Most Efficient Country at the Olympics?

With the Games of the XXX Olympiad underway, this week’s edition of The Economist’s daily chart features an analysis of the Olympics’ most successful countries.  The magazine established its rankings based on the number of competitors per medal won.  The most successful country – though it is now nonexistent – was East Germany.  The communist nation undertook effective but controversial training methods; however, the country’s practices yielded a highly competitive team, and its 3.3 medals per competitor topped the rankings.  The Soviet Union placed second, with 3.4 medals per competitor.  The U.S., though easily boasting the highest medal count of 2,292 total medals, ranked third with 4.1 medals per competitor.