France at the Olympics

Last updated
France at the
Olympics
Flag of France.svg
IOC code FRA
NOC French National Olympic and Sports Committee
Website www.franceolympique.com  (in French)
Medals
Ranked 6th
Gold
280
Silver
319
Bronze
354
Total
953
Summer appearances
Winter appearances
Other related appearances
1906 Intercalated Games

The modern Olympic Games were founded by French historian Pierre de Coubertin. France has competed in every edition (both Summer and Winter), with the possible exception of the 1904 Games (as sources disagree about whether athlete Albert Corey competed for the United States or France [1] [2] ).

Contents

Through the Paris 2024 Games, French athletes had won 815 medals at the Summer Olympic Games in a wide variety of sports, achieving particular success in fencing and cycling. France has won an additional 138 medals at the Winter Olympic Games, notably in alpine skiing.

The record for titles at the Olympic Games is held by biathlete Martin Fourcade with five gold medals at the Winter Games and judoka Teddy Riner with five gold medals at the Summer Games, while the record for podiums is held by fencers Philippe Cattiau and Roger Ducret, in the 1920s-1930s with eight medals each, Martin Fourcade and Teddy Riner following with seven medals each (two silver in addition to these five titles for the former and two bronze for the latter), ahead of three other fencers, Lucien Gaudin, Christian d'Oriola and Philippe Riboud (six medals).

Hosted Games

France location map-Regions and departements-2016.svg
Red pog.svg
1900 , 1924 , 2024
French host cities of the Olympic Games

In June 1894, during the first Olympic Congress in Paris, on the initiative of Pierre de Coubertin, it was decided to resume the Olympic Games and to found the IOC. In 1900, Paris hosted the second modern Summer Olympic Games, which took place as part of the World Exhibition. The Olympics were held there in Paris a second time in 1924 and a third time in 2024. This makes Paris, together with London, the current record city host, to which Los Angeles will also be added with its third hosting of the Summer Olympics in 2028. In total, France has hosted the Olympic games on six ocassions and is scheduled to host a seventh with the 2030 Winter Olympics in the French Alps.

GamesHost cityDatesNationsParticipantsEvents
1900 Summer Olympics Paris 14 May – 28 October2499795
1924 Winter Olympics Chamonix 25 January – 4 February1625816
1924 Summer Olympics Paris5 – 27 July443,089126
1968 Winter Olympics Grenoble 6 – 18 February371,15835
1992 Winter Olympics Albertville 4 – 23 February641,80157
2024 Summer Olympics Paris26 July – 11 August20610,714329
2030 Winter Olympics French Alps 1 – 17 FebruaryTBCTBCTBC

Overview of Olympic participation

Best results in non-medaling sports:

Summer
SportRankAthleteEvent & Year
Badminton pictogram.svg  Badminton 5th Hongyan Pi Women's singles in 2008
Volleyball (beach) pictogram.svg  Beach volleyball 9th Anabelle Prawerman &
Cécile Rigaux
Women's tournament in 2000
Field hockey pictogram.svg  Field hockey 4th France men's team Men's tournament in 1920
Men's tournament in 1932
Gymnastics (rhythmic) pictogram.svg  Rhythmic gymnastics 6th Aïnhoa Dot-Espinosa
Manelle Inaho
Célia Joseph-Noël
Justine Lavit
Lozéa Vilarino
Women's group in 2024
Golf pictogram.svg  Golf 4th Victor Perez Men's individual in 2024
Gymnastics (trampoline) pictogram.svg  Trampoline gymnastics 4th David Martin Men's individual in 2000
Skateboarding pictogram.svg  Skateboarding 4th Vincent Milou Men's street in 2020
Climbing pictogram.svg  Sport climbing 5th Mickaël Mawem Men's combined in 2020
Winter
SportRankAthleteEvent & Year
Ice hockey pictogram.svg  Ice hockey 5th France men's team Men's tournament in 1924
Men's tournament in 1928
Luge pictogram.svg  Luge 11th Georges Tresallet &
Ion Pervilhac
Men's doubles in 1968
Short track speed skating pictogram.svg  Short track speed skating 5th Marc Bella
Arnaud Drouet
Rémi Ingres
Claude Nicouleau
Men's 5000 metre relay in 1992
Bruno Loscos Men's 1500 metres in 2002
Stéphanie Bouvier
Min Kyung Choi
Myrtille Gollin
Céline Lecompére
Women's 3000 metre relay in 2006
Jean Charles Mattei
Benjamin Macé
Thibaut Fauconnet
Maxime Chataignier
Jeremy Masson
Men's 5000 metre relay in 2010
Skeleton pictogram.svg  Skeleton 14th Philippe Cavoret Men's individual in 2006
Speed skating pictogram.svg  Speed skating 4th Hans van Helden Men's 1500 metres in 1984
Alexis Contin Men's 10000 metres in 2010

Summary by sport

Aquatics

Artistic Swimming

France's only artistic swimming medal came in the Women's duet at the 2000 Summer Olympics.

GamesSwimmersEventsGoldSilverBronzeTotal
2000 Sydney 92/20011
Total0011

Diving

France's only diving medal came in the women's three-metre springboard in 1952.

GamesDiversEventsGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1952 Helsinki 44/40101
Total0101

Swimming

France first competed in swimming at the Paris 1900 Games, with 47 swimmers, taking five medals, including one Gold.

GamesSwimmersEventsGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1900 477/71225
1932 55/110101
1948 1711/110022
1952 1611/111113
1964 168/180101
1968 16 ?/290011
1984 1615/290112
1988 2529/310022
1992 2525/310033
2000 1922/320101
2004 2123/321236
2008 3527/341236
2012 3124/344217
2016 3024/340213
2020 2828/370101
2024 3330/374127
Total12172251

Water Polo

France was a winner of 1924 tournament, and have twice more finished third.

GamesWater polo playersEventsGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1900 Paris 111/10011
1924 Paris 111/11001
1928 Amsterdam 91/10011
Total1023

Archery

France competed in archery in its first Olympic appearance in Paris 1900. The French team there took 13 of the 20 medals, including gold in 4 of the 7 events.

GamesArchersEventsGoldSilverBronzeTotalRank
1900 1297454131
1904 Did not compete
1908 15311132
1912 No competition
1920 81014162
1924-1968 Did not compete
1972 520000-
1976 220000-
1980 Did not compete
1984 220000-
1988 640000-
1992 6410012
1996 440000-
2000 540000-
2004 640000-
2008 5400115
2012 440000-
2016 3401013
2020 450000-
2024 6501122
Total 7128274

Athletics

France first competed in athletics at the inaugural 1896 Games, winning a silver and a bronze. The nation's first gold medal in the sport is a disputed one; Michel Théato was Luxembourgish but living in Paris; his win in the 1900 marathon is credited to France by the International Olympic Committee, which rejected a petition by Luxembourg to change the Olympic record of Théato's nationality. [3]

GamesAthletesEventsGoldSilverBronzeTotalRank
1896 59/120112
1900 2318/231427
1976 37100111
1980 2528001116
1984 214111249
1988 5542001118
1992 5743100113
1996 494430144
2000 53460000-
2004 6146002233
2008 5257012327
2012 5247111312
2016 5447033621
2020 6148010131
2024 9048010131
Total1427297016

Basque pelota

In the only appearance of basque pelota as a medal sport at the Olympics in 1900, the French team (one of only two teams to enter) withdrew shortly before the competition started, and the match was not played. The Spanish pair is credited with the gold medal. [4] [5]

GamesPlayersEventsGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1900 Paris 21/10000
Total0000

Cricket

France is one of two nations to have competed in the only Olympic cricket competition, in 1900. The French team lost to a British team, taking second place.

GamesPlayersEventsGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1900 Paris 121/10101
Total0101

Croquet

France was the only nation to compete in the only Olympic croquet competitions, in 1900.

GamesPlayersEventsGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1900 Paris 103/33227
Total3227

Cycling

France first competed in cycling in 1896, winning four of the six cycling events—all of the events which France contested. France has won more gold medals (41) and total medals (91) in the sport than any other nation.

GamesCyclistsEventsGoldSilverBronzeTotalRank
1896 Athens 24/64116
2004 221811136
2008 281823162
2012 231813043
2016 2118001118
2020 3022002221
2024 312233391
Total 41272391

Equestrian

France has won the third-most gold medals and fourth-most total medals in equestrian sports. The nation hosted the first equestrian events in Paris 1900, winning gold medals in two of the five events.

GamesRidersEventsGoldSilverBronzeTotalRank
1900 39522482
1912 4511132
1920 12702024
1924 12500116
1928 9602025
1932 3521031
1936 9601012
1948 621141
1952 611132
1956 60000-
1960 7500117
1964 611023
1968 611024
1972 60000-
1976 610014
1980 Did not compete
1984 1160000-
1988 12611132
1992 12600117
1996 600117
2000 1060000-
2004 9610014
2008 760000-
2012 1060000-
2016 12621032
2020 9600116
2024 9601123
Total 151614373

Fencing

France has won the second-most gold medals and second-most total medals in fencing, in each case behind Italy.

YearFencersEventsGoldSilverBronzeTotalRank
1896 4312032
1900 2117555151
1904 Did not compete
1908 22721141
1912 Did not compete
1920 18714382
1924 24733061
1928 20723051
1932 11721032
1936 19702133
1948 21731041
1952 21720133
1956 18711243
1960 2180000-
1964 20802354
1968 20810124
1972 19801235
1976 18801236
1980 16841161
1984 20822373
1988 19821032
1992 20820353
1996 151022373
2000 161014163
2004 191031262
2008 171022041
2012 11100000
2016 151011134
2020 181222152
2024 181214275
Total 4547381302

Football

France competed in the first men's Olympic football "tournament," winning one match and losing another to earn a second place finish currently recognized as a silver medal performance. The nation was a frequent competitor from then through 1996, peaking with a gold medal win in 1984. France did not qualify for the men's tournament from 2000 to 2016, but has qualified for the 2020 Games.

France did not qualify for the first four women's tournaments from 1996 to 2008. The French women debuted in 2012, placing 4th, and followed that with a 5th-place finish in 2016.

GamesPlayersEventsGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1900 Paris 131/10101
1984 Los Angeles 171/11001
2024 Paris 182/20101
Total1203

Golf

France competed in the first Olympic golf tournaments in 1900, which the nation hosted. The French golfers' best results that year were 4th place for the women and 10th place for the men. France did not compete in the 1904 golf tournaments. When the sport returned to the Olympics in 2016, France had two men and two women compete; the best result was Grégory Bourdy's 21st-place finish.

GamesFencersEventsGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1900 Paris 72/20000
2016 Rio de Janeiro 42/20000
Total0000

Gymnastics

France had one gymnast participate in one event in the inaugural 1896 Games. The nation's first medals in the sport came when Paris hosted the Games in 1900; the only event on the schedule was the men's individual all-around, in which France swept the top 18 places (having 108 of the 135 competing gymnasts).

GamesGymnastsEventsGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1896 Athens 11/80000
1900 Paris 1081/11113
Total310922

Polo

France competed at two of the five editions of Olympic polo tournaments, both occasions when Paris hosted the Games in 1900 and 1924. The nation is formally credited with no medals, though French players competed on a mixed team in 1900 (along with a British player) that took bronze. France had a fully-French team as well in 1900, which took fifth place. Both the all-French and the mixed team went 0–1 (losing to the same team), with the mixed team placed higher due to a bye. The French team in 1924 went 0–4 in the round-robin tournament. Thus, the overall Olympic record of teams with French polo players is 0–6.

GamesPlayersEventsGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1900 Paris 71/10000 [6]
1924 Paris 51/10000
Total0000 [6]

Rowing

France hosted the inaugural Olympic rowing contests in Paris 1900. France won 2 of the 5 gold medals, and a French boy served as cox in the final for the otherwise Dutch team that won the coxed pair.

GamesRowersEventsGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1900 Paris 474/42316 [7]
Total8151437

Rugby

France hosted the inaugural Olympic rugby union contest in 1900, winning the gold medal over Germany and Great Britain. France did not play in 1908, but returned in 1920 (losing the single match to the United States) and 1924 (beating Romania but losing again to the United States).

With the return of rugby, in the form of rugby sevens, in 2016, France competed again. France had both men's and women's teams in 2016; both advanced out of pool play to the quarterfinals but were defeated there.

GamesPlayersEventsGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1900 Paris 171/11001
1920 Antwerp 151/10101
1924 Paris 301/10101
2016 Rio de Janeiro 252/20000
Total1203

Sailing

France hosted the first Olympic sailing competitions in 1900, earning 24 total medals in the 13 events, including 5 golds.

GamesNo. SailorsEventsGoldSilverBronzeTotalRanking
1900 451130/135910241
1908 31/400114
1912 31/410013
1920 31/1401016
1924 93/300115
1928 133/310013
1932 32/410013
1936 144/40000
1948 175/50000
1952 94/50000
1956 84/50000
1960 115/50000
1964 32/50000
1968 94/50000
1972 115/611022
1976 105/60000
1980 00/60000
1984 116/700118
1988 137/820021
1992 1710/1020022
1996 138/100000
2000 127/110000
2004 1811/1110127
2008 1811/1101239
2012 1610/10001112
2016 1510/1010236
2020 149/1002138
Total 151420494

Shooting

France competed in shooting at the inaugural 1896 Games, with one shooter in one event, winning no medals. The nation's first medals came when France hosted the Games in 1900, with 3 golds and 10 total medals that year.

GamesShootersEventsGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1896 Athens 11/50000
1900 Paris 379/934310
Total9141033

Tennis

France first competed in tennis at the inaugural 1896 Games, with one player competing in men's singles and losing in the first round.

GamesAthletesEventsGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1896 Athens 11/20000
1900 Paris 144/40112 [8]
Total56819

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sweden at the Olympics</span> Sporting event delegation

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References

  1. "St. Louis 1904 Summer Olympics - Athletes, Medals & Results". 25 April 2018.
  2. "Olympic Games | History, Locations, & Winners".
  3. "Michel THEATO (1878-1919)". pierrelagrue-jo.com. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
  4. 1900 basque pelota results from olympic.org
  5. "Two-Man Teams With Cesta, Men". Olympedia. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  6. 1 2 Does not include a bronze medal by a mixed team that included French players.
  7. Does not include a gold medal as part of a mixed team in 1900.
  8. Does not include a silver medal earned as part of a mixed team in tennis in 1900