Great Britain at the Olympics

Last updated

Great Britain at the
Olympics
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
IOC code GBR
NOC British Olympic Association
Medals
Ranked 5th
Gold
310
Silver
344
Bronze
360
Total
1,014
Summer appearances
Winter appearances
Other related appearances
1906 Intercalated Games

The United Kingdom has been represented at every modern Olympic Games. By end of the 2024 Summer Olympics, it is third in the all-time Summer Olympic medal table by overall number of medals, and fourth in number of gold medals won. London hosted the Summer Olympic Games in 1908, 1948 and 2012.

Contents

Athletes from the United Kingdom compete as part of the Great Britain and Northern Ireland Olympic Team, [1] currently branded "Team GB". The team is organised by the British Olympic Association, the National Olympic Committee for the UK. Team GB also represents the United Kingdom's Overseas Territories (with the exceptions of Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, and the Cayman Islands), and the three Crown Dependencies of Guernsey, Jersey, and the Isle of Man. Athletes from Northern Ireland can choose to compete for either Britain or the Republic of Ireland. [a]

British athletes have won a combined total of 1,015 medals at the Olympic Games; 981 of those medals were won at the Summer Olympics, where Team GB is the only team to have won at least one gold medal at every games. Team GB is also the only team to have won at least one athletics medal at every Summer Olympic Games. The team has been less successful at the Winter Olympics, winning 34 medals, 12 of them gold. The United Kingdom finished in first place on the medals table at the 1908 games, placed second at the 2016 games, and third at the 1900, 1912, 1920, and 2012 games.

The most successful British Olympian by gold medals and total medals won is Sir Jason Kenny, who has won seven gold medals and nine overall, all in track cycling. The cyclist Dame Laura Kenny and the dressage rider Charlotte Dujardin share the record for the most medals won by a female British athlete, with six each; Kenny's five gold medals are the female British record. The most successful Winter Olympian from Team GB is Lizzy Yarnold, with two gold medals in the women's skeleton.

Eligibility

A heroes' welcome for Welsh Olympians and Paralympians at the Senedd building, 2012 14 September 2012 - Olympians and Paralympians - 14 Medi 2012 - Olympaidd a Pharalympaidd (8008934725).jpg
A heroes' welcome for Welsh Olympians and Paralympians at the Senedd building, 2012

As the National Olympic Committee (NOC) for the United Kingdom, the British Olympic Association (BOA) membership encompasses the four Home Nations of the United Kingdom (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, who notably compete separately in many international sports outside Olympic competition for historic reasons), plus the three Crown Dependencies (Guernsey, Isle of Man and Jersey), and all but three of the British Overseas Territories [2] (Bermuda, British Virgin Islands and Cayman Islands have their own NOCs).

Representatives of the devolved Northern Ireland government and others in the region, however, have objected to the name "Team GB" as discriminatory, and have called for it to be renamed as "Team UK" to make it clearer that Northern Ireland is included on the team. [3] [4]

The existence of a Great Britain team has been criticised by Welsh and Scottish nationalists, advocating for separate Welsh [5] and Scottish Olympic teams instead. [6] [7] [8]

Under the IOC charter, the Olympic Federation of Ireland is also responsible for the entire island of Ireland. [9] However, athletes from Northern Ireland can elect to represent either the UK (in Team GB) or Ireland at the Olympics, as people of Northern Ireland. A number of Northern Irish-born athletes, particularly in boxing, have won medals for Ireland at the Games, and a small number of athletes from Northern Ireland have represented both Team GB and Team Ireland, most recently swimming gold-medalist Jack McMillan.

All athletes from the whole of Ireland were included in the Great Britain team up until the 1920 Olympics as the entire island was part of the United Kingdom at that time, and the Team GB claim to have won at least one gold at every Summer Games is partially founded on a single Irish athlete, Tom Kiely who won gold in the 1904 St. Louis games. While Kiely himself objected to the designation, considering himself simply Irish, Olympic historians recognise his medal as a medal for Great Britain and Ireland, thus maintaining the unique British record. [10]

Other nations that formed part of the then British Empire, however, were represented separately even before full independence in a variety of ways, either as fledgling nations such as South Africa and India, or occasionally in regional teams such as Australasia and British West Indies.

Hosted games

The United Kingdom has hosted the Summer Games on three occasions – 1908, 1948 and 2012, all in London – second only to the United States. At the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, Great Britain became the first team to win more medals at a Summer Olympics immediately after hosting a Summer Olympics; they won 67 medals overall, coming in second place in the medal table ahead of China, two more than in London in 2012. This success came 20 years after finishing 36th in the medal table, after winning just one gold and fourteen other medals at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, which led to significant changes in the management and funding of British sports and facilities. [11]

London also won the right to host the 1944 Summer Olympics. However, the 1944 games were cancelled due to the Second World War.

Successful bids

GamesHost cityDatesNationsParticipantsEvents
1908 Summer Olympics London 27 April – 31 October222,008110
1944 Summer Olympics London Cancelled
1948 Summer Olympics London 29 July – 14 August594,104136
2012 Summer Olympics London 27 July – 12 August20410,820302

Unsuccessful bids

GamesCityWinner of bid
1992 Summer Olympics Birmingham Barcelona, Spain
1996 Summer Olympics Manchester Atlanta, United States
2000 Summer Olympics Manchester Sydney, Australia

Potential future bids

In February 2019, the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan announced plans to bid for the 2032 or 2036 Olympics, which was backed by UK Sport. [12] However, it has been speculated that either Manchester or Birmingham may be in the frame to host future games, rather than London. In July 2021, the 2032 Games were awarded to Brisbane.

In July 2024, Khan revealed he was to attend the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris and would use the opportunity to lobby members of the British Olympic Association and the Prime Minister (a potential bid would need to be both underwritten by the government and backed by the BOA) into hosting the 2040 Olympics. [13] He claimed London could host the "greenest games ever" by reusing venues from the 2012 games including the London Stadium, the London Aquatics Centre, Lee Valley Velopark and Copper Box Arena. The idea was backed by Tom Daley, Team GB diver, commenting that "London is one of the few cities on the planet where you would be able to host the games tomorrow".

Medals

  Host country

List of Winter Olympic medallists

This list also contains the medals won in winter sports at the 1908 and 1920 Summer Olympics, which are not counted in the overall winter Olympic total.

MedalName(s)GamesSportEvent
Gold medal icon.svg Gold Madge Syers 1908 London Figure skating pictogram.svg Figure skating Ladies' singles
Gold medal icon.svg Gold William Jackson
Thomas Murray
Robin Welsh
Laurence Jackson
1924 Chamonix Curling pictogram.svg Curling Men's event
Gold medal icon.svg Gold Great Britain men's national ice hockey team 1936 Garmisch-Partenkirchen Ice hockey pictogram.svg Ice hockey Men's event
Gold medal icon.svg Gold Jeannette Altwegg 1952 Oslo Figure skating pictogram.svg Figure skating Ladies' singles
Gold medal icon.svg Gold Robin Dixon
Tony Nash
1964 Innsbruck Bobsleigh pictogram.svg Bobsleigh Two man
Gold medal icon.svg Gold John Curry 1976 Innsbruck Figure skating pictogram.svg Figure skating Men's singles
Gold medal icon.svg Gold Robin Cousins 1980 Lake Placid Figure skating pictogram.svg Figure skating Men's singles
Gold medal icon.svg Gold Jayne Torvill
Christopher Dean
1984 Sarajevo Figure skating pictogram.svg Figure skating Ice dancing
Gold medal icon.svg Gold Rhona Martin
Debbie Knox
Fiona MacDonald
Janice Rankin
Margaret Morton
2002 Salt Lake City Curling pictogram.svg Curling Women's event
Gold medal icon.svg Gold Amy Williams 2010 Vancouver Skeleton pictogram.svg Skeleton Women's event
Gold medal icon.svg Gold Lizzy Yarnold 2014 Sochi Skeleton pictogram.svg Skeleton Women's event
Gold medal icon.svg Gold Lizzy Yarnold 2018 Pyeongchang Skeleton pictogram.svg Skeleton Women's event
Gold medal icon.svg Gold Eve Muirhead
Vicky Wright
Jennifer Dodds
Hailey Duff
Mili Smith
2022 Beijing Curling pictogram.svg Curling Women's event
Silver medal icon.svg Silver Phyllis Johnson
James H. Johnson
1908 London Figure skating pictogram.svg Figure skating Pairs Skating
Silver medal icon.svg Silver Arthur Cumming 1908 London Figure skating pictogram.svg Figure skating Men's special figures
Silver medal icon.svg Silver Ralph Broome
Thomas Arnold
Alexander Richardson
Rodney Soher
1924 Chamonix Bobsleigh pictogram.svg Bobsleigh Four man
Silver medal icon.svg Silver Cecilia Colledge 1936 Garmisch-Partenkirchen Figure skating pictogram.svg Figure skating Ladies' singles
Silver medal icon.svg Silver Shelley Rudman 2006 Turin Skeleton pictogram.svg Skeleton Women's event
Silver medal icon.svg Silver David Murdoch
Greg Drummond
Scott Andrews
Michael Goodfellow
Tom Brewster
2014 Sochi Curling pictogram.svg Curling Men's event
Silver medal icon.svg Silver Bruce Mouat
Grant Hardie
Bobby Lammie
Hammy McMillan Jr.
Ross Whyte
2022 Beijing Curling pictogram.svg Curling Men's event
Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze Geoffrey Hall-Say 1908 London Figure skating pictogram.svg Figure skating Men's special figures
Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze Dorothy Greenhough-Smith 1908 London Figure skating pictogram.svg Figure skating Ladies' singles
Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze Madge Syers
Edgar Syers
1908 London Figure skating pictogram.svg Figure skating Pairs skating
Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze Phyllis Johnson
Basil Williams
1920 Antwerp Figure skating pictogram.svg Figure skating Pairs Skating
Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze Ethel Muckelt 1924 Chamonix Figure skating pictogram.svg Figure skating Ladies' singles
Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze Great Britain men's national ice hockey team 1924 Chamonix Ice hockey pictogram.svg Ice hockey Men's event
Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze David Carnegie 1928 St. Moritz Skeleton pictogram.svg Skeleton Men's event
Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze Frederick McEvoy
James Cardno
Guy Dugdale
Charles Green
1936 Garmisch-Partenkirchen Bobsleigh pictogram.svg Bobsleigh Four man
Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze Jeannette Altwegg 1948 St. Moritz Figure skating pictogram.svg Figure skating Ladies' singles
Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze John Crammond 1948 St. Moritz Skeleton pictogram.svg Skeleton Men's event
Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze Nicky Gooch 1994 Lillehammer Speed skating pictogram.svg Short track speed skating Men's 500m
Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze Jayne Torvill
Christopher Dean
1994 Lillehammer Figure skating pictogram.svg Figure skating Ice dancing
Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze Sean Olsson
Dean Ward
Courtney Rumbolt
Paul Attwood
1998 Nagano Bobsleigh pictogram.svg Bobsleigh Four man
Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze Alex Coomber 2002 Salt Lake City Skeleton pictogram.svg Skeleton Women's event
Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze Jenny Jones 2014 Sochi Snowboarding pictogram.svg Snowboarding Women's slopestyle
Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze Eve Muirhead
Anna Sloan
Vicki Adams
Claire Hamilton
Lauren Gray
2014 Sochi Curling pictogram.svg Curling Women's event
Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze John James Jackson
Bruce Tasker
Stuart Benson
Joel Fearon
2014 Sochi Bobsleigh pictogram.svg Bobsleigh Four man
Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze Dominic Parsons 2018 Pyeongchang Skeleton pictogram.svg Skeleton Men's event
Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze Laura Deas 2018 Pyeongchang Skeleton pictogram.svg Skeleton Women's event
Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze Billy Morgan 2018 Pyeongchang Snowboarding pictogram.svg Snowboarding Men's Big Air
Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze Izzy Atkin 2018 Pyeongchang Freestyle skiing pictogram.svg Freestyle skiing Women's slopestyle

Multiple medallists

The following athletes have won more than one medal for Great Britain at the Winter Olympics, or in winter disciplines. Bold denotes athletes that have not yet retired.

AthleteSportYearsGenderGold medal icon.svgSilver medal icon.svgBronze medal icon.svgTotal
Lizzy Yarnold Skeleton pictogram.svg  Skeleton 2014–2018F2002
Eve Muirhead Curling pictogram.svg  Curling 2014–2022F1012
Christopher Dean Figure skating pictogram.svg  Figure skating 1984–1994M1012
Jayne Torvill Figure skating pictogram.svg  Figure skating 1984–1994F1012
Jeannette Altwegg Figure skating pictogram.svg  Figure skating 1948–1952F1012
Madge Syers Figure skating pictogram.svg  Figure skating 1908F1012
Phyllis Johnson Figure skating pictogram.svg  Figure skating 1908–1920F0112

Stripped medal

Great Britain's only stripped medal in Winter Olympic history was an Alpine Skiing bronze at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. Alain Baxter tested positive for a banned substance, resulting from Baxter using a branded inhaler product bought in Salt Lake City which, unknown to him, contained different chemicals in the United States than in his native country. While the British version contained no banned substances, the American version did, albeit in small amounts. Baxter was exonerated of deliberate wrong doing, but was forced to return his medal on the basis of strict liability.

MedalName(s)GamesSportEvent
Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze Alain Baxter 2002 Salt Lake City Alpine skiing pictogram.svg Alpine Skiing Men's slalom

Medals by individual

2015 UEC Track Elite European Championships 178.JPG
2015 UEC Track Elite European Championships 118.JPG
Lizzy Yarnold 2017 Lake Placid WC (1 of 5) (cropped).jpg
Jason Kenny (top) has won the most gold medals of any British Olympian, with seven; his wife Laura Kenny (centre) has the most gold medals of any female British Olympian, with five. Lizzy Yarnold (bottom) is the most successful British Winter Olympian, with two gold medals.

According to official data of the International Olympic Committee. This is a list of people who have won at least three Olympic gold medals or four Olympic medals for Great Britain. Medals won in the 1906 Intercalated Games are not included. It includes top-three placings in 1896 and 1900, before medals were awarded for top-three placings.

AthleteSportYearsGamesGenderGold medal icon.svgSilver medal icon.svgBronze medal icon.svgTotal
Jason Kenny Cycling (track) pictogram.svg  Track cycling 2008–2020SummerM7209
Chris Hoy Cycling (track) pictogram.svg  Track cycling 2000–2012SummerM6107
Bradley Wiggins Cycling (track) pictogram.svg  Track cycling
Cycling (road) pictogram.svg  Road cycling
2000–2016SummerM5128
Laura Kenny Cycling (track) pictogram.svg  Track cycling 2012–2020SummerF5106
Steve Redgrave Rowing pictogram.svg  Rowing 1984–2000SummerM5016
Ben Ainslie Sailing pictogram.svg  Sailing 1996–2012SummerM4105
Mo Farah Athletics pictogram.svg  Athletics 2012–2016SummerM4004
Matthew Pinsent Rowing pictogram.svg  Rowing 1992–2004SummerM4004
Paulo Radmilovic Water polo pictogram.svg  Water polo
Swimming pictogram.svg  Swimming
1908–1920SummerM4004
James Guy Swimming pictogram.svg  Swimming 2016–2024SummerM3306
Adam Peaty Swimming pictogram.svg  Swimming 2016–2024SummerM3306
Jack Beresford Rowing pictogram.svg  Rowing 1920–1936SummerM3205
Charlotte Dujardin Equestrian pictogram.svg  Equestrian 2012–2020SummerF3126
Max Whitlock Gymnastics (artistic) pictogram.svg  Gymnastics 2012–2020SummerM3036
Henry Taylor Swimming pictogram.svg  Swimming 1908–1920SummerM3025
Ed Clancy Cycling (track) pictogram.svg  Track cycling 2008–2016SummerM3014
Reginald Doherty Tennis pictogram.svg  Tennis 1900–1908SummerM3014
Tom Dean Swimming pictogram.svg  Swimming 2020–2024SummerM3003
Ben Maher Equestrian pictogram.svg  Equestrian 2012–2024SummerM3003
Richard Meade Equestrian pictogram.svg  Equestrian 1968–1972SummerM3003
Pete Reed Rowing pictogram.svg  Rowing 2008–2016SummerM3003
Charles Sydney Smith Water polo pictogram.svg  Water polo 1908–1920SummerM3003
Andrew Triggs Hodge Rowing pictogram.svg  Rowing 2008–2016SummerM3003
4 Olympic medals or more, and fewer than 3 Olympic golds
Duncan Scott Swimming pictogram.svg  Swimming 2016–2024SummerM2608
Sebastian Coe Athletics pictogram.svg  Athletics 1980–1984SummerM2204
Alex Yee Triathlon pictogram.svg  Triathlon 2020–2024SummerM2114
Rebecca Adlington Swimming pictogram.svg  Swimming 2008–2012SummerF2024
Katherine Grainger Rowing pictogram.svg  Rowing 2000–2016SummerF1405
Kathleen McKane Godfree Tennis pictogram.svg  Tennis 1920–1924SummerF1225
Elinor Barker Cycling (track) pictogram.svg  Track cycling 2016–2024SummerF1214
Tom Daley Diving pictogram.svg  Diving 2012–2024SummerM1135
Guy Butler Athletics pictogram.svg  Athletics 1920–1924SummerM1124
Charles Dixon Tennis pictogram.svg  Tennis 1908–1912SummerM1124
Liam Heath Canoeing (slalom) pictogram.svg  Canoeing 2012–2020SummerM1124
Carl Hester Equestrian pictogram.svg  Equestrian 2012–2024SummerM1124
Jack Laugher Diving pictogram.svg  Diving 2016–2024SummerM1124
Christine Ohuruogu Athletics pictogram.svg  Athletics 2008–2016SummerF1124
Jack Carlin Cycling (track) pictogram.svg  Track cycling 2020–2024SummerM0224
Ginny Elliott Equestrian pictogram.svg  Equestrian 1984–1988SummerF0224
Louis Smith Gymnastics (artistic) pictogram.svg  Gymnastics 2008–2016SummerM0224
Joyce Cooper Swimming pictogram.svg  Swimming 1928–1932SummerF0134

Lizzy Yarnold is the most successful British athlete at the Winter Olympics, with two gold medals. Duncan Scott is the most prolific athlete at a single Games, winning four medals (1 gold, 3 silver) at the 2020 Olympics. Steve Redgrave is the most consistent British Olympic athlete, winning gold medals at five consecutive Games (1984-2000).

Most successful British Olympian progression

This table shows how the designation of most successful British Olympian has progressed over time. This table ranks athletes by golds, then silvers, then bronzes; the progression would be different if ranked purely by medals.

AthleteSportDateGenderGold medal icon.svgSilver medal icon.svgBronze medal icon.svgTotal
Launceston Elliot Weightlifting pictogram.svg  Weightlifting 7 April 1896M1001
7 April 1896M1102
Lorne Currie Sailing pictogram.svg  Sailing 25 May 1900M2002
John Gretton Sailing pictogram.svg  Sailing M
Linton Hope Sailing pictogram.svg  Sailing M
Algernon Maudslay Sailing pictogram.svg  Sailing M
Laurence Doherty Tennis pictogram.svg  Tennis 11 July 1900M
Reginald Doherty Tennis pictogram.svg  Tennis 28 August 1900M2013
11 July 1908M3014
Henry Taylor Swimming pictogram.svg  Swimming 15 July 1912M
Paul Radmilovic Swimming pictogram.svg  Swimming
Water polo pictogram.svg  Water polo
29 August 1920M4004
Steve Redgrave Rowing pictogram.svg  Rowing 21 July 1996M4015
23 September 2000M5016
Chris Hoy Cycling (track) pictogram.svg  Track cycling 2 August 2012M5106
7 August 2012M6107
Jason Kenny Cycling (track) pictogram.svg  Track cycling 16 August 2016M
3 August 2021M6208
8 August 2021M7209

Most successful in their sport

As of the 2024 Olympics, the following athletes are the most successful (ordered by golds, then silvers, then bronzes) in their sport:

Steve Redgrave and Reginald Doherty are the most successful male athletes in their respective sports, Rowing and Tennis. Five-time gold medalist Laura Kenny is the most successful female cyclist and Hannah Mills with two gold medals and a silver is the successful woman in sailing. Nicola Adams, with two golds, shares the title of most successful woman in Boxing.

Medals by sport

Alpine skiing

Archery

Medalists

Artistic swimming

Great Britain appeared in the first synchronised swimming competition in 1984.

Medalists

Athletics

Medalists

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.

Medalists

Basketball

Biathlon

Bobsleigh

Boxing

Great Britain made its Olympic boxing debut in 1908.

Medalists

Canoeing

Medalists

Cricket

Great Britain and France were the only two teams to compete in the only Olympic cricket match, in 1900. The British team won, making them the only nation to win an Olympic cricket contest and the only Olympic gold medallists in cricket.

Cross-country skiing

Curling

Cycling

Jason Kenny with seven gold and two silver medals is the most successful British Olympian, most successful British cyclist, indeed the most successful cyclist, in Olympic history. His wife, Laura Kenny is the most successful British female Olympian, and most successful Olympic female cyclist in history, with five golds and one silver. As of 2021, of the 100 cycling medals won by Great Britain, half (50) have been won in the four Games since 2008, including 28 gold medals. Great Britain had won ten golds in total between 1896 and 2008.

Medalists

Diving

Great Britain made its Olympic diving debut in 1908. Tom Daley, with one gold, one silver and three bronze medals, is the most decorated and most successful British Olympic diver in history, followed by Jack Laugher with one gold, one silver and two bronze medals

Medalists

Equestrian

Great Britain had one rider compete in the hacks and hunter combined event at the first Olympic equestrian events in 1900.

Medalists

Fencing

Great Britain first competed in fencing in 1900 and won its first fencing medal, a silver, in 1908 at the London Games.

Medalists

Figure skating

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

Football

Great Britain and Ireland – now represented separately by Team Ireland and Team Great Britain – was one of three teams to play in the inaugural football tournament, winning their only match to take the first Olympic gold medal in football. The men's team competed in the ten Olympics in the table below. The women's team competed in 2012, and has qualified for 2020.

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. Also, 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 and Northern Ireland), none of which have National Olympic Committees. As a result, Great Britain usually does not participate in Olympic qualifying tournaments.

Having qualified as hosts in both tournaments in 2012, pressure arose to find a way for Great Britain, and at least a women's team, to take part in Olympic football competitions. The solution, first instituted in time for the 2020 Games, and following the precedent set out by field hockey and rugby sevens was for the results of the England women's team, as the highest ranked national team within Great Britain, to be treated as qualification results for the purposes of UEFA quota places. When both England and Scotland qualified for the FIFA Women's World Cup, the UEFA designated qualification tournament, England's results were treated as Great Britain results for Olympic qualification purposes, while Scottish results were ignored for the same purposes. England's U23 men's team do not have a similar arrangement. Notwithstanding the arrangement, in the event of qualification, Scottish and Welsh players are eligible.

Medalists

Freestyle skiing

Golf

Great Britain was one of four teams to play golf at the first Olympic golf events in 1900, taking silver and bronze in the men's competition. They did not compete in the Olympic golf competition held in 1904. When the sport returned in the 2016 Rio Olympics, after a 112-year absence, Justin Rose won gold.

Medalists

Gymnastics

Great Britain first competed in gymnastics in the inaugural 1896 Olympics, with wrestler Launceston Elliot entering the rope climbing event and finishing last. Great Britain's first gymnastics medal came in 1908 with a silver in the men's individual all-around. Until 2008, Great Britain's last medal for gymnastics was a Bronze in the Women's all-round team event in 1928. At the 2012 Summer Games in London, Great Britain equaled its tally for all previous games combined, winning 4 medals to bring their all-time total to eight. A record seven medals, including first ever gold medals, were won in 2016, while a further three, including one gold, were won at the 2020 Games. Having won only four medals in total between 1896 and 2008, 14 medals, including 3 gold medals were secured between 2012 and 2020.

Medalists

Handball

Great Britain's men's and women's handball teams were allowed to take up host places at the 2012 Olympics. This is the only time that Great Britain has competed in handball at the Olympics.

Field hockey

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

Medalists

Ice hockey

Jeu de paume

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

Judo

Great Britain has competed in all judo events held at the Summer Olympics since judo made its full debut as an Olympic sport in 1964. Although Great Britain has won 20 judo medals, none have been gold.

Medalists

Lacrosse

Great Britain's Olympic lacrosse debut was in 1908.

Luge

Modern pentathlon

Great Britain's Olympic modern pentathlon debut was in 1912 when it was first included in the Olympics. Their most successful games were the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where Great Britain won both the available gold medals.

Medalists

Nordic combined

Polo

Great Britain was one of four teams 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. Great Britain would be the only team to play in all five of the Olympic polo tournaments, with no other nation appearing more than three times. The nation took gold and two silvers in 1908, when only British teams competed. Facing international competition in 1920, the British side won. The 1924 tournament resulted in a bronze medal for Great Britain, while the team took silver in 1936. In international play, the Great Britain team had an overall record of 5–3 (semifinal and final wins in 1920, a 2–2 record the 1924 round-robin, and a first-round win and final loss in 1936). There were 2 games in 1908 pitting teams from Great Britain against each other, necessarily resulting in a 2–2 record that year. The mixed teams in 1900 had records of 3–0, 1–1, and 0–1, though both losses (and, of course, therefore two of the wins) were against each other.

EventNo. of
appearances
First
appearance
First
medal
First
gold medal
GoldSilverBronzeTotalBest finish
Men's5/51900190819082316 [26] Gold medal icon.svg (1908, 1920)

Rackets

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

Rowing

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

Medalists

Rugby

Great Britain took a silver medal in the first Olympic rugby competition, in 1900. They repeated as silver medallists by losing the only match in 1908. Great Britain did not compete in 1920 or 1924. When the sport returned in 2016 as rugby sevens, Great Britain earned a third silver medal (in men's) as well as placing 4th in the first women's rugby competition.

EventNo. of
appearances
First
appearance
First
medal
First
gold medal
GoldSilverBronzeTotalBest finish
Men's rugby union 2/4190019000202Silver medal icon.svg (1900, 1908)
Men's rugby sevens 2/2201620160101Silver medal icon.svg (2016)
Women's rugby sevens 2/2201600004th (2016, 2020)

Sailing

Great Britain took four gold medals in the first Olympic sailing events in 1900. In addition, British sailors were part of two mixed teams that won gold.

Medalists

Shooting

Great Britain's first shooting medals came when the United Kingdom hosted the 1908 Games, at which the British shooters dominated the competitions. There were 215 shooters from 14 teams in the shooting events, including 67 from Great Britain.

Medalists

Short track speed skating

Skateboarding

Medalists

Skeleton

Great Britain is the most successful team in Skeleton winning a medal at every Games in which the sport has been included and has won at least one medal in each of the five contests of Women's skeleton since its introduction with five different athletes. Lizzy Yarnold is the most successful Skeleton rider of all time winning back to back gold medals in 2014 and 2018. No other rider has successfully defended a gold medal.

Ski jumping

Snowboarding

Speed skating

Sport climbing

Medalists

Swimming

Great Britain was the third most successful team in swimming in 2008, with 2 golds, 2 silvers and 2 bronzes, with Rebecca Adlington winning two of these, making her the most successful female British swimmer in 100 years. [27]

Medalists

Table tennis

Taekwondo

Great Britain have competed in all six taekwondo competitions that have taken place since 2000. Their best result is a gold, silver and bronze in 2016.

Medalists

Tennis

Fans celebrate Great Britain men's tennis player Andy Murray winning gold, 5 August 2012 Spectators at Live Site East (7724461770).jpg
Fans celebrate Great Britain men's tennis player Andy Murray winning gold, 5 August 2012

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

Medalists

Triathlon

Great Britain have competed in all Six triathlon competitions that have taken place since 2000. Their best finish is 2 1st-place finishes in the men's individual triathlon event, and a 1st-place finish in the mixed triathlon relay event, in 2020(2021).

Medalists

Tug of war

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

Volleyball

Prior to participating, as host nation, in the 2012 volleyball tournaments, Great Britain had never competed in Olympic volleyball with the exception of the women's team participating in the inaugural Beach volleyball tournament in 1996.

Water motorsports

The United Kingdom hosted the only Olympic water motorsports contests, in 1908.

Water polo

Medalists

Weightlifting

Great Britain's only gold medal in weightlifting came at the first Games in 1896, when Launceston Elliot won the one-hand lift.

Medalists

Wrestling

Medalists

See also

Notes

  1. In Northern Ireland most sports (such as basketball and hockey) are organised on an all-Ireland basis. Athletes in these sports are therefore effectively compelled to represent the Republic of Ireland.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Football at the Summer Olympics</span> Association football at the Olympics

Association football has been included in every Summer Olympic Games as a men's competition sport, except 1896 and 1932. Women's football was added to the official program at the Atlanta 1996 Games.

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

Australia has sent athletes to every Summer Olympic Games, as well as every Winter Olympics except 1924–32 and 1948. In 1908 and 1912 Australia competed with New Zealand under the name Australasia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">France at the 1900 Summer Olympics</span> Sporting event delegation

France was the host of the 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris. France was one of many nations that had competed in the 1896 Summer Olympics in Greece and had returned to compete at the 1900 Games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great Britain at the 1900 Summer Olympics</span> Sporting event delegation

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland competed as Great Britain at the 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris, France. It was the second appearance of Britain after having participated in the inaugural 1896 Games. In Olympic competition, the nation has always shortened its official name to Great Britain rather than the United Kingdom seen elsewhere.

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

Sweden first participated at the Olympic Games at the inaugural 1896 Games, and has sent athletes to compete in every Games since then with one exception, the sparsely attended 1904 Summer Olympics. Sweden has earned medals at all Olympic games except for two, the 1896 Games and the 1904 Games. Sweden is the country with the longest Olympic Games medalling streak in history, having earned medals at every Olympic game since 1908.

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

Italy has sent athletes to most of the modern Olympic Games held since 1896, outside of not having officially participated in the 1904 Summer Olympics.

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

The modern Olympic Games were founded by French historian Pierre de Coubertin. France has competed in every edition, with the possible exception of the 1904 Games.

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

Denmark first participated at the Olympic Games at the inaugural 1896 Games, and has sent athletes to compete in every Summer Olympic Games since then, except for the sparsely attended 1904 Games. Denmark has also participated in the Winter Olympic Games several times since 1948, including every Games since 1988.

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

Canada has competed at 28 Summer Olympic Games, missing only the inaugural 1896 Summer Olympics and the boycotted 1980 Summer Olympics. This count includes the 1906 Olympic Games, deemed unofficial 43 years after they were held. The nation made its debut at the 1900 Summer Olympics. Canada competes under the IOC country code CAN.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great Britain at the 1908 Summer Olympics</span> Sporting event delegation

Great Britain, represented by the British Olympic Association (BOA), competed as the host nation of the 1908 Summer Olympics in London. The British Olympic Association was the National Olympic Committee responsible for organising the United Kingdom's representation. At the time British athletes competed under the team name "United Kingdom". The British team comprised 676 competitors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great Britain at the 1920 Summer Olympics</span> Sporting event delegation

Great Britain, represented by the British Olympic Association (BOA), competed at the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp, Belgium. 234 competitors, 218 men and 16 women, took part in 84 events in 21 sports. British athletes won fourteen gold medals and 43 medals overall, finishing third. It would be the last Olympic Games in which Irish athletes participated for Great Britain, after foundation of Irish Free State in 1922.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great Britain at the 2008 Summer Olympics</span> Sporting event delegation

Great Britain competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. The United Kingdom was represented by the British Olympic Association (BOA), and the team of selected athletes was officially known as Team GB. Britain is one of only five NOCs to have competed in every modern Summer Olympic Games since 1896. The delegation of 547 people included 311 competitors – 168 men, 143 women – and 236 officials. The team was made up of athletes from the whole United Kingdom including Northern Ireland. Additionally some British overseas territories compete separately from Britain in Olympic competition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great Britain at the 2008 Summer Paralympics</span> Sporting event delegation

Great Britain competed at the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing, People's Republic of China. Great Britain sent a delegation of around 400, of which 212 were athletes, to compete in eighteen sports at the Games. The team was made up of athletes from the whole United Kingdom; athletes from Northern Ireland, who may elect to hold Irish citizenship under the pre-1999 article 2 of the Irish constitution, are able to be selected to represent either Great Britain or Ireland at the Paralympics. Additionally some British overseas territories compete separately from Britain in Paralympic competition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great Britain at the Paralympics</span> Sporting event delegation

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has participated in every summer and winter Paralympic Games.

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

A team representing Ireland has competed at every Summer Paralympic Games. The country has never taken part in the Winter Paralympics. Irish athletes have won 238 Summer Paralympic medals. Paralympics Ireland is the National Paralympic Committee.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great Britain at the 2012 Summer Olympics</span> Sporting event delegation

Great Britain and Northern Ireland, represented by the British Olympic Association (BOA), competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, United Kingdom, from 27 July to 12 August 2012 as the host nation and the team of selected athletes was officially known as Team GB. British athletes have competed at every Summer Olympic Games in the modern era, alongside Australia, France and Greece, though Great Britain is the only one to have won at least one gold medal at all of them. London was the first city to host the Summer Olympics on three different occasions, having previously done so in 1908 and 1948. It was joined by Paris in 2024 and will be joined by Los Angeles in 2028 in hosting the Olympic Games for a third time. Team GB, organised by BOA, sent a total of 541 athletes, 279 men and 262 women, to the Games, and won automatic qualification places in all 26 sports.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great Britain at the 2012 Summer Paralympics</span> Sporting event delegation

Great Britain competed at the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London, United Kingdom, from 29 August to 9 September 2012 as the host nation. A total of 288 athletes were selected to compete along with 13 other team members such as sighted guides. The country finished third in the medals table, behind China and Russia, winning 120 medals in total; 34 gold, 43 silver and 43 bronze. Multiple medallists included cyclist Sarah Storey and wheelchair athlete David Weir, who won four gold medals each, and swimmer Stephanie Millward who won a total of five medals. Storey also became the British athlete with the most overall medals, 22, and equal-most gold medals, 11, in Paralympic Games history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great Britain at the 2020 Summer Olympics</span> Sporting event delegation

Great Britain, or in full Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the team of the British Olympic Association (BOA), which represents the United Kingdom, competed at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Originally scheduled to take place from 24 July to 9 August 2020, the Games were postponed to 23 July to 8 August 2021, because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great Britain at the 2020 Summer Paralympics</span> Sporting event delegation

Great Britain competed in the 2020 Summer Paralympics in Tokyo, Japan. Originally scheduled to take place between 21 August and 6 September 2020, the Games were postponed to 24 August to 5 September 2021 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. British athletes have competed at all sixteen consecutive Summer Paralympics since 1960.

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  2. Although the BOA represents all but three of the Overseas Territories, a number of them - British Indian Ocean Territory, the Sovereign Bases on the island of Cyprus, the South Georgia and South Sandwich islands and the British Antarctic Territory effectively have no native inhabitants. Athletes from Anguilla, Turks and Caicos and Gibraltar have represented Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
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  24. Those players were also in squad, but did not play any matches.
  25. 1 2 These players are listed exclusively in the International Olympic Committee medal database Archived 9 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine . Colin Campbell is not even listed by the British Olympic Association Archived 2 March 2008 at the Wayback Machine as a team member in Antwerp. However Harold Cooke is listed (as team member not as medalist), but born in 1907, he had to be a 13-year-old boy and he had to become a fencer later on to participate in the 1948 Summer Olympics and in the 1952 Summer Olympics.
  26. Does not include a gold, a silver, and a bronze medal as part of mixed teams in 1900.
  27. "Rebecca Adlington". British Swimming. Archived from the original on 15 April 2013. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
  28. 1 2 Does not include gold and bronze medals won in 1896 by mixed teams that included a British player.