Argentina (ARG)

Although Argentina had a founding member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) with José Benjamin Zubiaur it did not have a National Olympic Committee until the 1920s. In early 1920 the Comite Pro-Juegos Olimpicos de Amberes was founded and Dr. Marcelo T. de Alvear became president. As Alvear was residing in Paris the vice-president Dr. Cesar Vialle acted as president. In March 1922 this Committee was dissolved and on 31 December 1923 the Comité Olímpico Argentino was formed. Argentina first competed officially at the 1924 Olympics in Paris. Prior to that, at least three Argentine athletes had competed at the Olympics – Francisco Camet as a fencer in 1900, Horatio Torromé in 1908 figure skating, and a boxer, Ángel Rodríguez, in 1920. Since 1924, Argentina has competed at every Olympic Games with the exception of 1980. Argentina has competed at the Olympic Winter Games of 1928, 1948, 1952, and all Winter Games since 1960. Through 2016, Argentine athletes have won 74 medals, 21 of them gold. Argentina has won more Olympic gold medals than any other South American country except for Brazil. Two Argentines have won four medals: Carlos Espínola has won four in sailing from 1996-2008, with two silvers in windsurfing and two bronzes in multihull Tornado class and Lucha Aymar won two silver and two bronze in hockey from 2000-2012. The footballer Javier Mascherano is the only Argentine to win two gold medals (2004 and 2008).

In 1943 the Olympic Committee of Argentina was awarded with the Olympic Cup.