided. I had another Japanese person tell me that Japan "should" have won all of judo because it is a JP sport (and that is the only reason) and in the same breath said that Japan should win lady's soccer. I said "why?" and they said "because they worked hard." Like all the other athletes in the world dont work hard. Then Bolt wins and they are like "yappari Jamaica-jin"
People can be so...I dont even know what to say.
kwatt
It seems that Japanese judo coaches are very bad. They always teach that judo is an "ippon" game, do not much think points/scores by "waza" of game. Over international judo games points/scores seem to be more important than ippon game to win the game. Japanese coaches would have to teach more western/european style of judo, not original Japanese style.
smithinjapan
Congrats to Japan. All told, I'd say they did a very good job. The only problem is with the JOC, who seem to think the nation is entitled to a certain amount of medals for this and that reason. They didn't 'hope' for 15 or more golds, they flat out declared that is what they would get, putting pressure on the athletes at least in part to try and secure Tokyo get the games later.
Ayler
Congratulations are well deserved to all the Japanese athletes. The Japanese media and joe bloggs on the street beating themselves up over 'disappointing' results should just zip it.
ReformedBasher
Well done Japan!
kurisupisu
Japanese think that sport is something you have to learn or pay to do-all the major sports in Japan are corporate controlled (and have to generate money) but in the UK so many sports can be played outside for free. I love playing football but hate watching it-in Japan it is the other way round for most people and sports
Yubaru
Racist?
Lowly
smith,
"flat-out declared"
don't other country's put pressure on their athletes?
JDB829
Well done Japan!
Yubaru
People can be so...I dont even know what to say.
It's called being ethnocentric and racist to a degree. It comes from a sense of entitlement and not accomplishment. The belief of many Japanese that only Japanese can excel at what they created. It comes from being close minded and a lack of education.
w8aminute
Congratulations to all the fine athletes of the Olympics. I certainly had fun watching. I do seriously need some sleep after staying awake late all them nights.
The medal count for Japan was not at all bad. It is almost amazing that they medal at all when it comes to sports like fencing and wrestling. I say this because the majority of high schools in this country do not even have the aforementioned sports in their programs. Especially the public HSs. It is even hard to find HSs with good tennis or basketball programs. As a poster above says, the Jgov needs to put more effort into their sports programs. They are leaving so many kids out of the picture.
ojiiu812badboy
I believe that Japan did a wonderful job and extend same to all countries. I am so happy London pulled every trick in the book to ensure the athletes, their trainers, other guests were well fed, housed, and most of all protected. Most of the athletes that lost in this Olympics have "medaled" higher in other games. Kitajima and others gave valiant efforts, but it's time to pass the torch to the rightful heirs. Not everyone can go out like Phelps or Bolt. Anyway you look at the Olympics, they are kids (mostly) playing games. Yes, they want to be rewarded for the years of training and discipline and we want them to win in a show of patriotism or favoritism. There was an eyesore from Japan in Judo. It was not Yoshida's (female Judaka, I hope I got her name right) losing her last opportunity to medal in the Olympics. It was her father, who after her loss went into a rant of coaching suggestions, embarrassing the athlete, her mother, and in my opinion, Japan. She called him a "bakkaero" stepped back from is attempt to hug which started another rant. She gave in, as if she was joking and responded to his hug, somewhat. Finally, mom and dad began arguing about disagreements in support and encouragement for the young lady (she's 30+ y/o). This is all with cameras in their faces from start to end and the Olympian waiting to be interviewed. I hope she fires him as "coach", gets a nice sponsorship, and a very nice apartment, kilometers away from that man. However, he's dear ol' dad. I hope someone else saw this live. Other than that, congrats again and c u in Brazil, but before that the World Cup and a myriad of other opportunities.
BurakuminDes
India is the one anomaly here - but they are an up and coming nation in sports (and economically) so will begin to nab more medals soon. There is simply no infrastructure in these other 3rd world joints - and there is a no real sporting culture (especially for women) with the exception of cricket and maybe hockey and badminton.
I think rich nations with larger populations - and great facilities - are the ones that have more advantages to win medals. I'm thinking China, USA, Japan, UK, Germany and even Australia (despite our lack of people we always punch well above our weight, as do those Kiwis who shocked the world with 5 golds).
You have every right to be proud - the USA is consistently up there as a leader in world sport in so many respects - the Aussie s and Japanese should definitely look to them as an example - I certainly love those rare occasions when we can beat them though!
Thomas Anderson
Btw here's "medals per capita" ranking (all time):
1 Finland
2 Sweden
3 Hungary
4 Denmark
5 Bahamas
13 Australia
21 Great Britain
36 Canda
37 United States
44 South Korea
52 Japan
106 China
139 India
http://www.medalspercapita.com/#medals-per-capita:all-time
Moderator
Readers, the purpose of the discussion board is to post your opinion on the story.
Thomas Anderson
Medals per capita (2012):
http://www.medalspercapita.com/#medals-per-capita:2012
Serrano
Hooray! Hooray!
lucabrasi
@w8aminute
I went to school in the UK in the 80s. Our options were rugby in winter, and cricket in summer. Oh, and cross~country running for the utterly useless. Fencing, wrestling?? Hah!
Ali Khan
why the gold is only going towards the reach countries, do the Olympic committee have any idea to provide facilities and opportunity to all the nations and to the poor countries. The Olympic message is that all nations are equal, but if you look to the medals categories and games only certain nations have the advantage to receive these medals. Europeans and American sports and their categories are abundant, while games of certain regions are simply messing.
and last but not the least many of the controversial judges decisions go in the favour of Europe and America.
lucabrasi
@Burakumin
I'd have gladly traded the sight of Jonny's goalkick for a million Wednesday afternoons in the rain , the hail and the snow. In case that's not clear, I mean the world cup wasn't worth my misery over seven years. Cricket, however was/is wonderful.
久しぶりじゃないか?大丈夫?
Yubaru
It is the National Olympic Committee's (NOC's) responsibility to provide or fund such facilities if the country in question so decides to do so. Evidently there are something like 200 plus NOC's so it's their job.
I really would be interested to hear, specifically, what categories and games you are referring to here.
American sports? Besides basketball, what sports specifically are you classifying as American? Regional sports, like cricket for example, do not have world-wide appeal, but any country can make a request to have their sport entered into the Olympics. Sports frequently are added or dropped based upon appeal and popularity. Like this time there was no softball.
Examples please, just tossing this out here sounds like someone got hurt over a call in something and the benefactor was either European or American.
Yes judging sometimes seems out of wack, but I personally believe that they try their best as well.
MasterBape
The tally isn't at all bad for Japan, but rankings are done according to Gold medals.
I wish the media would stop dwelling on the judo golds; we shouldn't be hung up on what sport is of what origin, rather, I think it's a great honor to have a sport be played at the highest level worldwide.
Judo is at the Olympics and that's what Japan should be proud of.
I don't hear any stories of Korea wanting more medals in tea kwon do...anyone?
lucabrasi
Olympic cricket would be great. But I doubt England would ever win gold :(
Ali Khan
Yubaru I have to clear every thing here for you all the so called international bodies start from politics UNO and go to sports OLYMPICs all are means to promote the superiority, imperialism and agenda of the super powers. in some areas the hurdles are not visible but they do exist, and they always explain in the same manner like you did here.
ojiiu812badboy
While you are busy with IOC politics, medal distribution, and demographics. My last post on this subject is to say London, the naysayers will never doubt you again. From opening to closing YOU ROCK! Now, my favorite Japanese athlete was Gold medalist Kaori Matsumoto. She is a wiry judaka like Master Kano. Her tiger-like grimace before entering the mat and fighting style really impressed me. Off the mat she appeared timid and soft-spoken, but focused and very skillful on the mat. Once more, congrats Japan.
Yubaru
And you choose not to give specifics either and just talk in circles and evade the point. Any dummy would know that NOC's are political bodies, however your rant about "superpowers" leaves me wondering. South Korea, Japan, Great Britain, Jamaica, and a host of other countries that did very well in these Olympic games are not superpowers by any stretch of the imagination, and if you noticed three of the countries I mentioned are neither America or European either.
So give specifics and specifics on what sports too.
bajhista65
Yes.... there are some bad officiating and decisions by the Olympic officials I have noticed. Be it political or bias those incompetent referees and judges should not be allowed in the olympics.
Alex80
Yeah, UK got many medals, but don't forget they were hosting the event. I'm not sayng they didn't deserve all their medals, but in these cases there's always a bit of advantage. In the box, Cammarelle was the one who deserved the gold, not the English guy.
Elbuda Mexicano
Some sports, say BASKETBALL, geez, if you are not at least 2 meters tall, kiss that sport goodbye, is it fair to have countries with a majority SHORT people that are way too tall and end up hitting their necks while trying to enter the Yamanote train?? I do not think it is fair, maybe the olympics does NOT need basketball?? Or make one for regular folk, who are not 2 or 3 meters tall?? Anyway, Japan did a great job as for the per capita?? You have to be on drugs to believe that, hey look at INDIA, same population as CHINA but who got the medals?? Not India, right?? You can be filthy rich like Saudi Arabia, but do you see the Saudis getting any medals??
Yubaru
So you want to punish people because of their height? Come on now, basketball has more world-wide appeal than Judo, so by your argument maybe Judo should be cut out too for what ever reason I could think of...maybe because it's only for Japanese.
bruinfan
Congrats Japan! The athletes above all deserve praise!
PT24881
Japanese athletes at the Games did genuinely well -- demonstrated the unique spirit of sportsmanship as per Japanese value & characteristics ( reserved but mature with certain style ).. That perhaps are beyond & above the plain medal counts. No comment for pretexts presented by some J coaches / JOC officials -- after all, they ( are forced to ) play a different game -- political instead of sport.
Carolina García
omedetou gozaimashita ne ! :D
Congratulations to all the japanese athletes! :) they did so well !
Badge213
Summer is over, time to prepare for the Winter Olympics!
BurakuminDes
Huh? So only Japanese athletes display sportsmanship? Big call my friend - very big call...
lucabrasi
@Badge "Time to prepare for the winter Olympics." Not till 2014, my friend.
PT24881
@BurakuminDes
Please recheck the description : Japanese athletes' spirit of sportsmanship was "unique"-ly Japanese because it inspired "japanese" value & characteristics. Other athletes shared naturally the spirit of ( non-Japanese ) sportsmanship. Apologies if the sentence is interpreted as an offence that was not at all my intention