Iceland at the Olympics facts for kids

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Iceland at the
Olympics

IOC code

ISL

NOC

National Olympic and Sports Association of Iceland

Website

Medals
Ranked 125th

Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
0	2	2	4

Summer appearances

1912
1920–1932
1936
1948
1952
1956
1960
1964
1968
1972
1976
1980
1984
1988
1992
1996
2000
2004
2008
2012
2016
2020

Winter appearances

1948
1952
1956
1960
1964
1968
1972
1976
1980
1984
1988
1992
1994
1998
2002
2006
2010
2014
2018

Athletes from Iceland have been part of the Olympic Games for a long time! They first competed way back in 1908.

Iceland's official sports group, the National Olympic Committee, was started in 1921. It was officially recognized by the International Olympic Committee in 1935. Since 1936, Iceland has sent athletes to every single Summer Olympic Games. They have also joined almost every Winter Olympic Games since 1948, only missing the 1972 Winter Games.

So far, Icelandic athletes have won four Olympic medals. Two of these were in athletics, one in judo, and one in handball.

Olympic Medals for Iceland

Medals by Summer Games

This table shows how many medals Iceland has won at each Summer Olympic Games.

Games	Athletes	1 Gold	2 Silver	3 Bronze	Total	Rank
1908 London	1	0	0	0	0	–
1912 Stockholm	2	0	0	0	0	–
1936 Berlin	12	0	0	0	0	–
1948 London	20	0	0	0	0	–
1952 Helsinki	9	0	0	0	0	–
1956 Melbourne	2	0	1	0	1	31
1960 Rome	9	0	0	0	0	–
1964 Tokyo	4	0	0	0	0	–
1968 Mexico City	7	0	0	0	0	–
1972 Munich	25	0	0	0	0	–
1976 Montreal	13	0	0	0	0	–
1980 Moscow	9	0	0	0	0	–
1984 Los Angeles	32	0	0	1	1	43
1988 Seoul	32	0	0	0	0	–
1992 Barcelona	27	0	0	0	0	–
1996 Atlanta	9	0	0	0	0	–
2000 Sydney	18	0	0	1	1	71
2004 Athens	26	0	0	0	0	–
2008 Beijing	29	0	1	0	1	70
2012 London	28	0	0	0	0	–
2016 Rio de Janeiro	8	0	0	0	0	–
2020 Tokyo	4	0	0	0	0	–
2024 Paris	5	0	0	0	0	–
2028 Los Angeles

Total		0	2	2	4	123

Medals by Winter Games

Iceland has not yet won any medals at the Winter Olympic Games.

Games	Athletes	1 Gold	2 Silver	3 Bronze	Total	Rank
1948 St. Moritz	4	0	0	0	0	–
1952 Oslo	11	0	0	0	0	–
1956 Cortina d'Ampezzo	7	0	0	0	0	–
1960 Squaw Valley	4	0	0	0	0	–
1964 Innsbruck	5	0	0	0	0	–
1968 Grenoble	4	0	0	0	0	–
1976 Innsbruck	8	0	0	0	0	–
1980 Lake Placid	6	0	0	0	0	–
1984 Sarajevo	5	0	0	0	0	–
1988 Calgary	3	0	0	0	0	–
1992 Albertville	5	0	0	0	0	–
1994 Lillehammer	5	0	0	0	0	–
1998 Nagano	7	0	0	0	0	–
2002 Salt Lake City	6	0	0	0	0	–
2006 Turin	5	0	0	0	0	–
2010 Vancouver	4	0	0	0	0	–
2014 Sochi	5	0	0	0	0	–
2018 Pyeongchang	5	0	0	0	0	–
2022 Beijing	5	0	0	0	0	–
2026 Milan/Cortina	future event
Total		0	0	0	0	–

Medals by Sport

This table shows which sports Iceland has won medals in.

Sport	Silver	Bronze	Total
Athletics	1	1	2
Handball	1	0	1
Judo	0	1	1
Totals (3 entries)	2	2	4

Icelandic Olympic Medalists

Here are the amazing athletes who have won Olympic medals for Iceland:

Medal	Name	Games	Sport	Event
2 Silver	Vilhjálmur Einarsson	1956 Melbourne	Athletics	Men's triple jump
3 Bronze	Bjarni Friðriksson	1984 Los Angeles	Judo	Men's 95 kg
3 Bronze	Vala Flosadóttir	2000 Sydney	Athletics	Women's pole vault
2 Silver	National team Sturla Ásgeirsson, Arnór Atlason, Logi Eldon Geirsson, Snorri Steinn Guðjónsson, Hreiðar Guðmundsson, Róbert Gunnarsson, Björgvin Páll Gustavsson, Ásgeir Örn Hallgrímsson, Ingimundur Ingimundarson, Sverre Andreas Jakobsson, Alexander Petersson, Guðjón Valur Sigurðsson, Sigfús Sigurðsson, Ólafur Stefánsson	2008 Beijing	Handball	Men's competition

Iceland at the Summer Olympics by Sport

Iceland first took part in the Summer Olympic Games in 1908 and 1912. They came back in 1936 and have been in every Summer Olympics since then.

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

Aquatics: Swimming and Water Polo

Iceland has competed in swimming and water polo. They have not yet participated in Artistic swimming or Diving.

Swimming

Iceland first competed in swimming in 1948. They have been in most Games since then.

Örn Arnarson has the best result for Iceland in swimming. He finished 4th in men's 200m backstroke in 2000. For women, Hrafnhildur Lúthersdóttir placed 6th in women's 100m breaststroke in 2016.

Games	Swimmers	Events	Ranking
1948 London	8	6/11
1960 Rome	2	2/15
1964 Tokyo	2	3/18
1968 Mexico City	4	11/29
1972 Munich	4	8/29
1976 Montreal	3	9/26
1984 Los Angeles	4	7/29
1988 Seoul	6	16/31
1992 Barcelona	2	4/31
1996 Atlanta	3	3/32
2000 Sydney	9	14/32
2004 Athens	7	9/32
2008 Beijing	8	12/34
2012 London	7	12/34
2016 Rio de Janeiro	3	6/34
2020 Tokyo	2	3/37
Total			–

Water Polo

Water polo has been an Olympic sport since 1900. Iceland has only played in it once, in 1936, where they finished 15th.

Games	Players	Events	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total	Ranking
1936 Berlin	8	1/1	0	0	0	0
Total			0	0	0	0	–

Athletics

Athletics has been part of the Summer Olympics since the very first Games in 1896. Iceland first competed in athletics in 1912. They returned in 1936 and have been in every Summer Olympics athletics event since.

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

Games	Athletes	Events	Silver	Bronze	Total	Ranking
1912 Stockholm	1	1/30	0	0	0
1936 Berlin	4	5/29	0	0	0
1948 London	12	12/33	0	0	0
1952 Helsinki	9	11/33	0	0	0
1956 Melbourne	2	2/33	1	0	1	=14
1960 Rome	7	9/34	0	0	0
1964 Tokyo	2	2/36	0	0	0
1968 Mexico City	3	3/36	0	0	0
1972 Munich	4	5/38	0	0	0
1976 Montreal	7	10/37	0	0	0
1980 Moscow	4	6/38	0	0	0
1984 Los Angeles	7	6/41	0	0	0
1988 Seoul	7	5/42	0	0	0
1992 Barcelona	4	3/43	0	0	0
1996 Atlanta	3	3/44	0	0	0
2000 Sydney	6	5/46	0	1	1	=40
2004 Athens	2	2/46	0	0	0
2008 Beijing	3	3/47	0	0	0
2012 London	3	3/47	0	0	0
2016 Rio de Janeiro	3	3/47	0	0	0
2020 Tokyo	1	1/48	0	0	0
Total			1	1	2	=83

Badminton

Badminton became an Olympic sport in 1992. Iceland has competed in badminton four times.

Their best finish was 17th place. This happened three times: Árni Þór Hallgrímson in men's singles in 1992, then with Broddi Kristjánsson in men's doubles in 1992, and finally Ragna Ingólfsdóttir in women's singles in 2012.

Games	Players	Events	Ranking
1992 Barcelona	3	3/4
1996 Atlanta	1	1/5
2008 Beijing	1	1/5
2012 London	1	1/5
Total			–

Gymnastics

Iceland has not yet competed in Rhythmic gymnastics or Trampoline at the Olympics.

Artistic Gymnastics

Artistic gymnastics has been an Olympic sport since 1896. Iceland has competed four times, starting in 1996.

Their best result was 7th place by Rúnar Alexandersson in men's pommel horse in 2004. The highest a woman has placed is 40th by Irina Sazonova in women's artistic individual all-around in 2016.

Games	Gymnasts	Events	Ranking
1996 Atlanta	1	7/14
2000 Sydney	1	7/14
2004 Athens	1	7/14
2016 Rio de Janeiro	1	4/14
Total			–

Handball

Handball was first an Olympic sport in 1936. It returned in 1972 and has been in every Olympics since. Iceland first competed in handball in 1972 and has participated many times.

The Iceland men's national handball team won a silver medal in the men's tournament in 2008!

Games	Handballers	Events	Silver	Total	Ranking
1972 Munich	15	1/1	0	0
1984 Los Angeles	15	1/2	0	0
1988 Seoul	15	1/2	0	0
1992 Barcelona	14	1/2	0	0
2004 Athens	15	1/2	0	0
2008 Beijing	14	1/2	1	1	=3
2012 London	14	1/2	0	0
Total			1	1	=12

Judo

Judo has been an Olympic sport since 1964, except for the 1968 Games. Iceland first competed in judo in 1976 and has participated many times since.

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

Games	Judoka	Events	Bronze	Total	Ranking
1976 Montreal	2	2/6	0	0
1980 Moscow	2	2/8	0	0
1984 Los Angeles	2	2/8	1	1	=12
1988 Seoul	2	2/7	0	0
1992 Barcelona	3	3/14	0	0
1996 Atlanta	1	1/14	0	0
2008 Beijing	1	1/14	0	0
2012 London	1	1/14	0	0
2016 Rio de Janeiro	1	1/14	0	0
Total			1	1	=52

Sailing

Sailing has been an Olympic sport since 1900, except for the 1904 Games. Iceland has competed four times, starting in 1984.

Their best finish in sailing was 22nd place. This was achieved by Ísleifur Friðriksson and Gunnlaugur Jónasson in men's 470 in 1988.

Games	Sailors	Events	Ranking
1984 Los Angeles	2	1/7
1988 Seoul	2	1/8
2000 Sydney	1	1/11
2004 Athens	1	1/11
Total			–

Shooting

Shooting has been part of the Summer Olympics since 1896, missing only 1904 and 1928. Iceland has competed four times, starting in 1992.

Ásgeir Sigurgeirsson achieved Iceland's best shooting result so far. He finished 14th in men's 10m air pistol in 2012.

Games	Shooters	Events	Ranking
1992 Barcelona	1	1/13
2000 Sydney	1	1/17
2012 London	1	2/15
2020 Tokyo	1	1/15
Total			–

Weightlifting

Weightlifting was first included in the Olympics in 1896. Iceland has competed in weightlifting four times, from 1968 to 1980.

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

Games	Weightlifters	Events	Ranking
1968 Mexico City	1	1/7
1972 Munich	2	2/9
1976 Montreal	1	1/9
1980 Moscow	3	3/10
Total			–

Wrestling

Wrestling has been an Olympic sport since 1896, except for 1904. Iceland has competed in wrestling twice, in 1908 and 1912.

Their best result was 4th place by Jóhannes Jósefsson in men's Greco-Roman middleweight in 1908.

Games	Wrestlers	Events	Ranking
1908 London	1	1/9
1912 Stockholm	1	1/5
Total			–

Iceland at the Winter Olympics by Sport

Iceland has been in almost every Winter Olympic Games since 1948. They have not yet won any medals at the Winter Olympics.

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

For women, their best result is 16th place by Steinunn Sæmundsdóttir in women's slalom (alpine skiing) in 1976.

Iceland has competed in three winter sports so far: Alpine skiing, Cross-country skiing, and Ski jumping.

Alpine Skiing

Alpine skiing has been an Olympic sport since 1936. Iceland first competed in alpine skiing in 1948 and has been in every Winter Olympics alpine skiing event since, except for 1972.

Their best result is 16th place by Steinunn Sæmundsdóttir in women's slalom in 1976. For men, the best result is 17th place by Eysteinn Þórðarson in men's slalom in 1960.

Games	Alpine Skiers	Events	Ranking
1948 St. Moritz	3	3/6
1952 Oslo	4	3/6
1956 Cortina d'Ampezzo	5	6/6
1960 Squaw Valley	3	3/6
1964 Innsbruck	3	2/6
1968 Grenoble	4	2/6
1976 Innsbruck	6	4/6
1980 Lake Placid	3	4/6
1984 Sarajevo	3	4/6
1988 Calgary	2	4/10
1992 Albertville	3	5/10
1994 Lillehammer	3	5/10
1998 Nagano	7	5/10
2002 Salt Lake City	6	7/10
2006 Turin	5	8/10
2010 Vancouver	4	5/10
2014 Sochi	4	5/10
2018 Pyeongchang	2	3/11
2022 Beijing	2	4/11
Total			–

Cross-country Skiing

Cross-country skiing has been an Olympic sport since the first Winter Olympics in 1924. Iceland first competed in this sport in 1952 and has participated many times since.

Their best result was 11th place by Jón Kristjánsson, Gunnar Pétursson, Ívar Stefánsson and Ebenezer Thorarinsson in the men's relay in 1952. For women, Kristrún Guðnadóttir finished 74th in women's sprint in 2022.

Games	Skiers	Events	Ranking
1952 Oslo	6	3/4
1956 Cortina d'Ampezzo	2	2/6
1964 Innsbruck	2	2/7
1976 Innsbruck	2	3/7
1980 Lake Placid	3	2/7
1984 Sarajevo	2	2/8
1988 Calgary	1	2/8
1992 Albertville	2	4/10
1994 Lillehammer	2	4/10
2014 Sochi	1	2/12
2018 Pyeongchang	3	5/12
2022 Beijing	3	6/12
Total			–

Ski Jumping

Ski jumping has been an Olympic sport since the first Winter Games in 1924. Iceland has competed three times. Their best result was 35th place by Ari Guðmundsson in the individual event in 1952.

Games	Ski Jumpers	Events	Ranking
1948 St. Moritz	1	1/1
1952 Oslo	1	1/1
1960 Squaw Valley	1	1/1
Total			–