Zimbabwe at the Olympics

Zimbabwe at the Olympic Games

Flag of Zimbabwe
IOC code  ZIM
NOC Zimbabwe Olympic Committee
Websitewww.zoc.co.zw
Olympic history
Summer Games
Winter Games
* As Rhodesia

Zimbabwe participated for the first time at the Olympic Games under its current name in 1980, and has sent athletes to compete in every Summer Olympic Games since then. Previously, it competed at the Games under the name Rhodesia in 1928, 1960 and 1964. The 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi marked Zimbabwe's first participation at the Winter Olympic Games.

Zimbabwean athletes have won a total of eight medals – three golds, four silvers and one bronze – in two sports. Seven medals were won by swimmer Kirsty Coventry in 2004 and 2008; the remaining medal was the result of a surprising victory by the women's national field hockey team in 1980.

The National Olympic Committee for Zimbabwe was created in 1934 and recognised by the International Olympic Committee in 1980.

Medal tables

Medals by Summer Games

Games Athletes Gold Silver Bronze Total Rank
Netherlands 1928 Amsterdam 2 0 0 0 0 –
1932–1956 did not participate
Italy 1960 Rome 14 0 0 0 0 –
Japan 1964 Tokyo 29 0 0 0 0 –
Mexico 1968 Mexico City did not participate
West Germany 1972 Munich
Canada 1976 Montreal
Soviet Union 1980 Moscow 42 1 0 0 1 23
United States 1984 Los Angeles 15 0 0 0 0 –
South Korea 1988 Seoul 29 0 0 0 0 –
Spain 1992 Barcelona 19 0 0 0 0 –
United States 1996 Atlanta 13 0 0 0 0 –
Australia 2000 Sydney 16 0 0 0 0 –
Greece 2004 Athens 12 1 1 1 3 49
China 2008 Beijing 13 1 3 0 4 38
United Kingdom 2012 London 7 0 0 0 0 –
Brazil 2016 Rio de Janeiro
Total 3 4 1 8 70

Medals by Winter Games

Games Athletes Gold Silver Bronze Total Rank
Russia 2014 Sochi 1 0 0 0 0 –
Total 0 0 0 0 –

Medals by sport

Sport Gold Silver Bronze Total
Swimming 2 4 1 7
Field hockey 1 0 0 1
Total 3 4 1 8

Medalists

Medal Name Games Sport Event
 Gold Soviet Union 1980 Moscow Field hockey Women's competition
 Gold Coventry, KirstyKirsty Coventry Greece 2004 Athens Swimming Women's 200-metre backstroke
 Gold Coventry, KirstyKirsty Coventry China 2008 Beijing Swimming Women's 200-metre backstroke
 Silver Coventry, KirstyKirsty Coventry Greece 2004 Athens Swimming Women's 100-metre backstroke
 Silver Coventry, KirstyKirsty Coventry China 2008 Beijing Swimming Women's 400-metre individual medley
 Silver Coventry, KirstyKirsty Coventry China 2008 Beijing Swimming Women's 100-metre backstroke
 Silver Coventry, KirstyKirsty Coventry China 2008 Beijing Swimming Women's 200-metre individual medley
 Bronze Coventry, KirstyKirsty Coventry Greece 2004 Athens Swimming Women's 200-metre individual medley

History

Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) first participated as Rhodesia in the Olympic Games in 1928. Rhodesia was then absent until 1960 when the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland competed under the name of Rhodesia in Rome. Southern Rhodesia then competed alone under the banner of Rhodesia once again and for the last time in 1964.[1] The country thus always competed as a British territory. It was unable to take part in the 1968 Games in Mexico, due to the Mexican government's interpretation of regulations on passports.[2] It never successfully competed following Ian Smith's declaration of an independent Rhodesian republic in 1970. Although it returned to the Games in 1972, Rhodesia was expelled by the International Olympic Committee four days before the opening ceremony, under pressure from other African countries, which did not recognise the legitimacy of the Rhodesian state and threatened a boycott. The invitation which had been extended to Rhodesia was withdrawn by the IOC, by 36 votes to 31 with three abstentions.[3] [4] The country's successor state, Zimbabwe, made its Olympic début in 1980.

Rhodesia never took part in the Winter Olympics, and no Rhodesian competitor ever won an Olympic medal.[5]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Official Olympic reports
  2. ↑ "1972: Rhodesia out of Olympics", BBC
  3. ↑ "1972: Rhodesia out of Olympics", BBC
  4. ↑ "Rhodesia expelled", Montreal Gazette, August 23, 1972
  5. ↑ Official website of the Olympic movement