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From Olympic dominance to creating sports legends, these countries excel across the athletic spectrum! Join us as we count down the nations that have made their mark in multiple sports arenas. Our list celebrates countries that don't just compete—they innovate, dominate, and inspire on the world stage. Did your home country make our ranking?
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00:00Andy Murray is the Wimbledon champion!
00:03Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the top 10 greatest all-around
00:07sports nations.
00:08For this list, we're sizing up the countries that have consistently shown off their athletic
00:12prowess, and that's not just in one sport, but across the spectrum from Olympic domination
00:16to creating icons, and even inventing some sports we love today.
00:29Number 10 – Italy Italy may be known for its history, art, and
00:36food, but let's not forget its deep love affair with sport.
00:39The Azuri are world-renowned for their passion and tactical approach to football, winning
00:43four FIFA World Cups.
00:45Beyond the football pitch, Italy's Olympic pedigree is impressive, regularly bringing
00:49home medals in fencing, cycling, swimming, and winter sports like skiing and bobsled.
00:53Thompson sends it out, that is the trigger for the Italian celebrations.
01:00None of the men, none of the women have ever won Italian gold at the Olympics in volleyball.
01:10And let's not overlook Formula One, because Ferrari is to motorsport, but pasta is to Italian
01:15as well.
01:16When you think that your son…
01:19So whether it's slaloming down the Alps or taking a penalty on the world's biggest
01:22stage, Italy's sporting influence runs deep.
01:25Medalla d'or to the Italian squadron, Pulvio Balbuza, Giorgio Di Centa, Pietro Piller-Cottler,
01:33Christian Zorzi.
01:34France is a country where sport is a way of life, and a critical source of national pride.
01:57The French gave us, what else, the Tour de France.
02:00It's the most prestigious cycling race on the planet, redefining endurance and strategy
02:05in sport.
02:08Their football team, Le Bleu, dazzled the world by winning multiple European championships
02:16in two FIFA World Cups, most recently in 2018.
02:20From Zidane's magic in 98 to Mbappé's lightning pace today, France's soccer royalty.
02:25The country's wide array of sporting achievements ensures that France's tricolor is always well
02:29represented on the podium.
02:31Add in icons like Teddy Reiner in Judo, Amili Moresmu in tennis, and multiple Olympic triumphs,
02:36and you've got a nation of champions.
02:38Teddy Reiner has done it!
02:40Teddy Reiner has thrown him with an ashy for all mark!
02:45He takes the world champion, the current world champion, and his biggest threat over onto
02:52his back with a massive technique, pulled it out of the bag, what a performance!
02:58Number 8.
02:59Canada.
03:00It will be Wayne Gretzky, as is the custom, the team captain, who will accept the trophy
03:05on behalf of his teammates.
03:07It may be called the Great White North, but Canada's a fiery hub of sport and athleticism.
03:21This country has practically made ice hockey into a religion, producing some of the greatest
03:26NHL legends ever to hit the ice.
03:28Canada isn't just about puck and stick.
03:30They're global players in lacrosse, their national summer sport, basketball invented by
03:34Canadian James Naismith, and now making waves in soccer and athletics.
03:38Well, Larian gathering it in as Canada look to find some early momentum.
03:42Well, Davies arriving!
03:44Oh!
03:45Oh, Canada!
03:48Their time has come!
03:50And it is their shining star, Alfonso Davies, who scores their first ever goal!
03:59At the Olympics, Canada regularly racks up medals in both summer and winter events, dominating
04:04in freestyle skiing, figure skating, and rowing.
04:06Quiet confidence, a fierce competitive spirit, and big hearts make Canada a true all-rounder.
04:11Summer McIntosh now has a third goal to bring home from Paris.
04:18Oh, and isn't she happy about it?
04:20Winning gets rid of all the pain, so I knew that.
04:24I was literally screwing myself underwater.
04:26I've only known that a few times, but I could tell I was behind, so I know I should keep going.
04:317.
04:32Japan
04:33Ohtani gets into one, headed out there to right center field, kissing goodbye!
04:3845th of the season for Ohtani, first one against San Diego.
04:47Precision, discipline, and innovation marked Japan's approach to sports.
04:51The Land of the Rising Sun has hosted multiple Olympic Games, each time showcasing its sporting
04:56prowess and organizational excellence.
04:58Baseball, gymnastics, and judo, which they invented, by the way.
05:01Japan blends tradition with modern dominance.
05:04She just waited for the moment there, and then just flicked Bouchard into the hole down here, and Abe is going to be Olympic champion.
05:14They and their athletes stole the show at Tokyo 2020, and stars like Shohei Ohtani, Naomi Osaka, and Yuzuru Hanyu are global icons.
05:23Japan is also the birthplace of martial arts like karate and sumo wrestling, which have become global cultural phenomena.
05:29Their respect for the past, present, and future makes Japan a formidable force across the world of sport.
05:34You don't think of Shohei as a guy that will swing from his nose to his toes, but when he is hunting a certain pitch,
05:42and knows how they're pitching him, especially the up-fastball and the up-and-in fastball,
05:47he will swing at it when it's from his nose.
05:50Number 6, Russia.
05:52Just trying to find a seam and know that, hey, we're going to try to force it to him if he's open.
05:57Here is Ovechkin, shoots! He scores! He scores! Number 895!
06:05Despite a hostile political landscape and generally frosty international relations,
06:09Russia's contribution to international sport is undeniable.
06:12The USSR made the Olympics a Cold War battlefield, and the medal count shows it.
06:16There is time for the Russians to go to their big man, Alexander Belov. They're going to try.
06:24Alexander Belov!
06:26In both Summer and Winter Olympics, Russian athletes have consistently brought home the gold,
06:30especially in gymnastics, wrestling, track, and field, and figure skating.
06:34Russia's prowess doesn't stop there.
06:36Ice hockey, chess, and weightlifting are cherished pastimes where Russians have set the standard at the highest levels.
06:41Even after the breakup, Russian athletes remain global forces in figure skating, track, and combat sports.
06:47Their controversial modern era under Vladimir Putin aside, the country's sporting impact speaks for itself.
06:53On the chance of O-V-O-V on this historic day of the National Hockey League.
07:01It was worth the price of admission for me to each fan who did not have tickets a couple of days ago.
07:07And Alex's remarkable career. First time he has ever scored on his country limit.
07:15Number 5, Germany.
07:17Time for Kurt Sauer!
07:21With touch, with finesse, and stayed beyond Romero.
07:27Efficiency and excellence above all else, German sport mirrors German culture.
07:31With a pedigree spanning football, where Die Mannschaft has lifted multiple World Cups,
07:35to domination in gymnastics, rowing, and athletics.
07:38Germany's athletics system churns out world-class talent as reliably as its luxury cars.
07:53The country's Winter Olympians bring home medals in luge, skiing, and biathlon.
07:57Olympic titans in track and field and cycling in an F1 dynasty with Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel.
08:03Don't forget Steffi Graf in tennis.
08:05All in all, few nations can match Germany's engineering in both the sporting and literal sense.
08:10The Queen is dead. Long live the new Queen.
08:13Steffi became the world's number one at the tender age of 18.
08:18She seems like a veteran today because she's been at the top for so long.
08:24When you won Wimbledon the very first time, was your heart pounding?
08:29Oh yeah.
08:30Number 4, China.
08:32For Ma Lin, this gold in the Olympic table tennis singles means he's the only man to ever pull off the impossible career Olympic gold and triple.
08:39Gold in singles here in 2008.
08:42Gold in the Athens 2004 doubles.
08:44And in the team event, also here in Beijing 2008.
08:48China has been a sports juggernaut, especially since their breakout on the global stage hosting the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
08:54Ping pong?
08:55Untouchable.
08:56Diving and gymnastics?
08:57Dominant.
08:58Badminton and weightlifting?
08:59Gold magnets.
09:00Add NBA legend Yao Ming and new stars like Eileen Gu and it's clear.
09:04China's not slowing down anytime soon.
09:07Eileen going massive on hit number one.
09:11The back-to-back 900s in that top section.
09:14And then such a stylish 720 landing switch and the needs to keep it together here at the bottom.
09:24Chinese athletics handily scoop up dozens of gold medals each Olympic cycle.
09:28And more recently, they're making their names internationally in basketball, tennis and even winter sports among others.
09:34From developing athletic prodigies to hosting world-class events, China's place in sporting history is secure.
09:40Yao Ming, baseline, got him.
09:42Oh!
09:43Yao Ming, burning inside out!
09:45That's Hakeem Olajuwon stuff!
09:49Dream would like that move, wouldn't he?
09:50He kind of created that move.
09:52What a fun player.
09:53Number three, Australia.
09:55A little smile out of the coach.
09:56That was an incredible slice.
09:58This one from Barty.
10:00I mean, that is just so well-struck.
10:02I mean, Shelby did an amazing job of actually being able to produce a pretty good shot.
10:07Australia punches way above its weight force for a country of just 26 million when it comes to athletic excellence.
10:12The country's laid-back, outdoorsy image belies a fiercely competitive sports culture that churns out champions in swimming, cricket, rugby, cycling and tennis.
10:20What a race.
10:22Leading from start to finish.
10:24Five meters to go.
10:26Just a couple more strokes.
10:28Arianne terminates her competition, defending her gold and repeating as Olympic champion.
10:37Tennis stars like Ash Barty and legends like Cathy Freeman prove Aussies are winners in almost any arena.
10:43Australia has hosted the Olympics twice and routinely finishes in the top tier of the medal tally, especially in aquatic events.
10:49The nation's sporting legacy extends to producing stars in surfing and field hockey, while also being home to unique events like Australian rules football.
10:57Aussies bring relentless grit and infectious enthusiasm, earning global respect across dozens of sports.
11:03Number 2.
11:20United Kingdom
11:21Inside, outside, outside, inside, which way is Lewis Hamilton going to go?
11:25To the left, to the right, it's going to be to the right, it's going to be around the outside, and for the second lap running the crowd cheer as Lewis Hamilton passes Sergio Perez.
11:34Is there a sport the UK hasn't influenced?
11:36The British Isles are sports innovators, giving the world football or soccer depending where you are, rugby, cricket, golf, tennis and more.
11:43The achievements of athletes like Mohamed Fada, Andy Murray and many others trace back to a nation with a rich club system and sporting tradition.
11:50The resilience, soaking up the pressure.
11:55He is going to collapse if he gets through this game.
12:02Wonderful, wonderful stuff.
12:04This is the boy digging deep.
12:06Sporting immortality doesn't come easily.
12:11Team GB consistently ranks near the top at the Olympics, especially in cycling, rowing and athletics, showcasing both depth and breadth.
12:18The UK's unique knack for inventing sports, growing them globally and producing superstars, cements its position near the top of any all-round sports list.
12:26Good few days for England.
12:28James Anderson, Stuart Broad, he didn't get the 10 but he keeps the ball.
12:32Seven wickets, seven for 43.
12:35Third best against New Zealand for an Englishman.
12:38He'll make his way up the stairs, into the dressing room.
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12:57Number 1.
12:59United States
13:00With unmatched resources and a seemingly endless pool of talent, the United States is the ultimate sporting superpower.
13:26Team USA dominates both the Summer and Winter Olympics, holding the world record for most Olympic golds of any nation.
13:32He's swam the third leg of the 100-meter relay.
13:35Gold medal for the USA and eighth gold medal for Phelps.
13:40Perhaps the greatest performance in the history of the Olympic Games.
13:45And here's another number.
13:47Phelps received a massive bonus from his sponsors for his achievement.
13:51He used it to start a new foundation, helping young swimmers.
13:56American athletes have become household names worldwide, with icons like Michael Jordan, Serena Williams, Michael Phelps and Simone Biles raising the bar across generations.
14:05The U.S. is also the birthplace of sports juggernauts like basketball and baseball, and runs the world's most lucrative major leagues, MLB, NBA, NFL and NHL.
14:14Their culture of competition and sheer athletic diversity makes the USA untouchable at number one.
14:20Did your home country make the cut? Are there any nations we missed? Be sure to let us know in the comments below.
14:39And you simply cannot give more.
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