People's Republic of China (CHN)

Overview

NOCChinese Olympic Committee
Flagbearers60

Participants

Olympic Games 3129
Youth Olympic Games 371
Other competitors with CHN nationality 2

Description

Although the current National Olympic Committee (NOC) was recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1979, the first Chinese Olympic Committee was formed in 1910 and recognized in 1922. China competed at the Olympic Games of 1932, 1936, and 1948. In September 1949, Chinese Communists assumed control of the government, and many of the former rulers escaped to the island province of Taiwan, including many former members of the Chinese Olympic Committee (possibly as many as 19 of 26). Due to visa problems, only one athlete from the Chinese mainland could compete at the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki. Thus, began a 40-year political problem for the IOC: the question of the “two Chinas”.

In May 1954, at the 50th IOC session in Athens, the IOC voted by 23-21 to recognize both the NOC in Beijing (then Peking) (as the “Olympic Committee of the Chinese Republic”, later in 1957 as the “Olympic Committee of the People’s Democratic Republic of China”) and the NOC in Taipei (as the “Chinese Olympic Committee”).

Both Chinas were invited to the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne. The NOC in Beijing accepted the invitation on 20 November, which led the NOC in Taipei to reject the invitation. However, the NOC in Taipei changed its decision and elected to compete, which caused the NOC in Beijing to withdraw in protest. At Melbourne, no athletes from the NOC in Beijing competed, while 21 athletes from the NOC in Taipei competed under the banner of the Republic of China. The NOC in Beijing withdrew from the IOC on 19 August 1958, in protest of the IOC’s continued recognition of the NOC in Taiwan.

A request to be recognized again was submitted in 1975. The IOC requested the All-China Sports Federation to send its rules for inspection, a standard procedure. The All-China Sports Federation took two years to comply, but its application was eventually approved on 25 November 1979.

In the interim, the IOC sent a three-member contingent, led by New Zealander Lance Cross, to inspect sporting facilities in the People’s Republic of China. Cross reported to the IOC at its 81st Session in Montevideo in April 1979. The IOC made the following recommendations at this Session: “In the Olympic spirit, and in accordance with the Olympic Charter, the IOC resolves: 1) to recognize the Chinese Olympic Committee located in Peking [Beijing], and 2) to maintain recognition of the Chinese Olympic Committee located in Taipei. All matters pertaining to names, anthems, flags and constitutions will be the subject of studies and agreements which will have to be completed as soon as possible.” The full Session approved this motion by 36-30. The IOC Executive Board modified this slightly, changing part two to read “to maintain recognition of the Olympic Committee located in Taipei… “

China returned to the Olympic fold in 1980 at Lake Placid. It did not compete at Moskva 1980, effectively joining the USA-led boycott, but it has competed at all other Olympic Games and Olympic Winter Games since 1984. Chinese athletes have won 712 Olympic medals, 284 of them gold (all since 1984), with 77 medals and 22 golds at the Winter Olympics.

Chinese athletes excel in diving, weightlifting, table tennis, artistic gymnastics, and shooting. The most successful Chinese athlete has been female diver Wu Minxia, who won five gold, one silver, and one bronze between 2004 and 2016. Three other Chinese athletes have won five gold medals: gymnast Zou Kai, diver Chen Ruolin, and Ma Long in table tennis. Minxia is equaled in total number of medals by artistic swimmer Huang Xuechen, but the latter’s medals are all silver or bronze.

The most successful Chinese Winter Olympian is short tracker Wang Meng, who won four gold, one silver, and one bronze from 2006 to 2010. Short-track speed skating has been China’s best sport at the Olympic Winter Games, with 37 medals and 12 gold medals. Meng is followed on the gold medal count by another short-track speedskater, Zhou Yang, won two golds in 2010, and a third gold in 2014.

The People’s Republic of China hosted the Games of the XXIXth Olympiad in Beijing in 2008 and the 24th Olympic Winter Games in 2022, also in Beijing. In 1985 the NOC was awarded with the Olympic Cup.

Participations by edition

Olympic Games

Edition As Men Women Total
1932 Summer Olympics China 1 0 1 Results
1936 Summer Olympics China 52 2 54 Results
1948 Summer Olympics China 30 1 31 Results
1952 Summer Olympics People's Republic of China 1 0 1 Results
1980 Winter Olympics People's Republic of China 13 11 24 Results
1984 Summer Olympics People's Republic of China 132 83 215 Results
1984 Winter Olympics People's Republic of China 21 16 37 Results
1988 Summer Olympics People's Republic of China 149 124 273 Results
1988 Winter Olympics People's Republic of China 6 7 13 Results
1992 Summer Olympics People's Republic of China 117 127 244 Results
1992 Winter Olympics People's Republic of China 12 20 32 Results
1994 Winter Olympics People's Republic of China 7 17 24 Results
1996 Summer Olympics People's Republic of China 111 183 294 Results
1998 Winter Olympics People's Republic of China 15 42 57 Results
2000 Summer Olympics People's Republic of China 91 180 271 Results
2002 Winter Olympics People's Republic of China 21 45 66 Results
2004 Summer Olympics People's Republic of China 136 247 383 Results
2006 Winter Olympics People's Republic of China 35 38 73 Results
2008 Summer Olympics People's Republic of China 310 289 599 Results
2010 Winter Olympics People's Republic of China 30 56 86 Results
2012 Summer Olympics People's Republic of China 160 216 376 Results
2014 Winter Olympics People's Republic of China 26 36 62 Results
2016 Summer Olympics People's Republic of China 151 241 392 Results
2018 Winter Olympics People's Republic of China 34 45 79 Results
2020 Summer Olympics People's Republic of China 125 285 410 Results
2022 Winter Olympics People's Republic of China 91 82 173 Results

Youth Olympic Games

Edition As Men Women Total
2010 Summer Youth Olympics People's Republic of China 29 39 68 Results
2012 Winter Youth Olympics People's Republic of China 10 13 23 Results
2014 Summer Youth Olympics People's Republic of China 30 93 123 Results
2016 Winter Youth Olympics People's Republic of China 11 12 23 Results
2018 Summer Youth Olympics People's Republic of China 32 50 82 Results
2020 Winter Youth Olympics People's Republic of China 23 29 52 Results

Participations by discipline

Olympic Games

Discipline (Sport) Men Women Total
3x3 Basketball (Basketball) 4 4 8 Results
Alpine Skiing (Skiing) 9 8 17 Results
Archery 24 23 47 Results
Art Competitions 4 1 5 Results
Artistic Gymnastics (Gymnastics) 40 53 93 Results
Artistic Swimming (Aquatics) 0 45 45 Results
Athletics 158 184 342 Results
Badminton 43 53 96 Results
Baseball (Baseball/Softball) 24 0 24 Results
Basketball (Basketball) 87 75 162 Results
Beach Volleyball (Volleyball) 2 14 16 Results
Biathlon 19 19 38 Results
Bobsleigh (Bobsleigh) 12 4 16 Results
Boxing 40 7 47 Results
Canoe Slalom (Canoeing) 11 4 15 Results
Canoe Sprint (Canoeing) 35 32 67 Results
Cross Country Skiing (Skiing) 25 27 52 Results
Curling 11 12 23 Results
Cycling BMX Racing (Cycling) 0 1 1 Results
Cycling Mountain Bike (Cycling) 5 7 12 Results
Cycling Road (Cycling) 14 13 27 Results
Cycling Track (Cycling) 12 22 34 Results
Diving (Aquatics) 30 30 60 Results
Equestrian Dressage (Equestrian) 0 1 1 Results
Equestrian Eventing (Equestrian) 3 0 3 Results
Equestrian Jumping (Equestrian) 7 0 7 Results
Fencing 59 47 106 Results
Figure Skating (Skating) 20 24 44 Results
Football (Football) 55 71 126 Results
Freestyle Skiing (Skiing) 16 25 41 Results
Golf 3 2 5 Results
Handball 15 49 64 Results
Hockey 17 55 72 Results
Ice Hockey (Ice Hockey) 21 64 85 Results
Judo 30 41 71 Results
Karate 0 2 2 Results
Luge 3 1 4 Results
Marathon Swimming (Aquatics) 2 2 4 Results
Modern Pentathlon 7 8 15 Results
Nordic Combined (Skiing) 4 0 4 Results
Rhythmic Gymnastics (Gymnastics) 0 37 37 Results
Rowing 56 82 138 Results
Rugby Sevens (Rugby) 0 13 13 Results
Sailing 30 30 60 Results
Shooting 80 61 141 Results
Short Track Speed Skating (Skating) 25 24 49 Results
Skateboarding (Roller Sports) 0 2 2 Results
Skeleton (Bobsleigh) 3 2 5 Results
Ski Jumping (Skiing) 9 3 12 Results
Snowboarding (Skiing) 9 12 21 Results
Softball (Baseball/Softball) 0 40 40 Results
Speed Skating (Skating) 43 48 91 Results
Sport Climbing 1 1 2 Results
Swimming (Aquatics) 89 121 210 Results
Table Tennis 20 22 42 Results
Taekwondo 6 8 14 Results
Tennis 8 16 24 Results
Trampolining (Gymnastics) 4 5 9 Results
Triathlon 2 7 9 Results
Volleyball (Volleyball) 24 72 96 Results
Water Polo (Aquatics) 34 31 65 Results
Weightlifting 61 22 83 Results
Wrestling 57 19 76 Results

Youth Olympic Games

Discipline (Sport) Men Women Total
3-on-3 Ice Hockey (Ice Hockey) 1 4 5 Results
3x3 Basketball (Basketball) 8 12 20 Results
Acrobatic Gymnastics (Gymnastics) 1 1 2 Results
Alpine Skiing (Skiing) 1 1 2 Results
Archery 2 3 5 Results
Artistic Gymnastics (Gymnastics) 3 3 6 Results
Athletics 17 16 33 Results
Badminton 4 4 8 Results
Beach Volleyball (Volleyball) 0 4 4 Results
Biathlon 5 4 9 Results
Boxing 1 1 2 Results
Breaking (Dance) 1 0 1 Results
Canoe Sprint (Canoeing) 3 2 5 Results
Cross Country Skiing (Skiing) 2 4 6 Results
Curling 6 6 12 Results
Cycling Road (Cycling) 0 4 4 Results
Diving (Aquatics) 3 3 6 Results
Equestrian Jumping (Equestrian) 2 0 2 Results
Fencing 3 6 9 Results
Figure Skating (Skating) 8 6 14 Results
Football (Football) 0 18 18 Results
Freestyle Skiing (Skiing) 4 6 10 Results
Golf 2 1 3 Results
Handball 0 14 14 Results
Hockey 5s 0 18 18 Results
Ice Hockey (Ice Hockey) 1 1 2 Results
Judo 1 1 2 Results
Luge 1 0 1 Results
Mixed Sports 6 8 14 Results
Modern Pentathlon 2 3 5 Results
Rhythmic Gymnastics (Gymnastics) 0 2 2 Results
Roller Skating (Roller Sports) 1 0 1 Results
Rowing 2 5 7 Results
Rugby Sevens (Rugby) 0 12 12 Results
Sailing 2 3 5 Results
Shooting 5 5 10 Results
Short Track Speed Skating (Skating) 5 5 10 Results
Skeleton (Bobsleigh) 0 1 1 Results
Ski Jumping (Skiing) 0 2 2 Results
Ski Mountaineering 1 2 3 Results
Snowboarding (Skiing) 3 6 9 Results
Speed Skating (Skating) 6 6 12 Results
Sport Climbing 2 0 2 Results
Swimming (Aquatics) 12 12 24 Results
Table Tennis 2 3 5 Results
Taekwondo 2 8 10 Results
Tennis 3 6 9 Results
Trampolining (Gymnastics) 3 3 6 Results
Triathlon 1 3 4 Results
Weightlifting 3 3 6 Results
Wrestling 0 3 3 Results

Medals by Games

Edition Competition Type Gold Silver Bronze Total
2008 Summer Olympics Olympic Games 48 22 30 100
2012 Summer Olympics Olympic Games 39 31 22 92
2020 Summer Olympics Olympic Games 38 32 19 89
2014 Summer Youth Olympics Youth Olympic Games 38 13 14 65
2004 Summer Olympics Olympic Games 32 17 14 63
2010 Summer Youth Olympics Youth Olympic Games 30 16 5 51
2000 Summer Olympics Olympic Games 28 16 14 58
2016 Summer Olympics Olympic Games 26 18 26 70
2018 Summer Youth Olympics Youth Olympic Games 18 9 9 36
1992 Summer Olympics Olympic Games 16 22 16 54
1996 Summer Olympics Olympic Games 16 22 12 50
1984 Summer Olympics Olympic Games 15 8 9 32
2022 Winter Olympics Olympic Games 9 4 2 15
2012 Winter Youth Olympics Youth Olympic Games 7 4 4 15
1988 Summer Olympics Olympic Games 5 11 12 28
2010 Winter Olympics Olympic Games 5 2 4 11
2016 Winter Youth Olympics Youth Olympic Games 3 5 2 10
2014 Winter Olympics Olympic Games 3 4 2 9
2020 Winter Youth Olympics Youth Olympic Games 3 3 4 10
2006 Winter Olympics Olympic Games 2 4 5 11
2002 Winter Olympics Olympic Games 2 2 4 8
2018 Winter Olympics Olympic Games 1 6 2 9
1998 Winter Olympics Olympic Games 0 6 2 8
1992 Winter Olympics Olympic Games 0 3 0 3
1994 Winter Olympics Olympic Games 0 1 2 3

Medals by sport

Olympic Games

Sport Gold Silver Bronze Total
Diving 47 24 10 81
Weightlifting 38 16 8 62
Table Tennis 32 20 8 60
Artistic Gymnastics 29 21 19 69
Shooting 26 16 25 67
Badminton 20 12 15 47
Swimming 16 21 12 49
Short Track Speed Skating 12 16 9 37
Athletics 11 12 16 39
Judo 8 3 11 22
Taekwondo 7 1 3 11
Freestyle Skiing 5 8 4 17
Fencing 5 7 3 15
Trampolining 4 4 6 14
Boxing 3 5 6 14
Sailing 3 3 2 8
Canoe Sprint 3 2 0 5
Volleyball 3 1 2 6
Wrestling 2 5 8 15
Rowing 2 4 6 12
Figure Skating 2 3 4 9
Speed Skating 2 3 4 9
Cycling Track 2 3 3 8
Archery 1 6 2 9
Snowboarding 1 2 0 3
Tennis 1 0 1 2
Artistic Swimming 0 5 2 7
Basketball 0 1 1 2
Beach Volleyball 0 1 1 2
Karate 0 1 1 2
Football 0 1 0 1
Hockey 0 1 0 1
Modern Pentathlon 0 1 0 1
Rhythmic Gymnastics 0 1 0 1
Softball 0 1 0 1
3x3 Basketball 0 0 1 1
Curling 0 0 1 1
Golf 0 0 1 1
Handball 0 0 1 1
Skeleton 0 0 1 1

Youth Olympic Games

Sport Gold Silver Bronze Total
Swimming 24 11 5 40
Athletics 11 5 3 19
Diving 10 1 0 11
Table Tennis 7 0 0 7
Speed Skating 6 6 3 15
Artistic Gymnastics 6 5 6 17
Trampolining 4 2 0 6
Weightlifting 4 2 0 6
Badminton 3 3 0 6
Freestyle Skiing 2 2 0 4
Tennis 2 1 1 4
Shooting 2 1 0 3
Taekwondo 2 0 6 8
Biathlon 2 0 1 3
Figure Skating 2 0 1 3
Archery 2 0 0 2
Short Track Speed Skating 1 3 5 9
Canoe Sprint 1 3 1 5
Wrestling 1 2 0 3
Boxing 1 1 0 2
Fencing 1 0 2 3
3x3 Basketball 1 0 1 2
Hockey 5s 1 0 1 2
Football 1 0 0 1
Modern Pentathlon 1 0 0 1
Sailing 1 0 0 1
Cross Country Skiing 0 1 0 1
Rowing 0 1 0 1
Judo 0 0 1 1
Rugby Sevens 0 0 1 1

Most successful competitors

Includes medals won as part of mixed teams.

Olympic Games

Athlete Nat Gold Silver Bronze Total
Wu Minxia CHN 5 1 1 7
Zou Kai CHN 5 0 1 6
Chen Ruolin CHN 5 0 0 5
Ma Long CHN 5 0 0 5
Guo Jingjing CHN 4 2 0 6
Wang Meng CHN 4 1 1 6
Fu Mingxia CHN 4 1 0 5
Wang Nan CHN 4 1 0 5
Li Xiaopeng CHN 4 0 1 5
Deng Yaping CHN 4 0 0 4
Zhang Yining CHN 4 0 0 4
Shi Tingmao CHN 4 0 0 4

Youth Olympic Games

Athlete Nat Gold Silver Bronze Total
Tang Yi CHN 6 0 0 6
Shen Duo CHN 6 0 0 6
Liu Lan CHN 5 0 1 6
Zhang Yufei CHN 4 2 0 6
Qiu Yuhan CHN 4 1 1 6
Bai Anqi CHN 4 1 0 5
Yu Hexin CHN 4 1 0 5
He Jianbin CHN 3 1 0 4
He Yun CHN 3 1 0 4
Li Guangyuan CHN 3 0 1 4

IOC Members

Wang Zhengting 1921—1957
Kong Xiangxi 1939—1955
Dong Shouyi 1947—1958
Wang Zhengting 1957—1961
He Zhenliang 1981—2009
Lu Shengrong 1996—2001
Yu Zaiqing 2000—
He Zhenliang 2010—2015
Yang Yang (A) 2010—2018
Li Lingwei 2012—
Zhang Hong 2018—