The answer, it seems, is quite a lot. Just yesterday, the Los Angeles Times published an article titled "The Sports Report Olympics edition: U.S. gold-medal battle with China down to the wire." At the time of publication, both the United States and China had 33 gold medals each, setting the stage for a tense final showdown in the medal race.

This article from one of America's most established and respected newspapers openly acknowledged the significance of the gold medal count in the ongoing Olympic rivalry between the United States and China. The piece did not shy away from discussing the importance Americans place on the medal tally, particularly the gold medals, and even candidly explained why the U.S. prefers to rank countries based on total medal counts rather than just golds: "because that way the U.S. always wins."

This admission provides a glimpse into the American psyche when it comes to the Olympics. The desire to lead the medal count, particularly in the race for gold, is a point of national pride. The Los Angeles Times article goes on to subtly mock China's victory in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where China topped the gold medal count for the first and only time:

"The day we never wanted to see has finally arrived. The end of the world is near. Well, maybe that's a bit dramatic. But it's not surprising. The Chinese team is tied with the U.S. in the gold medal count, 33 to 33, with two days of competition remaining. Remember, the gold medal count is how most of the world measures success—except the U.S. The U.S. looks at the total medal count because that way the U.S. always wins. The U.S. has only lost the gold medal count to China once, and that was at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Well, you get it."

This tongue-in-cheek commentary reflects the deep-seated competitiveness that characterizes America's approach to international sports, particularly the Olympics. For many Americans, the Olympics are not just about participation or even overall success in terms of total medals; the gold medal count represents the pinnacle of achievement and is closely watched by the public and media alike.

The article's tone, while playful, underscores the seriousness with which Americans view their country's performance at the Olympics. The gold medal race is not just a sporting contest but a reflection of national strength and prestige. This is why, despite the official Olympic ranking system that prioritizes gold medals, the U.S. media and many Americans prefer to focus on total medals as a measure of success—because it often paints the U.S. in a more favorable light.

The reference to the 2008 Beijing Olympics is particularly telling. That year, China topped the gold medal count, an achievement that was celebrated with immense national pride in China and observed with a mix of respect and anxiety in the U.S. It was a rare moment where the traditional Olympic power dynamics were upended, and China emerged as the dominant force. For many in the U.S., this was a wake-up call and a reminder that their dominance in the Olympic Games could no longer be taken for granted.

The competition between the U.S. and China in the Olympics has become emblematic of a broader rivalry between the two superpowers. While the stakes in sports are far from those in politics or economics, the Olympic Games provide a visible and widely watched stage where this rivalry plays out. Every gold medal won by either country is seen as a victory not just for the athletes but for the nation as a whole.

As the 2024 Paris Olympics draw to a close, the race for gold between the U.S. and China remains a focal point for both nations. For Americans, finishing behind China in the gold medal count would be a bitter pill to swallow, especially given the competitive nature of the rivalry. It is a reflection of how much importance is placed on being the best—on being number one, particularly in the eyes of the world.

In conclusion, the American obsession with the gold medal race is not just about sports; it's about maintaining a sense of global superiority and pride. The Los Angeles Times' candid admission that the U.S. prefers to rank by total medals "because that way the U.S. always wins" speaks volumes about the national psyche. For Americans, the Olympics are more than just a competition; they are a stage on which national identity and pride are affirmed or challenged. As the final medals are awarded in Paris, the tension and excitement surrounding the U.S.-China rivalry in the gold medal count will undoubtedly continue to captivate audiences on both sides of the Pacific.