Normally, nations are more successful in eternal medal statistics at summer games than at winter games. There are two causes. First, there are about three times as many medals in the summer games than in winter to win , and second, the Winter Games are only since 1924, while the modern Olympics began in 1896. While 121 states could win medals in the Summer Games, only 40 are successful in the Winter Games.


Are there nations that were more successful at the Winter Games?
 
Yes, they exist. Liechtenstein, the small state in the Alps, has not won any medal at summer games yet. All medals at Winter Games were won in Alpine Skiing. Even more curious is that 70% of the success goes to the account of a family. The absolute superstar of the country is Hanni Wenzel with 4 medals, 2 of them in gold. Her brother Andreas contributes 2 medals, her daughter Tina Weirather one medal.
 
With 128 medals, Austria is by far the most successful nation in Alpine skiing. The balance of these medals is much better than the eternal medals table of Austria in summer games. Austria's winter athletes have won more than twice as many medals than those in summer sports.
 
Norway, a traditional winter sports nation, is the third nation to do well at winter games. Contrary to the two Alpine countries of Liechtenstein and Austria, Norwegians are traditionally at the top of the Nordic competitions. Their winter balance is more than twice that of summer.