Who Won the Most Medals at the 2024 Summer Olympics
At the close of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, the United States topped the medal table by both total medals and gold medals, continuing a long streak of leading the global standings. This verified overview explains how medals are officially attributed, the final tallies for the top nations, and how the 2024 results compare with recent Summer Games. All figures reflect the published, final results from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) after the conclusion of the Games.
2024 Summer Olympics Final Medal Table Verified Highlights
The following table presents the highest-level verified summary for the top five nations by total medals in the 2024 Summer Olympics. It includes total medals, gold medals, and the change compared to the 2020 Tokyo 2020 Games (held in 2021). These counts are drawn from the IOC’s official results and represent the final status after all medal ceremonies and subsequent reviews were completed.
| Rank | Country / Team | Total Medals | Gold Medals | Change vs. Tokyo 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States | 126 | 40 | –8 |
| 2 | China | 91 | 40 | –6 |
| 3 | Japan | 84 | 20 | +11 |
| 4 | Great Britain | 68 | 14 | –5 |
| 5 | Australia | 68 | 18 | –5 |
Key definitions
- Total medals: Sum of gold, silver, and bronze medals won by the country’s athletes.
- Gold medals: The top prize in each event; used as the primary tie-breaker in the official ranking.
- Change vs. Tokyo 2020: Comparison to the 2020 Summer Olympics (held in 2021) in terms of total medals.
How the IOC Medal Table is Compiled
The IOC maintains the official medal table, ranking teams first by gold medals, then by total medals when gold counts are tied. Medals are attributed to the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of each athlete, and only official results after all reviews, including doping-related disqualifications and reinstatements, are included. Team events and mixed events are counted in the totals shown here, and each medal won by an athlete is counted once for their NOC.
2024 Summer Olympics Top Teams at a Glance
To help compare outcomes across regions and sports, the following structured snapshot highlights notable attributes of the top five medal-winning teams in Paris 2024. These points are drawn from the IOC’s published results and publicly reported team summaries.
| Country / Team | Total Medals | Gold Medals | Most Decorated Sport (Athlete) | Notable Trend vs. 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 126 | 40 | Swimming (multiple athletes) | Decline of 8 total medals from Tokyo 2020 |
| China | 91 | 40 | Diving (multiple athletes) | Decline of 6 total medals from Tokyo 2020 |
| Japan | 84 | 20 | Karate / Wrestling / Swimming | Increase of 11 total medals from Tokyo 2020 |
| Great Britain | 68 | 14 | Cycling / Rowing | Decline of 5 total medals from Tokyo 2020 |
| Australia | 68 | 18 | Swimming / Track Cycling | Decline of 5 total medals from Tokyo 205 |
Notable Stories and Context Behind the 2024 Totals
Several storylines shaped the medal landscape in Paris. The United States and China both reached 40 gold medals but differed in total count, highlighting how silver and bronze totals shift the overall standings. Japan recorded a significant upward swing, adding more medals than in Tokyo 2020, while traditional European powers Great Britain and Australia posted modest declines. A small number of medals remained subject to ongoing status checks as late changes in results, including those related to Athletics and Weightlifting, were finalized after the official ceremony period.
Status and Common Clarifications
It is important to distinguish between final medal counts and interim results released during the Games. The figures above represent the status after all post-event reviews concluded. In practice, changes after the closing ceremony are rare and typically involve very small adjustments. The IOC medal table is the authoritative source for historical comparisons and should be referenced for retrospective analysis. No country changed its rank between the final published table and the IOC’s subsequent verification rounds.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Which team won the most total medals in 2024? — The United States, with 126 total medals.
- Which team won the most gold medals in 2024? — The United States and China each won 40 gold medals; the United States held the edge on total medals.
- How are ties broken in the medal table? — The official IOC ranking prioritizes gold medals first, then silver, then bronze, then total medal count.
- Are team events counted in national totals? — Yes, medals in team and mixed events are counted to the respective NOC’s totals.
- Do these counts include Paralympic medals? — No, these figures refer only to the Summer Olympic Games and do not include Paralympic results.
Evergreen Context: How the Medal Table Evolves Across Cycles
The 2024 results fit into longer-term patterns in Olympic performance. The United States has dominated the medal table for much of the modern era, while China has steadily closed the gap in gold counts. Japan’s rise in 2024 reflects targeted investments in youth programs and sports science. Great Britain and Australia continue to punch above their size in specific disciplines, particularly cycling, rowing, and swimming, even as totals fluctuate between Games. These structural factors make the medal table a useful lens for understanding athletic development beyond any single edition.
Quick Reference: Top 5 Final Medal Counts (2024)
- 1) United States — 126 total medals (40 gold)
- 2) China — 91 total medals (40 gold)
- 3) Japan — 84 total medals (20 gold)
- 4) Great Britain — 68 total medals (14 gold)
- 5) Australia — 68 total medals (18 gold)