Spain (ESP)

In 1900, Spain was represented by 14 athletes at the Paris Olympics. A Spanish National Olympic Committee was formed in 1905. Spain next appeared on the Olympic stage in 1920, and has since missed only the 1936 Berlin Olympics, when the nation was involved in a civil war. In addition, Spain boycotted Melbourne 1956 because of the Hungarian Revolt, although Spanish riders did compete in the Olympic Equestrian Games at Stockholm in 1956. Spain’s first winter appearance was in 1936 at Garmisch-Partenkirchen and it has never failed to compete in the Olympic Winter Games since. Spain has won 154 Olympic medals, 46 of them gold, with 4 medals and 1 gold having been won at the Olympic Winter Games.

In 1992, Barcelona hosted the Games of the XXVth Olympiad. These Olympics proved a huge boost for Spanish Olympic performances; prior to these Olympics, Spain had won 26 medals (5 gold) in Summer Games, but it won 22 medals in Barcelona, and many more in subsequent Games. Madrid was also among the three finalists to host the 2020 Olympic Games. Six Spanish competitors have won two Olympic gold medals, with track cyclist Joan Llaneras also winning two silver medals. The canoeist David Cal is the only Spanish Olympian to win five medals (one gold and four silver) between 2004 and 2012.

In 1965 the Olympic Committee of Spain was awarded with the Count Alberto Bonacossa Trophy.