Zimbabwe at the Olympics facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Zimbabwe at the Olympics
IOC code	ZIM
NOC	Zimbabwe Olympic Committee
Medals Ranked 86th	Gold Silver Bronze Total 3 4 1 8
Summer appearances
1928 1932–1956 1960 1964 1968–1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020
Winter appearances
2014 2018
Other related appearances
Rhodesia (1928-1964)

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, with Luke Steyn, the Zimbabwean born athlete participating in alpine skiing.

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 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.

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. 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. 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 The invitation which had been extended to Rhodesia was withdrawn by the IOC, by 36 votes to 31 with three abstentions. Rhodesia remained out of the 1976 Summer Olympics after the IOC inspected the country's sporting facilities and groups and found them underwhelming, voting for their expulsion from the committee.

The country's successor state, Zimbabwe, made its Olympic début in 1980.

Medal tables

Medals by Summer Games Games Athletes Gold Silver Bronze Total Rank 1928 Amsterdam 2 0 0 0 0 – 1932 Los Angeles did not participate 1936 Berlin 1948 London 1956 Melbourne 1960 Rome 14 0 0 0 0 – 1964 Tokyo 29 0 0 0 0 – 1968 Mexico City did not participate 1972 Munich 1976 Montreal 1980 Moscow 42 1 0 0 1 23 1984 Los Angeles 15 0 0 0 0 – 1988 Seoul 29 0 0 0 0 – 1992 Barcelona 19 0 0 0 0 – 1996 Atlanta 13 0 0 0 0 – 2000 Sydney 16 0 0 0 0 – 2004 Athens 12 1 1 1 3 49 2008 Beijing 13 1 3 0 4 38 2012 London 7 0 0 0 0 – 2016 Rio de Janeiro 31 0 0 0 0 – 2020 Tokyo 5 0 0 0 0 – 2024 Paris 7 0 0 0 0 – 2028 Los Angeles future event Total 3 4 1 8 86

Medals by Winter Games Games Athletes Gold Silver Bronze Total Rank 2014 Sochi 1 0 0 0 0 – 2018 Pyeongchang did not participate 2022 Beijing 2026 Milan/Cortina future event Total 0 0 0 0 –

Medals by sport

List of medalists

Medal	Name	Games	Sport	Event
1 Gold	Field hockey team Arlene Boxhall Liz Chase Sandra Chick Gillian Cowley Patricia Davies Sarah English Maureen George Ann Grant Susan Huggett Patricia McKillop Brenda Phillips Christine Prinsloo Sonia Robertson Anthea Stewart Helen Volk Linda Watson	1980 Moscow	Field hockey	Women's competition
1 Gold	Coventry, KirstyKirsty Coventry	2004 Athens	Swimming	Women's 200-metre backstroke
1 Gold	Coventry, KirstyKirsty Coventry	2008 Beijing	Swimming	Women's 200-metre backstroke
2 Silver	Coventry, KirstyKirsty Coventry	2004 Athens	Swimming	Women's 100-metre backstroke
2 Silver	Coventry, KirstyKirsty Coventry	2008 Beijing	Swimming	Women's 400-metre individual medley
2 Silver	Coventry, KirstyKirsty Coventry	2008 Beijing	Swimming	Women's 100-metre backstroke
2 Silver	Coventry, KirstyKirsty Coventry	2008 Beijing	Swimming	Women's 200-metre individual medley
3 Bronze	Coventry, KirstyKirsty Coventry	2004 Athens	Swimming	Women's 200-metre individual medley

See also

In Spanish: Zimbabue en los Juegos Olímpicos para niños

• Category:Olympic competitors for Zimbabwe
• Rhodesia at the Olympics
• Zimbabwe at the Paralympics
• List of flag bearers for Zimbabwe at the Olympics
• Tropical nations at the Winter Olympics