Iceland (ISL)

The first sporting organisation in Iceland was founded on 28 January 1912 with the Icelandic Sports Federation (Íþróttasamband Íslands). The National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Iceland was first formed on 29 September 1921, but this was replaced by a new one in 1934. This organisation was recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on 11 January 1935, at the IOC session in Oslo. The Íþróttasamband Íslands and the NOC of Iceland merged in 1997 to become the National Olympic and Sports Association of Iceland.

Iceland sent one athlete to the 1908 Olympics, Jóhannes Jósefsson, a wrestler, although he marched with the Danish team at the Opening Ceremony. The country also sent two athletes to the 1912 Olympics, but did not again appear until 1936. Since that time it has never failed to be present at an Olympic Games.

Iceland has won four medals in the Olympic Games: a silver in triple jump (track & field athletics) by Vilhjálmur Einarsson in 1956, a bronze in half-heavyweight judo by Bjarni Friðriksson in 1984, a bronze by Vala Flosadóttir in women’s pole vault in 2000, and a silver by the men’s handball team in 2008.

Iceland has competed at all the Olympic Winter Games since 1948 (except for 1972), for 19 appearances. Their athletes have only competed in skiing disciplines at the Olympic Winter Games, participating in Alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, and ski jumping, with their best result being an 11th place in the 1952 men’s cross-country relay. Their best individual result, and the best result by a woman, was a 16th place in the 1976 slalom, by Steinunn Sæmundsdóttir.

It could be argued that Icelanders have won a gold medal. In 1920, Canada won a gold medal in ice hockey at Antwerpen, represented by the club team, the Winnipeg Falcons. Of the eight Canadians on that team, seven were of Icelandic origin and had dual citizenship.