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Softball - a past sport at the Olympics

Softball, a modified version of baseball played mostly by women athletes, was contested as a part of the Summer Olympics four times between 1996 to 2008 and was discontinued from the Olympic program after that (along with Baseball). Softball (jointly with baseball) were temporarily back on the program for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, though it has not been included on the 2024 program. Softball and baseball are then returning for the 2028 Olympics in LA.

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Olympic Softball Results

In the five times softball has been contested in the Olympics, the United States is the most dominant nation winning the gold medal three straight times in 1996, 2000 and 2004. The United States finished the 2008 and 2021 games with a silver medal.

Japan is the only other nation besides the United States to have won the gold medal in Olympic softball. They defeated the United States in the final in 2008 and 2021. Japan's win in 2008 came after a bronze and silver medal finishes in the 2004 and 2000 games.

Australia had a podium finish in all of the four Olympics from 1996-2008. They ended up with a bronze on three occasions and a silver medal in 2004.



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Olympics Extra

The next Olympics will be in Paris 2024, followed by the Winter edition in Milan-Cortina 2026. Check out the list of Olympic Games sports, as well as discontinued and demonstration sports.

Major Events Extra

The largest sporting event in the world is the Olympic Games, but there are many other multi-sport games. In terms of single sport events, nothing beats the FIFA World Cup. To see what's coming up, check out the calendar of major sporting events.

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