Quote:
Originally Posted by Textcritic
This.
There is a great deal to be noted regarding the cultural differences between Canada and the US that hinge on this point. Individual achievement, against the grain determinism, pissing in the wind and nation building through excess are practically synonymous with "American values". We just don't function or think in like terms with Americans, and while it rubs a number of Canadians the wrong way—culminating in the "my name is Joe and I am Canadian" sort of idiotic beer commercials—this element of our own cultural identity promotes at least as much benefit from the fact that athletic competitiveness is simply not as high a priority here.
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I don't think the US wins that many medals per capita, compared to many other nations.
http://www.medalspercapita.com/
http://users.skynet.be/hermandw/olymp/reloly.html
Medals by GDP:
http://www.stubbornmule.net/2008/08/olympics-by-gdp/