Summer Olympics Winners & Runners Up 776 BCE to Present Day

First recorded evidence of the ancient Olympic games. The games were held at Olympia every four years during the summer. There was only one event – the men’s 200m sprint.

The Marathon was introduced after Pheidippedes ran 42km from Sparta to Athens to bring the news of the Greek victory at the battle of Marathon.

The continuing war against the Spartans meant that there were fewer atheletes able to compete in the games and they began to fall into decline.

The Roman Emperor, Theodosius I, abolished the games claiming they were a pagan event.

These games, based on the ancient Olympic games were founded by Robert Dover, a barrister, and included horse racing, fencing, shin-kicking and throwing the hammer.

Richard Chandler found Ancient Olympia. This brought renewed interest in the Olympic competition that had been held there in ancient times.

There was renewed interest in the Olympic competition in France and L’Olympiade de la République, an olympic-style yearly competition was held between 1796 and 1798 in France.

An Olympic-style yearly sports festival was established in Much Wenlock, Shropshire, UK by Dr William Penny Brookes. It continues to this day.

Dr William Penny Brookes, founder of the Wenlock Olympian Games, persuaded Greek Evangelis Zappas to stage a revival of the ancient Olympic games. Brookes sent £10 to be used as prize money.

Germany funded a team of archeologists to excavate the site of ancient Olympia.

Dr William Penny Brooks invited the Frenchman Pierre de Coubertin to attend the Much Wenlock games.

The International Olympic Committee was founded by Baron Pierre de Coubertin who took the title of President. Coubertin suggested that the Olympics should be re-established and that it should be held every four years but hosted by a different country each time.

The first modern Summer Olympic games was held in Athens, Greece.

1st United States (USA) 11 gold, 7 silver, 2 bronze, total = 20
2nd Greece (GRE) 10 gold, 17 silver, 19 bronze, total = 46
3rd Germany (GER) 6 gold, 5 silver, 2 bronze, total = 13

Women competed for the first time in these Olympics which saw Swimming events held in the River Seine.

1st France (FRA) 26 gold, 41 silver, 34 bronze, total = 101
2nd United States (USA) 19 gold, 14 silver, 14 bronze, total = 47
3rd Great Britain (GBR) 15 gold, 6 silver, 9 bronze, total = 30

Gold, silver and bronze medals were introduced. Winners of events were given a gold medal, second place a silver medal and third place a bronze medal.

1st United States (USA) 78 Gold, 82 Silver, 79 Bronze, total = 239
2nd Germany (GER) 4 Gold, 4 Silver, 5 Bronze, total = 13
3rd Cuba (CUB) 4 Gold, 2 Silver, 3 Bronze, total = 9

For the first time the Summer Olympics took place in a purpose built stadium. Figure skating was introduced as an Olympic sport and Australia and New Zealand competed together as Australasia. Athletes paraded behind their flags in the opening ceremony for the first time.

1st Great Britain (GBR) 56 Gold, 51 Silver, 39 Bronze, total = 146
2nd United States (USA) 23 Gold, 12 Silver, 12 Bronze, total = 47
3rd Sweden (SWE) 8 Gold, 6 Silver, 11 Bronze, total = 25

Athletes from 5 continents – Africa, Americas, Asia, Australasia and Europe – took part. A public address system and electric timing devices were used for the first time. The Decathlon and Pentathlon were introduced for the first time.

1st United States (USA) 25 Gold, 19 Silver, 19 Bronze, total = 63
2nd Sweden (SWE) 24 Gold, 24 Silver, 17 Bronze, total = 65
3rd Great Britain (GBR) 10 Gold, 15 Silver, 16 Bronze, total = 41

Pierre de Coubertin designed the Olympic symbol of 5 interlocking rings to signify the 5 continents – Africa, Americas, Asia, Australasia and Europe

This Summer Olympics was due to be held in Berlin but was cancelled due to World War One.

The Olympic rings symbol was depicted on a flag with a white background. It was called the Olympic Flag and has been used at every games since. The Olympic Oath was also introduced during this games. Austria, Bulgaria, Germany, Hungary and Turkey were not allowed to take part because they were defeated in World War One.

1st United States (USA) 41 Gold, 27 Silver, 27 Bronze, total = 95
2nd Sweden (SWE) 19 Gold, 20 Silver, 25 Bronze, total = 64
3rd Great Britain (GBR) 15 Gold, 15 Silver, 13 Bronze, total = 43

The Summer Olympics returned to Paris, France. Austria, Bulgaria, Germany and Hungary were allowed to compete again. Johnny Weissmuller won 3 gold medals and 1 bronze for swimming.

1st United States (USA) 45 Gold, 27 Silver, 27 Bronze, total = 99
2nd Finland (FIN) 14 Gold, 13 Silver, 10 Bronze, total = 37
3rd France (FRA) 13 Gold, 15 Silver, 10 Bronze, total = 38

The Olympic flame was lit for the first time and burned throughout the entire competition. At the opening ceremony Greece led the athletes procession with the host nation at the end for the first time. Germany was allowed to compete again.

1st United States (USA) 22 Gold, 18 Silver, 16 Bronze, total = 56
2nd Germany (GER) 10 Gold, 7 Silver, 14 Bronze, total = 31
3rd Finland (FIN) 8 Gold, 8 Silver, 9 Bronze, total = 25

A photo finish camera was used for the first time. Podiums were also introduced where winners stood on a tiered stand with national flags raised above them.

1st United States (USA) 41 Gold, 32 Silver, 30 Bronze, total = 103
2nd Italy (ITA) 12 Gold, 12 Silver, 12 Bronze, total = 36
3rd France (FRA) 10 Gold, 5 Silver, 4 Bronze, total = 19

The Berlin Summer Olympics saw the first Olympic Torch relay. It was also the first Olympics to be televised, however the footage could only be watched on local television sets. Basketball became an Olympic sport for the first time and was won by the USA. Jesse Owens won 4 gold medals in athletics.

1st Germany (GER) 33 Gold, 26 Silver, 30 Bronze, total = 89
2nd United States (USA) 24 Gold, 20 Silver, 12 Bronze, total = 56
3rd Hungary (HUN) 10 Gold, 1 Silver, 5 Bronze, total = 16

Cancelled due to World War Two

Cancelled due to World War Two

Dubbed the ‘Austerity Games’ as there was no money to fund a lavish spectacle. Germany and Japan were not invited. Fanny Blankers-Koen won four gold medals in athletics.

1st United States (USA) 38 Gold, 27 Silver, 19 Bronze, total = 84
2nd Sweden (SWE) 16 Gold, 11 Silver, 17 Bronze, total = 44
3rd France (FRA) 10 Gold, 6 Silver, 13 Bronze, total = 29

Czech athlete Emil Zátopek set new World records in the 5,000 metres, 10,000 metres and Marathon.

1st United States (USA) 40 Gold, 19 Silver, 17 Bronze, total = 76
2nd Soviet Union (URS) 22 Gold, 30 Silver, 19 Bronze, total = 71
3rd Hungary (HUN) 16 Gold, 10 Silver, 16 Bronze, total = 42

Iraq, Lebanon and Egypt boycotted the games in protest at the British, French and Israeli invasion of Egypt (Suez Crisis) Netherlands, Spain and Switzerland boycotted the games in protest at the Soviet invasion of Hungary The People’s Republic of China boycotted the games in protest at the games’ recognition of Formosa (now Taiwan).

1st Soviet Union (URS) 37 Gold, 29 Silver, 32 Bronze, total = 98
2nd United States (USA) 32 Gold, 25 Silver, 17 Bronze, total = 74
3rd Australia (AUS) 13 Gold, 8 Silver, 14 Bronze, total = 35

Many events took place in the ancient ruins around the city.

1st Soviet Union (URS) 43 Gold, 29 Silver, 31 Bronze, total = 103
2nd United States (USA) 34 Gold, 21 Silver, 16 Bronze, total = 71
3rd Italy (ITA) 13 Gold, 10 Silver, 13 Bronze, total = 36

First Olympics held in Asia

1st United States (USA) 36 Gold, 26 Silver, 28 Bronze, total = 90
2nd Soviet Union (URS) 30 Gold, 31 Silver, 35 Bronze, total = 96
3rd Japan (JPN) 16 Gold, 5 Silver, 8 Bronze, total = 29

First Summer Olympics held in Central America. Tommie Smith and John Carlos both gave the ‘black power’ salute as the US national anthem was played in protest against racial prejudice in America.

1st United States (USA) 45 Gold, 28 Silver, 34 Bronze, total = 107
2nd Soviet Union (URS) 29 Gold, 32 Silver, 30 Bronze, total = 91
3rd Japan (JPN) 11 Gold, 7 Silver, 7 Bronze, total = 25

The Black September terrorists killed 11 members of the Israeli Olympic team. Mark Spitz won 7 gold medals in swimming setting new World records for each.

1st Soviet Union (URS) 50 Gold, 27 Silver, 22 Bronze, total = 99
2nd United States (USA) 33 Gold, 31 Silver, 30 Bronze, total = 94
3rd East Germany (GDR) 20 Gold, 23 Silver, 23 Bronze, total = 66

31 nations boycotted the games as a protest against the New Zealand rugby team’s recent game with South Africa.  Increased costs together with the boycott and a reduced number of visitors nearly bankrupted Montreal. Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci scored a record 7 x 10s and won 3 gold medals, 1 silver and 1 bronze.

1st Soviet Union (URS) 49 Gold, 41 Silver, 35 Bronze, total = 125
2nd East Germany (GDR) 40 Gold, 25 Silver, 25 Bronze, total = 90
3rd United States (USA) 34 Gold, 35 Silver, 25 Bronze, total = 94

61 Nations refused to compete in these games as a protest against Russia’s invasion of Afghanistan.

1st Soviet Union (URS) 80 Gold, 69 Silver, 46 Bronze, total = 195
2nd East Germany (GDR) 47 Gold, 37 Silver, 42 Bronze, total = 126
3rd Bulgaria (BUL) 8 Gold, 16 Silver, 17 Bronze, total = 41

15 communist block countries refused to compete in these games in retaliation for the boycott of the Moscow Olympics 4 years earlier. Romania was the only communist block country to take part and came 2nd in the medals table. The games were privately sponsored for the first time and Carl Lewis won 4 gold medals in athletics.

1st United States (USA) 83 Gold, 61 Silver, 30 Bronze, total = 174
2nd Romania (ROU) 20 Gold, 16 Silver, 17 Bronze, total = 53
3rd West Germany (FRG) 17 Gold, 19 Silver, 23 Bronze, total = 59

11 medalists were disqualified for using banned substances. The cost of the games was met by the sale of TV broadcasting rights.

1st Soviet Union (URS) 55 Gold, 31 Silver, 46 Bronze, total = 132
2nd East Germany (GDR) 37 Gold, 35 Silver, 30 Bronze, total = 102
3rd United States (USA) 36 Gold, 31 Silver, 27 Bronze, total = 94

Former Soviet Union members competed as a Unified Team and Germany competed as one nation following the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War.

1st Unified Team (EUN) 45 Gold, 38 Silver, 29 Bronze, total = 112
2nd United States (USA) 37 Gold, 34 Silver, 37 Bronze, total = 108
3rd Germany (GER) 33 Gold, 21 Silver, 28 Bronze, total = 82

Television rights were sold for a record sum and Coca-Cola was a major sponsor of these games.

1st United States (USA) 44 Gold, 32 Silver, 25 Bronze, total = 101
2nd Russia (RUS) 26 Gold, 21 Silver, 16 Bronze, total = 63
3rd Germany (GER) 20 Gold, 18 Silver, 27 Bronze, total = 65

The Briton, Steve Redgrave won a fifth consecutive gold medal in rowing.

1st United States (USA) 37 Gold, 24 Silver, 32 Bronze, total = 93
2nd Russia (RUS) 32 Gold, 28 Silver, 29 Bronze, total = 89
3rd China (CHN) 28 Gold, 16 Silver, 14 Bronze, total = 58

The Summer Olympics returned to Athens. The cost involved in staging the Olympics, especially with regard to increased security provision following the 9/11 terror attacks, led to delays and venues were completed only just in time.

1st United States (USA) 36 Gold, 39 Silver, 26 Bronze, total = 101
2nd China (CHN) 32 Gold, 17 Silver, 14 Bronze, total = 63
3rd Russia (RUS) 28 Gold, 26 Silver, 36 Bronze, total = 90

43 world records and 132 Olympic records were broken during the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing. Michael Phelps won 8 gold medals in swimming the most ever at a single Olympics

1st China (CHN) 51 Gold, 21 Silver, 28 Bronze, total = 100
2nd United States (USA) 36 Gold, 38 Silver, 36 Bronze, total = 110
3rd Russia (RUS) 23 Gold, 21 Silver, 29 Bronze, total = 73

The games returned to London for the third time.

1st United States (USA) 46 Gold, 28 Silver, 29 Bronze, total = 103
2nd China (CHN) 38 Gold, 29 Silver, 21, Bronze, total = 88
3rd Great Britain (GBR) 29 Gold, 17 Silver, 19 Bronze, total = 65

The first Summer Olympics to be held in South America.

1st United States (USA) 46 Gold, 37 Silver, 38 Bronze, total = 121
2nd Great Britain (GBR) 27 Gold, 23 Silver, 17, Bronze, total = 67
3rd China (CHN) 26 Gold, 18 Silver, 26 Bronze, total = 70

The Summer Olympics will return to Japan for the second time. The event was postponed for a year due to the Worldwide Coronavirus outbreak and was held in August 2021.

1st United States (USA) 39 Gold, 41 Silver, 33 Bronze, total = 113
2nd China (CHN) 38 Gold, 32 Silver, 18, Bronze, total = 88
3rd Japan (JPN) 27 Gold, 14 Silver, 27 Bronze, total = 58

The Summer Olympics will return to Paris for the third time. It was previously held in Paris in 1900 and 1924.