Marshall Islands at the Olympics
The island country of Marshall Islands is very new when it comes to their participation in the Olympic Games. The Marshall Islands was part of the Trust Territory of Pacific Islands (administered by the United States) and gained independence on September 17, 1991. The Marshall Islands National Olympic Committee was only officially recognized by the International Olympic Committee in 2006.
As with many new countries, participation in international sporting events was not very high in the priority list but they did participate in the Summer Games for the first time in 2008, a mere two years after the NOC was recognized by the IOC.
In their first appearance in the Summer Games, the Marshall Islands National Olympic Committee sent five athletes to represent the country in three sports. Roman William Cress and Haley Nemra wore the Marshall Islands banner for Athletics. Swimmers Jared Heine and Julianne Kirchner represented the country in the 100 meter backstroke and 50 meter freestyle respectively and Taekwondo jin Anju Jason competed in the men's 80kg weight class.
Nemra returned in 2012 making her the Marshall Islands first athlete to attend two Olympiads. She was accompanied by Timi Garstang and swimmers Giordan Harris and Ann-Marie Hepler in the 2012 Summer Games held in London.
They are yet to win the country's first Olympic medal and they have never been to the Winter Games.
Related Pages
- List of all countries that have participated at the Olympic Games.
- About sport in Marshall Islands
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