The United States ended the Rio Olympics with a remarkable 46 gold medals, 37 silver, and 38 bronze combining for 121 medals.
That’s great, you say, but what does it mean? Well, good thing we’re paid to help put things in perspective.
For one, the difference between the first- and second-place teams is gigantic. The 51-medal dropoff from the United States to China is the largest total since 1984, and the seventh best all-time.
The total is the third-most medals in a single Olympics for the United States, and the eighth overall amongst all nations. Moreover, the 121 is the most by a single nation since the Americans hauled in 132 medals in 1988.