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Great Britain is the name used by the United Kingdom at the Olympic Games. Great Britain was one of 14 nations to compete in the first Games, the 1896 Summer Olympics, and has competed at every Games. British athletes have won 668 medals at the Summer Olympic Games, and another 21 at the Winter Olympic Games. Great Britain 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, even though that constituent country is not geographically in Great Britain.
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 Great Britain or a newly created team, Ireland.
[edit] Hosted Games
The United Kingdom has hosted the Games on two occasions, and is scheduled to host the 2012 Summer Olympics for the third time:
[edit] Summer Games results
See also: All-time Olympic Games medal count
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 |
Total |
|
|
|
188 |
242 |
238 |
668 |
3rd |
[edit] Winter Games results
[edit] Medals by sport
[edit] Archery
[edit] 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 |
1912 |
|
|
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 |
[edit] 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.
The figures from 1972 do not count towards the total as badminton was a demonstration sport.
[edit] Boxing
Great Britain made its Olympic boxing debut in 1908.
[edit] 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 |
[edit] Cycling
[edit] Diving
Great Britain made its Olympic diving debut in 1908.
[edit] Equestrian
Great Britain first competed in the 1912 competition having not competed in the first event held in 1900.
[edit] Fencing
Great Britain won its first fencing medal, a silver, in 1908 at the London Games.
[edit] 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 |
[edit] 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.
Why did Great Britain stop entering a football team into the Olympics? [1]
In 1974 the FA Council abolished the official distinction between "amateur" and "professional" footballers in England. This put an end to the practice of "shamateurism", whereby players claimed to be amateur but still received irregular payments from their clubs. At that time the Olympics were only open to amateur sportsmen and women, so the British Associations were no longer able to enter a football team.
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 |
[edit] 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 |
[edit] 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 |
[edit] 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 |
[edit] 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 |
[edit] 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 |
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 |
[edit] 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 |
[edit] 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 |
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 |
[edit] Sailing
Britain took five gold medals in the first Olympic sailing events, in 1900.
[edit] 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 |
|
[edit] 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 |
|
[edit] 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).
[edit] 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 |
- |
[edit] 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 |
[edit] 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 |
[edit] 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 |
— |
[edit] 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 |
[edit] 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 |
[edit] See also
[edit] References
Nations that have competed at the Olympic Games |
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Africa |
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America |
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Asia |
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Europe |
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Oceania |
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