Great Britain at the Olympics

Great Britain, also called the United Kingdom, has been in every modern Olympic Games. As of the 2024 Summer Olympics, it is third in total Summer Olympic medals and fourth in gold medals. London has hosted the Summer Olympic Games three times.

Athletes from the United Kingdom compete as part of the Great Britain and Northern Ireland Olympic Team, called Team GB. This team is organized by the British Olympic Association, the National Olympic Committee for the UK. Team GB also represents the UK's Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. Athletes from Northern Ireland can choose to compete for either Great Britain or Ireland.

British athletes have won many medals at the Olympic Games, mostly at the Summer Olympics. Team GB is the only team to have won at least one gold medal at every Summer Games and also the only team to have won at least one athletics medal at every Summer Olympics. The team has won fewer medals at the Winter Olympics.

The most successful British Olympian is Sir Jason Kenny, who has won seven gold medals and nine total medals, all in track cycling. Dame Laura Kenny and Charlotte Dujardin share the record for the most medals won by a female British athlete, with six each. Lizzy Yarnold and Matt Weston are the most successful Winter Olympians from Team GB, each winning two gold medals.

Timeline of participation

Eligibility

The British Olympic Association represents the United Kingdom, which includes England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. Athletes from Northern Ireland can choose to compete for either Great Britain or Ireland at the Olympics. Most athletes from Northern Ireland usually compete for Ireland, but some have chosen to represent Great Britain.

In the past, athletes from all of Ireland were part of the Great Britain team until 1920. This included an athlete named Tom Kiely, whose gold medal from the 1904 St. Louis games helped Great Britain keep its record of winning at least one gold medal at every Summer Olympics. Some people from Wales and Scotland have suggested having separate teams for their countries instead of one team for the whole United Kingdom.

Hosted games

The United Kingdom has hosted the Summer Olympics three times, all in London, in 1908, 1948, and 2012. This makes the UK second only to the United States in hosting these games.

After hosting the 2012 Olympics in London, Great Britain did very well at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio.

London was also chosen to host the 1944 Summer Olympics, but these games were cancelled because of the Second World War.

Successful bids

Unsuccessful bids

Potential future bids

In February 2019, the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, talked about possibly bidding for the 2032 or 2036 Olympics. However, the 2032 Games were later awarded to Brisbane. In July 2024, Khan said he would attend the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris to discuss possibly hosting the 2040 Olympics.

There has also been a proposal for Manchester and Liverpool to jointly bid for the 2040 Games.

Medals

See also: All-time Olympic Games medal table

Great Britain has been in every modern Olympic Games. They are third in the all-time Summer Olympic medal count by total medals and fourth by gold medals.

Medals by Summer Games

  Host country

Source:

---

• ^{Art comp.} Art competitions (1912–1948) are not included in the medal table above, as they were non-sports events formerly part of the Olympic Games. Great Britain won a total of nine art competition medals (3 gold, 5 silver, and 1 bronze).

Medals by Winter Games

Source:

Medals by summer sport

  Leading in that sport

This table excludes seven medals – one gold, two silver, and four bronze – awarded in the (/wiki/Figure_skating_at_the_1908_Summer_Olympics) and (/wiki/Figure_skating_at_the_1920_Summer_Olympics) figure skating events.

Medals by winter sport

  Leading in that sport

This table includes seven medals – one gold, two silver, and four bronze – awarded in the (/wiki/Figure_skating_at_the_1908_Summer_Olympics) and (/wiki/Figure_skating_at_the_1920_Summer_Olympics) figure skating events.

Best results in non-medalling sports and disciplines

List of Winter Olympic medallists

This list includes medals won in winter sports at the 1908 and 1920 Summer Olympics, but these are not counted in the total for the Winter Olympics.

Multiple medallists

These athletes have won more than one medal for Great Britain at the Winter Olympics or in winter sports. Bold names are athletes who are still competing.

Stripped medal

Great Britain had one medal taken away at the Winter Olympics. This happened in 2002 in Salt Lake City during Alpine Skiing. An athlete named Alain Baxter used an inhaler he bought there, which had different chemicals. Even though he did not mean to cheat, the rules said he had to give back his bronze medal.

Medals by individual

Jason Kenny has won the most gold medals for Great Britain with seven, and his wife Laura Kenny has the most gold medals for any British woman with five. Lizzy Yarnold is the most successful British Winter Olympian, winning two gold medals.

Some of the most successful British Olympians include Lizzy Yarnold and Matt Weston in the Winter Olympics, each with two gold medals. Duncan Scott won four medals at the 2020 Olympics. Steve Redgrave won gold medals in five different Olympics from 1984 to 2000.

Sir Jason Kenny, Sir Chris Hoy, Sir Mo Farah, and Sir Ben Ainslie each won four gold medals in individual events. Sir Chris Hoy won gold in four different events, while others won gold in the same event multiple times.

Medals by sport

Alpine skiing

Further information: Alpine skiing at the Winter Olympics and List of British alpine skiers

Archery

Further information: Archery at the Summer Olympics

Medalists

Artistic swimming

Further information: Artistic swimming at the Summer Olympics

Great Britain joined the first synchronised swimming competition in 1984.

Medalists

Athletics

Further information: Athletics at the Summer Olympics

Medalists

Badminton

Further information: Badminton at the Summer Olympics

Great Britain has played in all Badminton events at the Summer Olympics since badminton became an Olympic sport in 1992.

The figures from 1972 do not count towards the total as badminton was a demonstration sport.

Medalists

Basketball

Further information: Basketball at the Summer Olympics

Biathlon

Further information: Biathlon at the Winter Olympics

Bobsleigh

Further information: Bobsleigh at the Winter Olympics

Boxing

Further information: Boxing at the Summer Olympics

Great Britain first joined Olympic boxing in 1908.

Medalists

Canoeing

Further information: Canoeing and kayaking at the Summer Olympics

Medalists

Cricket

Further information: Cricket at the Olympics

Great Britain and France were the only two teams to play in the only Olympic cricket match, in 1900. The British team won, making them the only nation to win an Olympic cricket contest and the only Olympic gold medallists in cricket.

Cross-country skiing

Further information: Cross-country skiing at the Winter Olympics

Curling

Further information: Curling at the Winter Olympics

Cycling

Further information: Cycling at the Summer Olympics

Jason Kenny with seven gold and two silver medals is the most successful British Olympian and cyclist in Olympic history. His wife, Laura Kenny is the most successful British female Olympian and female cyclist in history, with five golds and one silver. As of 2021, half of Great Britain's cycling medals since 2008 have been gold, including 28 gold medals. Great Britain won ten golds in total between 1896 and 2008.

Medalists

Diving

Further information: Diving at the Summer Olympics

Great Britain first joined Olympic diving in 1908. Tom Daley, with one gold, one silver and three bronze medals, is the most successful British Olympic diver in history, followed by Jack Laugher with one gold, one silver and two bronze medals

Medalists

Equestrian

Further information: Equestrian events at the Summer Olympics

Great Britain had one rider in the hacks and hunter combined event at the first Olympic equestrian events in 1900.

Medalists

Fencing

Further information: Fencing at the Summer Olympics

Great Britain first joined fencing in 1900 and won its first fencing medal, a silver, in 1908 at the London Games.

Medalists

Figure skating

Further information: Figure Skating at the Olympic Games

Great Britain hosted the first Olympic figure skating contests in 1908. Figure skating is Great Britain's most successful winter sport, although seven of its medals were won in early Summer Olympic Games.

Football

Further information: Football at the Summer Olympics

Great Britain and Ireland – now represented separately by Team Ireland and Team Great Britain – was one of three teams to play in the first Olympic football tournament, winning their only match to take the first Olympic gold medal in football. The men's team played in the ten Olympics listed below. The women's team played in 2012 and 2020.

In 1974, the FA ended the practice of "shamateurism" in England. Also, Great Britain is not a member of FIFA and its athletes play for the national teams of the home nations (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland). As a result, Great Britain usually does not take part in Olympic qualifying tournaments.

Having qualified as hosts in both tournaments in 2012, pressure arose to find a way for Great Britain, and at least a women's team, to take part in Olympic football competitions. The solution, first used in the 2020 Games, was for the results of the England women's team to count as qualification results for Great Britain. England's U23 men's team does not have a similar arrangement. In the event of qualification, Scottish and Welsh players are eligible.

Medalists

Freestyle skiing

Further information: Freestyle skiing at the Winter Olympics

Golf

Further information: Golf at the Summer Olympics

Great Britain was one of four teams to play golf at the first Olympic golf events in 1900, taking silver and bronze in the men's competition. They did not play in the Olympic golf competition held in 1904. When the sport returned in the 2016 Rio Olympics, after a 112-year absence, Justin Rose won gold.

Medalists

Gymnastics

Further information: Gymnastics at the Summer Olympics

Great Britain first joined gymnastics in the 1896 Olympics. Great Britain's first gymnastics medal came in 1908 with a silver in the men's individual all-around. At the 2012 Summer Games in London, Great Britain won 4 medals. A record seven medals, including first ever gold medals, were won in 2016, while a further three, including one gold, were won at the 2020 Games.

Medalists

Handball

Further information: Handball at the Summer Olympics

Great Britain's men's and women's handball teams were allowed to take up host places at the 2012 Olympics. This is the only time that Great Britain has played in handball at the Olympics.

Field hockey

Further information: Field hockey at the Summer Olympics

Great Britain hosted the first Olympic field hockey tournament in 1908.

Medalists

Ice hockey

Further information: Ice hockey at the Olympic Games

Jeu de paume

Great Britain hosted the only Olympic jeu de paume tournament in 1908.

Judo

Further information: Judo at the Summer Olympics

Great Britain has played in all judo events at the Summer Olympics since judo became an Olympic sport in 1964. Although Great Britain has won 20 judo medals, none have been gold.

Medalists

Lacrosse

Further information: Lacrosse at the Summer Olympics

Great Britain first joined Olympic lacrosse in 1908.

Luge

Further information: Luge at the Winter Olympics

Modern pentathlon

Further information: Modern pentathlon at the Summer Olympics

Great Britain first joined the Olympic modern pentathlon in 1912. Their most successful games were the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where Great Britain won both gold medals.

Medalists

Nordic combined

Further information: Nordic combined at the Winter Olympics

Polo

Further information: Polo at the Summer Olympics

Great Britain was one of four teams to play in the first Olympic polo. Great Britain played in all five Olympic polo tournaments. The nation took gold and two silvers in 1908. Facing international competition in 1920, the British side won. The 1924 tournament resulted in a bronze medal for Great Britain, while the team took silver in 1936.

Rackets

Great Britain hosted the only Olympic rackets tournament, in 1908.

Rowing

Further information: Rowing at the Summer Olympics

Great Britain won a bronze medal in the first Olympic rowing competition, in 1900.

Medalists

Rugby

Further information: Rugby union at the Summer Olympics and Rugby sevens at the Summer Olympics

Great Britain won a silver medal in the first Olympic rugby competition, in 1900. They repeated as silver medallists in 1908. Great Britain did not play in 1920 or 1924. When the sport returned in 2016 as rugby sevens, Great Britain earned a third silver medal as well as placing 4th in the first women's rugby competition.

Sailing

Further information: Sailing at the Summer Olympics

Great Britain won four gold medals in the first Olympic sailing events in 1900. British sailors were also part of two mixed teams that won gold.

Medalists

Shooting

Further information: Shooting at the Summer Olympics

Great Britain's first shooting medals came when the United Kingdom hosted the 1908 Games.

Medalists

Short track speed skating

Further information: Short track speed skating at the Winter Olympics

Skateboarding

Further information: Skateboarding at the Summer Olympics

Medalists

Skeleton

Further information: Skeleton at the Winter Olympics

Great Britain is the most successful team in Skeleton and has won a medal at every Games in which the sport has been included. Lizzy Yarnold is the only rider to defend their gold medal, winning in 2014 and 2018. Matt Weston won gold in both the men's individual and mixed team events at the 2026 Games.

Ski jumping

Further information: Ski jumping at the Winter Olympics

Snowboarding

Further information: Snowboarding at the Winter Olympics

Speed skating

Further information: Speed skating at the Winter Olympics

Sport climbing

Further information: Sport climbing at the Summer Olympics

Medalists

Swimming

Further information: Swimming at the Summer Olympics

Great Britain was the third most successful team in swimming in 2008, with 2 golds, 2 silvers and 2 bronzes, with Rebecca Adlington winning two of these.

Medalists

Table tennis

Further information: Table tennis at the Summer Olympics

Taekwondo

Further information: Taekwondo at the Summer Olympics

Great Britain have played in all six taekwondo competitions since 2000. Their best result is a gold, silver and bronze in 2016.

Medalists

Tennis

Further information: Tennis at the Summer Olympics

John Pius Boland won the 1896 tennis tournaments. Tennis in 1896 allowed mixed teams, and both Boland and George S. Robertson joined partners from other nations to win their medals. Great Britain again won all four gold medals and added seven others in 1900.

Medalists

Triathlon

Further information: Triathlon at the Summer Olympics

Great Britain have played in all six triathlon competitions since 2000. Their best finish is two 1st-place finishes in the men's individual triathlon event, and a 1st-place finish in the mixed triathlon relay event, in 2020(2021).

Medalists

Tug of war

Further information: Tug of war at the Summer Olympics

Great Britain first joined Olympic tug of war in 1908. Great Britain also won the last Tug of War competition held in the Olympics in 1920.

Volleyball

Further information: Volleyball at the Summer Olympics and Beach volleyball at the Summer Olympics

Prior to hosting the 2012 volleyball tournaments, Great Britain had never played in Olympic volleyball except for the women's team in the inaugural Beach volleyball tournament in 1996.

Water motorsports

The United Kingdom hosted the only Olympic water motorsports contests, in 1908.

Water polo

Further information: Water polo at the Summer Olympics

Medalists

Weightlifting

Further information: Weightlifting at the Summer Olympics

Great Britain's only gold medal in weightlifting came at the first Games in 1896, when Launceston Elliot won the one-hand lift.

Medalists

Wrestling

Further information: Wrestling at the Summer Olympics

Medalists

Medals in art competitions

Main article: List of Olympic medalists in art competitions

Great Britain has also been recognized in Olympic art competitions—one of the three non-sports events that were once part of the Olympic Games. The country won a total of nine art competition medals (3 gold, 5 silver, and 1 bronze) in several Summer Games from 1912 to 1948. These art events were part of the Olympic program for seven Summer Games. In 1952, the International Olympic Committee stopped including non-sport events like art competitions. After that, these medals were no longer counted in the official records.

Medalists