CREATE TABLE table_204_979 (id DECIMAL, "place" DECIMAL, "nation" TEXT, "5 hoops" TEXT, "3 balls , \ 2 ribbons" TEXT, "total" DECIMAL)

what country had the least in the 5 hoops category
SELECT "nation" FROM table_204_979 ORDER BY "5 hoops" LIMIT 1
SELECT "nation" FROM "table_204_979" ORDER BY "5 hoops" NULLS FIRST LIMIT 1