text: which country has dominated the olympics since it's inception?   the usa has dominated the summer games. an american became the first olympic champion and first medal in the 1896 athens games (james connolly, the triple jump).  since that time, americans have won 2,191 medals including 896 gold medals. the ussr (which included all the satellites and has since broken up) is next with 1,010 and 395 gold. these totals exclude the totals from the 1906 intercalated games, which are no longer recognized by the international olympic committee (ioc) as official games.  now in the winter games, norway has been the dominant country, with 280 medals and 98 gold. the us is 2nd with 216 total and 78 gold.  so overall, the us is #1 with 974 gold 772 silver and 661 bronze medals for a total of 2407. we've won twice as many as any other country.