Why do larger countries get more medals in the olympics? is it simply because of a bigger talent pool?

Question

oooooh 8 medals wow, the us has 43 so austrailia is irrevelivant

Answer 1

There are more people in the country to choose from but that isn't the only reason. There is opportunity for the talent to grow with the best trainers and facilities. If a country supports and allows a person to train the best they can (i.e. Michael Phleps trains so many hours a week), they are going to produce many great medalist.  

Answer 2

They have more people to choose from and more money to spend on training

Answer 3

More people to choose from, more money to invest in a team but their talent is real. There are a number of factors but I do not believe that the size of a country and the resources they can provide can overshadow true talent in anyway.

Answer 4

all depends on given opatunuty and recorces in my opinion talent is nouthing its just a love for what u do that makes u do well

Answer 5

More people, more facilities.

Answer 6

Look at China.  They took a bunch of kids and trained them day after day after day after day to get to the Olympics.  Just like the former Communist Bloc.  

Answer 7

Not exactly. Look at Indian and Great Britain  

Answer 8

more people...more sports....more chances of winning....better training and equipment from home

Answer 9

Australia is only a small country with a population of 21million.  There isn't that big a talent pool.  We have achieved at least 8 medals in the pool so far of every colour.  You don't have to be a large country.  Good coaches and hungry competitors!

Answer 10

Aside from more people, as others have stated, it also depends on the sports they are competing in.  For example, in this year's Beijing Games, China trained its athletes heavily for sports like swimming (which offers over 35 different medals) rather than basketball (which offers only one).

Answer 11

India is an exception.

Answer 12

No, I'd say it's more better training facilities. I've noticed that occasionally when they talk about some of the athletes from some of the smaller nations, especially those most likely to medal, they often talk about them training in larger countries because their home country doesn't have the proper facilities.

Answer 13

Scratch Canada off that list 6th biggest team and 0 medals