With the Paris Olympics just 100 days away, the United States and China are projected to dominate the medal counts once again. According to Nielsen’s Gracenote Sports, the United States is expected to win 123 medals overall, including 39 golds, while China is projected to win 35 gold and 89 medals overall.
This forecast would mark the eighth consecutive time the United States has topped the overall medal count in the Summer Games. The last time the U.S. did not lead in gold medals was in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, where China’s heavy investment in sports paid off.
Following the U.S. and China in the medal projections are Britain, France, Australia, Japan, Italy, Netherlands, Germany, and South Korea. Host nation France is expected to see a significant increase in its medal count, nearly tripling its gold-medal output from the Tokyo Olympics.
One factor that could impact the medal predictions is the presence of Russian and Belarusian athletes, who have been largely absent from international competitions due to the war in Ukraine. Gracenote acknowledges the difficulty in factoring their influence into the forecast.
Despite the uncertainties, the anticipation for the Paris Olympics is high, with France competing in a wide range of sports and expected to benefit from the support of home crowds. As the countdown to the Games continues, all eyes will be on the fierce competition expected between the world’s top athletes.