Medal count: what is more important?

[ILoveToRun]

For the medal count, is the # of gold medals more important or the # of medals overall?

I have talked about this with a few people now and everyone seems to have different opinions. To me, it should be the gold medals because that's where the country won the event but others seemed to have thought differently.

What do you think?

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Agree with you! Now to find out about the women's beach volleyball. I will admit to getting caught up in that team.

 

[sam_gordon]

I think a 'Medal Count' (ranking nations based solely on total medals) isn't a good ranking system. I think a point system should be instituted... 3 pts for a gold, 2 for a silver, 1 for a bronze.

Of course, the top 5 standings right now wouldn't change. However, the spread between #1 (China) and #2 (USA) would be greater. Right now, there's a 1 medal difference. However, according to my point system, the USA would need 8 points (at least three medals) to match China.

 

[abdmom]

I think a 'Medal Count' (ranking nations based solely on total medals) isn't a good ranking system. I think a point system should be instituted... 3 pts for a gold, 2 for a silver, 1 for a bronze.

Of course, the top 5 standings right now wouldn't change. However, the spread between #1 (China) and #2 (USA) would be greater. Right now, there's a 1 medal difference. However, according to my point system, the USA would need 8 points (at least three medals) to match China.

 

[Planogirl]

I guess overall count even though that's not the only thing of importance. I'm also quite impressed by tiny nations that quietly win several medals,

 

[kaytieeldr]

Current basic medal count. Otherwise, why bother awarding anything beyond gold?

 

[java]

After seeing McKayla M's face yesterday as she got the silver instead of the gold- I'm saying it's all about the gold medals. I was saddened to see the way she acted.

 

[Jennasis]

After seeing McKayla M's face yesterday as she got the silver instead of the gold- I'm saying it's all about the gold medals. I was saddened to see the way she acted.

Saddened to see the way she acted? You were saddened because she was upset at herself for blowing it? She was clearly disappointed in herself. Were you sad FOR her (sympathizing) or do you think she should have been all smiles and sunshine and she shouldn't have been upset??

 

[disney1990]

After seeing McKayla M's face yesterday as she got the silver instead of the gold- I'm saying it's all about the gold medals. I was saddened to see the way she acted.

I too was disappointed with the way that she acted. The gold medal winner came over and hugged her and she never congratulated her on her gold medal win. I read something that said that people appreciate a bronze medal more than a silver. A bronze medal winner is just happy that they won. A silver medal winner is always thinking that it could have been gold.

I always though just be able to go to the games was the most important thing. Thousands of people go to the Olympics and never win a medal, but they are there - and that is all they need.

I don't think that the number of "gold" medals or the "total" number of medals matters. After all, the Olympics are really about the people and not about the countries in the end.

 

[Hrhpd]

I too was disappointed with the way that she acted. The gold medal winner came over and hugged her and she never congratulated her on her gold medal win. I read something that said that people appreciate a bronze medal more than a silver. A bronze medal winner is just happy that they won. A silver medal winner is always thinking that it could have been gold.

I always though just be able to go to the games was the most important thing. Thousands of people go to the Olympics and never win a medal, but they are there - and that is all they need.

I don't think that the number of "gold" medals or the "total" number of medals matters. After all, the Olympics are really about the people and not about the countries in the end.

I loved Missy Franklins attitude when she got 4th in one of her races.

When asked how disappointed she was, she replied with "I don't think 4th at the Olympics is a bad swim."

If Maroney was petulant and failed to congratulate the winner, that is terrible. No matter how mad you are at yourself, bad sportsmanship is the worst!

As for the original question, I think it is the overall count. Although I think most countries go by gold. Countries give bonuses out for gold. Not so much 2nd or 3rd.

 

[Northstar]

I think the whole concept of the medal count is stupid. It's not part of the Olympics, it's just something the media dreamed up.

If we want to count medals by country to figure out which country "won," we should also factor in the percentage of the world's population each country has. It's easier to develop athletes if you have a large pool of talent to draw on.

 

[Acklander]

Saddened to see the way she acted? You were saddened because she was upset at herself for blowing it? She was clearly disappointed in herself. Were you sad FOR her (sympathizing) or do you think she should have been all smiles and sunshine and she shouldn't have been upset??

You can be disappointed AND be a good sport.

As far as the OP's question- I don't think it matters which way it's counted, it's still an unfair reflection. When you have large countries you have a much larger pool of athletes to pull from, so you're always going to have more medals. That's a given,so doesn't mean as much. Just like in high school sports you have different divisions so that schools play other schools of similar size. In the Olympics we're a division one school who has more wins against the tiny division 5 school. Not as impressive as when that tiny school beats the big one.

 

[Kitty 34]

I think the whole concept of the medal count is stupid. It's not part of the Olympics, it's just something the media dreamed up.

If we want to count medals by country to figure out which country "won," we should also factor in the percentage of the world's population each country has. It's easier to develop athletes if you have a large pool of talent to draw on.

I agree!!

 

[epcot.girl]

Well the Olympic medal table is currently based on how many golds, followed by overall medal count. I think it makes sense that way, because 'wins' is what most people are interested in, followed by how the team is doing overall.

But I wouldn't mind seeing a relative gold/overall table for countries too, given the massive discrepancy in the population sizes of the different countries that are competing.

 

[Hrhpd]

I think the whole concept of the medal count is stupid. It's not part of the Olympics, it's just something the media dreamed up.

If we want to count medals by country to figure out which country "won," we should also factor in the percentage of the world's population each country has. It's easier to develop athletes if you have a large pool of talent to draw on.

Not to mention training methods.

It would never fly in the western block countries to rip a child from their home at 5 and concentrate on one thing from then on; creating a gold medal Olympian.

I think it says wonders that other countries are close in medal counts without the government training camps.

 

[scrapquitler]

I think the whole concept of the medal count is stupid. It's not part of the Olympics, it's just something the media dreamed up.

If we want to count medals by country to figure out which country "won," we should also factor in the percentage of the world's population each country has. It's easier to develop athletes if you have a large pool of talent to draw on.

I agree. And we should also consider how many events a country is participating in. Some countries have athletes that compete in virtually every competition of every sport. Other countries only send a handful of athletes and compete in just a few different sports. I just looked up Ecuador for example, and a quick browse tells me (I may have counted wrong, but the example still is valid) they sent 39 athletes to the Olympics, and each athlete only participated in one event. I'm sure there are lots of countries who sent fewer athletes than that, and probably many who participated in fewer events as well.

 

[java]

Saddened to see the way she acted? You were saddened because she was upset at herself for blowing it? She was clearly disappointed in herself. Were you sad FOR her (sympathizing) or do you think she should have been all smiles and sunshine and she shouldn't have been upset??

When the bronze medal winner came up to hug her she shook her head no. I understand that she was upset with herself- but good sportsmanship is something that seems to be lost on several of the gymnasts. A simple hug back would have been nice.

 

[EMom]

When the bronze medal winner came up to hug her she shook her head no. I understand that she was upset with herself- but good sportsmanship is something that seems to be lost on several of the gymnasts. A simple hug back would have been nice.

She was the polar opposite of "gracious." I get being crushed that you failed to win gold. But she wasn't screwed out of the gold by fishy scoring or prejudiced judges. She blew it and the other girl won, fair and square. It's easy to be gracious and hug others and give congrats when you are the winner, as she has been so many times. But when you get 2nd place and are disappointed, it's then that your true colors may shine. And she was NOT a good sport. She was stone faced, stood rigid while the gold medal winner hugged her.....and the gold medal winner had to come over to HER......and never said congratulations.

In short, she looked like a bad sport who was petulant and about 15 seconds away from stomping her feet and throwing a fit. It was not pretty and she did not represent her country well in that respect. It was time to take a deep breath, walk over to the gold medal winner, and congratulate her even if it HURT to do it. It just was.

 

[FireDancer]

She was the polar opposite of "gracious." I get being crushed that you failed to win gold. But she wasn't screwed out of the gold by fishy scoring or prejudiced judges. She blew it and the other girl won, fair and square. It's easy to be gracious and hug others and give congrats when you are the winner, as she has been so many times. But when you get 2nd place and are disappointed, it's then that your true colors may shine. And she was NOT a good sport. She was stone faced, stood rigid while the gold medal winner hugged her.....and the gold medal winner had to come over to HER......and never said congratulations.

In short, she looked like a bad sport who was petulant and about 15 seconds away from stopmping her feet and throwing a fit. It was not pretty and she did not represent her country well in that respect. It was time to take a deep breath, walk over to the gold medal winner, and congratulate her even if it HURT to do it. It just was.

For the exact opposite reaction to winning the silver/losing the gold see Yohan Blake or Galen Rupp. That is how you lose and show some class.

 

[Bob NC]

The medal 'count' makes absolutely no difference to me.

Every night NBC says to look away if you don't want to see the medal count so they don't spoil it for anyone. I'm always scratching my head wondering just who is watching the medal count scoreboard.