Volleyball at the Summer Olympics

Volleyball has been a part of the Summer Olympics for both men and women since the 1964 games. Many strong teams have competed, and winning the gold medal is a big honor.

In the men's tournament, only a few countries have won more than one gold medal. These include Brazil, France, the United States, and the former Soviet Union. Other countries that have won gold just once are Japan, Poland, the Netherlands, Russia, and the former Yugoslavia.

For women, the gold medals have been won by even more different countries. Brazil, Cuba, China, Japan, Italy, the United States, and the former Soviet Union have all stood on the top step of the podium in women's volleyball at the Olympics.

History

Origins

Volleyball first appeared as an unofficial event at the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris. It became an official Olympic sport after World War II, following the creation of the FIVB and other continental groups. A special tournament held in Sofia, Bulgaria, in 1957 helped push for its inclusion, and it was officially added to the Olympics in (/wiki/1964_Summer_Olympics). The International Olympic Committee once tried to remove volleyball from the 1968 Olympics, but this led to protests.

Early Olympic volleyball used a round-robin format where all teams played each other. Later, this changed to include quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals, known as the "Olympic format," starting in (/wiki/1972_Summer_Olympics). The number of teams has grown over time, with 12 nations competing in both men’s and women’s indoor events since (/wiki/1996_Summer_Olympics).

Events

Men's winners

The Soviet Union won the first two Olympic volleyball tournaments. Japan took gold in (/wiki/Volleyball_at_the_1972_Summer_Olympics), and Poland won in (/wiki/Volleyball_at_the_1976_Summer_Olympics). The United States won gold in (/wiki/Volleyball_at_the_1984_Summer_Olympics) and again in (/wiki/Volleyball_at_the_1988_Summer_Olympics).

Brazil claimed their first Olympic title in (/wiki/Volleyball_at_the_1992_Summer_Olympics) and later won again in (/wiki/Volleyball_at_the_2004_Summer_Olympics) and (/wiki/Volleyball_at_the_2016_Summer_Olympics). The United States won in (/wiki/Volleyball_at_the_2008_Summer_Olympics), and France took gold in 2020, held in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Women's winners

The first women’s volleyball tournament in (/wiki/Volleyball_at_the_1964_Summer_Olympics) was won by Japan, followed by the Soviet Union in (/wiki/Volleyball_at_the_1968_Summer_Olympics) and (/wiki/Volleyball_at_the_1972_Summer_Olympics). The Soviet Union won again in 1980 despite some teams not participating. The United States won their first medal in (/wiki/Volleyball_at_the_1984_Summer_Olympics), losing to China.

Cuba won gold in (/wiki/Volleyball_at_the_1992_Summer_Olympics), (/wiki/Volleyball_at_the_1996_Summer_Olympics), and (/wiki/Volleyball_at_the_2000_Summer_Olympics). China won in (/wiki/Volleyball_at_the_2004_Summer_Olympics) and again in (/wiki/Volleyball_at_the_2016_Summer_Olympics). The United States won gold in 2020, with Serbia taking bronze.

Competition formula

The volleyball Olympic tournament follows a set of rules. Twelve teams take part in each event. The host country gets a spot automatically. Two teams qualify through the Men's and Women's World Cup, and five teams win spots in continental tournaments. The last four spots are decided in world qualification tournaments.

In the first round, teams are split into two groups of six. Each team plays every other team in its group once. The top four teams from each group move on, while the bottom two are out. In the second round, the remaining teams play quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals to decide the medals. The tournament only allows twelve players per team, with no replacements allowed, even if someone gets hurt.

Men's tournaments

Participating nations

Year	Host		Gold medal match				Bronze medal match				Teams
			Gold medalists	Score	Silver medalists		Bronze medalists	Score	4th place
1964 Details	Tokyo		Soviet Union	Round-robin	Czechoslovakia		Japan	Round-robin	Romania		10
1968 Details	Mexico City		Soviet Union	Round-robin	Japan		Czechoslovakia	Round-robin	East Germany		10
1972 Details	Munich		Japan	3–1	East Germany		Soviet Union	3–0	Bulgaria		12
1976 Details	Montreal		Poland	3–2	Soviet Union		Cuba	3–0	Japan		10
1980 Details	Moscow		Soviet Union	3–1	Bulgaria		Romania	3–1	Poland		10
1984 Details	Los Angeles		United States	3–0	Brazil		Italy	3–0	Canada		10
1988 Details	Seoul		United States	3–1	Soviet Union		Argentina	3–2	Brazil		12
1992 Details	Barcelona		Brazil	3–0	Netherlands		United States	3–1	Cuba		12
1996 Details	Atlanta		Netherlands	3–2	Italy		Yugoslavia	3–1	Russia		12
2000 Details	Sydney		Yugoslavia	3–0	Russia		Italy	3–0	Argentina		12
2004 Details	Athens		Brazil	3–1	Italy		Russia	3–0	United States		12
2008 Details	Beijing		United States	3–1	Brazil		Russia	3–0	Italy		12
2012 Details	London		Russia	3–2	Brazil		Italy	3–1	Bulgaria		12
2016 Details	Rio de Janeiro		Brazil	3–0	Italy		United States	3–2	Russia		12
2020 Details	Tokyo		France	3–2	ROC		Argentina	3–2	Brazil		12
2024 Details	Paris		France	3–0	Poland		United States	3–0	Italy		12

Rank	Nation	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
1	Brazil	3	3	0	6
2	Soviet Union	3	2	1	6
3	United States	3	0	3	6
4	France	2	0	0	2
5	Russia	1	1	2	4
6	Japan	1	1	1	3
7	Netherlands	1	1	0	2
	Poland	1	1	0	2
9	Yugoslavia	1	0	1	2
10	Italy	0	3	3	6
11	Czechoslovakia	0	1	1	2
12	Bulgaria	0	1	0	1
	East Germany	0	1	0	1
	ROC	0	1	0	1
15	Argentina	0	0	2	2
16	Cuba	0	0	1	1
	Romania	0	0	1	1
Totals (17 entries)		16	16	16	48

Team	1964	1968	1972	1976	1980	1984	1988	1992	1996	2000	2004	2008	2012	2016	2020	2024	Total
Algeria	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	12th	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	1
Argentina	•	•	•	•	•	6th	3rd	•	8th	4th	=5th	•	=5th	=5th	3rd	11th	9
Australia	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	8th	=11th	•	=9th	•	•	•	3
Belgium	•	8th	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	1
Brazil	7th	9th	8th	7th	5th	2nd	4th	1st	5th	6th	1st	2nd	2nd	1st	4th	8th	16
Bulgaria	5th	6th	4th	•	2nd	•	6th	•	7th	•	•	=5th	4th	•	•	•	8
Canada	•	•	•	9th	•	4th	•	10th	•	•	•	•	•	=5th	8th	10th	6
China	•	•	•	•	•	8th	•	•	•	•	•	=5th	•	•	•	•	2
Cuba	•	•	10th	3rd	7th	•	•	4th	6th	7th	•	•	•	=11th	•	•	7
Egypt	•	•	•	WD	•	10th	•	•	•	=11th	•	=11th	•	=9th	•	12th	6
France	•	•	•	•	•	•	8th	11th	•	•	=9th	•	•	=9th	1st	1st	6
Germany	See  East Germany and  West Germany							•	•	•	•	=9th	=5th	•	•	6th	3
Great Britain	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	=11th	•	•	•	1
Greece	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	=5th	•	•	•	•	•	1
Hungary	6th	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	1
Iran	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	=5th	9th	•	2
Italy	•	•	•	8th	9th	3rd	9th	5th	2nd	3rd	2nd	4th	3rd	2nd	6th	4th	13
Japan	3rd	2nd	1st	4th	•	7th	10th	6th	•	•	•	=11th	•	•	7th	7th	10
Libya	•	•	•	•	10th	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	1
Mexico	•	10th	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	=11th	•	•	2
Netherlands	8th	•	•	•	•	•	5th	2nd	1st	5th	=9th	•	•	•	•	•	6
Poland	•	5th	9th	1st	4th	•	•	•	=11th	•	=5th	=5th	=5th	=5th	5th	2nd	11
Romania	4th	•	5th	•	3rd	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	3
Russia	See  Soviet Union								4th	2nd	3rd	3rd	1st	4th	2nd	•	7
Serbia	See  Yugoslavia							See  Serbia and Montenegro				=5th	=9th	•	•	9th	3
Slovenia	Part of  Yugoslavia							•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	5th	1
South Korea	10th	•	7th	6th	•	5th	11th	9th	=9th	=9th	•	•	•	•	•	•	8
Spain	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	8th	•	=9th	•	•	•	•	•	•	2
Sweden	•	•	•	•	•	•	7th	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	1
Tunisia	•	•	12th	•	•	9th	12th	•	=11th	•	=11th	•	=11th	•	11th	•	7
United States	9th	7th	•	•	•	1st	1st	3rd	=9th	=11th	4th	1st	=5th	3rd	10th	3rd	13
Venezuela	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	=9th	•	•	12th	•	2
Discontinued nations
Czechoslovakia	2nd	3rd	6th	5th	8th	•	•	•	See  Czech Republic								5
East Germany	•	4th	2nd	•	•	•	•	See  Germany									2
Serbia and Montenegro	See  Yugoslavia							•	3rd	1st	=5th	See  Serbia					3
Soviet Union	1st	1st	3rd	2nd	1st	•	2nd	7th	See  Russia								7
West Germany	•	•	11th	•	•	•	•	See  Germany									1
Yugoslavia	•	•	•	•	6th	•	•	See  Serbia and Montenegro				See  Serbia					1
Total	10	10	12	10	10	10	12	12	12	12	12	12	12	12	12	12

Women's tournaments

Participating nations

Legend

• 1st – Champions
• 2nd – Runners-up
• 3rd – Third place
• 4th – Fourth place
•  •  – Did not enter / Did not qualify
•    – Hosts
• = – More than one team tied for that rank
• Q – Qualified for forthcoming tournament

Year	Host		Gold medal match				Bronze medal match				Teams
			Gold medalists	Score	Silver medalists		Bronze medalists	Score	4th place
1964 Details	Tokyo		Japan	Round-robin	Soviet Union		Poland	Round-robin	Romania		6
1968 Details	Mexico City		Soviet Union	Round-robin	Japan		Poland	Round-robin	Peru		8
1972 Details	Munich		Soviet Union	3–2	Japan		North Korea	3–0	South Korea		8
1976 Details	Montreal		Japan	3–0	Soviet Union		South Korea	3–1	Hungary		8
1980 Details	Moscow		Soviet Union	3–1	East Germany		Bulgaria	3–2	Hungary		8
1984 Details	Los Angeles		China	3–0	United States		Japan	3–1	Peru		8
1988 Details	Seoul		Soviet Union	3–2	Peru		China	3–0	Japan		8
1992 Details	Barcelona		Cuba	3–1	Unified Team		United States	3–0	Brazil		8
1996 Details	Atlanta		Cuba	3–1	China		Brazil	3–2	Russia		12
2000 Details	Sydney		Cuba	3–2	Russia		Brazil	3–0	United States		12
2004 Details	Athens		China	3–2	Russia		Cuba	3–1	Brazil		12
2008 Details	Beijing		Brazil	3–1	United States		China	3–1	Cuba		12
2012 Details	London		Brazil	3–1	United States		Japan	3–0	South Korea		12
2016 Details	Rio de Janeiro		China	3–1	Serbia		United States	3–1	Netherlands		12
2020 Details	Tokyo		United States	3–0	Brazil		Serbia	3–0	South Korea		12
2024 Details	Paris		Italy	3–0	United States		Brazil	3–1	Turkey		12

Rank	Nation	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
1	Soviet Union	4	2	0	6
2	China	3	1	2	6
3	Cuba	3	0	1	4
4	Japan	2	2	2	6
5	Brazil	2	1	3	6
6	United States	1	4	2	7
7	Italy	1	0	0	1
8	Russia	0	2	0	2
9	Serbia	0	1	1	2
10	East Germany	0	1	0	1
	Peru	0	1	0	1
	Unified Team	0	1	0	1
13	Poland	0	0	2	2
14	Bulgaria	0	0	1	1
	North Korea	0	0	1	1
	South Korea	0	0	1	1
Totals (16 entries)		16	16	16	48

Team	1964	1968	1972	1976	1980	1984	1988	1992	1996	2000	2004	2008	2012	2016	2020	2024	Total
Algeria	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	=11th	=11th	•	•	•	2
Argentina	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	=9th	11th	•	2
Australia	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	=9th	•	•	•	•	•	•	1
Brazil	•	•	•	•	7th	7th	6th	4th	3rd	3rd	4th	1st	1st	=5th	2nd	3rd	12
Bulgaria	•	•	•	•	3rd	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	1
Cameroon	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	=11th	•	•	1
Canada	•	•	•	8th	•	8th	•	•	=9th	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	3
China	•	•	•	•	•	1st	3rd	7th	2nd	5th	1st	3rd	=5th	1st	9th	5th	11
Croatia	Part of  Yugoslavia							•	•	7th	•	•	•	•	•	•	1
Cuba	•	•	6th	5th	5th	•	•	1st	1st	1st	3rd	4th	•	•	•	•	8
Dominican Republic	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	=11th	•	=5th	•	8th	8th	4
France	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	11th	1
Germany	See  East Germany and  West Germany							•	8th	6th	=9th	•	•	•	•	•	3
Great Britain	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	=9th	•	•	•	1
Greece	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	=9th	•	•	•	•	•	1
Hungary	•	•	5th	4th	4th	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	3
Italy	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	=9th	=5th	=5th	=5th	=9th	6th	1st	7
Japan	1st	2nd	2nd	1st	•	3rd	4th	5th	=9th	•	=5th	=5th	3rd	=5th	10th	9th	14
Kazakhstan	Part of  Soviet Union								•	•	•	=9th	•	•	•	•	1
Kenya	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	=11th	=11th	•	•	•	12th	12th	4
Mexico	•	7th	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	1
Netherlands	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	6th	5th	•	•	•	•	4th	•	10th	4
North Korea	•	•	3rd	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	1
Peru	•	4th	•	7th	6th	4th	2nd	•	=11th	=11th	•	•	•	•	•	•	7
Poland	3rd	3rd	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	=9th	•	•	•	6th	4
Puerto Rico	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	=11th	•	•	1
Romania	4th	•	•	•	8th	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	2
Russia	See  Soviet Union								4th	2nd	2nd	=5th	=5th	=5th	7th	•	7
Serbia	See  Yugoslavia							See  Serbia and Montenegro				=5th	=11th	2nd	3rd	7th	5
South Korea	6th	5th	4th	3rd	•	5th	8th	•	6th	8th	=5th	•	4th	=5th	4th	•	12
Spain	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	8th	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	1
Turkey	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	=9th	•	5th	4th	3
Ukraine	Part of  Soviet Union								=11th	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	1
United States	5th	8th	•	•	•	2nd	7th	3rd	7th	4th	=5th	2nd	2nd	3rd	1st	2nd	13
Venezuela	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	•	=11th	•	•	•	•	1
Discontinued nations
Czechoslovakia	•	6th	7th	•	•	•	•	•	See  Czech Republic								2
East Germany	•	•	•	6th	2nd	•	5th	See  Germany									3
Soviet Union	2nd	1st	1st	2nd	1st	•	1st	2nd	See  Russia								7
West Germany	•	•	8th	•	•	6th	•	See  Germany									2
Total	6	8	8	8	8	8	8	8	12	12	12	12	12	12	12	12

Overall medal table

Defunct NOCs are shown in italic.

Rank	Nation	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
1	Soviet Union	7	4	1	12
2	Brazil	5	4	3	12
3	United States	4	4	5	13
4	Japan	3	3	3	9
5	China	3	1	2	6
6	Cuba	3	0	2	5
7	France	2	0	0	2
8	Italy	1	3	3	7
9	Russia	1	3	2	6
10	Poland	1	1	2	4
11	Netherlands	1	1	0	2
12	Yugoslavia	1	0	1	2
13	East Germany	0	2	0	2
14	Bulgaria	0	1	1	2
	Czechoslovakia	0	1	1	2
	Serbia	0	1	1	2
17	Peru	0	1	0	1
	ROC	0	1	0	1
	Unified Team	0	1	0	1
20	Argentina	0	0	2	2
21	North Korea	0	0	1	1
	Romania	0	0	1	1
	South Korea	0	0	1	1
Totals (23 entries)		32	32	32	96

Most valuable player by edition

Men 1984 –  Steve Timmons (USA) 1988 –  Karch Kiraly (USA) 1992 –  Marcelo Negrão (BRA) 1996 –  Bas van de Goor (NED) 2000 –  Bas van de Goor (NED) 2004 –  Gilberto Godoy Filho (BRA) 2008 –  Clayton Stanley (USA) 2012 –  Murilo Endres (BRA) 2016 –  Sérgio Santos (BRA) 2020 –  Earvin N'Gapeth (FRA) 2024 –  Earvin N'Gapeth (FRA)

Women 1984 –  Lang Ping (CHN) 1988 –  Cecilia Tait (PER) 1992 –  Paula Weishoff (USA) 1996 –  Cintha Boersma (NED) 2000 –  Barbara Jelić (CRO) 2004 –  Feng Kun (CHN) 2008 –  Paula Pequeno (BRA) 2012 –  Kim Yeon-koung (KOR) 2016 –  Zhu Ting (CHN) 2020 –  Jordan Larson (USA) 2024 –  Paola Egonu (ITA)

Win–loss records

Men's tournament

Women's tournament

Team	Matches played	Wins	Losses	Winning percentage
Algeria	6	0	6	0.0%
Argentina	55	27	28	49.1%
Australia	18	4	14	22.2%
Belgium	9	2	7	22.2%
Brazil	113	69	44	61.1%
Bulgaria	60	32	28	53.3%
Canada	28	9	19	32.1%
China	12	3	9	25.0%
Cuba	47	22	25	46.8%
Czechoslovakia	37	24	13	64.9%
East Germany	16	11	5	68.8%
Egypt	20	1	19	5.0%
France	31	14	17	45.2%
Germany	11	3	8	27.3%
Great Britain	5	0	5	0.0%
Greece	6	3	3	50.0%
Hungary	9	4	5	44.4%
Iran	11	4	7	36.4%
Italy	85	55	30	64.7%
Japan	62	35	27	56.5%
Libya	5	0	5	0.0%
Mexico	14	0	14	0.0%
Netherlands	45	26	19	57.8%
Poland	62	35	27	56.5%
Romania	22	14	8	63.6%
Russia	56	38	18	67.9%
Serbia	11	3	8	27.3
Serbia and Montenegro	22	15	7	68.1%
South Korea	51	16	35	31.4%
Soviet Union	51	41	10	80.4%
Spain	13	4	9	30.8%
Sweden	7	3	4	42.9%
Tunisia	38	1	37	2.7%
United States	84	49	35	58.3%
Venezuela	10	1	9	10.0%
West Germany	6	1	5	16.7%
Yugoslavia	6	3	3	50.0%

Team	Matches played	Wins	Losses	Winning percentage
Algeria	10	0	10	0.0%
Argentina	10	1	9	10.0%
Australia	5	1	4	20.0%
Brazil	75	52	23	69.3%
Bulgaria	5	3	2	60.0%
Cameroon	5	0	5	0.0%
Canada	15	1	14	6.7%
China	65	41	24	63.1%
Croatia	8	4	4	50.0%
Cuba	52	37	15	71.2%
Czechoslovakia	12	4	8	33.3%
Dominican Republic	17	5	12	29.4%
East Germany	15	7	8	46.7%
Germany	21	7	14	33.3%
Great Britain	5	1	4	20.0%
Greece	5	1	4	20.0%
Hungary	15	7	8	46.7%
Italy	34	17	17	50.0%
Japan	73	42	31	57.5%
Kazakhstan	5	1	4	20.0%
Kenya	15	0	15	0.0%
Mexico	7	1	6	14.3%
Netherlands	21	11	10	52.4%
North Korea	5	3	2	60.0%
Peru	37	12	25	46.2%
Poland	17	9	8	53.0%
Puerto Rico	5	0	5	0.0%
Romania	10	4	6	40.0%
Russia	48	32	16	66.6%
Serbia	27	13	14	48.1%
South Korea	76	31	45	40.8%
Soviet Union	37	32	5	86.5%
Spain	4	0	4	0.0%
Turkey	11	5	6	45.5%
Ukraine	5	0	5	0.0%
United States	82	50	32	61.0%
Venezuela	5	0	5	0.0%
West Germany	10	2	8	20.0%