You've got to give the Aussies some credit as well. The Australian population is only 22 million but even then, they have larger Olympic teams than countries with populations 10x their size (their four hundred fourty-something team is even bigger than China's).
If there were to be some kind of population-based competition to judge a country's Olympic strength, the Aussies would probably be at the top of the list.
Depends on how you look at it: USA without the blacks or immigrants from those islands in the Pacific would not be able to perform well (since it does depend a lot of blacks in track/field, in games like basketball, etc).
China did not join the Olympics until in recent decades. No country on earth could have isolated itself for 30 to 40 years without competitive sports and yet have that kind of achievement. It just dazzles our mind how the Chinese civilization could achieve things that are often humanly seemed not possible.
China overtook the USA in the 2008 olympics and, probably, may be able to be in the top 3 positions this year.
If by overall you mean historically, then the U.S. They have won nearly twice as many medals of all types in the summer and winter olympics combined. Strictly summer olympics they have won well over twice as many medals as other countries. If you are referring to recent olympics and the current one, China has the best chance. Also, if you are referring to the winter olympics, Germany is historically the most dominant.
In 2008 USA got about 300 medals. With China & the UK close behind.
USA always gets near the top for most metals.
But Great Britain, has more athletes than USA this year.
usa
china
USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA USA
Which team would you say is the best over the past decade and who do you think will win te most gold medals this year?
