Chinese newspaper mistakenly says Chinese team came in second at 2016 Olympics

Xinhua News Agency reported that their country's sports delegation ranked second in the Rio 2016 medal table, while in fact the British delegation had one more gold medal than them.

Xinhua News Agency reported on August 22: “With a total of 70 medals, including 26 gold, 18 silver and 26 bronze, China ranked second in the medal tally. The 26 gold medals in Rio de Janeiro are a decline from the 38 gold medals in London four years ago, and the 51 gold medals in Beijing 2008.”

A section of a Chinese news agency report mistakenly lists the medal tally for Rio 2016.

However, in reality, according to the medal table announced by the Rio 2016 Olympic Organizing Committee, Great Britain was the second-placed team with 27 gold medals, 23 silver medals and 17 bronze medals, ahead of China. The United States was in first place with 46 gold medals, 37 silver medals and 38 bronze medals.

China did have the second-highest total medals at Rio 2016 (70), behind the United States (121) and ahead of Great Britain (67). But the positions of teams at major sporting events are first determined by the number of gold medals, and if there is a tie, then the number of silver and bronze medals is considered.

Diving is the sport that brought the Chinese delegation the most gold medals at Rio 2016, with 7. In the photo, 15-year-old athlete Ren Qian (center) celebrates winning the gold medal in the 10m platform event. Photo: Reuters.

“China’s state news agency has overlooked the UK’s performance. In fact, the UK had an incredible Olympics with 27 gold medals and finished second in the medal table, ahead of China, Russia and Germany,” wrote the British newspaper Sun.

“After two decades of Lottery-funded sport, Britain has become an Olympic powerhouse. The Rio 2016 performance far outstripped the dismal Atlanta Games 20 years ago, when Britain won just one gold medal thanks to the rowing duo of Steve Redgrave and Matthew Pinsent,” the Sun added.

According to VNE