Prior to Algeria’s independence in July 1962, several Algerian athletes competed for France at the Olympics. The first were four gymnasts from Oran, who took part in the 1900 Olympic Games, and they had the distinction of being the first African Olympians. Two Olympic marathon winners,Bouguera El Ouafi (1928) andAlain Mimoun (1956), were both Algerians representing France.

Algeria formed a National Olympic Committee on 18 October 1963, which was recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on 27 January 1964, at the IOC session in Innsbruck. Algeria first competed officially at the 1964 Olympic Games, and it has since competed at the Olympic Games of 1968, 1972, and all Olympics since 1980.

Through 2022, Algerians have won 17 medals: nine in track & field athletics, six in boxing, and two in judo. BoxerHocine Soltani was the first Algerian to win two medals, a bronze in 1992 and a gold in 1996. The most successful competitor for Algeria is track and field athleteTaoufik Makhloufi, who won gold in the 2012 1500 metres, followed by two silvers in the 2016 800 metres and 1,500 metres.

Algeria competed at the Olympic Winter Games in 1992, 2006, and 2010. They have had six Winter Olympians, with two women and four men. Their best finish came in 2006, in thewomen’s downhill Alpine skiing, whenChristelle Douibi placed 40th.