Analyzing 20 years of Olympic Video games medals distribution and nationwide wealth indicators
A lifetime in the past, I used to be one thing of an athlete myself — once 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 bear in mind sitting in entrance of the TV in awe for infinite hours to look at each efficiency of rhythmic gymnastics, with Russia’s two athletes successful each gold and silver medals.
To this present day, I nonetheless take pleasure in very a lot watching every kind of gymnastics — I did take pleasure in each second of Simone Biles’s performances, successful a bunch of medals in Paris 2024 Olympics. However, what didn’t ring a bell then, however does now, is how widespread it’s to see wealthy and highly effective international locations successful 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. Assume as an illustration of Algeria’s Imane Khelif in boxing, or Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem in javelin throwing, each successful gold medals of their sports activities in a relatively sudden 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 lots of effort, dedication, ache, sacrificing, and…