Greece at the Olympics

Greece has taken part in every Summer Olympic Games, making it one of only five countries to do so. It has also joined in most Winter Olympic Games. Greece has been the host for the modern Olympic Games twice, both times in its capital city, Athens, for the Summer Olympic Games and again in (/wiki/2004_Summer_Olympics).

Because Greece is where the Ancient Olympic Games began, the country always leads the Parade of Nations during the opening ceremony. This special honor happened except in 2004, when Greece entered last as the host nation. Before each Olympics, the Olympic Flame is lit in Olympia, a place full of history, using rituals from ancient Greek traditions. This flame then travels around the world in the Olympic torch relay. At the closing ceremony, the flag of Greece is raised along with the flags of the current and next host countries.

Greek athletes have won 129 medals across 15 different sports. Right now, Greece is in 36th place in the all-time Summer Olympics medal count. The sports where Greece has earned the most medals are Athletics and weightlifting. In gymnastics, shooting, and wrestling, Greece has also won ten or more medals. In the very first Olympics in 1896, Greece came second in gold medals but won the most medals overall, marking their best performance. In the 1906 Intercalated Games—which were thought of as Olympic Games back then but are not officially recognized today by the IOC—Greece earned 35 medals: 8 gold, 14 silver, and 13 bronze.

Greece has not won any medals at the Winter Olympics so far.

Hosted Games

Greece has hosted the Summer Olympic Games two times. The first time was in 1896, and the second time was in 2004. Both times, the games were held in Athens.

Athens also hosted the 1906 Intercalated Games, which were considered Olympic Games back then by the International Olympic Committee.

Medal tables

See also: All-time Olympic Games medal table

Medals by Summer Games

  Host country

Source:

Medals by Winter Games

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Medals by summer sport

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Medal tables by athlete

List of medalists

Athletes with most medals

See also: List of multiple Olympic medalists

Top medalists

The tables below list the top Olympic medalists for Greece, sorted by gold, silver and then bronze medals.

Men

Women

Additional disputed medals of 1896

There is confusion about certain results and medals in the first Summer Olympics of 1896. The Hellenic Olympic Committee mentions different results for some events and extra medals for Greece, which differ from the IOC website. These are listed separately and not included in the other tables.

Summary by sport

Aquatics

Swimming

Greece first took part in swimming at the very first Olympic Games in 1896. In one special event just for Greek sailors, they took the top three places. In other events open to everyone, they won two silver medals and one bronze. Since then, Greek swimmers have only won two more silver medals, at the 2016 and 2024 Games.

Diving

Greece won a gold medal in diving at the 2004 Games.

Water Polo

Greece has won silver medals in water polo, with the women's team achieving this at the 2004 Games and the men's team at the 2020 Games.

Athletics

Greece began competing in athletics at the first Games in 1896, and won the men's marathon. Since then, Greece has earned many medals in athletics, especially from the 1992 Games up to the 2020 Games. Athletics is Greece's most successful sport at the Olympics.

Cycling

In the first Games in 1896, Greece took part in all six cycling events and won one, along with three second-place finishes. As of 2020, these remained the only cycling medals Greece has ever won.

Fencing

At the first Games in 1896, Greece competed in all three fencing events. They won two gold medals and also earned other places on the podium. These are still the only fencing medals Greece has won, up to the 2020 Olympics.

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Gymnastics

Greece sent 52 gymnasts to the first Games in 1896, when teams were very large, and won six medals of different colors. Since then, Greece has continued to win many gymnastics medals from the 1996 Games through to the 2020 Games.

Judo

Greece first competed in judo at the 2004 Games and has won three medals since then.

Rowing

Greece won its first rowing medal at the 2004 Games and has added more medals since then.

Sailing

Greece began competing in sailing in 1948. They won their first medal in this sport at the 1960 Games and have won many more since then.

Shooting

In the first Games in 1896, Greece took part in all five shooting events, winning three and earning medals in the other two, for a total of nine. Greece has also won shooting medals again from the 2016 Games onwards.

Tae Kwon Do

Greece first competed in tae kwon do at the 2000 Games and achieved notable success in the 2000s, winning medals in three consecutive Olympic Games.

Tennis

Greece first competed in tennis at the inaugural 1896 Games, with seven players in men's singles and doubles. Greek players won silver and bronze in singles, and a Greek pair won silver in doubles. These medals from 1896 remain the only tennis medals Greece has won through the 2020 Games.

Weightlifting

Greece first took part in weightlifting at the 1896 Games, with three lifters competing. They won bronze in both events. Since then, Greek weightlifters have won many medals from the 1992 Games through to the 2004 Games, including achievements by Greece's top Olympic medalist Pyrros Dimas.

Wrestling

Greece first competed in wrestling at the 1896 Games, with two wrestlers earning silver and bronze in the open weight class. Since then, Greek wrestlers have continued to win medals from the 1968 Games onwards.

Hosted Olympic logos and mottos

1896 Summer Olympics

In 1896, the first modern Olympic Games were held in Athens, the capital of Greece. These Games were inspired by the ancient Games that took place every four years in Olympia, where people from all Greek city-states participated long ago.

Because of this tradition, Greece is always the first country to march into the stadium during the opening ceremonies of the Olympic Games.

2004 Summer Olympics

The 2004 Summer Olympics were mostly held in Athens, with some events in other Greek cities like Thessaloniki, Patras, Volos, and Heraklion.

The motto for these Games was Welcome Home. The logo featured an olive tree branch, using the colors of the Greek flag. The olive tree symbolized Athens and represented the spirit of the Olympics, as it was the prize for athletes in the ancient Games. The logo was shown to the world in 1999.