By The world is watching Asia rise, not just economically but also in sports. The Olympic Games have become a stage where Asian athletes are rewriting history.”—Naomi Osaka, Japanese tennis champion.
The Olympic Games have always been considered a pinnacle of sports in the world, pushing the boundaries of human endurance, strength, and skill. Historically, Western nations like the United States, Russia, and Germany have been quite dominant in the medal tallies. However, the past few years or decades have witnessed a remarkable shift in the dominance of the Olympics. Asia has emerged as a formidable force, consistently climbing the ranks in the Olympic medal tables. This ascent is not a mere coincidence or luck but the result of strategic investments and significant cultural shifts that have led to a relentless pursuit of excellence.
A Historical Perspective
Asia’s dominance in the Olympics is a relatively recent phenomenon. For much of the 20th century, Asian countries were on the latter end of Olympic success. Although Japan and China made their mark intermittently, consistent top-tier performances were rare as the countries were particularly good in some sports. For instance, Japan was and still is a powerhouse in Judo; on the other hand, China dominates ping-pong and table tennis. However, the 21st century has seen a seismic shift. In the 2008 Beijing Olympics, China stunned the world by topping the medal table with 48 golds, surpassing the United States, which is a feat in itself. This was a turning point, not just for China but for Asia as a whole.
A Numbers Game
The region’s sheer population is one of the most significant factors affecting Asia’s success in the Olympics. According to Worldometer, the Asian region has a population of around 4.8 billion people, which is massive considering the world’s population is slightly more than 8 billion. This ensures that Asian countries have a large talent pool from which to draw their athletes.
In China, state-run sports schools have played a pivotal role in its success. At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, China merely had 300 functional sports academies. However, the number has now crossed the 2000 mark. This was a part of the Chinese Government’s ‘Project 119’, which was initiated in 1990 with the sole purpose of boosting the country’s medal haul, especially in the Olympics. The country shifted its focus mainly to sports, which it had underperformed in the past, such as track and field, swimming, and rowing. To achieve this, the country was responsible for providing its athletes with everything, from personal coaches to training methods and the best equipment money can buy. The success of this scheme has been evident in the country’s performance in the 2000s.
Everything Can Be Achieved With Money
The rapid economic rise of Asian nations in recent years has also played a pivotal role in their performance in the Olympics. As nations like China, Japan, South Korea, and, more recently, India have become economic powerhouses, they have poured immense resources into sports infrastructure, training, and athlete development. This allows the athletes to train far better than ever before.
For example, China has invested billions in state-of-the-art training facilities, sports science, and coaching. The Chinese government’s approach is highly systematic and mainly focuses on sports that don’t have a high participation rate, such as gymnastics, diving, and weightlifting. The success of this approach is reflected in China’s consistent top-three finishes in the Olympic medal tables since 2000. This year, China finished in second position with 40 gold medals, the same as the United States.
Japan, too, has seen significant success, particularly in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, where it achieved its best-ever medal haul with 27 golds, ranking third overall. Japan’s success is attributed to its long-term investment in sports and a cultural emphasis on discipline and perfection, epitomised by sports like judo, gymnastics, and swimming. In the 2024 Paris Olympics, Japan managed to bring its medal tally to 20 and stood in 3rd place.
South Korea has also emerged as a powerhouse in specific sports such as archery, taekwondo, and short-track speed skating. The country’s success in archery, in particular, is unparalleled. South Korean archers have won 27 out of the 39 gold medals awarded in the sport since its introduction to the Olympics in 1972, which is quite literally baffling. This dominance results from the country’s structured training programs, early talent identification, and the societal prestige associated with the sport. Moreover, Taekwondo is a Korean game, so it’s no surprise that Korea is a dominant force in it.
Cultural Factors
Among other things, one factor often left under the radar is the cultural factors that affect the athlete’s performance. Asian countries in general, have a heightened sense of patriotism. As a result, each medal win is not an individual triumph but the triumph of the whole country. This is most evident in India. In the 2024 Paris Olympics, India’s star women’s wrestler, Vinesh Phogat, was part of a big conspiracy that resulted in her being disqualified from the competition. For this reason she wasn’t allowed to participate in the finals, and even her silver medal was sacked by the Olympic committee. However, even after not being able to secure any medal for the country, she got a hero’s welcome.
Japan also values morals and ethics to a very high degree, and as a result, the Olympics are not just games for them but a war—a war they need to win at all costs, and this is evident in their athletes’ performances.
