| Zimbabwe at the Olympics | |
|---|---|
 | |
| IOC code | ZIM |
| NOC | Zimbabwe Olympic Committee |
| Website | teamzim |
| Medals Ranked 86th |
|
| Summer appearances | |
| Winter appearances | |
Zimbabwe participated for the first time at theOlympic Games under its current name in 1980, and has sent athletes to compete in everySummer Olympic Games since then. Previously, it competed at the Games under the nameRhodesia in 1928, 1960 and 1964. The2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi markedZimbabwe's first participation at the Winter Olympic Games, with Luke Steyn, the Zimbabwean born athlete participating in alpine skiing.
Zimbabwean athletes have won a total of eight medals – three golds, four silvers and one bronze – in two sports. Seven medals were won by swimmer and current IOC President,Kirsty Coventry in 2004 and 2008; the remaining medal was the result of avictory by thewomen's national field hockey team in 1980.[1]
TheNational Olympic Committee for Zimbabwe was created in 1934 and recognised by theInternational Olympic Committee in 1980.[2]
Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) first participated asRhodesia in theOlympic Games in 1928. Rhodesia was then absent until 1960 when theFederation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland competed under the name of Rhodesia inRome. Southern Rhodesia then competed alone under the banner of Rhodesia once again and for the last time in 1964.[3] The country thus always competed as a British territory. It was unable to take part in the1968 Games inMexico, due to the Mexican government's interpretation of regulations on passports. It never successfully competed followingIan Smith's declaration of an independent Rhodesian republic in 1970. Although it returned to the Games in 1972, Rhodesia was expelled by theInternational Olympic Committee four days before the opening ceremony, under pressure from other African countries, which did not recognise the legitimacy of the Rhodesian state and threatened a boycott. The invitation which had been extended to Rhodesia was withdrawn by the IOC, by 36 votes to 31 with three abstentions.[4][5] Rhodesia remained out of the1976 Summer Olympics after the IOC inspected the country's sporting facilities and groups and found them underwhelming, voting for their expulsion from the committee.[6]
The country'ssuccessor state,Zimbabwe, made its Olympic début in 1980. Until 2012, Zimbabwe had always been the penultimate nation marching in the parade of nations ahead the host country, it is now ahead of the next host country before the hosts that began in 2020, exception was made in 2016 whenRefugee Olympic Team was ahead of the host country at the time,Brazil.
Medals by Summer Games[edit]
| Medals by Winter Games[edit]
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| Sport | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Swimming | 2 | 4 | 1 | 7 |
 Field hockey | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Totals (2 entries) | 3 | 4 | 1 | 8 |
