Soviet Union at the Summer Olympics
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| USSR at the Olympic Games | ||||
| Image:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Flag of the Soviet Union <tr><td colspan=5 style="text-align:center;">IOC code: URS</td></tr> <tr> <td colspan=5 style="text-align:center; background:#bfd7ff;">Summer Olympic Games appearances</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan=5 style="text-align:center;">1952 • 1956 • 1960 • 1964 • 1968 • 1972 • 1976 • 1980 • 1984 • 1988</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan=5 style="text-align:center; background:#bfd7ff;">Winter Olympic Games appearances</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan=5 style="text-align:center;">1956 • 1960 • 1964 • 1968 • 1972 • 1976 • 1980 • 1984 • 1988</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan=5 style="text-align:center; background:#bfd7ff;">Other related appearances</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan=5 style="text-align:left;">Unified Team (1992)</td> </tr> |
The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (IOC country code:URS) participated in the Summer Olympics nine times (1952-1988 except 1984). At seven of its nine appearances, the team placed first in the total number of medals won, it was second by this count on the other two. They returned as the Unified Team in 1992 Barcelona Olympics after the breakup of the Soviet Union (in 1991) and found itself again at the top of the medal tally. With these performances many consider the USSR as the undisputed Olympic powerhouse at the time of its existence.
The Olympic Committee of the USSR was formed on April 21 1951 and was recognized by the IOC on its 45th session (May 7 1951). In the same year, when the Soviet representative Constantin Andrianov became an IOC member, the USSR officially joined the Olympic Movement.
The 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki became first Olympic Games for the Soviet athletes. On July 20, 1952, the first Olympic gold medal in the history of Soviet sport was won by Nina Romashkova in the women's Discus Throwing event. Romashkova's result in this event (51.42 m) was the new Olympic record at that time.
The USSR was the host of the 1980 Summer Olympics.
Although the USSR ceased to exist on December 26, 1991, The Olympic Committee of the USSR formally existed until March 12, 1992, when it disbanded.
In 1992, the former Soviet Republics competed together for the last time under the name Unified Team and marched under the Olympic Flag at Barcelona.
Contents |
[edit] Medal tables
[edit] Medals by Year
| Games | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 1952 Helsinki | 22 | 30 | 19 | 71 |
| 1956 Melbourne | 37 | 29 | 32 | 98 |
| 1960 Rome | 43 | 29 | 31 | 103 |
| 1964 Tokyo | 30 | 31 | 35 | 96 |
| 1968 Mexico City | 29 | 32 | 30 | 91 |
| 1972 Munich | 50 | 27 | 22 | 99 |
| 1976 Montreal | 49 | 41 | 35 | 125 |
| 1980 Moscow (host) | 80 | 69 | 46 | 195 |
| 1984 Los Angeles | did not compete | |||
| 1988 Seoul | 55 | 31 | 46 | 132 |
| Total | 395 | 319 | 296 | 1010 |
[edit] Medals by Sport
| Sport | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| Gymnastics | 73 | 67 | 44 | 184 |
| Athletics | 65 | 55 | 75 | 195 |
| Wrestling | 62 | 31 | 23 | 116 |
| Weightlifting | 39 | 21 | 2 | 62 |
| Canoeing | 29 | 13 | 9 | 51 |
| Fencing | 18 | 15 | 16 | 49 |
| Shooting | 17 | 15 | 17 | 49 |
| Boxing | 14 | 19 | 18 | 51 |
| Swimming | 13 | 21 | 26 | 60 |
| Rowing | 12 | 20 | 10 | 42 |
| Cycling | 11 | 4 | 8 | 23 |
| Volleyball | 7 | 4 | 1 | 12 |
| Equestrian | 6 | 5 | 4 | 15 |
| Judo | 5 | 5 | 13 | 23 |
| Modern Pentathlon | 4 | 5 | 5 | 14 |
| Sailing | 4 | 5 | 3 | 12 |
| Basketball | 4 | 4 | 4 | 12 |
| Handball | 4 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| Diving | 3 | 4 | 6 | 13 |
| Water polo | 2 | 2 | 3 | 7 |
| Football (soccer) | 2 | 0 | 3 | 5 |
| Archery | 1 | 3 | 3 | 7 |
| Hockey | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Total | 395 | 319 | 296 | 1010 |
[edit] See also
