
It's not the USA, Russia, nor China; the most successful Tokyo 2020 nation is... San Marino!
Reading Time: 2min | Mon. 09.08.21. | 11:35
The fifth-smallest country in the world won as much as three Olympic medals after sending only five athletes to the Tokyo Games
Yes, sure, you won't find them on the top of the official medal winning list by country but their success goes far beyond numbers.
Because when it comes to numbers, they are as tiny as possible. With only 34,000 citizens, San Marino is the world's fifth-smallest nation, with only five athletes competing at the recently closed Tokyo Games. However, the sport heroes of this microstate won an incredible three medals, which makes them the best nation in the world in comparison to number of athletes sent to the competition.
Perilli cries after winning a bronze medal (©Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)Alessandra Perilli won bronze in women's trap shooting.
"I am very proud because we worked to get here," she said after collecting her medal.
"In London, we got near the medal, but not on the podium. Now we have reached the podium. During the final, when the fifth shooter went out, I thought, I don't want to be one more time in fourth place, so I have to make it.
"This is not my first Olympics, but this is the first medal for me and for my country. We are a small country but very proud.
"They are for sure going crazy, crying. I don't know, but for sure, now they are. There was no pressure, but only support from my country, from my team, from my federation and the Olympic committee."
Gian Marco Berti and Alessandra Perilli kept their cool to secure silver for San Marino in the mixed team trap event.
Berti and Perilli (© Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)Wrestler Myles Amine then won the third medal for San Marino, claiming bronze in the men's freestyle wrestling event.
Myles Amine in Tokyo (©Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)











