Burkina Faso (BUR)

Taka N’Gangué and Taki N’Dio competed in the javelin throw in 1924 for France, but were nationals of what was then called French Upper Volta. On 11 December 1958 a self-governing colony within the French Community named Republic of Upper Volta was established, which became fully independent on 5 August 1960.

The National Olympic Committee of Upper Volta was formed on 10 June 1965 and the new statutes adopted on 10 January 1972 were recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on 1 February 1972 at the IOC session in Sapporo.

Still known as Upper Volta, the country sent a single competitor, André Bicaba, to the 1972 Olympics. The country changed its name to Burkina Faso on 4 August 1984. As Burkina Faso, its first Olympic participation occurred in 1988, in Seoul, and it has competed at all Summer Olympics since then. Burkina Faso has never been represented at the Winter Olympics.

Burkina Faso won its first Olympic medal at Tokyo 2020 when Hugues Zango took bronze in the men’s triple jump.