The year's best - 27 countries for 77 sports
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).
With one win apiece were Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Finland, New Zealand, Portugal, South Africa and Uzbekistan.
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
|
|
|
