Olympic Games

Great Britain (United Kingdom) at the Olympics

They first competed at the Olympic Games in 1896, under the banner of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.
United Kingdom has hosted the Olympic Games twice, in London in 1908 and 1948. London is also scheduled to host this event again in 2012. Also, London was awarded the 1944 Games, but due to the onging war it was not held.
British Equestrian competitor Lorna Johnstone was 70 years and 5 days old when she rode at the 1972 Games, becoming the oldest woman ever to compete at an Olympic Games.
In 1920, Philip Noel-Baker of Great Britain won the silver in the 1500-meter run. He later became the only Olympian ever to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
At the Sydney Games in 2000, British rower Steven Redgrave became the first athlete to win gold medals in five consecutive Olympics.

In Beijing 2008, British Synchronized Diver Tom Daley will be 14 years and 80 days old when the Games begin, beating the record for the youngest British male Olympian by over a year. The previous youngest was diver Fred Hodges, who was 15 years and 94 days when he went to the 1936 Olympics.