Medal count: Prediction has U.S. heading a wide open Olympics

Netherlands 6th overall would be insane for such a small country.

But don’t forget, Japan arrogantly shot called 30 Gold medals!!!!

Remember it.

Japan backed down on its 30 gold target a few weeks ago, revised it to around 16.

But don’t forget, Japan arrogantly shot called 30 Gold medals!!!!

Considering how foreign athletes are at a big disadvantage with all these restrictions, I wouldn't be surprised if Japan did reach that goal. Having the Olympics now is the perfect opportunity to wear down foreign opponents even before the games have started.

Go USA!

Check out Sandi Morris here. Looking forward to seeing her dominate.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aj_OccIbmhk

seriously though, who cares?

"India (19)"

LOL India won a grand total of 2 medals the last time and not much has changed in the intervening years as far as India's sports setup is concerned. The most India has ever won at a single Olympics is 6 in London. Would want to have a word with whoever is coming up with these predictions.

China is picked to win 33 gold medals

China will probably win almost all the individual diving medals and all the table-tennis, right?

The US does well in those events where 1-trick gets a medal, which really isn't fair. Can someone explain how running 400m for a medal is the same effort as the decathlon? Hardly seems fair. And don't get me started about swimming 1-trick races. Just doesn't seem fair compared to willing at soccer for a single medal.

I never understood this obsession with national medal counts. Fundamentally, it just reflects the size of countries. Do we need a reminder that the US is bigger than Luxembourg?

I never understood this obsession with national medal counts.

I agree. It would be better to base medal counts on zodiac signs or year of birth.

Come on the sheep!

I never understood this obsession with national medal counts. Fundamentally, it just reflects the size of countries. Do we need a reminder that the US is bigger than Luxembourg?

Then the medal counts should be

China

India

USA

Indonesia

Pakistan

Brazil

Nigeria

....

11 - Japan.

UK is 21st by population.

I think it comes back to the availability of free time in the society to train and concentrate on a single purpose, outside the need to work to live.

Of course, countries who pay their athletes full-time to be expert have a leg up ... China, Russia, NK.

and for sports that can be funded by professional competitions - baseball, basketball, tennis, soccer.

It should be noted that the USgovt doesn't pay for training, flights, anything related to Olympics. I think only 3 countries do not pay. Last time I looked, $50K was paid by the US-IOC for each Gold Olympic medal and that is funded by sponsors.

Communist countries pay their athletes like full-time workers.

Distance running is not very popular in the US, so anyone training for that will need outside funding - a job, parents, or a large group of donors so they can train and compete. There are accountants, firemen, landscapers, janitors, trash collectors, restaurant workers, university counselors, DJs, teachers, farmers, actors, writers, sports coaches, plumbers, travel agents, lawyers, nurses, construction workers ... chef, police. Basically, they have normal jobs and might live with family to reduce their cost of living expenses.

I say just give every athlete a medal. They all trained hard. They should be commended for participating. Everyone would be happy.