Is the US underperforming at this Olympic Games?

Every country wants to see themselves at the top of the Olympic medal table.

However, recently discussion online has prompted individuals to question what the Olympic medal table should be ranked on.

The Number of Golds won by a country or The Number of All Medals won?

Traditionally, the number of Gold medals won is what has always determined a countries placement on the Olympic table.

In some European countries they have decided to combine the number of medals of all EU member states to put themselves on the top of the medal table. Sadly, the UK isn't included in this European bloc because "Brexit means Brexit." Obviously, lists like these are just for fun only serve to make these countries feel good and no one really takes them seriously.

In previous Olympic Games the US has been both the country to accumulate the most medals and the most golds.

The US won 39 gold medals out of 113 medals in Tokyo finishing on the top of the table in both number of medals and number of golds.

However, in Paris the US is not enjoying such one side supremacy.

Currently, the US and China being virtually neck and neck; with who is on the top of the table with neither one being able to establish a significant lead on the other.

This massive change in US dominance leads people to ask, Is the US underperforming in this Olympic Games?

China have performed excellently this Olympic Games and have been amazing on the diving board in Paris. The country won a grand total of 5 gold medals in diving over the course of the games.

After taking silver in the men's synchronized 10 meters diving, flag bearer for Team GB, Tom Daley, has said,

"They were pretty much flawless, which is amazing,"

When commenting on the performance of China in his event.

Alongside this, China performed very well in the shooting events winning a total of 5 Gold medals in these events. The US, ironically, winning a grand total of 0 golds in the shooting.

Traditionally, the US has had very strong men's swimming Olympic team. However, this year the men have struggled.

Former Olympic swimmer and arguable the greatest Olympian to ever live, Michael Phelps, gave a scathing critique of the US swimming team.

In an interview with Sports Seriously he said,

Additionally, a reason why it might appear the US are struggling is to stay in the lead is because of the track and field events still being underway.

The US is a powerhouse in the track and field world with athletes, such as, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone Noah Lyles being favourite to bring back a number of gold medals for the US before the games end.

With countries like China rapidly improving the quality of athletes they are producing and other emerging countries producing an increasing number of world class athletes some people speculate if the US will finish a future Olympics, or this one, second on the medal table.

With the Olympics coming to an end on the 11th of August who do you think will take home the most gold medals from Paris?