Olympic Medal Tally 2012: Top 5 European Countries

In honor of the 2012 Summer Olympics being held in London, it's only right to rank the best from Europe.

Looking at the total medal count, their best and most notable athletes and dominance in particular sports, Europe had lived up to some high expectations. Then again, all five countries you'll see ahead also ranked in the top 10 for number of most competing Olympians.

Obviously, Great Britain is a foregone conclusion being the hosts, but were they No. 1?

Well, there's only one way to find out.

5. Italy

Total Medals: 28

Gold: 8

Silver: 9

Bronze: 11

Best Sports: Fencing and Shooting (12 combined medals)

Big Name Olympian(s): Elisa Di Francisca, Arianna Errigo, Valentina Vezzali

Italy was rather consistent regarding medals but fencing and shooting were their most dominant events. More impressively, the fencing trio of Francisca, Errigo and Vezzali not only won the team foil competition but swept the podium for individual foil as well.

Elsewhere, Carlo Molfetta won the 80 kilogram weight class in taekwondo which was Italy's first ever Olympic taekwondo gold.

4. France

Total Medals: 34

Gold: 11

Silver: 11

Bronze: 12

Best Sports: Swimming and Judo (14 combined medals)

Big Name Olympian(s): Yannick Agnel, Teddy Riner, Camille Muffat

Swimming and judo is a rather odd combination for a country's two best Olympic sports, but France proved just that in London.

With seven medals in each sport including a combined six gold, the French are on the rise as judokas and remain impressive in the pool. Agnel won three medals for swimming and Muffat set an Olympic record in the women's 400-meter freestyle.

Additionally, five french Olympians took bronze in judo.

3. Germany

Total Medals: 44

Gold: 11

Silver: 19

Bronze: 14

Best Sports: Track & Field and Canoe Sprint (14 combined medals)

Big Name Olympian(s): Robert Harting, Andreas Ihle, Martin Hollstein

Although Germany won just one gold in track and field courtesy of discus thrower Robert Harting, seven other Olympians medaled in athletics as well.

The canoe sprint, however, was Germany's bread and butter. Four teams won a medal (two gold) and Ihle added to his own resume. With a bronze in the men's kayak double, Ihle has been on every step of the podium the past three Olympics.

2. Great Britain

Total Medals: 65

Gold: 29

Silver: 17

Bronze: 19

Best Sports: Track Cycling and Rowing (18 combined medals)

Big Name Olympian(s): Andy Murray, Victoria Pendleton, Chris Hoy, Bradley Wiggins

Great Britain has way more popular athletes than those mentioned above, but their track cycling and rowing teams take the cake.

Wiggins is simply an Olympic legend on the bike (won gold on the road in London) and Hoy just kept the momentum rolling after a strong performance in Beijing. Pendleton on the other hand, is just keeping the British Cycling tradition alive.

Britain also saw impressive performances in track and field from Jessica Ennis, Greg Rutherford and Mohamed Farah.

Oh yeah, and there's this one guy named Andy Murray who won gold over Roger Federer in tennis.

1. Russia

Total Medals: 82

Gold: 24

Silver: 26

Bronze: 32

Best Sports: Track & Field and Wrestling (29 combined medals)

Big Name Olympian(s): Maria Sharapova, Elena Isinbayeva, Aliya Mustafina

Russia may not have won as many golds as Britain but the hosts also had 100-plus more Olympians. That said, the Russians didn't have any athletes in track cycling or rowing (Great Britain's best two sports) and still bested the British for silver, bronze and the overall medal count.

Pole Vaulter Elena Isinbayeva won bronze receiving a third straight medal in the event (gold in 2004 and 2008) and the country finished third in total medal count. Interestingly enough, Russia tied for the most medals in gymnastics (eight) and won the most wrestling medals (11).

Still, for as much as Russia accomplished across the board, Maria Sharapova remains their most popular athlete.

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