Sports Commentary - ALL TIME RANKING: MEDALS WON BY JAMAICAN ATHLETES AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES

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By Dale Brown

NEW YORK. NY. Wednesday, May 27. -- Jamaica has participated in 17 editions of the Olympic Games (1948-2016). They have won 77 Olympic medals with 59 individuals including 22 Gold. This analysis will show which events have been the most rewarding for the Caribbean nation and will also show the placings on the all-time medal table.

100m (men) 8 medals (3) gold

Only the USA with 39 medals (16) gold, rank higher than Jamaica’s 8 medals and (3) gold medals.

The Medalists

Usain Bolt won an unprecedented 3 gold medals: 2008, 2012, 2016
Lennox Miller (2 medals), (1) silver in 1968 and (1) bronze 1972; Herb McKenley (1) silver in 1952; Donald Quarrie (1) silver in 1976 and Yohan Blake (1) silver in 2012.

100m (women) 13 medals (3) gold

Once again, Jamaica trails the USA’s 18 medals and (9) gold. However, if we started the tally from the year 1948, when Jamaica debuted, the numbers are much closer, the USA would then have 15 medals with (7) gold.

The Medalists

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (3 medals)  (1)  gold in 2008, and 2012 plus (1) bronze in 2016;  Merlene Ottey (3medals)  (1) silver in 1996, (2) bronze in 1984 and 2000, respectively; Veronica Campbell-Brown (2 medals)  (1) bronze in 2004 and 2012; Elaine Thompson (1) gold in 2016; Juliet Cuthbert (1) silver in 1992; Tanya Lawrence (1) silver in 2000; Sherone Simpson and Kerron Stewart each received a  silver medal in 2008.

200m (men) 7 medals (4) gold

Jamaica is again ranked 2nd on the all-time list behind the USA’s totals of 46 medals with 17 gold.

The Medalists

The incomparable Usain Bolt leads the way with 3 gold medals won in 2008, 2012 and 2016. Donald Quarrie (2 medals) (1) gold in 1976 and (1) bronze in 1980; Yohan Blake (1) silver in 2012 and Warren Weir (1) bronze in 2012.

200m (women) 12 medals (3) gold

The women are locked in a 1st place tie with the USA in the overall total of 12 medals.  However, they are in 2nd place with ( 3) gold medals to the USA’s (6) gold medals.

The Medalists

Veronica Campbell-Brown won (2) gold medals in 2004 and 2008.  Elaine Thompson (1) gold in 2016;  Merlene Ottey  contributed an all-time leading  4 medals with (1) silver in 1996 and (3) bronze in 1980, 1984 and 1992;  Grace Jackson (1) silver in 1988;  Juliet Cuthbert (1) silver in 1992; Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (1) silver in 2012; Beverly McDonald (1) bronze in 2000 and Kerron Stewart (1) bronze in 2008.

400m (men) 5 medals (2) gold

Jamaica’s 5 medals are good enough for 3rd on the all-time medal list behind the USA’s 38 and Great Britain’s 7. The (2) Gold medals are tied for 2nd with Great Britain, behind the USA’s 19.

If the totals are counted from 1948, the USA would have 23 medals with 12 gold.  Great Britain would then only have (1) silver medal and Jamaica would be the 2nd ranked country in both total medals and gold medals won.

The Medalists

Arthur Wint (1) gold in 1948; George Rhoden (1) gold in 1952; Herb McKenley (2medals) (1) silver in 1948 and 1952; Gregory Haughton (1) bronze in 2000.

400m (women) 3 medals

Only East Germany 6; USA 6; Great Britain 6 and Australia 4 have won more than Jamaica who are tied with France’s 3 medals.

The Medalists

Lorraine Graham (1) silver in 2000; Shericka Williams (1) silver in 2008; Shericka Jackson (1) bronze in 2016.

800m (men) 2 medals

Jamaica has 2 medals compared to the USA 20, Kenya 11, Great Britain 9, Germany 4, Canada 4 and South Africa 3.  However, if the numbers are adjusted to start from 1948, then only Kenya 11, USA 8, Great Britain 4, would be ranked above Jamaica who is tied with 9 other countries.

The Medalist

Arthur Wint won silver medals in 1948 and 1952.

110h (men) 2 medals (1) gold

Jamaica ranks 4th behind USA 56, Cuba 5, and Great Britain 4 medals. Adjusted from 1948, only the USA and Cuba won more than Jamaica’s 2 medals, including 1 gold.

The Medalists

Omar McLeod (1) gold in 2016 and Hansle Parchment (1) bronze in 2012

400h (men) 2 medals

Jamaica, with 2 medals, is tied with 4 other countries, while the USA has 40 medals, Great Britain 8 and Soviet Union 3.

The Medalists

Winthrop Graham (1) silver in 1992 and Danny McFarlane (1) silver in 2004

400h (women) 3 medals (2) gold

Jamaica is 2nd behind the USA’s overall total of 9 medals but the island is tied for 1st in gold medals with Russia’s 2.

The Medalists


HOT AND GOLD. Deon Hemmings winning the
 400m hurdles event at the1996 Summer Olympic Games, In Atlanta, GA.
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Deon Hemmings (1) gold in 1996 and (1) silver in 2000; Melaine Walker (1) gold in 2008.

Long Jump (men) 1 medal

James Beckford (1) silver in 1996.

Long Jump(women) 1 medal

Chelsea Hammond (1) bronze 2008.

4x100m (men) 3 medals (2) gold
Jamaica, the Soviet Union and Great Britain with 2 gold, are in a three-way tie for 2nd behind the USA’s 15 gold.
Medals: (2) Gold 2012 and 2016; (1) Silver 1984

4x100m (women) 5 medals (1) gold


GOLDEN GIRLS. Women 4x100m Gold Medal Team (l-r); Aleen Bailey, Veronica Campbell-Brown, Sherone Simpson, and Tanya Lawrence.
Jamaica and Canada are tied with 5 medals, behind the USA 15 and Great Britain 8, who lead the all-time total medals won.   The USA (11) gold and East Germany (2) gold, are ahead of Jamaica and 7 other nations, each with (1) gold.

Medals: (1) Gold 2004; (3) Silver 2000, 2012 and 2016; (1) Bronze 1996

4x400m (men) 5 medals (1) gold

Jamaica is 3rd on the all-time list behind the USA’s 20 medals and Great Britain’s 12.
Medals: (1) Gold 1952; (3) silver 1988, 2000 and 2016; (1) bronze 1996.

4x400m (women) 5 medals

Jamaica is ranked 2nd behind the USA’s 11 medals on the all-time list.
Medals: (4) silver 2000, 2008, 2012 and 2016; (1) bronze 2004

Summary

This data reveals the absolute power of the USA and also highlights just how difficult it is for an athlete to win an Olympic medal and also how precious winning a gold medal, in any event, must be for an athlete.

The highlight for Jamaica is the overall performance of the women in the 100/200/400 /4x100 /4x400 events with 38 total medals, compared to 28 for the men in the same events.

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Editor’s note: Dale Brown is a sports historian and co-host of the total sports show SECOND BASE, airing on the Wee Radio Network at www.weeradioonline.com, Tuesdays at 7 – 8 pm.

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