Ireland (IRL)

Ireland formed a National Olympic Committee in 1922, shortly after it became independent of Great Britain in December 1921. Ireland first competed as a separate state in the 1924 Olympic Games at Paris. Prior to that time, however, many Irish athletes had competed – mostly for Great Britain. In addition many of the great American weight-throwers had been recent Irish emigrants. Ireland also entered separate teams in 1908 field hockey and the 1912 cycling road race, although both were technically second teams representing Great Britain. Since 1924, Ireland has competed at every Olympic Games except those of 1936. Ireland has competed at the Olympic Winter Games in 1992, 1998, 2002, 2006, and 2010. Through 2012, Ireland has won 31 Olympic medals: nine gold, nine silver, and 13 bronze. Two athletes have won multiple medals for Ireland, with swimmer Michelle Smith winning four medals, and three golds, in 1996, and Pat O’Callaghan winning the hammer throw gold medal in both 1928 and 1932.