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Austria has a rich history of participation in the Olympic Games, competing in all modern iterations except the 1920 Summer Olympics. Innsbruck, Austria, has hosted the Winter Olympics on two occasions: in 1964 and 1976. The Special Olympics World Winter Games were also held in Graz, Austria, in 2017.
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What You'll Learn
Austrian Olympic Committee
The Austrian Olympic Committee, or Österreichisches Olympisches Komitee (ÖOC) in German, is the National Olympic Committee for Austria. It is a non-profit organisation that represents Austrian athletes in the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The Austrian Olympic Committee was founded in 1908 and formally recognised by the IOC in 1912. Headquartered in Vienna, the committee also represents Austrian cities bidding to be Olympic sites.
Austria has participated in all modern Olympic Games, except for the 1920 Summer Olympics, from which it was barred for being part of the Central Powers in World War I. Innsbruck is the only Austrian city to have hosted the games, doing so on two winter occasions.
Austria has won more medals in alpine skiing than any other nation. The country first competed in the Olympics in 1896, with two swimmers winning a gold and silver medal. This remains Austria's only swimming victory, with five silvers and five bronzes added since. Austria also competed in the first equestrian events in 1900, as well as in athletics, with no medals won in either.
The Austrian Olympic Committee awards a Pierre de Coubertin-Medaille, or "Pierre de Coubertin Medal", for outstanding contributions to the Olympic Movement. The first recipients of this award were Austrian President Franz Jonas and the IOC President.
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Austrian Olympic Hosts
Austria has twice hosted the Olympic Winter Games, in 1964 and 1976, both times in Innsbruck, the only Austrian city to have hosted the games. Innsbruck 1976 is remembered for local hero Franz Klammer's gold medal in downhill skiing, and for John Curry's elegant and athletic figure skating, which earned him the highest points total in the history of men's figure skating. The 1976 cauldron was ignited by Josef Feistmantl, a luger.
Innsbruck 1964 saw Christl Haas, an alpine skier, light the cauldron. Rosi Mittermaier of West Germany won two of the three Alpine skiing events, and Canada's Kathy Kreiner beat her in the final race. Ice dancing made its debut as a full medal discipline and was dominated by the Russians.
In addition to the Winter Olympics, Austria also hosted the Special Olympics World Winter Games in 2017. The games took place in Graz, Schladming, Ramsau, and Rohrmoos, with the opening ceremony in Schladming's Planai Stadium, and the closing ceremony in Graz UPC Arena.
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Austrian Olympic Athletes
Austria has participated in almost every modern Olympic Games, with the exception of the 1920 Summer Olympics, from which it was excluded due to its role as a Central Power in World War I. The nation has a proud history of Olympic achievement, particularly in winter sports.
Innsbruck is the only Austrian city to have hosted the Olympic Games. It did so twice, in 1964 and 1976, both times for the Winter Olympics. Austria has won more medals in alpine skiing than any other country, and it has often been the dominant nation in this sport at the Winter Olympics.
Austrian athletes have achieved notable success in a variety of sports throughout the history of the Olympics. At the inaugural 1896 Games, the country's first Olympic appearance, Austrian swimmers won a gold and a silver medal. This remains Austria's only swimming gold medal as of the 2016 Games. In the same year, cyclist Adolf Schmal won a gold medal and two bronzes, and fencer Ellen Müller-Preis won a gold medal in 1932, followed by bronzes in 1936 and 1948, all in the foil individual event.
Austria has also produced several multiple gold medal winners. Felix Gottwald, a Nordic combined skier, has won the most medals of any Austrian athlete, with three golds, one silver, and three bronzes. Thomas Morgenstern, Matthias Mayer, Toni Sailer, and Thomas Morgenstern are the only other Austrians to have won three gold medals, all of which were won at the Winter Games.
The Austrian Olympic Committee, the country's National Olympic Committee, was founded in 1908 and recognised in 1912. The committee has undergone several name changes and mergers throughout its history, including a merger with the German Olympic Committee after the Anschluss in 1938. It was re-established in 1946.
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Austrian Olympic History
Austria has a long history of participation in the Olympic Games, dating back to the first modern Olympics in 1896. Since then, the country has taken part in all the Olympic Games, except for the 1920 Summer Olympics, from which it was excluded due to its role as part of the Central Powers in World War I.
Innsbruck, Austria, hosted the Winter Olympics in 1964 and 1976, marking the only occasions the country has hosted the games. The 1964 Games in Innsbruck were particularly notable as they became the first Olympic city to hold events throughout the surrounding area, attracting over a million spectators. Additionally, computers made their Olympic debut at these Games, improving scoring accuracy and event management. However, the mild weather conditions posed a challenge, requiring the Austrian army to transport over 25,000 tons of snow for the Alpine ski competitions.
Austria has achieved notable success in various Olympic sports over the years. The country has won more medals in alpine skiing than any other nation worldwide and is one of only three countries, along with Norway and Liechtenstein, to have won more medals at the Winter Olympics than at the Summer Olympics. Felix Gottwald, a Nordic combined skier, has won the most medals of any Austrian athlete, with seven medals, including three golds. Other notable Austrian Olympians include Toni Sailer, Thomas Morgenstern, Matthias Mayer, Hermann Maier, and Benjamin Raich, all of whom have excelled in winter sports.
At the Summer Olympics, several Austrians have achieved multiple medals. Julius Lenhart won two gold medals in 1904, and Gregor Hradetzky achieved two gold medals in 1936. Cyclist Adolf Schmal won one gold and two bronze medals in 1896, and fencer Ellen Müller-Preis secured one gold, one silver, and two bronze medals between 1932 and 1948.
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Austrian Olympic Medals
Austria has competed in most modern Olympic Games, with the exception of the 1920 Summer Olympics, from which it was barred due to its involvement in World War I. The nation has won medals in several sports, including swimming, fencing, cycling, and skiing.
Austria's first Olympic medals came in 1900, with bronze medals in the men's sabre and men's masters sabre. At the 1896 Games, the country's first appearance at the Olympics, Austria won a gold and a silver medal in swimming, which remain their only swimming medals as of 2016. The nation has since added five silvers and five bronzes in swimming.
Austria has also found success in fencing, with Ellen Müller-Preis winning a gold medal in 1932 and bronzes in 1936 and 1948, all in the foil individual event. In cycling, Adolf Schmal won a gold and two bronze medals at the 1896 Games.
Austria has been particularly dominant in skiing, especially at the Winter Olympics. Felix Gottwald has won the most medals of any Austrian, with seven in Nordic combined skiing – three gold, one silver, and three bronze. The country has won more medals in alpine skiing than any other nation.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Austria has hosted the Olympic Games twice, in 1964 and 1976, both times in Innsbruck.
Yes, Austria was barred from the 1920 Summer Olympics as it was considered an aggressor nation in World War I.
Felix Gottwald has won the most medals of any Austrian, with seven in Nordic combined skiing – three gold, one silver, and three bronze.
Yes, Austria won a gold medal in swimming at the 1896 Games. This remains the only swimming gold medal for Austria as of the 2016 Games.
