With a month to go until the Paris Olympics, Japan is expected to rank sixth in total medals with 46, 12 fewer than at the Tokyo Olympics, sports data firm Gracenote predicted.
According to the latest prediction of the virtual medal table, the Americans are favorites to lead the overall medal rankings with 123 – 37 gold, 34 silver and 52 bronze – followed by China (87), Great Britain (62), host country France (56), Australia (48), then Japan.
Japan is expected to win 12 gold, 13 silver and 21 bronze medals in 16 different sports, down from 21 at the Tokyo Games. Three years ago, Japan won a national record 27 gold medals at the home Olympics, which were held after a one-year delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Gymnast Daiki Hashimoto, judoka Hifumi Abe and wrestlers Yui Susaki, Akari Fujinami and Tsugumi Sakurai are among those tipped to top the podium. Hashimoto is expected to win three gold medals, including in the men’s all-around and team events, in addition to the two he won in Tokyo.
The virtual medal table, a statistical model based on results data from major competitions since the last Olympic Games in Tokyo, will be updated again approximately three days before the opening ceremony on July 26.
Some team sports start before the opening ceremony and the Games last until August 11.
Japan is aiming for 55 medals, including 20 gold medals in Paris, Mitsugi Ogata, secretary general of the Japanese Olympic Committee and head of Japan’s delegation to the Paris Games, said on Wednesday. The highest number of gold medals the country has won as a non-host is 16 at the 2004 Athens Games.
Japan is preparing to send about 400 athletes to Paris, which would be the largest delegation for a Games held outside Japan.
A farewell ceremony for the Japanese Olympic delegation will take place on July 5.
