No, as I said before, the rank is based on gold medals won. Period.

This metric was created in the past and was always used to determine who the winner was. This metric was accepted by all countries that take part on the olympics. You guys have always been considered the winners because you had more gold medals.

Your reply was probably the dumbest reply in this thread.

"America refuses to accept defeat in Olympic medal count."

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/spo...cle4599875.ece

No, I don't want to compare them. You got hosed this time, obviously.

And many of Canada's athletes have to go it alone too with little to no funding. They are no less heroes here as yours are there. I was just pointing out that Canada took some pretty harsh mocking criticism here last week and yet a country with 6 times the population as us won less medals, that's all. No need to get your postbot's feathers ruffled. :D

At the end of the day, to answer your original question, I'm sure there are those in the USA's athletics commissions who are looking at the medal count closely and seriously considering what to do about it in future, but I would hazard a pretty good guess that most average americans don't give a rat's ass about it as long as their country did well, which they did. Like others have said it isn't about what country wins the most medals, gold or otherwise, it's about the spirit of competition involving athletes coming together from every country in the world.

I'm pretty sure they've always kept track of both.

Correct. The IOC uses the gold medal standard, but they admit there is no official set standard.

Most countries seem to use whatever method makes them look better. On total medals Canada finished 15th, but on gold medals we finished 19th, for example.

Correction: "The IOC issues its league table based on the number of golds won".

From their own site.

i've never viewed the olympic medal count as a *my country is better than you country* deal.

nevertheless, congrats to china, they put on a terrific event and it could be one of the most amazing olympic games i've seen.

that's a ridiculous article and slanted. EVERY medal count matrix i have seen online or on the tele or in the papers always has the total medals and gold medals.

also, who's speaking for *america* when you say america refuses to accept defeat?

certainly no americans i know.

it's never even come up in the dozens of convos i've had with americans re: this olympics.

Correction: The IOC issues its league table based on the number of golds won, which gives China the honours, but then admits that there is no official system in place to decide who is top dog.

It's well documented.

i've always understood that to be by design.

the olympics are not about the countries, they are about the athletes.

it appears most americans and canadians understand that as well.

I'm more upset by Tranza bot 2.0 :(

YOu got to hear about that on CNN??? Man the CNN I get all they can talk about is that missing kid and her mom being released from jail.

Well you always do better when you have it in your country..All cool. no drama

Would be nice if that were that way

Funny that people that are not Americans think we are so invincible.

FACT: Americans lose sometimes and we all put our pants on one leg at time like everyone else.