User:Lukens/List of nations finishing at the top of the medals tables at the Summer Olympic Games

This list shows the nations finishing in the top four places of the medals tables at each Summer Olympic games. The nations are ranked based on the number of gold medals won. Where two or more teams are tied on gold medals they are then ordered based on the number of silver medals won and then on bronze medals. Medals awarded in team events count as one medal.

For early games, up until 1920, it is difficult to give exact numbers of medals for some countries, as teams were composed of athletes from different countries.

It should be noted that medal rankings by nation are not officially recognized by the IOC ; however, they are widely used in the media, to set targets for national teams, and are published on the IOC website for information purposes.

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