New Zealand might have finished in the top quartile in
the overall medal standings from Beijing Olympics, but when it
came to per capita calculations, a top five finish brightens
the perspective somewhat.
Of the 204 countries contesting the Olympics, New Zealand's
three gold, one silver and five bronze collection put it in
25th place, a similar placing to that in Athens four years
ago (24th).
New Zealand's best ever placing at an Olympics came in Los
Angeles in 1984, when it finished eighth out of 140
countries, collecting eight gold medals courtesy of some
outstanding canoeing, sailing and equestrian riding.
At this year's Beijing Games, on a medals per capita basis,
New Zealand is fifth behind table toppers Bahamas, followed
by Jamaica, Slovenia and Australia.
New Zealand's place on the Olympic Games medal table:
1920, Antwerp: 22nd (29 countries)
1924, Paris: 25th (44)
1928, Amsterdam: 26th (46)
1932, Los Angeles: 23rd (37)
1936, Berlin: 21st (49)
1948, London: no medals, (59)
1952, Helsinki: 25th (69)
1956, Melbourne: 16th (72)
1960, Rome: 14th (83)
1964, Tokyo: 13th (93)
1968, Mexico City: 27th (112)
1972, Munich, Germany: 23rd (121)
1976, Montreal, Canada: 18th (92)
1980, Moscow, USSR: no medals (80)
1984, Los Angeles, US: 8th (140)
1988, Seoul, South Korea: 18th (159)
1992, Barcelona, Spain: 28th (169)
1996, Atlanta, US: 26th (197)
2000, Sydney, Australia: 45th (200)
2004, Athens, Greece: 24th (201)
2008, Beijing, China: 25th (204)
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