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Olympic Middle & Long- Distance In the Modern Era

Posted March 26, 2008 at 07:18 PM by Jimmie R. Markham

Section: Beijing 2008, Culture/History, Olympic History, Events, Track & Field, Columns/Blogs, Jimmie Markham

The Modern Olympic Era

Of the 336 medals that have been awarded thus far in the men’s middle and long-distance track events during the Modern Olympic Era (1896-2004) here are some interesting statistics:

· A total of 42 Countries have won medals in these events.*
· Kenya (no surprise) has won the most medals, having won 43.
· USA is a close 2nd with 42.
· Finland (yes, Finland) is 3rd with 41.
· Great Britain is 4th, having won 35.
· Ethiopia rounds out the top 5 with 15 medals.**
Olympic Medalists: 800m-10000m: Top 5 Countries
· Finland can claim the most gold medals with 21. Kenya is 2nd with 15, followed closely by the USA and Great Britain with 13 each.
· In the silver-medal count, it’s Kenya (17), then United States (13), then Great Britain (12), then Finland (11). France rounds out the top 5 with a total of 9 medals.
· The top 5 in the bronze-medal count are: United States (16), Kenya (11), Great Britain (10), Finland (9) and Sweden (7).

* A total of 38 countries have won medals in these events if you combine all of the various geo-political permutations that Germany and Russia have chosen to adopt.

** If we combine all of the flags under which Germany has competed (East Germany, West Germany, Unified German Team) then Germany jumps to 5th in the standings with 20 medals.

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