China achieved its best-ever performance at an overseas Olympic Games at Paris 2024 Games, tying with the United States for most gold medals at an Olympics ever. Both nations tied at 40 each – marking the first-ever tie among gold medal counts during summer Games history! However, despite China tying for most total medals with 91 compared to 126 earned by America at Paris.
A tight Competition
Competition between China and the United States was intensely tight, reflecting their ongoing geopolitical rivalry. China began strong due to its success in shooting and diving events; however, as track and field events progressed more often, America gained momentum and eventually overtook China.
China’s rising strength
China became only the third nation, after the US and former Soviet Union, to win more gold medals at an Olympics held outside their own nation. Chinese state media celebrated this success as evidence of China’s rising strength and influence; The Global Times highlighted China’s advances not only in sports but also public health and environmental improvements.
Social Media Response
Chinese social media users took to Weibo in response to what they perceived as unjust doping allegations against their athletes and to show their nationalism, quickly turning it into a trending topic with over 500 million views and over 18,000 shares. They used “China tied for first place on the gold medal leaderboard” as their hashtag.
Some argued that China should have had 44 golds if medals from Hong Kong and Taiwan were included. Taiwan, competing as Chinese Taipei to avoid political conflict, and Hong Kong, as Hong Kong, China, are considered part of China’s total medal count.
Doping Controversy Clouds China’s Olympic Swimming Achievements
The Games were also marked by a doping controversy involving China’s swim team. Reports revealed that many swimmers who competed in Tokyo 2021 had tested positive for a banned substance, but were cleared by the China Anti-Doping Agency (CHINADA) due to contamination. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) accepted this explanation, but concerns remained, especially after two Chinese swimmers tested positive for trace amounts of an anabolic steroid in 2022. These athletes were also cleared after claiming contamination from food.
China Accuses US of Sabotage Amid Doping Allegations
In response to the doping allegations, Chinese officials and state media accused the United States of trying to undermine their team. The Chinese Embassy in Washington denounced the US for using the issue to damage China’s reputation. CHINADA even called for more rigorous testing of American athletes, citing past doping scandals in the US.
Chinese state broadcaster CCTV published an article suggesting that the upcoming Los Angeles 2028 Olympics would require the US to address these concerns and restore global confidence in its sports integrity.
