Analysing 30 years of Olympic Video games medals distribution and nationwide wealth indicators
23 hours in the past
A lifetime in the past, I used to be one thing of an athlete myself — after I was a bit of lady I did a bit of little bit of rhythmic gymnastics. In the course of the Athens 2004 Olympics, I keep in mind sitting in entrance of the TV in awe for infinite hours to observe each efficiency of rhythmic gymnastics, with Russia’s two athletes profitable each gold and silver medals.
To at the present time, I nonetheless get pleasure from very a lot watching all types of gymnastics — I did get pleasure from each second of Simone Biles’s performances, profitable a bunch of medals in Paris 2024 Olympics. Nonetheless, what didn’t ring a bell then, however does now, is how frequent it’s to see wealthy and highly effective nations profitable a ton of medals in such sports activities occasions. It’s actually stunning when an athlete from a not-so-well-off nation makes it to the medal podium. Suppose for example of Algeria’s Imane Khelif in boxing, or Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem in javelin throwing, each profitable gold medals of their sports activities in a moderately surprising flip of occasions.
Is that this all it takes to win an Olympic medal — being born in a rich and highly effective nation? Most undoubtedly not — it actually takes a variety of effort, dedication, ache, sacrificing, and…
