China is the best

fay, Dalian,

I personally believe that going by either the total medal count or by golds is wrong. To me the best compromise seems to be a point system where gold=4 points silver=2 points and bronze=1 point this would all total medal countries to better compete while rewarding winning golds aswell

Sam , whibty , Canada

Sorry to diappoint you but there are mistakes in the Table: Israel took only one bronze medal. However Iceland is not in the Table with one gold medal (Handball-men)

Theodor, Haifa,

The current Medal tables are totally meaningless.

When you consider the population size of China and the USA - it is no surprise that they win the most medals because they can take so many more people to the Olympics.

Other tables on the web adjust for population - a much more acurate view!

Martin, Manchester, UK

I like the way you think Shawn from San Antonio!
I was just wondering what's your opinion on the medal tables, do you prefer the way your Country ranks Countries on their total medal count or the way it's displayed here?

Lorenzo, Salisbury, GREAT Britain

Shawn, San Antonio

I fail to see how the two issues are related. Do you think it's right that your country uses all that energy then? YOU are the problem. Barack Obama is at least offering a solution.

Tony, Bristol, England

Surely it was up to the 'losers' to congratulate Bolt, not for him to go round shaking their hands? That would be seen as patronising.at the least.

Chris, Chinon, France

Barack Obama has complained that the U.S. with 3% of the population uses 25% of the world's energy. As of day 13, the U.S. has won 12.7% of the world's medals. The U.S. has to win fewer medals so despotic regimes like N. Korea can have their "fair" share. An Obama presidency would be a disaster.

Shawn, San Antonio,

In reply to gordon, plancoet, france I paid for my lottery ticket knowing it would go to sport the arts or a good cause.Gorden Brown didnt.

Cornelius Mattey

Cornelius Mattey, LONDON, England

Unfortunately for NZ, the rankings are incorrect. After 19=, the next ranking (NZ) is 21, not 20. Denmark and DPR Korea are then 22= and Ethiopa is 24th, and so on.

K Young, Auckland, NZ

Perhaps as the funding for the British Olympic team is wholly paid for directly and indirectly by the tax payer. Maybe all the winners medals should be handed in and given to Gordon brown so that he can put them up for sale in the metal markets of the world, as he did with our gold reserves.

gordon, plancoet, france

Drugs testing gets tougher, USA do worse, GB do better. As they say in the land of the Dim Leader...Go Figure.

Pat Moore, Crawley, England

a little mistake
China has got 13 bronze medals

Justin, Beijing, China

Ralph, The rest of the world (everyone but America) shows the medal table as show here on the times... Right now though I like the American methord

Josie, Canda is a great counrty and they have one a piece, bronze silver and gold. They won in wrestling (gold and bronze) and rowing (silver)

Aussie, Melbourne, australia

Actually, a few days ago, just after a bunch of wins in gymnastics, China led in total medals. Fair and square, NBC did show China on top of the chart for a while, until the USA total climbed higher.

Carol, NY, USA

I think the best way of displaying the medal tally would be by a points system, i.e 3 points for gold, 2 for silver and 1 for bronze. This would put China top with 92 points and the USA second with 84.

Daniel, Birmingham, UK

To respond to Ralph: Depends who is publishing the table. Disinterested countries will show how the Times has shown it. USA will show "total" b/c they have highest. Issue is: How will the US publications show table if USA gets more gold but another country gets more total?

Deepak, Wayland, USA

Can anyone say what is the "correct" way to show the Medal Table. I notice that NBC has the rankings with "total" medals as opposed to "gold" medals. Most other sites including the Times use the gold medal count as the way to rank the Olympic haul. In the past Olympics I remember that the gold count

Ralph, Calgary, Canada

Did Canada send athletes to Beijing?

Josie, Seattle, USA

Go Canada!

Justin, Chatham,

doing go usa keep on going and never give up!!

dominique mccarty, tulsa, tulsa