Simone Biles United States Sarah Sjöström Sweden Wu Minxia China Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce Jamaica Sarah Sjöström Sweden Simone Biles United States Wu Minxia China Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce Jamaica

The success of women in Olympic sports can be tied to the opportunities available in their home countries. Women won more total medals than men in 29 countries that participated in the 2016 Rio Games and at least one other Summer Olympics.

Each line below represents total medals won, excluding mixed team events.

Countries with more than 90 medals since 1948 Medals won by women Medals won by men

American men won more medals than American women for much of the history of the Olympics, but that gap began to narrow in the 1980s. A decade before, in 1972, the federal government had granted women equal access to sports through the education amendment known as Title IX. Women surpassed men in the Summer Games medal count for the first time at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

In China, that feat came 20 years earlier. Women in China have performed better than men in their events at the Olympics since 1988, bringing home about 10 more medals each time.

Countries with more than 20 but fewer than 90 medals since 1948 Medals won by women Medals won by men

Jamaica, a country with fewer than three million people, experienced the emergence of male and female superstars in track and field in 2008: Usain Bolt and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce. Although the country’s female athletes won more medals than men at the Rio Games, Bolt received far more attention.

Countries with fewer than 20 medals since 1948 Medals won by women Medals won by men

Mónica Puig earned Puerto Rico its first Olympic gold medal by winning the women’s singles tennis final. She was also the only athlete of the 40 representing Puerto Rico to win a medal this year.

Over All, There Are Still Fewer Medals That Women Can Win

500 400 300 200 100 0 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2016 Medals for women Medals for men Total number of medals awarded 500 400 300 200 100 0 1896 1916 1936 1956 1976 1996 2016 Medals for women Medals for men Total number of medals awarded 400 300 200 100 0 1896 1936 1976 2016 Medals for women Medals for men Total number of medals awarded

The number of events that women are allowed to compete in is controlled by the International Olympic Committee and various sport federations.