Canada leads (again) in May, the USA, Russia in pursuit
Hands up for Canada, now leading the Global Cup overall for the third consecutive month!
The gritty Canadians have only a 52 points margin vs the sporting world’s giants, the USA in second place, and stay on top thanks to their performances on the ice rink. Despite a disappointing 5th place in the Ice Hockey World Cup (Men) in May, Canada has picked up an impressive amount of points (8,6% of all GSN points awarded so far in 2012) in Speedskating, Short Track, Figure Skating. Add to this the Canadian ladies victory in the Ice Hockey World Championships and the feast is complete.
Behind the two North American countries stalks the Russian Bear. Third-placed Russia is up five positions vs last year, with a 6,0% share of the total points vs 4,4% last year. As usual the Russians excel in a variety of sports: victory in the Men’s Ice Hockey and Bandy World Championships, first and second place in the Women’s Australian Tennis Open and in the Men’s Snowboardcross World Cup.
It is an impressive performance in the Winter Sports-dominated first half of the sporting year, and Russia promises more of the same in the months to come, after a great start in the Men’s Football European Championships last week.
Two other sporting greats immediately follow Russia in the table: China and Germany, and they too will want to have a big say in the summer sports.
Among the most improved nations in the overall top ten we must mention Kenya (10th place, plus 7 vs last year) and its marathon runners, and Great Britain, with a very promising 6th place overall, up six vs last year thanks to the second place in the Track Cycling World Championships and to a good booty from the Rugby Sevens World Cup and the Six Nations. London 2012, here we come!
