Medals per capita
August 17th, 2008 at 3:09 pm by David FarrarThe LA Times reports on how it is a trans-Tasman battle for medals per capita with Australia 2nd and NZ 3rd. I suspect we will slip back by the end of the Olympics though.
If Michael Phelps was a nation, he’d definitely win the medals per capita count 
Later today Phelps competes for his 8th gold medal. It is the 4 x 100 m medley relay. It was very close in the heats.
Tags: Australia, Michael Phelps, New Zealand, Olympics, Sport
August 17th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
Congratulations to Michael Phelps, 8 gold medals!!!
Interestingly, most American websites rank counties by the total number of medals, not the usual by the number of gold first, then silver, and so on… so USA is leading with the most medals… hmmm…
Vote:August 17th, 2008 at 4:42 pm
I would like to see the NZ media stay right away from any discussion of this silly little issue (unless of course we end up miles ahead of the Aussies, in which case, stick it to ‘em!) Olympic medals are about awesome individual achievements that deserve to be admired and celebrated as such, not watered down through earnest but nit-picking discussions a la “well we ONLY won two gold medals..” or any of that rubbish!
Vote:August 17th, 2008 at 4:44 pm
Good for Armenia, even if they are all bronzes.
NZ is well ahead now in Gold Medals Per Capita.
Amusing that the LA Times numbers are actually Capita Per Medal.
Vote:August 17th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
Medals per Capita – oh dear, what ever makes you feel better.
Vote:August 17th, 2008 at 4:59 pm
I think it should be rated by medals per capita of the offical Olympic team including coffee makers and haka parties.
Vote:August 17th, 2008 at 5:30 pm
Congrats to the NZers. Villi and the twins are amazing.
I can’t understand why the Govt doesn’t support these athletes more. They make the country happier and are great role models, especially Villi.
The thing that pisses me off about NZ and that I envy Australia is the pride in the country to succeed.
My cousin in Australia is competing in Beijing and was spotted at 11 and has been trained ever since. This has been with big assistance from the Australian Institute of Sport.
Vote:August 17th, 2008 at 6:24 pm
At the rate kiwis are escaping Clark and Cullen by moving to Aust we could be ahead on medals per capita any time soon
Vote:August 17th, 2008 at 6:29 pm
Hey, look!
Vote:only 7 degrees of separation from Olympic gold medals to “Helen Clark & Michael Cullen are ruining the country”…
August 17th, 2008 at 6:45 pm
“I can’t understand why the Govt doesn’t support these athletes more. They make the country happier and are great role models, especially Villi.”
They make impressionable people like you happier Southern Raider, because you soak in all the hype. Personally I’d prefer the Govt supported the unsung heroes of our society more, not what TVNZ thinks is important. If we consider sport, I am referring to the volunteers such as coaches, managers, fundraisers and administrators of non-profit sports clubs for instance. It’s the people in these community groups that become effective role models, as they are more real to the people they coach/teach/help/care for.
Vote:August 17th, 2008 at 7:11 pm
Sean don’t be a cock without people like Vili there is no need for coaches and admin staff.
Vote:August 17th, 2008 at 7:56 pm
Looks like I hit a bit of a raw nerve SRdr. And I don’t really get your point in the last comment. Sure, high achievers will boost the profile of a sport, though it may be arguable what sort of sustainable impact that will have on new participants. Anyway new participants or not, coaches and admin staff are still needed, even moreso than the stars I’d say as without them there is nowhere to begin.
Vote:August 17th, 2008 at 8:13 pm
brucehoult/sean – China are still way ahead in the: (de)capita(tions) per medal.
Vote:August 17th, 2008 at 8:21 pm
Sean I’m not disputing your point about the value of volunteers. I also think it is complete bullshit that because of trade union contracts teachers that help out school sports teams aren’t recognised over the ones that only do the bare minimum 9 -3 hours.
But with the All Blacks what would junior and senior club rugby be like in NZ, or without the Warriors what would league be like. You need people like Vili to prove that you can come from a small country and diverse background and beat the best in the world.
Vote:August 17th, 2008 at 8:25 pm
Dare I say it, the ALL BLACKS probably need people like Vili to prove that you can come from a small country and diverse background and beat the best in the world!!!
Vote:August 17th, 2008 at 8:31 pm
check out the background of Lomu before you need that line
Vote:August 17th, 2008 at 8:34 pm
Fair enough. I forgot that Lomu was instrumental in the ABs winning the world cup in 19…, 19.., – when was that again?
Oh, that’s right…
Vote:August 17th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
what a dick, how could you attempt to use the results of a 4 yearly comp to downplay the worlds most recognised and regarded rugby player for over a decade.
Vote:on the basis of your comparison the AB’s haven’t had any world class players for the last 20 years? get real
August 17th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
I am saying that since Vili managed to win HER 4-yearly comp, she should be a source of inspiration for the ABs!
And don’t call me a dick.
Vote:Dick!
August 17th, 2008 at 8:45 pm
you qualified it by saying “beat the best in the world”. The AB’s do that year in year out.
(or did you miss them thrashing the ‘best in the world’ this morning?)
Vote:August 17th, 2008 at 8:48 pm
Yes I missed that. I had a choice of watching ***interesting sport***, or more Ugh-by, so Ugh-by was the loser on the day in my house! I’m a bit over Ugh-by for the moment…
Vote:August 17th, 2008 at 8:55 pm
Patrick, RRM’s just a complete cock and a waste of space.
He has no time for sport as he spends 24/7 working on his Helen Clark scrapbook.
Vote:August 17th, 2008 at 8:57 pm
pffft! agree with you on that one SR. Obviously a Clark supporter but is it a male or female?
Vote:August 17th, 2008 at 9:00 pm
I pass the ball in your general direction.
Vote:August 17th, 2008 at 9:03 pm
SthrnRdr – Yes but I wouldn’t want the govt to spend more on the AB’s and Warriors either – unless there is a direct and clear economic benefit (eg RWC2011, maybe even America’s Cup?). Spending more on Villi and the twins? Not in the same ballpark.
On the school teachers, I guess that’s trade unions for you. Always lowest common denominator just to protect their influence. The union leaders say they work for their members, but what they’re really working for is themselves.
Vote:August 17th, 2008 at 9:06 pm
The problem is RRM, its a long pass from the left wing to the right wing
Vote:August 17th, 2008 at 9:10 pm
I do think sport does have a positive economic impact on the country. If a lot of the kids in South Auckland where actively participating in sports clubs then there would be less trouble, less vandalism, less imprisonment.
Vote:August 17th, 2008 at 10:00 pm
Yes, so lets get the Govt spending more on resources to help them, not on the prima donnas!
Vote:August 17th, 2008 at 11:33 pm
Patrick Starr (597) +3 Says:
August 17th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
what a dick, how could you attempt to use the results of a 4 yearly comp to downplay the worlds most recognised and regarded rugby player for over a decade.
I don’t regard Lomu as a top rugby player at all. He was just big, dumb poly (and yes fast). Thats all. Not a neurone to rub together. Now, Bryan Williams (another poly), on the other hand, was all that Lomu was but more, much more. He had far greater sleight of mind, hand and foot, and was one of the finest players of our time. Lomu..?? pfff!!
Vote:August 18th, 2008 at 1:00 am
“If Michael Phelps was a nation, he’d definitely win the medals per capita count.”
And if Val Vili was a nation, it would be bigger than Michael Phelps.
And Paul Marsden: surely Jonah Lomu was more of a gamebreaker than Bryan Williams. Williams was sensational aged 19 in South Africa in 1970, but his best moves came mainly against the provinces rather than the Springboks. After that tour, other teams cottoned on to his sidestep and could shut him down.
Batty, Kirwan, Stu and Jeff Wilson and others also had their moments. But seriously, if you were choosing a best All Blacks team of all time to beat the Rest of the World, you’d have to include Lomu for his ability to run over, round or through oppositions and tie up so many defenders.
Vote:August 18th, 2008 at 5:28 am
Is there a sports festival on?
Wake me up when the hypocrisy is over.
Vote:August 18th, 2008 at 6:55 am
Sure as clockwork every four years the per capita medal count argument is broken out to explain New Zealand’s otherwise modest medal count and to chase the other favourite Kiwi pass time, seeking approval from the rest of the world.
It’s the equivalent of the Sally Field quote:
Vote:“You like me, you really like me!”
August 18th, 2008 at 7:05 am
4 years, hmmm, no, still can’t place it.
Is it something to do with coke?
Vote:August 18th, 2008 at 8:46 am
Paul, A little context here – It’s probably not whether you regard Lomu as a top rugby player. What I said was Lomu was the “worlds most recognised and regarded rugby player for over a decade”. in response to RRMs inference
Vote:August 18th, 2008 at 12:56 pm
Southern Raider (458) Add karma Subtract karma +5 Says:
August 17th, 2008 at 5:30 pm
“Congrats to the NZers. Villi and the twins are amazing.
I can’t understand why the Govt doesn’t support these athletes more. They make the country happier and are great role models, especially Villi.”
# Seán (123) Add karma Subtract karma –6 Says:
August 17th, 2008 at 6:45 pm
“They make impressionable people like you happier Southern Raider, because you soak in all the hype. Personally I’d prefer the Govt supported the unsung heroes of our society more, not what TVNZ thinks is important. If we consider sport, I am referring to the volunteers such as coaches, managers, fundraisers and administrators of non-profit sports clubs for instance. It’s the people in these community groups that become effective role models, as they are more real to the people they coach/teach/help/care for.”
All I’d add to this, is given our current government’s track record, would their involvement with our country’s athletics sphere likely prove a blessing or a curse?
Vote:August 19th, 2008 at 6:28 am
Good to see the Great Britain team ahead of Australia in the medals table with more gold medals. Currently Great Britain is third in the Medals table.
It was nothing but a GOLD RUSH this weekend for the Great Britain team. What a haul!
One of the best images so far was in the Cycling, Men’s individual pursuit. The medal ceremony where they lifted the flags into the air and it was wall to wall Union Jacks. Beautiful, just beautiful.
The two GB flags and an NZ flag with the Union Jack prominently on it.
Vote:August 19th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
It is a hard to say there is a clear cut answer on the government support or not of atheletes in this country. All political affliliations aside without the support of government in sports funding in the future, we might find ourselves in a situation where we cannot be competitive on the world stage any longer.
We already struggle as it is and do the best with what we have but soon that will not be enough.
Vote:This could possibly lead to a decrease in Sporting role models in New Zealand, and without these role models what inspiration would there be for younger generations to seek out training in there respective chosen sport.
Therefore negating the need to have these unsung heroes, which yes i do agree they need support as well for the effort and work that they put in.
But it is a 2 way street you need to support the top level in order for there to be a need for the lower tier unsung heroes, and vice versa.
August 20th, 2008 at 3:42 am
The GOLD RUSH continues for the Great Britain team. Gold Medal after gold metal keeps coming the way of Great Britain. What a nice appetiser for the 2012 London Olympics. Bring it on!
Vote:August 20th, 2008 at 6:47 am
Team GB have done remarkably well, and it will be interesting to see where it ends up.
China dominate, and guess no real surprises there.
USA does as well as ever.
Australia are amazing for the population level.
The interesting point to me is the average results of Russia (USSR), and what was E. Germany.
Now that there are dope tests, and gender tests.
Don’t think that they played with a straight bat!
Vote:August 21st, 2008 at 2:46 pm
New Zealand is officially at the top of the medal table (medals per capita that is). Last night Tom Ashley’s Gold in the Board Sailing edged New Zealand past Slovenia to claim the top of the table. New Zealand now has a medal per 251,058 citizens. Compare that with Slovenia at 404,671; Australia coming a close third at 593,611. China must be pretty close to the bottom at 16,523,148. Wahoo. Almost starting to feel some sporting pride in this country. Go govt sports funding!!
Vote: