Why doesn't Luxembourg win medals at the Olympics?

"Luxembourg is too small to focus on medals, so I prefer to talk about the top 10 or top 20," said Raymond Conzemius, head of the Luxembourg delegation to the Paris Olympics. The Grand Duchy has not won an Olympic medal since Josy Barthel in 1952. With a population of 672,000, almost half of whom do not have Luxembourgish citizenship, the country has limited talent.

But population is not the only factor in success. For example, the small island of Sainte-Lucie, with a population of only 180,000, won two medals at the Paris Olympics, one gold and one silver, thanks to sprinter Julien Alfred. This shows that specialization and culture in a particular discipline can bring results. The Netherlands, with a population of 17 million, has already won 24 medals, while Switzerland, with 9 million, and Ireland, with 5 million, have each won 7 medals, with the Irish winning 4 gold medals.

Conzemius emphasizes that despite its small size, Luxembourg has made significant progress, but other European countries are still ahead. It is important to develop the link between sport and the education system and to promote professionalization. The example of the USA, the medal leader, shows how investment in sport can lead to high performance. Luxembourg's athletes, despite lacking such resources, still have the opportunity to participate in international competitions and improve their position.

Investment in sport brings results when combined with talent. For example, Patrizia van der Weken, one of Europe's top sprinters, was close to reaching the Olympic final in the ultra-competitive 100 meters. Conzemius is confident that if you focus on long-term performance rather than just hoping for success, a medal is sure to come.