23 countries for 65 sports

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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.