23 countries for 65 sports
In 2022, in the quest to find the world’s best sporting nation, GSN tracked the results of the major international tournaments for 65 sports
(out of the 80-plus sports GSN will track over any four-year period), awarding 59,839 points to the athletes/nations that finished in each tournament’s (and each event’s within multi-event tournaments) top eight places.
In total, 133 countries scored points in the 2022 Global Cup, from San Marino in last place to the USA in first, and 23 different nations won at least one sport - please see below for the full list of all the sports’ top three ranked nations.
The following countries won at least three sports each: the USA (11 wins), China and the Netherlands (six wins each), Germany and Great Britain (5 wins each), Italy (four wins), Norway and Sweden (three wins each).
2022 GLOBAL CUP - sport winners and podium places
SPORT
|
1ST
|
2ND
|
3RD
|
Alpine Skiing
|
Switzerland
|
Austria
|
Norway
|
Archery
|
South Korea
|
Mexico
|
Colombia
|
Artistic Gym
|
USA
|
Japan
|
China
|
Athletics (Track + Field)
|
USA
|
Jamaica
|
Kenya
|
Badminton
|
China
|
Japan
|
South Korea
|
Basketball
|
USA
|
China
|
Canada
|
Beach Volleyball
|
Brazil
|
Canada
|
Norway
|
Biathlon
|
Norway
|
France
|
Sweden
|
BMX
|
USA
|
Switzerland
|
France
|
Bobsleigh
|
Germany
|
USA
|
Canada
|
Body Boarding
|
Brazil
|
USA
|
Africa
|
Canoe/Kayak Slalom
|
Germany
|
Great Britain
|
Czech Republic
|
Canoe/Kayak Sprint
|
Germany
|
Hungary
|
Poland
|
Cricket
|
Great Britain
|
Australia
|
India
|
Cross Country Skiing
|
Norway
|
Sweden
|
Finland
|
Curling
|
Sweden
|
Great Britain
|
Canada
|
Cyclocross
|
Netherlands
|
Belgium
|
Great Britain
|
Diving
|
China
|
Great Britain
|
Germany
|
Equestrian
|
Great Britain
|
Germany
|
Netherlands
|
Fencing
|
France
|
Italy
|
Japan
|
Figure Skating
|
USA
|
Japan
|
France
|
Floorball
|
Sweden
|
Czech Republic
|
Finland
|
Football
|
Argentina
|
France
|
Morocco
|
Freestyle Skiing
|
USA
|
China
|
Canada
|
Golf
|
USA
|
Great Britain
|
Australia
|
Hockey
|
Netherlands
|
Argentina
|
Australia
|
Ice Hockey
|
Canada
|
Finland
|
USA
|
Judo
|
Japan
|
Brazil
|
Georgia
|
Lacrosse
|
USA
|
Canada
|
Great Britain
|
Luge
|
Germany
|
Austria
|
Latvia
|
Marathon
|
Kenya
|
Ethiopia
|
USA
|
Modern Pentathlon
|
Egypt
|
South Korea
|
France
|
MTB
|
Switzerland
|
France
|
Italy
|
Nordic Combined
|
Norway
|
Germany
|
Austria
|
Open Water Swimming
|
Italy
|
Germany
|
France
|
Orienteering
|
Sweden
|
Great Britain
|
Switzerland
|
Rhythmic Gymnastics
|
Italy
|
Bulgaria
|
Germany
|
Road Cycling
|
Netherlands
|
Belgium
|
Italy
|
Rowing
|
Netherlands
|
Great Britain
|
Italy
|
Rugby League
|
Australia
|
Samoa
|
New Zealand
|
Rugby Union
|
New Zealand
|
Australia
|
France
|
Shooting
|
China
|
USA
|
South Korea
|
Short Track
|
South Korea
|
Canada
|
Netherlands
|
Skateboarding
|
Japan
|
France
|
USA
|
Skeleton
|
Germany
|
China
|
Australia
|
Ski Jumping
|
Slovenia
|
Japan
|
Germany
|
Snooker
|
Great Britain
|
China
|
|
Snowboarding
|
Austria
|
Canada
|
USA
|
Softball
|
Australia
|
Canada
|
USA
|
Speedskating
|
Netherlands
|
Japan
|
Norway
|
Squash
|
Egypt
|
USA
|
New Zealand
|
Surfing
|
Brazil
|
Australia
|
USA
|
Swimming
|
USA
|
Australia
|
Italy
|
Synchronised Swimming
|
Italy
|
Japan
|
Ukraine
|
Table Tennis
|
China
|
Japan
|
Germany
|
Taekwondo
|
China
|
Mexico
|
South Korea
|
Tennis
|
USA
|
Spain
|
Australia
|
Track Cycling
|
Netherlands
|
Great Britain
|
Germany
|
Trampoline
|
Great Britain
|
USA
|
Australia
|
Triathlon
|
Great Britain
|
Belgium
|
USA
|
Volleyball
|
Italy
|
Brazil
|
Poland
|
Water Polo
|
Spain
|
USA
|
Italy
|
Weightlifting
|
China
|
Colombia
|
Thailand
|
Wrestling Free
|
USA
|
Japan
|
Iran
|
Wrestling Greco-Roman
|
Turkey
|
Azerbaijan
|
Serbia
|
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Greatest Sporting Nation is a ranking of countries based on their performance in top-level international tournaments in sports in which there is genuine global competition. Countries (national teams and/or individual athletes) score Qualifying Points by finishing in the top eight places in Qualifying Events.
These Qualifying Points are then weighted to produce GSN Points, based on a formula that takes into account individual vs team sports, the sport’s participation (number of countries) and the frequency (annual/biennial/quadrennial) of the tournaments.
The Country scoring the most Points in a calendar year wins the Global Cup for that year. The country that scores the most points relative to its population wins the Per Capita Cup. For a more detailed explanation, please refer to the ‘How It Works’ section on the site.