Important Highlights of Jamaica’s Olympic History
Usain BOLT’s three sensational gold medals were among the highlights of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games but Jamaica’s athletes have been excelling since the nation was first represented on the Olympic stage in 1948, the last time the Olympic Games were held in London.
Arthur WINT was Jamaica’s first Olympic champion. He took gold in the 400m ahead of countryman Herb McKENLEY. George RHODEN won the men’s 400m at the Helsinki 1952 Games and Jamaica’s 4x400m squad also took gold.
Sprinter Don QUARRIE won the 200m in Montreal in 1976. QUARRIE competed in four Olympic Games from 1972–84 and his personal haul was one gold, two silver and a bronze.
Deon HEMMINGS was Jamaica’s first female Olympic champion. She won 400m hurdles gold at the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games.
Although she never won Olympic gold, Merlene OTTEY won more medals in athletics than any other woman. Her nine medals came over six Olympic appearances, including Athens 2004 where she represented Slovenia.
At the Beijing 2008 Games, Shelley Ann FRASER made it a Jamaican sprint double with gold in the women’s 100m.
The 4x100m women’s relay squad also won gold. All except one of Jamaica’s Olympic medals have come in athletics. The exception was at Moscow 1980 when cyclist David WELLER took bronze in the 1000m time trial.
Anthem: Title
Anthem: Year of Induction
1962
Anthem: Composer
Words by Hugh Sherlock, music by Robert Lightbourne.
Official NOC/NPC name
Jamaica
IOC recognition date
1936
NOC/NPC President’s name
Mr Michael S. FENNELL
NOC/NPC General Secretary’s name
Mr Neville McCOOK
Year of first appearance in an Olympic and Paralympic Games
1948
Number of appearances in Olympic and Paralympic Games
16, including London 2012
Summary of Olympic and Paralympic Games Appearances
| Medals per sport | ||||
| Sport | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| Athletics | 13 | 25 | 16 | 54 |
| Cycling – Track | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Total | 13 | 25 | 17 | 55 |
| Medals per year | ||||
| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 1948 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 1952 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 5 |
| 1968 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1972 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 1976 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 1980 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| 1984 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 1988 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 1992 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| 1996 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 6 |
| 2000 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 9 |
| 2004 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 |
| 2008 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 11 |
| Total | 13 | 25 | 17 | 55 |
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