The year's best - 27 countries for 77 sports

world flags.gif

Greatest Sporting Nation’s mission is to spotlight the world’s best sporting nations, irrespective of their size, power and wealth. Alongside the recognised sporting giants, like the USA, Russia, China and even Norway, crowned the world’s sportiest nation three years in succession from 2017 to 2019, there are many other countries that excel in a few, or just one, sport, and we are proud to track their performance and celebrate their success.

In 2019, we recorded the results of the top tournaments in 77 sports (the full list of the sports we track is here), and 27 different nations won at least one of these sports – the list, in alphabetical order by sport, is below.
 
Russia, runner-up in the Global Cup, won 9 sports, one more than Global Cup champion USA. The other multiple sport winners were Germany, Netherlands and Spain (5 wins); Norway, Japan and South Korea (4 wins); China, Italy and Sweden (3 wins); Great Britain and France (2 wins).
 
 
2019 Sport Winners
Alpine Skiing
Austria
Archery
South Korea
Artistic Gym
Russia
Athletics (Track + Field)
USA
Badminton
Japan
Bandy
Russia
Basketball
Spain
Beach Soccer
Portugal
Beach Volleyball
USA
Biathlon
Norway
BMX
Netherlands
Bobsleigh
Germany
Body Boarding
Japan
Boxing (Amateur)
Uzbekistan
Canoe/Kayak Slalom
Spain
Canoe/Kayak Sprint
Belarus
Climbing
Japan
Cricket
Great Britain
Cross Country Skiing
Norway
Curling
Sweden
Cyclocross
Netherlands
Diving
China
Fencing
Russia
Figure Skating
Russia
Fistball
Germany
Floorball
Sweden
Football
USA
Freestyle Skiing
Canada
Golf
USA
Handball
Norway
Ice Hockey
Finland
Judo
Japan
Korfball
Netherlands
Luge
Germany
Marathon
Ethiopia
Modern Pentathlon
South Korea
MTB
France
Netball
New Zealand
Nordic Combined
Norway
Open Water Swimming
France
Orienteering
Sweden
Rhythmic Gymnastics
Russia
Road Cycling
Netherlands
Rowing
Italy
Rugby Union
South Africa
Shooting
Italy
Short Track
South Korea
Skateboarding
Brazil
Skeleton
Germany
Ski Jumping
Germany
Ski Mountaineering
Italy
Snooker
Great Britain
Snowboarding
USA
Softball
Argentina
Speedskating
Netherlands
Squash
Egypt
Surfing
USA
Swimming
USA
Synchronised Swimming
Russia
Table Tennis
China
Taekwondo
South Korea
Ten Pin Bowling
Colombia
Tennis
Spain
Track Cycling
Australia
Trampoline
Russia
Triathlon
Spain
Volleyball
USA
Water Polo
Spain
Weightlifting
China
Wrestling Free
Russia
Wrestling Greco-Roman
Russia
 
 

Follow GSN also on Facebook and Twitter and keep up with the latest in the quest for the world’s best sporting nation!