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Great Britain at the Olympics

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Template:Infobox Olympics Great Britain Great Britain is the name used by the United Kingdom at the Olympic Games. The United Kingdom was one of 14 nations to compete in the first Games, the 1896 Summer Olympics, and has competed at every Games. Athletes representing the UK have won 669 medals at the Summer Olympic Games, and another 21 at the Winter Olympic Games. The United Kingdom is the only nation to have won at least one gold medal at every Summer Games.

The Great Britain team includes athletes from Northern Ireland because, while Northern Ireland is not geographically on Great Britain, it is a constituent country of the United Kingdom.

The name was assigned by the International Olympic Committee for the 1908 Summer Olympics along with the IOC country code GBR despite including athletes from Ireland, which was part of the UK, but not part of Great Britain.

An attempt was made to gain "separate nation" status for Irish athletes in 1906 but was stopped by Prince George of Greece and Denmark. From the 1924 Summer Olympics, following the secession of the majority of Ireland from the United Kingdom, and the partition of Ireland, athletes from Northern Ireland, which remained a part of the United Kingdom, could choose to represent either the UK or a newly created team, Ireland.

Hosted Games

London, the United Kingdom's capital, has hosted the Games on two occasions, and is scheduled to host the 2012 Summer Olympics:

Games Dates Nations
1908 Summer Olympics April 27October 31 22
1948 Summer Olympics July 29August 14 59
2012 Summer Olympics July 27August 12 204 estimate

Summer Games results

Year Sports Competitors Events Medals Rank
Gold Silver Bronze Total
1896 7 10 14 2 3 2 7 5th
1900 14 110 35 15 6 9 30 3rd
1904 1 3 2 1 1 0 2 6th
1908 24 735 110 56 51 39 146 1st
1912 10 15 16 41 3rd
1920 15 15 13 43 3rd
1924 9 13 12 34 4th
1928 3 10 7 20 11th
1932 4 7 5 16 8th
1936 4 7 3 14 10th
1948 3 14 6 23 12th
1952 1 2 8 11 18th
1956 6 7 11 24 8th
1960 2 6 12 20 12th
1964 4 12 2 18 10th
1968 5 5 3 13 10th
1972 4 5 9 18 12th
1976 3 5 5 13 13th
1980 5 7 9 21 9th
1984 5 11 21 37 11th
1988 5 10 9 24 12th
1992 5 3 12 20 13th
1996 1 8 6 15 36th
2000 11 10 7 28 10th
2004 9 9 12 30 10th
2008 20 313 2 - 1 - -
Total 189 242 238 669 3rd

Winter Games results

1924 Chamonix 1 1 2 4
1928 St. Moritz 0 0 1 1
1932 Lake Placid 0 0 0 0
1936 Garmisch-Partenkirchen 1 1 1 3
1948 St. Moritz 0 0 2 2
1952 Oslo 1 0 0 1
1956 Cortina d'Ampezzo 0 0 0 0
1960 Squaw Valley 0 0 0 0
1964 Innsbruck 1 0 0 1
1968 Grenoble 0 0 0 0
1972 Sapporo 0 0 0 0
1976 Innsbruck 1 0 0 1
1980 Lake Placid 1 0 0 1
1984 Sarajevo 1 0 0 1
1988 Calgary 0 0 0 0
1992 Albertville 0 0 0 0
1994 Lillehammer 0 0 2 2
1998 Nagano 0 0 1 1
2002 Salt Lake City 1 0 1 2
2006 Turin 0 1 0 1
Total 8 3 10 21

Medals by sport

Athletics 48 76 60 184
Rowing 22 18 8 48
Sailing 20 13 10 43
Tennis 15 13 12 40
Swimming 13 20 26 59
Boxing 13 11 21 45
Shooting 12 15 16 43
Cycling 10 20 19 49
Equestrian 6 9 10 25
Figure skating 5 3 7 15
Water polo 4 0 0 4
Wrestling 3 4 10 17
Field hockey 3 2 5 10
Football 3 0 0 3
Polo 2 3 1 6
Archery 2 2 5 9
Rackets 2 2 3 7
Tug of war 2 2 1 5
Modern pentathlon 2 0 3 5
Curling 2 0 0 2
Water motorsports 2 0 0 2
Fencing 1 8 0 9
Weightlifting 1 3 3 7
Bobsleigh 1 1 2 4
Ice hockey 1 0 1 2
Cricket 1 0 0 1
Judo 0 7 9 16
Canoeing 0 3 3 6
Diving 0 2 4 6
Rugby 0 2 0 2
Skeleton 0 1 3 4
Gymnastics 0 1 2 3
Badminton 0 1 1 2
Golf 0 1 1 2
Jeu de paume 0 1 1 2
Lacrosse 0 1 0 1
Short track speed skating 0 0 1 1
Total 196 245 248 689

Archery

Year Medals Rank
Gold Silver Bronze Total
1900 Did not compete
1904
1908 2 2 1 5 1st
1920 0 0 0 0 -
1972 0 0 0 0 -
1976 0 0 0 0 -
1980 0 0 0 0 -
1984 0 0 0 0 -
1988 0 0 1 1 4th
1992 0 0 2 2 6th
1996 0 0 0 0 -
2000 0 0 0 0 -
2004 0 0 1 1 6th
Total 2 2 5 9 5th

Athletics

Year Athletes Events Medals Rank
Gold Silver Bronze Total
1896 5 5 0 1 1 2 5th
1900 9 10 4 3 2 9 2nd
1904 3 2 1 1 0 2 2nd
1908 126 25 7 7 3 17 2nd
1912 2 1 5 8 4th
1920 4 4 4 12 3rd
1924 3 3 5 11 3rd
1928 2 2 1 5 4th
1932 1 4 2 7 5th
1936 2 5 0 7 4th
1948 0 6 1 7 14th
1952 1 1 4 6 5th
1956 1 4 2 7 4th
1960 1 3 4 8 6th
1964 4 7 1 12 3rd
1968 1 2 1 4 9th
1972 1 1 2 4 7th
1976 0 0 1 1 20th
1980 4 2 4 10 3rd
1984 3 7 6 16 3rd
1988 0 6 2 8 13th
1992 2 0 4 6 6th
1996 0 4 2 6 25th
2000 2 2 2 6 6th
2004 3 0 1 4 3rd
Total 45 80 60 185 3rd

Badminton

Great Britain has competed in all Badminton events held at the Summer Olympics since badminton made its full debut as an Olympic sport in 1992.

Year Players Events Medals Rank
Gold Silver Bronze Total
1972 (demonstration) 6 3 1 0 3 4 2nd
1976-1988 No Competition
1992 12 4 0 0 0 0 -
1996 22 5 0 0 0 0 -
2000 16 5 0 0 1 1 5th
2004 13 5 0 1 0 1 4th
Total 65 19 0 1 1 2 6th

The figures from 1972 do not count towards the total as badminton was a demonstration sport.

Boxing

Great Britain made its Olympic boxing debut in 1908.

Year Boxers Events Medals Rank
Gold Silver Bronze Total
1896 No Competition
1904 Did not compete
1908 32 5 5 4 5 14 1st
1912 No Competition
1920 2 1 3 6 2nd
1924 2 3 0 5 2nd
1928 0 0 0 0 -
1932 0 0 0 0 -
1936 0 0 0 0 -
1948 0 2 0 2 6th
1952 0 0 0 0 -
1956 2 1 2 5 1st
1960 0 0 3 3 9th
1964 0 0 0 0 -
1968 1 0 0 1 5th
1972 0 0 3 3 15th
1976 0 0 1 1 10th
1980 0 0 1 1 11th
1984 0 0 1 1 14th
1988 0 0 1 1 15th
1992 0 0 1 1 15th
1996 0 0 0 0 -
2000 1 0 0 1 7th
2004 0 1 0 1 8th
Total 13 12 20 45 5th

Cricket

Great Britain and Ireland was one of only two nations to compete in the only Olympic cricket match, in 1900. The team won, making them the only nation to win an Olympic cricket contest and the only Olympic gold medallists in cricket.

Year Cricketers Events Medals Rank
Gold Silver Bronze Total
1900 12 1 1 0 0 1 1st

Cycling

Year Cyclists Events Medals Rank
Gold Silver Bronze Total
1896 2 4 0 1 1 2 4th
1900 Did not compete
1904
1908 38 7 5 3 1 9 1st
1912 0 2 0 2 3rd
1920 1 3 1 5 1st
1924 0 1 1 2 5th
1928 0 3 1 4 5th
1932 0 1 1 2 5th
1936 0 0 1 1 6th
1948 0 3 2 5 4th
1952 0 0 1 1 6th
1956 0 1 2 3 5th
1960 0 0 0 0 -
1964 0 0 0 0 -
1968 0 0 0 0 -
1972 0 0 1 1 11th
1976 0 0 1 1 12th
1980 0 0 0 0 -
1984 0 0 0 0 -
1988 0 0 0 0 -
1992 1 0 0 1 4th
1996 0 0 2 2 12th
2000 1 1 2 4 6th
2004 2 1 1 4 3rd
2008 25 4 1 0 0 0 -
Total 11 20 19 49

Diving

Great Britain made its Olympic diving debut in 1908.

Year Divers Events Medals Rank
Gold Silver Bronze Total
1904 Did not compete
1908 16 2 0 0 0 0
1912 0 0 1 1 3rd
1920 0 1 0 1 4th
1924 0 0 1 1 4th
1928 0 0 0 0 -
1932 Did not compete
1936 0 0 0 0 -
1948 0 0 0 0 -
1952 0 0 0 0 -
1956 0 0 0 0 -
1960 0 0 2 2 3rd
1964 6 0 0 0 0 -
1968 5 0 0 0 0 -
1972 8 0 0 0 0 -
1976 4 0 0 0 0 -
1980 6 0 0 0 0 -
1984 6 0 0 0 0 -
1988 5 0 0 0 0 -
1992 4 0 0 0 0 -
1996 5 0 0 0 0 -
2000 8 0 0 0 0 -
2004 7 0 1 0 0 6th
Total 0 2 4 6 16th

Equestrian

Great Britain first competed in the 1912 competition having not competed in the first event held in 1900.

Year Fencers Events Medals Rank
Gold Silver Bronze Total
1912 0 0 0 0
1920 0 0 0 0
1924 0 0 0 0
1928 0 0 0 0
1932 0 0 0 0
1936 0 0 1 1 7th
1948 0 0 1 1 7th
1952 1 0 0 1 3rd
1956 1 0 2 3 3rd
1960 0 0 1 1 7th
1964 0 0 1 1 8th
1968 1 2 1 4 1st
1972 2 1 0 3 2nd
1976 0 0 0 0 -
1980 0 0 0 0 -
1984 0 2 1 3 4th
1988 0 2 1 3 4th
1992 0 0 0 0 -
1996 0 0 0 0 -
2000 0 1 0 1 5th
2004 1 1 1 3 3rd
Total 6 9 10 25


Fencing

Great Britain won its first fencing medal, a silver, in 1908 at the London Games.

Year Fencers Events Medals Rank
Gold Silver Bronze Total
1896 1 1 0 0 0 0
1900 1 1 0 0 0 0
1904 Did not compete
1908 23 4 0 1 0 1 3rd
1912 0 1 0 1 5th
1920 0 0 0 0 -
1924 0 1 0 1 6th
1928 0 1 0 1 5th
1932 0 1 0 1 6th
1936 0 0 0 0 -
1948 0 0 0 0 -
1952 0 0 0 0 -
1956 1 0 0 1 4th
1960 0 2 0 2 5th
1964 0 0 1 1 7th
1968 0 0 0 0 -
1972 0 0 0 0 -
1976 0 0 0 0 -
1980 0 0 0 0 -
1984 0 0 0 0 -
1988 0 0 0 0 -
1992 0 0 0 0 -
1996 0 0 0 0 -
2000 0 0 0 0 -
2004 0 0 0 0 -
Total 1 7 1 9

Figure skating

Great Britain hosted the first Olympic figure skating contests in 1908.

Year Skaters Events Medals Rank
Gold Silver Bronze Total
1908 11 4 1 2 3 6 1st

Football

Great Britain and Ireland - now represented separately by Team Ireland and Team Great Britain - was one of three nations to play in the inaugural football tournament, winning their only match to take the first Olympic gold medal in football. They competed in the nine Olympics in the table below.

Year Footballers Events Medals Rank
Gold Silver Bronze Total
1896 No competition
1900 11 1 1 0 0 1 1st
1904 Did not compete
1908 11 1 1 0 0 1 1st
1912 1 0 0 1 1st
1920 0 0 0 0 -
1924 Did not compete
1928
1932 No Competition
1936 0 0 0 0 -
1948 0 0 0 0 -
1952 0 0 0 0 -
1956 0 0 0 0 -
1960 0 0 0 0 -
1964-2004 Did not compete
Total 3 0 0 3 2nd

In 1974 the FA abolished the distinction between "amateur" and "professional" footballers in England. This ended the practice of "shamateurism", where players claimed to be amateur but still got irregular payments from their clubs. At that time the Olympics were only open to amateur competitors, so the British Associations were no longer able to enter a football team.[1] Also, the Great Britain is not a member of FIFA and its athletes participate in international football competitions as members of the national teams of the home nations (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland), none of which have National Olympic Committees. As a result Great Britiain usually does not participate in Olympic qualifying tournaments.

Golf

Great Britain was one of four nations to play golf at the first Olympic golf events in 1900. They did not compete in the only other Olympic golf competition held in 1904.

Year Golfers Events Medals Rank
Gold Silver Bronze Total
1900 4 1 0 1 1 2 2nd
1904 Did not compete
Total 4 1 0 1 1 2 3rd

Gymnastics

Great Britain's first gymnastics medal came in 1908 with a silver in the men's individual all-around. Great Britain's last medal for gymnastics was a Bronze in the Women's all-round team event in 1928.

Year Gymnasts Events Medals Rank
Gold Silver Bronze Total
1896 1 1 0 0 0 0
1900 5 1 0 0 0 0
1904 Did not compete
1908 65 2 0 1 0 1 3rd
1912 23 0 0 1 1 8th
1920 27 0 0 0 0 -
1924 27 0 0 0 0 -
1928 0 0 1 1 6th
Total 0 1 2 3 33rd

Hockey

Great Britain's hosted the first Olympic field hockey tournament in 1908.

Year Players Events Medals Rank
Gold Silver Bronze Total
1908 45 1 1 1 2 4 1st
1912 No hockey tournament
1920 1 1 0 0 1 1st
1924 No hockey tournament
1928 Did not compete
1932 0 0 0 0 -
1936 Did not compete
1948 1 0 1 0 1 2nd
1952 1 0 0 1 1 2nd
1956 0 0 0 0 -
1960 0 0 0 0 -
1964 1 0 0 0 0 -
1968 0 0 0 0 -
1972 1 0 0 0 0 -
1976 Did not compete
1980
1984 0 0 1 1 4th
1988 2 1 0 0 1 2nd
1992 0 0 0 1 4th
1996 2 0 0 0 0 -
2000 2 0 0 0 0 -
2004 1 0 0 0 0 -
Total 3 2 5 10 5th

Jeu de paume

Great Britain hosted the only Olympic jeu de paume tournament in 1908.

Year Players Events Medals Rank
Gold Silver Bronze Total
1908 9 1 0 1 1 2 2nd

Lacrosse

Great Britain's Olympic lacrosse debut was in 1908.

Year Players Events Medals Rank
Gold Silver Bronze Total
1908 12 1 0 1 0 1 2nd

Modern Pentathlon

Great Britain's Olympic modern pentathlon debut was in 1912 when the it was first included in the Olympics. When the women's event was added in 2000 Great Britain won the gold and bronze medals.

Year Players Events Medals Rank
Gold Silver Bronze Total
1912 3 1 0 0 0 0 -
1920 4 1 0 0 0 0 -
1924 0 0 0 0 -
1928 0 0 0 0 -
1932 3 1 0 0 0 0 -
1936 0 0 0 0 -
1948 0 0 0 0 -
1952 0 0 0 0 -
1956 0 0 0 0 -
1960 0 0 0 0 -
1964 0 0 0 0 -
1968 3 2 0 0 0 0 -
1972 3 2 0 0 0 0 -
1976 3 2 1 0 0 1 1st
1980 3 2 0 0 0 0 -
1984 3 2 0 0 0 0 -
1988 3 2 0 0 1 1 3rd
1992 3 2 0 0 0 0 -
1996 1 1 0 0 0 0 -
2000 2 1 1 0 1 2 1st
2004 1 1 0 0 1 1 5th
Total 2 0 3 5 7th

Polo

Great Britain was one of four nations to compete in the debut of Olympic polo. Three of the five teams had British players, and those three teams took both the top two places and split the third place with the Mexican team.

Year Players Events Medals Rank
Gold Silver Bronze Total
1900 7 1 1 1 1 3 1st
1904 No competition
1908 12 1 1 2 0 3 1st
1912 No competition
1920 1 0 0 1 1st
1924 0 0 1 1 3rd
1928-1932 No competition
1936 0 1 0 1 2nd
1948-2008 No competition
Total 3 4 2 9 1st

Rackets

Great Britain hosted the only Olympic rackets tournament, in 1908.

Year Players Events Medals Rank
Gold Silver Bronze Total
1908 7 2 2 2 3 7 1st

Rowing

Britain took a bronze medal in the first Olympic rowing competition, in 1900.

Year Rowers Events Medals Rank
Gold Silver Bronze Total
1900 1 1 0 0 1 1 6th
1904 Did not compete
1908 30 4 4 3 1 8 1st
1912 24 3 2 2 0 4 1st
1920 0 2 0 2 4th
1924 2 0 0 2 3rd
1928 1 2 1 4 2nd
1932 2 0 0 2 2nd
1936 1 1 0 2 2nd
1948 2 1 0 3 1st
1952 0 0 0 0 -
1956 0 0 0 0 -
1960 0 0 0 0 -
1964 0 1 0 1 7th
1968 0 0 0 0 -
1972 0 0 0 0 -
1976 0 2 0 2 7th
1980 0 1 2 3 6th
1984 1 0 0 1 5th
1988 1 0 1 2 5th
1992 2 0 0 2 4th
1996 1 0 1 2 7th
2000 2 1 0 3 3rd
2004 1 2 1 4 3rd
Total 21 17 8 46 3rd

Rugby

Britain took a silver medal in the first Olympic rugby competition, in 1900.

Year Players Events Medals Rank
Gold Silver Bronze Total
1896 No competition
1900 15 1 0 1 0 1 2nd
1904 No competition
1908 15 1 0 1 0 1 2nd
1912 No competition
1920-1924 Did not compete
1928-2008 No competition
Total 30 1 0 2 0 2 4th

Sailing

Britain took five gold medals in the first Olympic sailing events, in 1900.

Year Sailors Events Medals Rank
Gold Silver Bronze Total
1896 No competition
1900 8 8 5 0 1 6 2nd
1904 No competition
1908 40 4 4 1 1 6 1st
1912 Did not compete
1920 2 0 0 2 4th
1924 0 1 0 1 3rd
1928 0 0 0 0 -
1932 0 1 0 1 5th
1936 1 0 1 2 2nd
1948 1 0 0 1 3rd
1952 0 1 0 1 6th
1956 0 1 2 3 5th
1960 0 0 0 0 -
1964 0 1 0 1 8th
1968 1 0 1 2 2nd
1972 1 1 0 2 2nd
1976 1 1 0 2 2nd
1980 0 0 0 0 -
1984 0 0 1 1 8th
1988 1 0 0 1 5th
1992 0 0 1 1 9th
1996 0 2 0 2 9th
2000 3 2 0 5 1st
2004 2 1 2 5 1st
Total 20 13 10 43 1st

Shooting

Great Britain's first shooting medals came when the nation hosted the 1908 Games, at which the British shooters dominated the competitions.

Year Shooters Events Medals Rank
Gold Silver Bronze Total
1896 2 4 0 0 0 0
1900 1 1 0 0 0 0
1904 Sport not held
1908 67 15 6 7 8 21 1st
1912 1 4 4 9 4th
1920 0 0 0 0 -
1924 1 2 0 3 3rd
1928 Sport not held
1932 0 0 0 0 -
1936 0 0 0 0 -
1948 0 0 0 0 -
1952 0 0 0 0 -
1956 0 0 0 0 -
1960 0 0 0 0 -
1964 0 0 0 0 -
1968 1 0 0 1 4th
1972 0 0 1 1 16th
1976 0 0 0 0 -
1980 0 0 0 0 -
1984 1 0 3 4 5th
1988 1 1 0 2 4th
1992 0 0 0 0 -
1996 0 0 0 0 -
2000 1 1 0 2 6th
2004 0 0 0 0 -
Total 12 15 16 43

Swimming

Great Britain was the most successful nation in swimming in 1900, its debut in the sport. Jarvis's pair of gold medals and Kemp's bronze made Britain's first outing a successful one.

Year Swimmers Events Medals Rank
Gold Silver Bronze Total
1900 7 5 2 0 1 3 1st
1904 Did not compete
1908 28 6 4 2 1 7 1st
1912 1 2 3 6 5th
1920 0 1 1 2 3rd
1924 1 2 1 4 2nd
1928 0 2 2 4 7th
1932 0 0 2 2 6th
1936 0 0 0 0 -
1948 0 0 1 1 7th
1952 0 0 1 1 9th
1956 1 0 1 2 4th
1960 1 1 1 3 3rd
1964 0 1 0 1 6th
1968 0 1 0 1 9th
1972 0 1 0 1 10th
1976 1 1 1 3 5th
1980 1 3 1 5 4th
1984 0 1 4 5 6th
1988 1 1 1 3 5th
1992 0 0 1 1 16th
1996 0 1 1 2 12th
2000 0 0 0 0 -
2004 0 0 2 2 18th
Total 13 20 26 59

Tennis

John Pius Boland dominated the 1896 tennis tournaments. Tennis in 1896 was a sport which allowed mixed teams, and both Boland and George S. Robertson joined partners from other nations to win their medals. Britain again dominated in 1900, taking all four gold medals and adding 7 other medals (3 as part of mixed teams).

Year Players Events Medals Rank
Gold Silver Bronze Total
1896 2 1 1 0 0 1 2nd
1900 6 4 4 1 3 8 1st
1904 Did not compete
1908 22 6 6 5 4 15 1st
1912 2 2 2 6 2nd
1920 2 3 1 6 1st
1924 0 1 2 3 3rd
1924-1964 No competition held
1968 (demonstration) Did not compete
1972-1980 No competition held
1984 (demonstration) 0 0 0 0 -
1988 0 0 0 0 -
1992 0 0 0 0 -
1996 0 1 0 1 5th
2000 0 0 0 0 -
2004 0 0 0 0 -
Total 15 13 12 40 2nd

Triathlon

Great Britain have competed in the first two triathlon competitions held in 2000 and 2004. As yet Great Britain has failed to win a medal, there best finish is a 6th place in the women's triathlon in 2004.

Year Athletes Events Medals Rank
Gold Silver Bronze Total
2000 6 2 0 0 0 0 -
2004 6 2 0 0 0 0 -
Total 12 4 0 0 0 0 -

Tug of war

Great Britain's Olympic tug of war debut came when the nation hosted the Games in 1908. Great Britain were then one of only 2 teams to compete in 1912 and they also won the last Tug of War competition held in the Olympics in 1920.

Year Athletes Events Medals Rank
Gold Silver Bronze Total
1908 24 1 1 1 1 3 1st
1912 8 1 0 1 0 1 2nd
1920 11 1 1 0 0 1 1st
1924-present No Competition
Total 43 3 2 2 1 5 1st

Water motorsports

Great Britain hosted the only Olympic water motorsports contests, in 1908.

Year Athletes Events Medals Rank
Gold Silver Bronze Total
1908 13 3 2 0 0 2 1st

Water polo

Year Players Events Medals Rank
Gold Silver Bronze Total
1900 8 1 1 0 1 2 1st
1904 Did not compete
1908 7 1 1 0 0 1 1st
Total 2 0 1 3

Weightlifting

Year Weight-
lifters
Events Medals Rank
Gold Silver Bronze Total
1896 1 2 1 1 0 2 1st
1900 Sport not held
1904 Did not compete
1908 Sport not held

Wrestling

Year Wrestlers Events Medals Rank
Gold Silver Bronze Total
1896 1 1 0 0 0 0
1900 Sport not held
1904 Did not compete
1908 53 9 3 4 4 11 1st

See also

References

  • "Olympic Medal Winners". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 2007-10-10.
  • "British Olympic Committee". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 2007-10-10.