Olympics: which countries are most successful at Summer Olympic Games - from total appearances to medals won

Thousands of athletes will be going for gold at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

The Summer Olympics, which were delayed a year due to the Covid pandemic, will have a different look and feel to it for those viewing the action on TV.

Yet the level of competition among countries and athletes remains as high as ever, with the top of the podium looking as sweet as it ever has in the sporting spectacle's history.

These are the countries that go into the 2021 Olympics with the most appearances, the most medals and the most gold medals to their name from the Summer Olympic Games.

All stats are correct ahead of Tokyo 2020 competition.

Which country has made the most appearances at the Summer Olympics?

No less than five countries have appeared in 28 Summer Olympic Games since 1896, with Great Britain, France, Australia, Switzerland and Greece making the most appearances.

The US, Italy, Sweden, Denmark and Austria have all taken part at 27 Summer Games to make up the top 10 of most consistent appearances at the Olympics.

At the other end of the charts, Kosov and South Sudan made their debut appearances at Rio 2016.

Which country has won the most medals at the Summer Olympics?

There is no denying which country is the Olympic powerhouse when it comes to the total number of medals won in the history of the Games.

The United States have won a whopping total of 2,522 medals at the Summer Olympics, at an average of more than 93 medals per Games.

It is streets ahead of the closest challenger, which according to the history books still is the Soviet Union, with 1,010 medals at an average of just over 112 medals per Games.

The nearest active challenger to the US is Great Britain with 851 medals won at an average of just over 30 per appearance at the Summer Games.

France follow with 716 (at an average of just over 25 medals per Games), then Germany with 615 (38), Italy has 577 (21), China 546 (54), Australia 497 (17), Sweden 494 (18), Hungary 491 (18), and Japan 439 (19).

Russia are positioned 12th on the list, however boast an average of more than 71 medals per Summer Games from their six appearances so far, with a total of 428 medals.

Which country has won the most gold medals at the Summer Olympics?

The order changes slightly when you take into account the most gold medals won at the Summer Olympics by each nation, with the US leading the way with 1,022 medals.

Soviet Union claimed a total of 395 golds ahead of Great Britain with 263, China (224), France (212), Italy (206), Germany (191), Hungary (175, East Germany (153) and Russia (149).