Bolivia's Olympic Dreams: Dates And History

Bolivia made its Olympic debut in 1936, participating in both the Summer and Winter Games. The nation has since competed in most editions of the Summer Olympics, from 1964 onwards, and has also taken part in the Winter Games seven times, most recently in 2022. Bolivia sent a team to the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, marking its continued participation in the global sporting event. Despite its long history of Olympic involvement, Bolivia is the only South American nation never to have won an Olympic medal.

Bolivia's Olympic debut was in 1936

The country's Olympic committee, the Bolivian Olympic Committee, was formed in 1932, four years before its athletes first competed on the Olympic stage. It was recognised by the International Olympic Committee in 1936, the same year as Bolivia's Olympic debut.

Bolivia has since participated in every edition of the Summer Olympics since 1964, except for the 1980 Games in Moscow, which it boycotted along with many other nations. The nation has also competed in several Winter Olympics, first appearing at the seventh edition in 1956.

Despite appearing at 15 Olympic Summer Games, Bolivia has sent only 92 athletes to the Olympics. The country's largest contingent was 11 athletes at the 1972 Games in Munich. Bolivia has also never won an Olympic medal, a distinction it shares with no other South American nation.

Bolivian athletes have appeared in most Summer Olympics since 1964

Bolivia made its Summer Olympics debut in 1936, sending a single swimmer, Alberto Conrad, and an unnamed artist. However, it wasn't until 1964 that Bolivia began to participate regularly in the Summer Games, and Bolivian athletes have appeared in most editions since then. The only Summer Olympics Bolivia has missed since 1964 was the 1980 Moscow Games, which it boycotted along with many other nations.

In total, Bolivia has competed in 15 Summer Olympics and seven Winter Olympics but has yet to win a medal, a distinction shared with no other South American nation. The country's best result in a team event was in athletics at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, where the women's 4x400m relay team finished fourteenth out of fifteen teams. In individual events, Ángela Castro achieved the country's best placing, coming eighteenth out of seventy-four athletes in the Women's 20km Walk at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Despite not having won any medals, Bolivia has competed in a diverse range of sports at the Summer Olympics, including swimming, athletics, artistic gymnastics, canoe sprint, cycling, equestrian, and volleyball. The country's largest contingent of athletes was 11, at the 1972 Munich Olympics.

Bolivian athletes also participated in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, competing in swimming and athletics events.

Bolivia has never won an Olympic medal

Bolivia has participated in the Olympic Games since 1936, but has never won a medal. It is the only South American country that has yet to do so.

The nation's best result in a team event was in Athletics at the 1992 Summer Olympics. The women’s 4x400m relay team finished fourteenth out of fifteen teams. In terms of individual events, the highest placing was at the 2016 Summer Olympics. In the Women's 20km Walk, Ángela Castro finished eighteenth out of seventy-four athletes.

Bolivia has taken part in the Winter Olympics seven times, first competing in 1956. The country has also been a regular at the Summer Games since 1964, with the exception of the 1980 Games, which it boycotted.

Despite not having won any medals, Bolivia continues to strive for Olympic success. At the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, Bolivian track and field athletes achieved the entry standards, and the country sent two swimmers to compete.

While Bolivia has yet to taste victory on the Olympic stage, its perseverance and dedication to improving are evident. The nation's athletes continue to represent their country with pride, and their ongoing pursuit of a medal is a testament to their determination.

Bolivian athletes have competed in 14 different sports at the Summer Games

Bolivia made its Summer Olympics debut in 1936, and has since participated in 15 Olympic Summer Games. Despite this, the country has sent only 92 athletes to compete in the Summer Games. The nation did not compete in the Summer Olympics between its debut in 1936 and 1964, with the exception of 1980, when Bolivia joined a boycott of the Moscow games.

Since 1964, Bolivian athletes have appeared in every edition of the Summer Olympics, except for 1980. Bolivian athletes have competed in 14 different sports at the Summer Games. These include artistic gymnastics, cycling (road, track, and BMX racing), equestrian jumping, and beach volleyball.

Bolivia has also competed in seven Winter Olympics, sending skiers to compete in 1956, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992, 2018, and 2022. At the Winter Games, Bolivian athletes have only competed in Alpine and cross-country skiing.

Despite their appearances across 15 Olympic Summer Games, Bolivia is yet to win an Olympic medal. This is a distinction shared with no other South American nation. Bolivia's best result in a team event was in Athletics at the 1992 Summer Olympics, where the women's 4x400m relay team finished fourteenth out of fifteen teams. The country's best result in an individual event was at the 2016 Summer Olympics, where Ángela Castro finished eighteenth out of seventy-four athletes in the Women's 20km Walk.

Bolivia has competed in seven Winter Olympics

Bolivia made its Winter Olympics debut in 1956, the seventh edition of the games. Since then, the country has participated in the Winter Olympics six more times, in 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992, 2018, and 2022. At the Winter Games, Bolivian athletes have only competed in Alpine and cross-country skiing events.

Bolivia's participation in the Winter Olympics has been sporadic, with long gaps between appearances. After their initial appearance in 1956, they did not compete again until 1980, and then had a consistent run of appearances from 1984 to 1992. There was then a long hiatus until their return to the Winter Olympics in 2018 and 2022.

The Bolivian Olympic Committee, formed in 1932, has overseen the country's participation in the Olympic Games. Bolivia first participated in the Olympic Games in 1936, when they sent a single swimmer, Alberto Conrad, and an unnamed artist to the Summer Olympics in Berlin. Despite appearing at 15 Summer Olympic Games, Bolivia has sent a relatively small number of athletes, with only 92 Olympians representing the country.

Bolivia has yet to win an Olympic medal, a distinction shared with no other South American nation. Their best results in team events were in athletics at the 1992 Summer Olympics, where the women's 4x400m relay team finished fourteenth out of fifteen teams. In individual events, Ángela Castro achieved the country's best result, placing eighteenth out of seventy-four athletes in the Women's 20km Walk at the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Frequently asked questions