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Belarus at the Olympics facts for kids

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Belarus at the
Olympics
Flag of Belarus.svg
IOC code BLR
NOC Belarus Olympic Committee
Website  
Medals
Ranked 46th
Gold Silver Bronze Total
22 39 48 109
Summer appearances
  • 1996
  • 2000
  • 2004
  • 2008
  • 2012
  • 2016
  • 2020
Winter appearances
  • 1994
  • 1998
  • 2002
  • 2006
  • 2010
  • 2014
  • 2018
Other related appearances
 Russian Empire (1900–1912)
 Poland (1924–1936)
 Soviet Union (1952–1988)
 Unified Team (1992)

Athletes from Belarus first joined the Olympics in 1952. They competed as part of the Soviet Union. After the Soviet Union broke up in 1991, Belarus joined the Unified Team for the 1992 Winter and Summer Olympics.

In 1994, Belarus competed as an independent country for the first time. This was at the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway. Since then, Belarus has won medals at every Summer and Winter Olympics they have been in. They have won a total of 109 medals. This places them third among countries that used to be part of the Soviet Union. Only Russia and Ukraine have won more.

In 2022, the International Olympic Committee temporarily stopped Belarusian athletes from competing. This was due to certain events. In January 2023, the Committee announced that Belarusian athletes could take part in the 2024 Summer Olympics. They would compete as neutral athletes. This means they would not represent their country.

Olympic Medals for Belarus

Belarus has won many medals over the years. Here's a look at their achievements.

Medals by Summer Games

Games Athletes Gold Silver Bronze Total Rank
1896–1948 did not participate
1952–1988 as part of the  Soviet Union (URS)
Spain 1992 Barcelona as part of the  Unified Team (EUN)
United States 1996 Atlanta 157 1 6 8 15 37
Australia 2000 Sydney 139 3 3 11 17 23
Greece 2004 Athens 151 2 5 6 13 26
China 2008 Beijing 181 3 4 7 14 23
United Kingdom 2012 London 165 2 5 3 10 26
Brazil 2016 Rio de Janeiro 124 1 4 4 9 40
Japan 2020 Tokyo 101 1 3 3 7 45
France 2024 Paris as part of the  Individual Neutral Athletes (AIN)
United States 2028 Los Angeles future event
Total 13 30 42 85 51

Medals by Winter Games

Games Athletes Gold Silver Bronze Total Rank
1924–1948 did not participate
1952–1988 as part of the  Soviet Union (URS)
France 1992 Albertville as part of the  Unified Team (EUN)
Norway 1994 Lillehammer 33 0 2 0 2 15
Japan 1998 Nagano 59 0 0 2 2 20
United States 2002 Salt Lake City 64 0 0 1 1 23
Italy 2006 Turin 28 0 1 0 1 21
Canada 2010 Vancouver 50 1 1 1 3 17
Russia 2014 Sochi 25 5 0 1 6 8
South Korea 2018 Pyeongchang 33 2 1 0 3 15
China 2022 Beijing 29 0 2 0 2 24
Italy 2026 Milan/Cortina future event
Total 8 7 5 20 22

Medals by Summer Sport

Sport Gold Silver Bronze Total
Athletics 3 5 7 15
Gymnastics 2 4 7 13
Canoeing 2 3 4 9
Rowing 2 1 4 7
Weightlifting 1 4 3 8
Shooting 1 2 4 7
Judo 1 0 1 2
Tennis 1 0 1 2
Wrestling 0 7 7 14
Swimming 0 2 1 3
Boxing 0 2 0 2
Modern pentathlon 0 0 2 2
Cycling 0 0 1 1
Totals (13 entries) 13 30 42 85

Medals by Winter Sport

Sport Gold Silver Bronze Total
Biathlon 4 4 3 11
Freestyle skiing 4 2 2 8
Speed skating 0 1 0 1
Totals (3 entries) 8 7 5 20

List of Medalists

Here are some of the athletes who have won medals for Belarus.

Summer Olympics

Medal Name Games Sport Event
11 Gold Ekaterina Karsten United States 1996 Atlanta Rowing pictogram.svg Rowing Women's single sculls
22 Silver Vladimir Dubrovshchik United States 1996 Atlanta Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's discus throw
22 Silver Natallia Sazanovich United States 1996 Atlanta Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Women's heptathlon
22 Silver Igor Basinsky United States 1996 Atlanta Shooting pictogram.svg Shooting Men's 50 metre pistol
22 Silver Aleksandr Pavlov United States 1996 Atlanta Wrestling pictogram.svg Wrestling Men's Greco-Roman 48 kg
22 Silver Sergey Lishtvan United States 1996 Atlanta Wrestling pictogram.svg Wrestling Men's Greco-Roman 100 kg
22 Silver Aleksey Medvedev United States 1996 Atlanta Wrestling pictogram.svg Wrestling Men's freestyle 130 kg
33 Bronze Vasiliy Kaptyukh United States 1996 Atlanta Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's discus throw
33 Bronze Ellina Zvereva United States 1996 Atlanta Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Women's discus throw
33 Bronze Vitaly Scherbo United States 1996 Atlanta Gymnastics pictogram.svg Gymnastics (Artistic) Individual all-around
33 Bronze Vitaly Scherbo United States 1996 Atlanta Gymnastics pictogram.svg Gymnastics (Artistic) Men's horizontal bar
33 Bronze Vitaly Scherbo United States 1996 Atlanta Gymnastics pictogram.svg Gymnastics (Artistic) Men's parallel bars
33 Bronze Vitaly Scherbo United States 1996 Atlanta Gymnastics pictogram.svg Gymnastics (Artistic) Men's vault
33 Bronze Tamara Davydenko
Nataliya Lavrinenko
Yelena Mikulich
Aleksandra Pankina
Yaroslava Pavlovich
Valentina Skrabatun
Nataliya Stasyuk
Nataliya Volchek
Marina Znak
United States 1996 Atlanta Rowing pictogram.svg Rowing Women's Eight
33 Bronze Valery Tsilent United States 1996 Atlanta Wrestling pictogram.svg Wrestling Men's Greco-Roman 82 kg
11 Gold Ellina Zvereva Australia 2000 Sydney Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Women's discus throw
11 Gold Yanina Korolchik Australia 2000 Sydney Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Women's shot put
11 Gold Ekaterina Karsten Australia 2000 Sydney Rowing pictogram.svg Rowing Women's single sculls
22 Silver Yulia Raskina Australia 2000 Sydney Gymnastics pictogram.svg Gymnastics (Rhythmic) Individual all-around
22 Silver Tatyana Ananko
Tatyana Belan
Anna Glazkova
Irina Ilyenkova
Maria Lazuk
Olga Puzhevich
Australia 2000 Sydney Gymnastics pictogram.svg Gymnastics (Rhythmic) Group all-around
22 Silver Igor Basinsky Australia 2000 Sydney Shooting pictogram.svg Shooting Men's 50 metre pistol
33 Bronze Igor Astapkovich Australia 2000 Sydney Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's hammer throw
33 Bronze Iryna Yatchenko Australia 2000 Sydney Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Women's discus throw
33 Bronze Natallia Sazanovich Australia 2000 Sydney Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Women's heptathlon
33 Bronze Anatoly Laryukov Australia 2000 Sydney Judo pictogram.svg Judo Men's 73 kg
33 Bronze Pavel Dovgal Australia 2000 Sydney Modern pentathlon pictogram (pre-2025).svg Modern pentathlon Men's individual
33 Bronze Igor Basinsky Australia 2000 Sydney Shooting pictogram.svg Shooting Men's 10 metre air pistol
33 Bronze Sergei Martynov Australia 2000 Sydney Shooting pictogram.svg Shooting Men's 50 metre rifle prone
33 Bronze Lalita Yauhleuskaya Australia 2000 Sydney Shooting pictogram.svg Shooting Women's 25 metre pistol
33 Bronze Gennady Oleshchuk Australia 2000 Sydney Weightlifting pictogram.svg Weightlifting Men's 62 kg
33 Bronze Sergey Lavrenov Australia 2000 Sydney Weightlifting pictogram.svg Weightlifting Men's 69 kg
33 Bronze Dmitry Debelka Australia 2000 Sydney Wrestling pictogram.svg Wrestling Men's Greco-Roman 130 kg
11 Gold Yulia Nestsiarenka Greece 2004 Athens Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Women's 100 metres
11 Gold Ihar Makarau Greece 2004 Athens Judo pictogram.svg Judo Men's 100 kg
22 Silver Magomed Aripgadjiev Greece 2004 Athens Boxing pictogram.svg Boxing Light heavyweight
22 Silver Viktar Zuyev Greece 2004 Athens Boxing pictogram.svg Boxing Heavyweight
22 Silver Ekaterina Karsten Greece 2004 Athens Rowing pictogram.svg Rowing Women's single sculls
22 Silver Andrei Rybakou Greece 2004 Athens Weightlifting pictogram.svg Weightlifting Men's 85 kg
22 Silver Hanna Batsiushka Greece 2004 Athens Weightlifting pictogram.svg Weightlifting Women's 63 kg
33 Bronze Vadzim Makhneu
Raman Piatrushenka
Greece 2004 Athens Canoeing pictogram.svg Canoeing Men's K-2 500 metres
33 Bronze Natallia Tsylinskaya Greece 2004 Athens Cycling pictogram.svg Cycling Women's track time trial
33 Bronze Yuliya Bichyk
Natallia Helakh
Greece 2004 Athens Rowing pictogram.svg Rowing Women's coxless pair
33 Bronze Sergei Martynov Greece 2004 Athens Shooting pictogram.svg Shooting Men's 50 metre rifle prone
33 Bronze Tatsiana Stukalava Greece 2004 Athens Weightlifting pictogram.svg Weightlifting Women's 63 kg
33 Bronze Viachaslau Makaranka Greece 2004 Athens Wrestling pictogram.svg Wrestling Men's Greco-Roman 84 kg
11 Gold Andrei Bahdanovich
Aliaksandr Bahdanovich
China 2008 Beijing Canoeing pictogram.svg Canoeing Men's C-2 1000 m
11 Gold Raman Piatrushenka
Aliaksei Abalmasau
Artur Litvinchuk
Vadzim Makhneu
China 2008 Beijing Canoeing pictogram.svg Canoeing Men's K-4 1000 m
11 Gold Andrei Aramnau China 2008 Beijing Weightlifting pictogram.svg Weightlifting Men's 105 kg
22 Silver Vadim Devyatovskiy China 2008 Beijing Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's hammer throw
22 Silver Andrei Krauchanka China 2008 Beijing Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's decathlon
22 Silver Inna Zhukova China 2008 Beijing Gymnastics pictogram.svg Gymnastics (Rhythmic) Individual all-around
22 Silver Murad Gaidarov China 2008 Beijing Wrestling pictogram.svg Wrestling Men's 74 kg
33 Bronze Ivan Tsikhan China 2008 Beijing Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's hammer throw
33 Bronze Vadzim Makhneu
Raman Piatrushenka
China 2008 Beijing Canoeing pictogram.svg Canoeing Men's K-2 500 m
33 Bronze Olesya Babushkina
Anastasia Ivankova
Zinaida Lunina
Glafira Martinovich
Ksenia Sankovich
Alina Tumilovich
China 2008 Beijing Gymnastics pictogram.svg Gymnastics (Rhythmic) Group all-around
33 Bronze Ekaterina Karsten China 2008 Beijing Rowing pictogram.svg Rowing Women's single sculls
33 Bronze Yuliya Bichyk
Natallia Helakh
China 2008 Beijing Rowing pictogram.svg Rowing Women's coxless pair
33 Bronze Mikhail Siamionau China 2008 Beijing Wrestling pictogram.svg Wrestling Men's 66 kg
33 Bronze Anastasiya Samusevich China 2008 Beijing Modern pentathlon pictogram.svg Modern pentathlon Women's
11 Gold Sergei Martynov United Kingdom 2012 London Shooting pictogram.svg Shooting Men's 50 m rifle prone
11 Gold Victoria Azarenka
Max Mirnyi
United Kingdom 2012 London Tennis pictogram.svg Tennis Mixed doubles
22 Silver Andrei Bahdanovich
Aliaksandr Bahdanovich
United Kingdom 2012 London Canoeing pictogram.svg Canoeing Men's C-2 1000 m
22 Silver Raman Piatrushenka
Vadzim Makhneu
United Kingdom 2012 London Canoeing pictogram.svg Canoeing Men's K-2 200 m
22 Silver Maryna Hancharova
Anastasia Ivankova
Nataliya Leshchyk
Aliaksandra Narkevich
Ksenia Sankovich
Alina Tumilovich
United Kingdom 2012 London Gymnastics pictogram.svg Gymnastics (Rhythmic) Group all-around
22 Silver Aliaksandra Herasimenia United Kingdom 2012 London Swimming pictogram.svg Swimming Women's 50 m freestyle
22 Silver Aliaksandra Herasimenia United Kingdom 2012 London Swimming pictogram.svg Swimming Women's 100 m freestyle
33 Bronze Volha Khudzenka
Iryna Pamialova
Nadzeya Papok
Maryna Pautaran
United Kingdom 2012 London Canoeing pictogram.svg Canoeing Women's K-4 500 m
33 Bronze Liubov Charkashyna United Kingdom 2012 London Gymnastics pictogram.svg Gymnastics (Rhythmic) Individual all-around
33 Bronze Victoria Azarenka United Kingdom 2012 London Tennis pictogram.svg Tennis Women's singles
11 Gold Uladzislau Hancharou Brazil 2016 Rio de Janeiro Gymnastics pictogram.svg Gymnastics Men's trampoline
22 Silver Darya Naumava Brazil 2016 Rio de Janeiro Weightlifting pictogram.svg Weightlifting Women's 75 kg
22 Silver Vadzim Straltsou Brazil 2016 Rio de Janeiro Weightlifting pictogram.svg Weightlifting Men's 94 kg
22 Silver Maryia Mamashuk Brazil 2016 Rio de Janeiro Wrestling pictogram.svg Wrestling Women's 63 kg
22 Silver Ivan Tsikhan Brazil 2016 Rio de Janeiro Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's hammer throw
33 Bronze Aliaksandra Herasimenia Brazil 2016 Rio de Janeiro Swimming pictogram.svg Swimming Women's 50 m freestyle
33 Bronze Javid Hamzatau Brazil 2016 Rio de Janeiro Wrestling pictogram.svg Wrestling Men's Greco-Roman 85 kg
33 Bronze Ibrahim Saidau Brazil 2016 Rio de Janeiro Wrestling pictogram.svg Wrestling Men's freestyle 125 kg
33 Bronze Marharyta Makhneva
Nadzeya Liapeshka
Volha Khudzenka
Maryna Litvinchuk
Brazil 2016 Rio de Janeiro Canoeing pictogram.svg Canoeing Women's K-4 500 m
11 Gold Ivan Litvinovich Japan 2020 Tokyo Gymnastics pictogram.svg Gymnastics Men's trampoline
22 Silver Iryna Kurachkina Japan 2020 Tokyo Wrestling pictogram.svg Wrestling Women's freestyle 57 kg
22 Silver Magomedkhabib Kadimagomedov Japan 2020 Tokyo Wrestling pictogram.svg Wrestling Men's freestyle 74 kg
22 Silver Volha Khudzenka
Maryna Litvinchuk
Marharyta Makhneva
Nadzeya Papok
Japan 2020 Tokyo Canoeing pictogram.svg Canoeing Women's K-4 500 metres
33 Bronze Maksim Nedasekau Japan 2020 Tokyo Athletics pictogram.svg Athletics Men's high jump
33 Bronze Vanesa Kaladzinskaya Japan 2020 Tokyo Wrestling pictogram.svg Wrestling Women's freestyle 53 kg
33 Bronze Alina Harnasko Japan 2020 Tokyo Gymnastics pictogram.svg Gymnastics Women's rhythmic individual all-around

Winter Olympics

Medal Name Games Sport Event
22 Silver Svetlana Paramygina Norway 1994 Lillehammer Biathlon pictogram.svg Biathlon Women's sprint
22 Silver Igor Zhelezovski Norway 1994 Lillehammer Speed skating pictogram.svg Speed skating Men's 1000 m
33 Bronze Alexei Aidarov Japan 1998 Nagano Biathlon pictogram.svg Biathlon Men's individual
33 Bronze Dmitri Dashinski Japan 1998 Nagano Freestyle skiing pictogram.svg Freestyle skiing Men's aerials
33 Bronze Aleksei Grishin United States 2002 Salt Lake City Freestyle skiing pictogram.svg Freestyle skiing Men's aerials
22 Silver Dmitri Dashinski Italy 2006 Turin Freestyle skiing pictogram.svg Freestyle skiing Men's aerials
11 Gold Aleksei Grishin Canada 2010 Vancouver Freestyle skiing pictogram.svg Freestyle skiing Men's aerials
22 Silver Sergey Novikov Canada 2010 Vancouver Biathlon pictogram.svg Biathlon Men's individual
33 Bronze Darya Domracheva Canada 2010 Vancouver Biathlon pictogram.svg Biathlon Women's individual
11 Gold Darya Domracheva Russia 2014 Sochi Biathlon pictogram.svg Biathlon Women's individual
11 Gold Darya Domracheva Russia 2014 Sochi Biathlon pictogram.svg Biathlon Women's mass start
11 Gold Darya Domracheva Russia 2014 Sochi Biathlon pictogram.svg Biathlon Women's pursuit
11 Gold Anton Kushnir Russia 2014 Sochi Freestyle skiing pictogram.svg Freestyle skiing Men's aerials
11 Gold Alla Tsuper Russia 2014 Sochi Freestyle skiing pictogram.svg Freestyle skiing Women's aerials
33 Bronze Nadezhda Skardino Russia 2014 Sochi Biathlon pictogram.svg Biathlon Women's individual
11 Gold Hanna Huskova South Korea 2018 Pyeongchang Freestyle skiing pictogram.svg Freestyle skiing Women's aerials
22 Silver Darya Domracheva South Korea 2018 Pyeongchang Biathlon pictogram.svg Biathlon Women's mass start
11 Gold Skardino, NadezhdaNadezhda Skardino
Kryuko, IrynaIryna Kryuko
Alimbekava, DzinaraDzinara Alimbekava
Domracheva, DaryaDarya Domracheva
South Korea 2018 Pyeongchang Biathlon pictogram.svg Biathlon Women's relay
22 Silver Anton Smolski China 2022 Beijing Biathlon pictogram.svg Biathlon Men's individual
22 Silver Hanna Huskova China 2022 Beijing Freestyle skiing pictogram.svg Freestyle skiing Women's aerials

Belarus Before Independence

Soviet Union at the Olympics

Athletes from the Soviet Union first competed in the Olympics in 1952. They won many medals, including 473 gold medals. Belarusian athletes were part of this success. For example, Mikhail Krivonosov won a silver medal in hammer throw in 1956. In 1960, Leonid Geishtor and Sergei Makarenko won the first gold medal for a Belarusian in canoeing. The Soviet Union last competed as one country in 1988.

Unified Team at the Olympics

After the Soviet Union dissolved, some former republics, including Belarus, formed the Unified Team. This team competed in the 1992 Winter and Summer Olympics. Gymnast Vitaly Shcherbo won six gold medals at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.

Belarus at the Summer Olympics

1996 Atlanta Games

This was Belarus's first time competing as an independent nation in the Summer Olympics. They won 15 medals. This included one gold, six silver, and eight bronze medals. The first gold medal for Belarus was won by Ekaterina Karsten in women's single sculls rowing. Belarus sent 159 athletes to compete in 21 sports.

2000 Sydney Games

Belarus spent five million US dollars to prepare its athletes for these Games. They finished with three gold, three silver, and 11 bronze medals. Ekaterina Karsten won gold again in rowing. Yanina Karolchik won gold in shot put. Ellina Zvereva also won gold in discus throw.

2004 Athens Games

Belarus sent 153 athletes to Athens. They competed in 21 sports. These athletes won 15 medals: two gold, six silver, and nine bronze. The gold medals were won in the 100-meter dash and in judo. Yulia Nestsiarenka won gold in the 100-meter dash, which was a big surprise.

2008 Beijing Games

One hundred and eighty-one Belarusian athletes competed in 28 events. Medal winners received cash prizes from the Belarus Olympic Committee. Some athletes also got free sausage for life from a sponsor! Belarus won 19 medals, including four gold. This placed them 16th in the medal standings.

2012 London Games

Belarus won two gold medals in London. Sergei Martynov won gold in shooting. Tennis players Max Mirnyi and Victoria Azarenka won gold in mixed doubles. Azarenka also won a bronze medal in women's singles tennis.

2016 Rio de Janeiro Games

Belarus continued to win medals in Rio.

2020 Tokyo Games

Belarusian athletes competed in the Tokyo Games.

Belarus at the Winter Olympics

1994 Lillehammer Games

This was the first Winter Olympics for an independent Belarus. They sent 33 athletes to compete in seven sports. They won two silver medals. Igor Zhelezovski won silver in speed skating. Svetlana Paramygina won silver in biathlon. Belarus ranked 15th out of 67 nations.

1998 Nagano Games

Belarus sent 59 athletes to Japan. They won two bronze medals. These were won by Dmitry Dashchinsky in aerials skiing and Alexei Aidarov in biathlon. The ice hockey team reached the quarterfinals.

2002 Salt Lake City Games

Belarus won one bronze medal at these Games. It was won by Aleksei Grishin in freestyle skiing. The men's ice hockey team surprised many by finishing fourth.

2006 Turin Games

Belarus sent 33 athletes to Italy. Dmitry Dashchinsky won the only medal, a silver in aerials skiing.

2010 Vancouver Games

Belarus won three medals in Vancouver. Alexei Grishin won Belarus's first-ever gold medal in freestyle skiing. Sergey Novikov won silver in biathlon. Darya Domracheva won bronze in biathlon.

2014 Sochi Games

Belarus had its best Olympic performance ever in Sochi. They ranked 8th overall. They won five gold medals and one bronze. Biathlete Darya Domracheva won three gold medals! Nadzeya Skardzina won a bronze in biathlon. In freestyle skiing, Alla Tsuper and Anton Kushnir both won gold medals.

2018 Pyeongchang Games

Belarus continued its strong performance in winter sports.

2022 Beijing Games

Belarusian athletes competed in the Beijing Winter Olympics.

Flag Bearers

The flag bearer is an athlete who carries their country's flag during the opening ceremony.

Games Name
Norway 1994 Lillehammer Igor Zhelezovsky
United States 1996 Atlanta Igor Astapkovich
Japan 1998 Nagano Alexandr Popov
Australia 2000 Sydney Sergey Lishtvan
United States 2002 Salt Lake City Oleg Ryzhenkov
Greece 2004 Athens Aleksandr Medved
Italy 2006 Turin Alexandr Popov
China 2008 Beijing Alexander Romankov
Canada 2010 Vancouver Oleg Antonenko
United Kingdom 2012 London Max Mirnyi
Russia 2014 Sochi Aleksei Grishin
Brazil 2016 Rio de Janeiro Vasil Kiryienka
South Korea 2018 Pyeongchang Alla Tsuper
Japan 2020 Tokyo Hanna Marusava & Mikita Tsmyh

National Olympic Committee

The Belarus Olympic Committee (NOC RB) was created in 1991. It became a full member of the International Olympic Committee in 1993. The NOC RB helps fund and prepare athletes for the Olympic Games. They get money from sponsorships, donations, and the government. The government also gives cash prizes to medal winners. For the 2008 and 2010 Games, gold medalists received $100,000. Silver medalists got $50,000, and bronze medalists received $30,000.

Images for kids

See also

  • List of flag bearers for Belarus at the Olympics
  • Belarus at the Paralympics
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