Uganda at the Olympics
The African nation Uganda first plunged into Summer Olympic Games in Melbourne in 1956 and has participated in every Olympiad since then, excluding the 1976 edition of the Games when it joined the African boycott.
Unlike many of its African brothers, Uganda has managed to win medals at the Olympics, all from athletics and boxing. Eridadi Mukwanga earned the honor of being the first-ever Ugandan Olympic medalist when he collared the silver medal in the men’s bantamweight division in boxing.
John Akii-Bua captured the nation’s first-ever gold medal when he reigned supreme in the men’s 400-meter hurdles event in athletics at the 1972 Munich Summer Olympic Games. Uganda earned its second gold medal 24 years later when Stephen Kiprotich overcome strong fellow African competitors en route to capturing the gold in the men’s marathon event in athletics.
Uganda is still seeking to produce its first-ever female medalist at the Olympic Games.
Trivia
- Stephen Kiprotich from Uganda won the gold medal in the marathon at the 2012 London Games, the country's only medal.
- Kiprotich's gold in 2008 was Uganda's second ever. The first gold medal by a Ugandan athlete was by John Akii-Bua in the men's 400m hurdles at the Munich Games of 1972
- Uganda's only other Olympic Games medal was a bronze from the 400m runner Davis Kamoga in 1996.
Related Pages
- List of all countries that have participated at the Olympic Games.
- About sport in Uganda
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