The Great British Olympic Battle Royale
Which part of Team GB reigns supreme?
For 128 years, Team GB has been competing against other nations in the modern Olympic Games.
But what if the regions and nations of Team GB turned against each other? Who would triumph?
At one point in 2012, Yorkshire would have sat 13th on the actual Olympic medal table. We've taken this one giant step further, looking at every British medallist from every modern Olympics to determine which part of Team GB has performed best.
Since the modern Olympics started, the nature of the national team has shifted several times. We've used the current Team GB name, which refers to the Great Britain and Northern Ireland Olympic team. When we've applied this to games before Team GB was used, athletes who would currently come under the Great Britain and Northern Ireland team have been included.
Find out how well your region or nation has done, and see highlights from the last 128 years.
THE ATHLETES
IN THE POOL
In the pool, Scotland has been the most successful nation over the years, thanks largely to Duncan Scott (0.25 gold and 2.7 silver at the 2016 and 2020 games) and Margaret Cooper (two bronze medals at the 1928 games).
How did Duncan Scott win 0.25 of a gold medal? Well, it came from his part in the winning 4x200m freestyle relay team of 2020.
Other stand-out performers include Rebecca Adlington, the East Midlands' most successful Olympian of all time, who won two golds and two bronzes across the 400m and 800m freestyle in 2012 and 2016.
However, historically, the North East of England and Northern Ireland have been stuck in the shallows, having not won any swimming medals.
Looking solely at swimming events, Scotland is the champion. However, it lags behind the North West of England and the East Midlands when it comes to gold medals.
There's a clear winner in the diving pool - the South West of England. Tom Daley (2012, 2016 and 2020), Leon Taylor (2004) and Elizabeth Ferris (1960) have won 0.5 gold. 0.5 silver and 3.5 bronze medals between them.
Did you know?
In Paris 1900 there was a 200m swimming obstacle course, which included climbing a pole hovering above the water and scrambling over and under rows of boats. Scotland's Peter Kemp won bronze, but the race was never repeated.
ATHLETICS
For many, the highlight of the Olympics is the track and field events. Throwing, jumping, sprinting, very fast walking - there is something for everyone.
GB has won medals in 41 different track and field disciplines and has won at least one athletics medal at every modern Olympics.
One of the earliest solo female medallists, Dorothy Manley (pictured below, number 691), came second in the 100m at the 1948 Olympic Games.
Dorothy Manley winning silver at the 1948 games. Credit: Getty Images
Dorothy Manley winning silver at the 1948 games. Credit: Getty Images
London has dominated with 13 gold, 23.75 silver and 17.4 bronze medals. However, the South West won the most medals in hurdles events, while the North West won four of 13 Team GB steeplechase medals.
Team GB's Chef de Mission, Mark England, said:
“As a Welshman whose name is England and who has worked and lived in Scotland, I probably understand the nuances of our nations and regions more than anyone on the team! It’s fantastic, when you look at the spread of medals and locations, as it gives us a really clear picture of the richness of Team GB and the contributions that come from all four corners of the nation.
“Some athletes are just synonymous with where they are from, and I think the regional pride they generate through their performances is one of the great aspects of the Olympic Games. Everyone knows where their local London 2012 gold post-box is, don’t they?"
Team GB athletes born overseas have also seen great success in the athletics. The most successful of all, Mo Farah, was born in Mogadishu and won four gold medals (2012 and 2016).
Mo Farah at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Credit: Getty Images
Mo Farah at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Credit: Getty Images
Dr Jenny Macleod from Hull University said: "Team GB has always been cosmopolitan and competitors have family roots from across the world.
"The very first black British Olympic medallist - a man called Harry Edward - competed in the 100 metres in 1920 and won a bronze medal.
"He actually grew up in in Germany and was interned during the war because he was British. Then he moved to the UK after the war and competed as a sprinter. So he was a real trailblazer for athletes of colour who've been so successful ever since."
ON YOUR BIKE
Team GB has recently seen incredible achievements in track cycling.
Laura Kenny, GB's most successful female Olympian of all time, has won 3.08 gold and 0.2 silver medals (2012, 2016 and 2020).
Laura Kenny at the 2012 Olympics. Credit: Getty Images
Laura Kenny at the 2012 Olympics. Credit: Getty Images
Chris Hoy, Scotland's most successful Olympian, has also starred, and has won 4.67 gold and 0.33 silver medals (2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012).
Dr Macleod said local pride was strong among clubs that had produced Olympians.
"Cycling has got a really good pedigree in Hull, and there have been three Olympians from one club, the Hull Thursday Road Club," she added.
Two of the three won medals - John Kirk, who competed in 1912, and William Holmes, from the 1956 games. Both were part of silver-winning road race teams.
Did you know?
Team GB have won the most track cycling medals of any nation at the Olympics, winning 78 in total. France is second on 68.
BEST OF THE REST
HOCKEY
Giselle Ansley, born in Devon, will be attending her third Olympics this year and said it was "absolutely amazing" to be selected.
"Each time has felt just as special and just as nervewracking."
Team GB have won 13 medals in hockey, the first in 1908 and the most recent in 2020. Players have come from every region and nation in Team GB, apart from the British Crown Dependencies.
"I wasn't selected for county at the start. I played just a token couple of games [at under-18] because I wasn't good enough."
Giselle has now won a gold at the 2016 Olympics and a bronze at the 2020 games.
"Just because you don't get in at the start doesn't mean you won't get in at the end."
ON THE WATER
Team GB has also been consistently successful on the water, winning 147 medals in sailing, rowing and canoeing events.
The South East was particularly successful, with 14.46 medals in rowing, 9.93 in sailing and 8 in canoe sprint events.
In canoe slalom events Scotland have won the most medals, with David Florence collecting silver medals at the 2008, 2012 and 2016 games.
Mark England said: "Obviously, access to facilities dictates where some people start their journey in sport, and it’s no surprise to see that places with access to open water and rivers over-index in those disciplines, for example."
GYMNASTICS
The East of England's most successful sport is artistic gymnastics, in which they have won 8.65 medals.
This is in large part thanks to Max Whitlock (2012, 2016 and 2020) and Louis Smith (2008, 2012 and 2016), who have 8.4 medals between them.
In trampoline gymnastics, the North West's Bryony Page won Team GB's only medals - a silver in 2016 and a bronze in 2020.
THE ONE OFFS
Some more unique events have taken place at the Olympics over the years. Here are some of the sports you won't see at Paris 2024.
Team GB won one medal for cricket, in 1900, with 75% of the team coming from the South West of England. However, the sport will be returning at the 2028 games, along with lacrosse, so there may be the opportunity to build on this previous success.
The tug of war took place at five Olympics between 1900 and 1920, and was only open to men. British teams won 4.75 medals in this time - in 1908, all three podium teams were from Britain!
England beat USA at the 1920 Olympics. Credit: Getty Images
England beat USA at the 1920 Olympics. Credit: Getty Images
Something else that definitely won't feature in Paris are the arts competitions. Covering literature, sculpture and architecture among other disciplines, the arts competitions featured until 1952. Team GB won three gold, five silver and one bronze.
Figure skating has since moved to the Winter Olympics, but briefly featured in the summer games from 1908 to 1920, when Team GB athletes won one gold, two silver and four bronze medals.
THE RESULTS
Credits:
Lead writer and data analyst: Lauren Woodhead
Additional reporting: Jonathan Fagg, Alix Hattenstone and Miguel Roca-Terry
Subeditor: Adam Jones
Editor: Ed Barlow
Graphics: Andy Dicks & Thiago Braz
Images: Getty Images
Main data sources: Team GB, Olympics
Amendment: The orignal version of this article previously discussed Charlotte Dujardin's Olympic medals. This has since been removed due to her recent suspension.