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Zimbabwe at the Olympics

Zimbabwe first competed at the Olympic Games under that name in 1980, although before that time they competed at the Games under the name Rhodesia in 1928, 1960 and 1964.

Rhodesia competed as a British territory. It was unable to take part in the 1968 Games in Mexico due to the Mexican government's interpretation of regulations on passports. Rhodesia tuened up to the Games in 1972, however it was expelled by the IOC four days before the opening ceremony under threat of a boycott from other African countries.

No Rhodesian competitor ever won an Olympic medal, though there have been eight medals won by Zimbabwean athletes up unitl 2012. Seven of the medals have been won by swimmer Kirsty Coventry (three in 2004 and four in 2008). The other medal was a surprise gold medal to the Zimbabwe women's national field hockey team in 1980.

Trivia

• Zimbabwe's gold medal winning women's hockey players were each rewarded with an ox when they returned home from the 1980 Games.

• The majority of Zimbabwe's Olympic medals have been won by by swimmer Kirsty Coventry, three in 2004 and four in 2008.

Related Pages

• list of all countries that have participated at the Olympic Games.