Tunisia at the Olympics facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tunisia at the Olympics
IOC code	TUN
NOC	Tunisian Olympic Committee
Website
Medals Ranked 70th	Gold Silver Bronze Total 6 4 8 18
Summer appearances
1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020

Tunisia first joined the Olympic Games in 1960. Since then, Tunisian athletes have competed in almost every Summer Olympic Games. The only time they didn't participate was in 1980, when they joined a boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow.

Tunisian athletes have won a total of 18 Olympic medals. Four of these were won by the amazing long-distance runner Mohammed Gammoudi in track and field. Swimmers have also done very well, winning four medals. Three of these were by long-distance swimmer Oussama Mellouli, and one by Ahmed Ayoub Hafnaoui. Tunisian boxers have won two medals. Women athletes have also earned medals in track and field and fencing. Taekwondo athletes have won three medals, and most recently, Fares Ferjani won a medal in men's fencing at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The National Olympic Committee for Tunisia was created in 1957. This committee helps organize and support Tunisian athletes for the Olympic Games.

Tunisia's Olympic Journey: A Look Back

Early Days: Rome 1960 to Moscow 1980

Team Tunisia at the 1968 Summer Olympics opening ceremony in Mexico City.

Mohammed Gammoudi (top right) winning Tunisia's first Olympic gold medal at the 1968 Summer Olympics.

Tunisia's first appearance at the Olympics was at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome. A team of 45 men competed in sports like athletics, boxing, fencing, cycling, and football. The first Tunisian Olympians were boxers who had their first fights on August 25, 1960.

Tunisia won its first Olympic medals at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Mohammed Gammoudi was the first to win a medal for Tunisia. He earned a silver medal in the 10,000-meter race on October 14, 1964. A week later, boxer Habib Galhia won a bronze medal.

At the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, Gammoudi added two more medals to his collection. He won a bronze in the 10,000 meters and became Tunisia's first Olympic champion by winning gold in the 5,000 meters. In 1972, at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Gammoudi won his fourth Olympic medal, a silver in the 5,000 meters. He holds the record for the most Olympic medals for Tunisia.

In 1976, at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, a Tunisian woman competed for the first time. Myriam Mizouni made history on July 18, 1976, in the 100-meter freestyle swimming heats. Tunisia later joined the boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow.

From Los Angeles 1984 to Athens 2004

At the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, Tunisian weightlifters competed for the first time. Boxer Lotfi Belkhir reached the quarterfinals in his weight class. In Seoul 1988, Tunisian table tennis players made their Olympic debut.

Tunisia won another medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. Boxer Fethi Missaoui earned a bronze medal. In athletics, Ali Hakimi finished eighth in the 1500m final. A Tunisian tennis player also took part for the first time in Atlanta. Tunisian rowers first competed at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

At the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Tunisian Taekwondo athletes and a gymnast competed for the first time. Swimmer Oussama Mellouli reached the final in the 400m individual medley, finishing 5th. Weightlifter Hayet Sassi also performed well, finishing 4th in her division.

Recent Games: Beijing 2008 to Present

Oussama Mellouli, a double Olympic champion in swimming.

Habiba Ghribi, Olympic champion in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.

Tunisia celebrated another Olympic victory at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. Oussama Mellouli won the gold medal in the 1500m freestyle swimming event.

At London 2012, Mellouli made history again. He won a bronze medal in the 1500-meter freestyle and became an Olympic champion in the 10 km open water swim. This made him Tunisia's first double Olympic champion. He was also the first swimmer to win Olympic gold medals in both indoor and outdoor swimming events.

Track and field athlete Habiba Ghribi also won gold at London 2012 in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. She originally placed second, but was later awarded the gold medal when the first-place winner was disqualified for doping.

At the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Tunisia won three bronze medals. These were earned by Inès Boubakri in fencing, Marwa Amri in wrestling, and Oussama Oueslati in Taekwondo.

At the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Tunisia continued its success. Swimmer Ahmed Ayoub Hafnaoui won a gold medal in the men's 400-meter freestyle. Taekwondo athlete Mohamed Khalil Jendoubi won a silver medal in his event.

Most recently, at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, Tunisia won three more medals. Farès Ferjani won a silver medal in men's sabre fencing. Mohamed Khalil Jendoubi earned a bronze medal in Taekwondo, becoming the first Tunisian to win back-to-back Olympic medals in Taekwondo. Finally, Firas Katoussi won Tunisia's first gold medal in the men's 80 kg Taekwondo event.

Tunisia's Olympic Medals

Medals by Summer Games

Games	Athletes	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total	Rank
1960 Rome	42	0	0	0	0	-
1964 Tokyo	9	0	1	1	2	29
1968 Mexico City	7	1	0	1	2	28
1972 Munich	35	0	1	0	1	33
1976 Montreal	15	0	0	0	0	-
1980 Moscow	did not participate
1984 Los Angeles	23	0	0	0	0	-
1988 Seoul	41	0	0	0	0	-
1992 Barcelona	13	0	0	0	0	-
1996 Atlanta	51	0	0	1	1	71
2000 Sydney	47	0	0	0	0	-
2004 Athens	54	0	0	0	0	-
2008 Beijing	28	1	0	0	1	52
2012 London	83	2	0	1	3	35
2016 Rio de Janeiro	61	0	0	3	3	75
2020 Tokyo	63	1	1	0	2	58
2024 Paris	26	1	1	1	3	52
Total		6	4	8	18	70

Medals by Sport

List of Tunisian Olympic Medalists

Medal	Name	Games	Sport	Event
2 Silver	Gammoudi, MohammedMohammed Gammoudi	1964 Tokyo	Athletics	Men's 10,000 m
3 Bronze	Galhia, HabibHabib Galhia	1964 Tokyo	Boxing	Men's light welterweight
1 Gold	Gammoudi, MohammedMohammed Gammoudi	1968 Mexico City	Athletics	Men's 5000 m
3 Bronze	Gammoudi, MohammedMohammed Gammoudi	1968 Mexico City	Athletics	Men's 10,000 m
2 Silver	Gammoudi, MohammedMohammed Gammoudi	1972 Munich	Athletics	Men's 5000 m
3 Bronze	Missaoui, FethiFethi Missaoui	1996 Atlanta	Boxing	Men's light welterweight
1 Gold	Mellouli, OussamaOussama Mellouli	2008 Beijing	Swimming	Men's 1500 m freestyle
1 Gold	Mellouli, OussamaOussama Mellouli	2012 London	Swimming	Men's 10km marathon
1 Gold	Ghribi, HabibaHabiba Ghribi	2012 London	Athletics	Women's 3000 m steeplechase
3 Bronze	Mellouli, OussamaOussama Mellouli	2012 London	Swimming	Men's 1500 m freestyle
3 Bronze	Boubakri, InèsInès Boubakri	2016 Rio de Janeiro	Fencing	Women's Foil
3 Bronze	Oueslati, OussamaOussama Oueslati	2016 Rio de Janeiro	Taekwondo	Men's 80 kg
3 Bronze	Amri, MarwaMarwa Amri	2016 Rio de Janeiro	Wrestling	Women's freestyle 58 kg
1 Gold	Ahmed Hafnaoui	2020 Tokyo	Swimming	Men’s 400 m freestyle
2 Silver	Mohamed Khalil Jendoubi	2020 Tokyo	Taekwondo	Men's 58 kg
1 Gold	Firas Katoussi	2024 Paris	Taekwondo	Men’s 80 kg
2 Silver	Farès Ferjani	2024 Paris	Fencing	Men's sabre
3 Bronze	Mohamed Khalil Jendoubi	2024 Paris	Taekwondo	Men's 58 kg

See also

In Spanish: Túnez en los Juegos Olímpicos para niños

• List of flag bearers for Tunisia at the Olympics
• Category:Olympic competitors for Tunisia
• Tunisia at the Paralympics