The Baltic states have won more medals per capita than virtually any other nations taking part in the Olympics

The Baltic states have won more medals per capita than virtually any other nations taking part in the Olympics, leading Australia's Bureau of Statistics to rank them as among the most successful Olympic participants. Lithuania (pop. 3.7 million) has been particularly successful, winning two gold medals and a bronze by September 25, with a week left to go in the Sydney Games. Lithuania was 24th in the medal standings as of Monday. All the other countries above it had larger populations, many of them by ten or twenty fold. Among much larger nations that came after Lithuania in the standings were Canada, Brazil, Turkey, Indonesia, South Africa and India. Discus thrower Virgilijus Alekna won Lithuania's latest gold. A Lithuanian also won gold in a shooting competition and the country secured a bronze in rowing. Latvia (pop. 2.5 million) and Estonia (1.4 million) also fared well. Gymnast Igors Vihrovs won Latvia's first gold since the country regained independence in 1991, while Latvia's other medal came in judo. Estonia's two bronze medals were also in judo. Several Baltic athletes and teams were in the running for more medals, including Lithuania's basketball team. The Lithuanians already made history this week by becoming the only team to lead an American Dream Team, made up of NBA stars, at half-time in an Olympics match-up. Lithuania eventually lost 85-76.