Estonia first competed as a nation at the 1920 Summer Olympics, two years after declaring independence from the then warring Russian and German Empires in 1918. The Estonian National Olympic Committee was established in 1923.
Estonia participated in both Summer and Winter Games until the country was invaded and occupied by the Soviet Union in 1940. From 1952 to 1988, Estonian athletes competed under the Soviet flag. Notably, the 1980 Summer Olympics sailing regatta was hosted in Tallinn, during the period of Soviet occupation.
Athletes representing independent Estonia made their Winter Olympics debut at the II Olympic Winter Games 1928 in St. Moritz, competing in speed skating. Following the restoration of independence in 1991, Estonia resumed participation as a sovereign nation starting from the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville and the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.
Jüri Lossman became the first athlete representing Estonia to win an Olympic medal of any colour, earning silver in the men's marathon. At the same Games, Alfred Neuland won Estonia's first Olympic gold medal, triumphing in the men's lightweight weightlifting event. At the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Andrus Veerpalu became the first athlete representing independent Estonia to win a Winter Olympic medal, taking gold in the men's 15 km cross-country skiing event.
Since regaining independence, Estonia has participated in every edition of both the Summer and Winter Olympics. Estonia has won most of its medals in wrestling (11), weightlifting (7), cross-country skiing (7) and athletics (6). __TOC__
Medal tables
Medals by Summer Games
Medals by Winter Games
Medals by summer sport GamesGoldSilverBronzeTotalRank 5 2 4 11 17 2 1 3 6 50 1 3 3 7 31 1 0 1 2 24 1 0 0 1 30 0 2 1 3 34 0 1 0 1 59 0 0 3 3 46 0 0 2 2 44 Total 10 9 17 36 52
Medals by winter sport GamesGoldSilverBronzeTotalRank 4 2 1 7 7 0 1 1 2 – Total 4 3 2 9 27
List of medalists Summer Olympics Medal Name Games Sport Event Weightlifting Men's lightweight Athletics Men's marathon Weightlifting Men's featherweight Wrestling Men's Greco-Roman bantamweight Weightlifting Men's middleweight Athletics Men's decathlon Weightlifting Men's middleweight Weightlifting Men's heavyweight Wrestling Men's Greco-Roman middleweight Wrestling Men's freestyle lightweight Wrestling Men's Greco-Roman featherweight Weightlifting Men's heavyweight Nikolai Vekšin, William von Wirén, Eberhard Vogdt, Georg Faehlmann, Andreas Faehlmann Sailing Men's 6 metre class Wrestling Men's Greco-Roman middleweight Wrestling Men's Greco-Roman heavyweight Wrestling Men's freestyle heavyweight Boxing Men's lightweight Wrestling Men's freestyle light-heavyweight Weightlifting Men's heavyweight Wrestling Men's Greco-Roman lightweight Wrestling Men's Greco-Roman light-heavyweight Cycling Women's sprint Tõnu Tõniste, Toomas Tõniste Sailing Men's 470 team competition Athletics Men's decathlon Judo Men's half middleweight – 81 kg Judo Men's heavyweight (+100 kg) Rowing Men's single sculls Athletics Men's discus throw Judo Men's heavyweight (+100 kg) Athletics Men's discus throw Rowing Men's double sculls Wrestling Men's Greco-Roman −120 kg Athletics Men's discus throw Tõnu Endrekson, Andrei Jämsä, Allar Raja, Kaspar Taimsoo Rowing Men's quadruple sculls Julia Beljajeva, Irina Embrich, Erika Kirpu, Katrina Lehis Fencing Women's team épée Katrina Lehis Fencing Women's épée
Winter Olympics Medal Name Games Sport Event Cross-country skiing Men's 15 km classical Cross-country skiing Men's 50 km classical Cross-country skiing Men's 15 km classical Cross-country skiing Men's 15 km classical Cross-country skiing Women's 15 kilometre pursuit Cross-country skiing Women's 10 km classical Cross-country skiing Women's 10 kilometre freestyle Freestyle skiing Women's slopestyle Freestyle skiing Men's halfpipe
List of gold medal winners during Soviet time No. Name Sport Year In the Soviet Union1 Johannes Kotkas 19522 Ants Antson 19643 Jaan Talts 19724 Jüri Tarmak 19725 Aavo Pikkuus 19766 Jaak Uudmäe 19807 Ivar Stukolkin 19808 Viljar Loor 19809 Mait Riisman 198010 Tiit Sokk 198811 Erika Salumäe 1988
Summer sports Estonia has participated in most summer sports, but they have yet to participate in: Artistic swimming, Baseball/Softball, Cricket, Diving, Field hockey, Golf, Handball, Lacrosse, Rugby football (neither Rugby sevens or the discontinued discipline Rugby union), Skateboarding, Sport climbing, Surfing, Taekwondo and Water polo.
Estonia never participated in the following discontinued sports: Basque pelota, Croquet, Jeu de paume, Karate, Polo, Rackets, Roque, Tug of war and Water motorsports.
Aquatics For the swimming discipline, follow this link: Swimming.
Estonia has yet to participate in Artistic swimming, Diving and Water polo.
Archery Archery was included in the Olympic programme four times between 1900 and 1920. It returned in 1972 and has remained in the Olympic programme ever since.
Estonia's best placement in the sport is shared 17th by Reena Pärnat in women's individual in 2020.
Estonia's best placement in a men's event in the sport is 42nd by Raul Kivilo in men's individual in 1996.
Games Archers Events Gold Silver Bronze Total Ranking 1992 Barcelona 1 1/4 0 0 0 0 1996 Atlanta 1 1/4 0 0 0 0 2012 London 1 1/4 0 0 0 0 2016 Rio de Janeiro 1 1/4 0 0 0 0 2020 Tokyo 1 1/5 0 0 0 0 Total 0 0 0 0 –
Athletics Athletics has been included in the Olympic programme since the inaugural 1896 Summer Olympics.
Estonia has won 6 medals in the sport; 2 gold, 1 silver and 3 bronze.
Their most successful athlete in the sport is Gerd Kanter who won gold in men's discus throw in 2008 and bronze in the same event in 2012.
Estonia's other Olympic champion in the sport is Erki Nool who won gold in men's decathlon in 2000.
Three more Estonian athletes have won medals in the sport; Jüri Lossman won silver in men's marathon in 1920, Aleksander Klumberg won bronze in men's decathlon in 1924 and Aleksander Tammert won bronze in men's discus throw in 2004.
Estonia's best placement in a women's event in the sport is 6th by Ksenija Balta in women's long jump in 2016.
Games Athletes Events Gold Silver Bronze Total Ranking 1920 Antwerp 7 13/29 0 1 0 1 =10 1924 Paris 10 12/27 0 0 1 1 =12 1928 Amsterdam 4 5/27 0 0 0 0 1932 Los Angeles 1 1/29 0 0 0 0 1936 Berlin 7 8/29 0 0 0 0 1992 Barcelona 5 5/43 0 0 0 0 1996 Atlanta 12 11/44 0 0 0 0 2000 Sydney 5 4/46 1 0 0 1 =18 2004 Athens 15 12/46 0 0 1 1 =35 2008 Beijing 14 11/47 1 0 0 1 =17 2012 London 10 9/47 0 0 1 1 =36 2016 Rio de Janeiro 18 10/47 0 0 0 0 2020 Tokyo 7 4/48 0 0 0 0 Total 2 1 3 6 53
Badminton Badminton has been included in the Olympic programme since 1992.
Estonia's best placement in the sport is shared 14th, both by Raul Must in men's singles in 2016 and by Kati Tolmoff in women's singles in 2016.
Games Players Events Gold Silver Bronze Total Ranking 2008 Beijing 2 2/5 0 0 0 0 2012 London 1 1/5 0 0 0 0 2016 Rio de Janeiro 2 2/5 0 0 0 0 2020 Tokyo 2 2/5 0 0 0 0 Total 0 0 0 0 –
Basketball 3x3 Basketball 3x3 basketball has been included in the Olympic programme since 2020.
Estonia has yet to participate in the discipline.
Team basketball Basketball has been included in the Olympic programme since 1936.
Estonia men's national basketball team has participated once, finishing shared 9th in 1936.
Estonia has yet to participate in women's events in the discipline.
Games Players Events Gold Silver Bronze Total Ranking 1936 Berlin 13 1/1 0 0 0 0 Total 0 0 0 0 –
Boxing Boxing has been included in the Olympic programme since 1904 with the exception of 1912.
Estonia has won one silver medal in the sport, Nikolai Stepulov won the medal in lightweight in 1936.
Estonia has yet to participate in women's events in the sport.
Games Boxers Events Gold Silver Bronze Total Ranking 1924 Paris 1 1/8 0 0 0 0 1928 Amsterdam 1 1/8 0 0 0 0 1936 Berlin 2 2/8 0 1 0 1 =9 Total 0 1 0 1 =60
Canoeing Slalom Canoe slalom was first included in the Olympic programme in 1972. It returned in 1992 and has remained in the programme since then.
Estonia has yet to participate in the discipline.
Sprint Canoe sprint (including the discontinued discipline canoe marathon) has been included in the Olympic programme since 1936.
Estonia has yet to make it to a final in canoe sprint, so they have not yet received a formal placement in the sport. Their best result is arguably Hain Helde's placement in the semifinals of men's K1 1000m in 1996, which would be equivalent to around 12th place.
Estonia has yet to participate in women's events in the discipline.
Games Canoeists Events Gold Silver Bronze Total Ranking 1992 Barcelona 1 2/12 0 0 0 0 1996 Atlanta 1 2/12 0 0 0 0 2000 Sydney 1 2/12 0 0 0 0 Total 0 0 0 0 –
Cycling Estonia has yet to participate in the disciplines BMX freestyle and BMX racing.
Mountain biking Mountain biking has been included in the Olympic programme since 1996.
Estonia's best placement in the sport is 17th by Janika Lõiv in the women's event in 2020.
Estonia's best placement in a men's event in the sport is 41st by Sigvard Kukk in the men's event in 2004.
Games Cyclists Events Gold Silver Bronze Total Ranking 1996 Atlanta 1 1/2 0 0 0 0 2004 Athens 1 1/2 0 0 0 0 2020 Tokyo 1 1/2 0 0 0 0 Total 0 0 0 0 –
Road cycling Road cycling was included in the Olympic programme in 1896. It returned in 1912 and has remained in the Olympic programme ever since.
Estonia's best placement in the discipline is 5th by Lauri Aus in men's individual road race in 1992.
Estonia's best placement in a women's event in the discipline is 17th by Grete Treier in women's individual road race in 2012.
Games Cyclists Events Gold Silver Bronze Total Ranking 1992 Barcelona 2 1/3 0 0 0 0 1996 Atlanta 5 1/4 0 0 0 0 2000 Sydney 5 2/4 0 0 0 0 2004 Athens 5 2/4 0 0 0 0 2008 Beijing 3 3/4 0 0 0 0 2012 London 2 2/4 0 0 0 0 2016 Rio de Janeiro 2 1/4 0 0 0 0 2020 Tokyo 3 2/4 0 0 0 0 Total 0 0 0 0 –
Track cycling Track cycling was included in the inaugural 1896 Summer Olympic programme and has been included in all Summer Games except for 1912.
Estonia has won one medal in the discipline, Erika Salumäe won gold in women's sprint in 1992.
Estonia's best placement in a men's event in the sport is 21st by Daniel Novikov in men's sprint in 2008.
Games Cyclists Events Gold Silver Bronze Total Ranking 1992 Barcelona 1 1/7 1 0 0 1 =2 1996 Atlanta 1 1/8 0 0 0 0 2008 Beijing 1 1/10 0 0 0 0 Total 1 0 0 1 =22
Equestrian Estonia has yet to participate in the disciplines Equestrian eventing and Equestrian show jumping.
They did not participate in the discontinued disciplines Equestrian driving or Equestrian vaulting.
Dressage Dressage had one event included in 1900. It returned to the Olympic programme in 1912 and has remained in the Olympic programme ever since.
Estonia has participated in the discipline once. Dina Ellermann finished 49th in the individual event.
Estonia has yet to send a male rider to participate in the discipline.
Games Riders Events Gold Silver Bronze Total Ranking 2020 Tokyo 1 1/2 0 0 0 0 Total 0 0 0 0 –
Fencing Fencing has been included in the Olympic programme since the inaugural 1896 Games.
Estonia has won two medals in fencing. Julia Beljajeva, Irina Embrich, Erika Kirpu and Katrina Lehis won gold in women's team épée in 2020. Katrina Lehis also won bronze in women's individual épée in the same games.
Estonia's best placement in a men's event in the sport is 4th by Kaido Kaaberma in men's individual épée in 1992.
Games Fencers Events Gold Silver Bronze Total Ranking 1992 Barcelona 2 1/8 0 0 0 0 1996 Atlanta 6 4/10 0 0 0 0 2000 Sydney 4 2/10 0 0 0 0 2008 Beijing 1 1/10 0 0 0 0 2012 London 1 1/10 0 0 0 0 2016 Rio de Janeiro 5 3/10 0 0 0 0 2020 Tokyo 4 2/12 1 0 1 2 =5 Total 1 0 1 2 26
Football Football has been included in the Olympic programme since 1900 with the exception of 1932.