Iceland at the Olympics

Athletes from Iceland first participated at the Olympic Games in 1908.

The National Olympic Committee was created in 1921 and recognized by the International Olympic Committee in 1935. After 1936, Iceland has sent athletes to compete in every Summer Olympic Games since. Iceland has also participated in all but one edition of the Winter Olympic Games since 1948, missing only the 1972 Winter Games.

Icelandic athletes have won a total of four medals, two in athletics, one in judo and one in handball.

Summary by Summer sport
Iceland first participated in the Summer Olympic games in 1908 and 1912. After that they returned in 1936 and have participated in every Summer Olympic Games since then.

They have won a total of four medals; 2 silver and 2 bronze. Vilhjálmur Einarsson won silver i men's triple jump in 1956, Bjarni Friðriksson won bronze in men's 95 kg Judo in 1984, Vala Flosadóttir won bronze in women's pole vault in 2000 and the Iceland men's national handball team won silver in men's handball competition in 2008.

Aquatics
For the swimming discipline, follow these links: Swimming and Water polo.

Iceland has yet to participate in Artistic swimming and Diving.

Athletics
Athletics has been included in the Summer Olympic programme since the inaugural 1896 Games. Iceland first participated in the sport 1912. They returned to the sport in 1936 and have participated in it every Summer Olympic Games since then.

They have won two medals in the sport. Vilhjálmur Einarsson won silver i men's triple jump in 1956 and Vala Flosadóttir won bronze in women's pole vault in 2000.

Badminton
Badminton has been included in the Olympic programme since 1992. Iceland has participated in the sport four times.

The best placements were 17th, which Iceland has accomplished three times. First by Árni Þór Hallgrímson alone in men's singles and together with Broddi Kristjánsson in men's doubles in 1992 and finally by Ragna Ingólfsdóttir in women's singles in 2012.

Gymnastics
Iceland has yet to participate in the disciplines Rhythmic gymnastics and Trampoline.

Artistic gymnastics
Artistic gymnastics has been included in the Summer Olympic programme since the inaugural 1896 Games. Iceland has participated four times, first in 1996.

Their best placement is 7th by Rúnar Alexandersson in men's pommel horse in 2004.

The highest placed in a women's event was 40th by Irina Sazonova in women's artistic individual all-around in 2016.

Handball
Handball was included in the Olympic programme in 1936. It returned in 1972 and has remained in the Olympic programme ever since. Iceland first participated in 1972 and has participated in the sport many times since then.

Iceland men's national handball team managed to win silver in the men's tournament in 2008.

Judo
Judo has been included in the Olympic programme since 1964 with the exception of the 1968 Games. Iceland first participated in 1976 and has participated most times since then.

Bjarni Friðriksson won bronze in men's 95 kg in 1984.

Sailing
Sailing has been included in the Olympic programme since 1900 with the exception of the 1904 Games. Iceland has participated four times, first in 1984.

Their best placement in the sport was 22nd, by Ísleifur Friðriksson and Gunnlaugur Jónasson in men's 470 in 1988.

Shooting
Shooting was included in the inaugural 1896 Summer Olympic programme and has been included in all Summer Games since then except for 1904 and 1928. Iceland has participated four times, first in 1992.

Ásgeir Sigurgeirsson accomplished their best placement in the sport so far when he finished 14th in men's 10m air pistol in 2012.

Long course swimming
Iceland first competed in swimming in 1948 and has competed in the sport most Games since then.

Örn Arnarson has achieved the best Icelandic placement in the sport, finishing 4th in men's 200m backstroke in 2000.

Hrafnhildur Lúthersdóttir has the highest placement in a women's event, she placed 6th in women's 100m breaststroke in 2016.

Marathon swimming
Marathon swimming has been included in the Olympic programme since 2008.

Iceland has yet to participate in the discipline.

Water polo
Water polo has been included in the Olympic programme since 1900 with the exception of the 1904 Games. Iceland has participated once, in 1936 when they finished 15th.

Weightlifting
Weightlifting was first included in the Olympic programme at the inaugural 1896 Summer Olympics. It was excluded from the 1900, 1908 and 1912 Games but have been included every other time. Iceland has participated in the sport four times, from 1968 to 1980.

Their best placement was 8th by Guðmundur Sigurðsson in men's 90 kg in 1976.

Wrestling
Wrestling was included in the inaugural 1896 Summer Olympic programme and has been included in all Summer Games since then except for 1904. Iceland has participated in the sport twice, in 1908 and 1912.

Their best placement in the sport was 4th by Jóhannes Jósefsson in men's Greco-Roman middleweight in 1908.

Summary by Winter sport
Iceland has participated in every Winter Olympic Games since 1948 except for 1972. They have yet to win any Winter Olympic medals.

Their best placement in a Winter Olympic sport is 11th by Jón Kristjánsson, Gunnar Pétursson, Ívar Stefánsson and Ebenezer Thorarinsson in men's cross-country skiing relay in 1952.

Their best placement in a women's event is 16th by Steinunn Sæmundsdóttir in women's slalom in 1976.

Iceland has so far participated in 3 winter sports; Alpine skiing, Cross-country skiing and Ski jumping.

Alpine skiing
Alpine skiing has been included in the Olympic programme since 1936. Iceland first participated in the sport in 1948 and has continued to do so every Olympic Games since then except for 1972.

Their best placement is 16th by Steinunn Sæmundsdóttir in women's slalom in 1976.

Their best placement in a men's event is 17th by Eysteinn Þórðarson in men's slalom in 1960.

Cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing has been was included in the Olympic programme since the inaugural 1924 Winter Olympics. Iceland first participated in the sport in 1952 and has participated in the sport most times since then.

Their best placement in the sport was by Jón Kristjánsson, Gunnar Pétursson, Ívar Stefánsson and Ebenezer Thorarinsson who finished 11th in men's relay in 1952.

Their best placement in a women's event was by Kristrún Guðnadóttir who finished 74th in women's sprint in 2022.

Ski jumping
Ski jumping has been included in the Olympic programme since the inaugural 1924 Winter Games. Iceland has participated three times. Their best placement was 35th by Ari Guðmundsson in the individual event in 1952.