Iceland at the Olympics

Last updated
Iceland at the
Olympics
Flag of Iceland.svg
IOC code ISL
NOC National Olympic and Sports Association of Iceland
Website www.isi.is  (in Icelandic)
Medals
Ranked 125th
Gold
0
Silver
2
Bronze
2
Total
4
Summer appearances
Winter appearances

Athletes from Iceland first participated at the Olympic Games in 1908. [1]

Contents

The National Olympic Committee was created in 1921 and recognized by the International Olympic Committee in 1935. After 1936, Iceland has sent athletes to compete in every Summer Olympic Games since. Iceland has also participated in all but one edition of the Winter Olympic Games since 1948, missing only the 1972 Winter Games.

Icelandic athletes have won a total of four medals, two in athletics, one in judo and one in handball.

Medal tables

Medals by Games

GamesAthletesGold medal icon.svg GoldSilver medal icon.svg SilverBronze medal icon.svg BronzeTotalRank
1908 London 1 0000
1912 Stockholm 2 0000
1936 Berlin 12 0000
1948 London 20 0000
1952 Helsinki 9 0000
1956 Melbourne 2 0101 31
1960 Rome 9 0000
1964 Tokyo 4 0000
1968 Mexico City 7 0000
1972 Munich 25 0000
1976 Montreal 13 0000
1980 Moscow 9 0000
1984 Los Angeles 32 0011 43
1988 Seoul 32 0000
1992 Barcelona 27 0000
1996 Atlanta 9 0000
2000 Sydney 18 0011 71
2004 Athens 26 0000
2008 Beijing 29 0101 70
2012 London 28 0000
2016 Rio de Janeiro 8 0000
2020 Tokyo 4 0000
2024 Paris 5 0000
2028 Los Angeles
2032 Brisbane
Total0224 123

Medals by Winter Games

GamesAthletesGold medal icon.svg GoldSilver medal icon.svg SilverBronze medal icon.svg BronzeTotalRank
1948 St. Moritz 4 0000
1952 Oslo 11 0000
1956 Cortina d'Ampezzo 7 0000
1960 Squaw Valley 4 0000
1964 Innsbruck 5 0000
1968 Grenoble 4 0000
1976 Innsbruck 8 0000
1980 Lake Placid 6 0000
1984 Sarajevo 5 0000
1988 Calgary 3 0000
1992 Albertville 5 0000
1994 Lillehammer 5 0000
1998 Nagano 7 0000
2002 Salt Lake City 6 0000
2006 Turin 5 0000
2010 Vancouver 4 0000
2014 Sochi 5 0000
2018 Pyeongchang 5 0000
2022 Beijing 5 0000
2026 Milano Cortina future event
Total0000

Medals by sport

SportGoldSilverBronzeTotal
Athletics pictogram.svg  Athletics 0112
Handball pictogram.svg  Handball 0101
Judo pictogram.svg  Judo 0011
Totals (3 entries)0224

List of medalists

MedalNameGamesSportEvent
Silver medal icon.svg Silver Vilhjálmur Einarsson 1956 Melbourne Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's triple jump
Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze Bjarni Friðriksson 1984 Los Angeles Judo pictogram.svg Judo Men's 95 kg
Bronze medal icon.svg Bronze Vala Flosadóttir 2000 Sydney Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Women's pole vault
Silver medal icon.svg Silver 2008 Beijing Handball pictogram.svg Handball Men's competition

Summary by Summer sport

Iceland first participated in the Summer Olympic games in 1908 and 1912. After that they returned in 1936 and have participated in every Summer Olympic Games since then.

They have won a total of four medals; 2 silver and 2 bronze. Vilhjálmur Einarsson won silver in men's triple jump in 1956, Bjarni Friðriksson won bronze in men's 95 kg Judo in 1984, Vala Flosadóttir won bronze in women's pole vault in 2000 and the Iceland men's national handball team won silver in men's handball competition in 2008.

Aquatics

For the swimming discipline, follow these links: Swimming and Water polo.

Iceland has yet to participate in Artistic swimming and Diving.

Athletics

Athletics has been included in the Summer Olympic programme since the inaugural 1896 Games. Iceland first participated in the sport 1912. They returned to the sport in 1936 and have participated in it every Summer Olympic Games since then.

They have won two medals in the sport. Vilhjálmur Einarsson won silver i men's triple jump in 1956 and Vala Flosadóttir won bronze in women's pole vault in 2000.

GamesAthletesEventsGoldSilverBronzeTotalRanking
1912 Stockholm 11/300000
1936 Berlin 45/290000
1948 London 1212/330000
1952 Helsinki 911/330000
1956 Melbourne 22/330101=14
1960 Rome 79/340000
1964 Tokyo 22/360000
1968 Mexico City 33/360000
1972 Munich 45/380000
1976 Montreal 710/370000
1980 Moscow 46/380000
1984 Los Angeles 76/410000
1988 Seoul 75/420000
1992 Barcelona 43/430000
1996 Atlanta 33/440000
2000 Sydney 65/460011=40
2004 Athens 22/460000
2008 Beijing 33/470000
2012 London 33/470000
2016 Rio de Janeiro 33/470000
2020 Tokyo 11/480000
Total0112=83

Badminton

Badminton has been included in the Olympic programme since 1992. Iceland has participated in the sport four times.

The best placements were 17th, which Iceland has accomplished three times. First by Árni Þór Hallgrímson alone in men's singles and together with Broddi Kristjánsson in men's doubles in 1992 and finally by Ragna Ingólfsdóttir in women's singles in 2012.

GamesPlayersEventsGoldSilverBronzeTotalRanking
1992 Barcelona 33/40000
1996 Atlanta 11/50000
2008 Beijing 11/50000
2012 London 11/50000
Total0000

Gymnastics

Iceland has yet to participate in the disciplines Rhythmic gymnastics and Trampoline.

Artistic gymnastics

Artistic gymnastics has been included in the Summer Olympic programme since the inaugural 1896 Games. Iceland has participated four times, first in 1996.

Their best placement is 7th by Rúnar Alexandersson in men's pommel horse in 2004.

The highest placed in a women's event was 40th by Irina Sazonova in women's artistic individual all-around in 2016.

GamesGymnastsEventsGoldSilverBronzeTotalRanking
1996 Atlanta 17/140000
2000 Sydney 17/140000
2004 Athens 17/140000
2016 Rio de Janeiro 14/140000
Total0000

Handball

Handball was included in the Olympic programme in 1936. It returned in 1972 and has remained in the Olympic programme ever since. Iceland first participated in 1972 and has participated in the sport many times since then.

Iceland men's national handball team managed to win silver in the men's tournament in 2008.

GamesHandballersEventsGoldSilverBronzeTotalRanking
1972 Munich 151/10000
1984 Los Angeles 151/20000
1988 Seoul 151/20000
1992 Barcelona 141/20000
2004 Athens 151/20000
2008 Beijing 141/20101=3
2012 London 141/20000
Total0101=12

Judo

Judo has been included in the Olympic programme since 1964 with the exception of the 1968 Games. Iceland first participated in 1976 and has participated most times since then.

Bjarni Friðriksson won bronze in men's 95 kg in 1984.

GamesJudokaEventsGoldSilverBronzeTotalRanking
1976 Montreal 22/60000
1980 Moscow 22/80000
1984 Los Angeles 22/80011=12
1988 Seoul 22/70000
1992 Barcelona 33/140000
1996 Atlanta 11/140000
2008 Beijing 11/140000
2012 London 11/140000
2016 Rio de Janeiro 11/140000
Total0011=52

Sailing

Sailing has been included in the Olympic programme since 1900 with the exception of the 1904 Games. Iceland has participated four times, first in 1984.

Their best placement in the sport was 22nd, by Ísleifur Friðriksson and Gunnlaugur Jónasson in men's 470 in 1988.

GamesSailorsEventsGoldSilverBronzeTotalRanking
1984 Los Angeles 21/70000
1988 Seoul 21/80000
2000 Sydney 11/110000
2004 Athens 11/110000
Total 0000

Shooting

Shooting was included in the inaugural 1896 Summer Olympic programme and has been included in all Summer Games since then except for 1904 and 1928. Iceland has participated four times, first in 1992.

Ásgeir Sigurgeirsson accomplished their best placement in the sport so far when he finished 14th in men's 10m air pistol in 2012.

GamesShootersEventsGoldSilverBronzeTotalRanking
1992 Barcelona 11/130000
2000 Sydney 11/170000
2012 London 12/150000
2020 Tokyo 11/150000
Total0000

Swimming

Long course swimming

Iceland first competed in swimming in 1948 and has competed in the sport most Games since then.

Örn Arnarson has achieved the best Icelandic placement in the sport, finishing 4th in men's 200m backstroke in 2000.

Hrafnhildur Lúthersdóttir has the highest placement in a women's event, she placed 6th in women's 100m breaststroke in 2016.

GamesSwimmersEventsGoldSilverBronzeTotalRanking
1948 London 86/110000
1960 Rome 22/150000
1964 Tokyo 23/180000
1968 Mexico City 411/290000
1972 Munich 48/290000
1976 Montreal 39/260000
1984 Los Angeles 47/290000
1988 Seoul 616/310000
1992 Barcelona 24/310000
1996 Atlanta 33/320000
2000 Sydney 914/320000
2004 Athens 79/320000
2008 Beijing 812/340000
2012 London 712/340000
2016 Rio de Janeiro 36/340000
2020 Tokyo 23/370000
Total0000

Marathon swimming

Marathon swimming has been included in the Olympic programme since 2008.

Iceland has yet to participate in the discipline.

Water polo

Water polo has been included in the Olympic programme since 1900 with the exception of the 1904 Games. Iceland has participated once, in 1936 when they finished 15th.

GamesPlayersEventsGoldSilverBronzeTotalRanking
1936 Berlin 81/10000
Total0000

Weightlifting

Weightlifting was first included in the Olympic programme at the inaugural 1896 Summer Olympics. It was excluded from the 1900, 1908 and 1912 Games but have been included every other time. Iceland has participated in the sport four times, from 1968 to 1980.

Their best placement was 8th by Guðmundur Sigurðsson in men's 90 kg in 1976.

GamesWeightliftersEventsGoldSilverBronzeTotalRanking
1968 Mexico City 11/70000
1972 Munich 22/90000
1976 Montreal 11/90000
1980 Moscow 33/100000
Total0000

Wrestling

Wrestling was included in the inaugural 1896 Summer Olympic programme and has been included in all Summer Games since then except for 1904. Iceland has participated in the sport twice, in 1908 and 1912.

Their best placement in the sport was 4th by Jóhannes Jósefsson in men's Greco-Roman middleweight in 1908.

GamesWrestlersEventsGoldSilverBronzeTotalRanking
1908 London 11/90000
1912 Stockholm 11/50000
Total0000

Summary by Winter sport

Iceland has participated in every Winter Olympic Games since 1948 except for 1972. They have yet to win any Winter Olympic medals.

Their best placement in a Winter Olympic sport is 11th by Jón Kristjánsson, Gunnar Pétursson, Ívar Stefánsson and Ebenezer Thorarinsson in men's cross-country skiing relay in 1952.

Their best placement in a women's event is 16th by Steinunn Sæmundsdóttir in women's slalom in 1976.

Iceland has so far participated in 3 winter sports; Alpine skiing, Cross-country skiing and Ski jumping.

Alpine skiing

Alpine skiing has been included in the Olympic programme since 1936. Iceland first participated in the sport in 1948 and has continued to do so every Olympic Games since then except for 1972.

Their best placement is 16th by Steinunn Sæmundsdóttir in women's slalom in 1976.

Their best placement in a men's event is 17th by Eysteinn Þórðarson in men's slalom in 1960.

GamesAlpine skiersEventsGoldSilverBronzeTotalRanking
1948 St. Moritz 33/60000
1952 Oslo 43/60000
1956 Cortina d'Ampezzo 56/60000
1960 Squaw Valley 33/60000
1964 Innsbruck 32/60000
1968 Grenoble 42/60000
1976 Innsbruck 64/60000
1980 Lake Placid 34/60000
1984 Sarajevo 34/60000
1988 Calgary 24/100000
1992 Albertville 35/100000
1994 Lillehammer 35/100000
1998 Nagano 75/100000
2002 Salt Lake City 67/100000
2006 Turin 58/100000
2010 Vancouver 45/100000
2014 Sochi 45/100000
2018 Pyeongchang 23/110000
2022 Beijing 24/110000
Total0000

Cross-country skiing

Cross-country skiing has been was included in the Olympic programme since the inaugural 1924 Winter Olympics. Iceland first participated in the sport in 1952 and has participated in the sport most times since then.

Their best placement in the sport was by Jón Kristjánsson, Gunnar Pétursson, Ívar Stefánsson and Ebenezer Thorarinsson who finished 11th in men's relay in 1952.

Their best placement in a women's event was by Kristrún Guðnadóttir who finished 74th in women's sprint in 2022.

GamesSkiersEventsGoldSilverBronzeTotalRanking
1952 Oslo 63/40000
1956 Cortina d'Ampezzo 22/60000
1964 Innsbruck 22/70000
1976 Innsbruck 23/70000
1980 Lake Placid 32/70000
1984 Sarajevo 22/80000
1988 Calgary 12/80000
1992 Albertville 24/100000
1994 Lillehammer 24/100000
2014 Sochi 12/120000
2018 Pyeongchang 35/120000
2022 Beijing 36/120000
Total0000

Ski jumping

Ski jumping has been included in the Olympic programme since the inaugural 1924 Winter Games. Iceland has participated three times. Their best placement was 35th by Ari Guðmundsson in the individual event in 1952.

GamesSki jumpersEventsGoldSilverBronzeTotalRanking
1948 St. Moritz 11/10000
1952 Oslo 11/10000
1960 Squaw Valley 11/10000
Total0000

See also

References