El Salvador first competed at the Summer Olympic Games in 1968 and has participated in every Summer Games since then, excluding those held in 1976 and 1980, when the nation joined the American-led boycott in protest of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. The nation has never participated in the Winter Olympic Games and has not earned a medal at any Games of the Olympiad.
Athletes from El Salvador have represented their nation in 13 sports. A total of 118 Salvadoran athletes have competed at the Olympic Games. Swimming (28 athletes) and athletics (27 athletes) have provided the most participants from El Salvador.
The Comité Olímpico de El Salvador was created in 1925 and recognized by the International Olympic Committee in 1938.
Medal tables
Medals by Summer Games GamesAthletesGoldSilverBronzeTotalRank 60 0 0 0 0 – 11 0 0 0 0 – did not participate boycotted 10 0 0 0 0 – 6 0 0 0 0 – 4 0 0 0 0 – 8 0 0 0 0 – 8 0 0 0 0 – 7 0 0 0 0 – 11 0 0 0 0 – 10 0 0 0 0 – 8 0 0 0 0 – 5 0 0 0 0 – 8 0 0 0 0 – future event Total 0 0 0 0 –
Athletes by sport Summer Olympics Sport196819721976198019841988199219962000200420082012201620202024Total Athletes – – – – – – – – 1 1 – – – – 1 3 10 – – – 4 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 – 31––––––––––––––11 – – – – – 2 – – – – – – – 1 – 3 5 – – – – – – 1 1 1 2 1 – – – 11 18 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 18 – – – – 2 1 1 2 1 – 1 1 1 – 1 12 – – – – – – – – – – 1 2 – – – 3 3 – – – – – – – – – – – – 1 1 5 8 4 – – 1 – – – 1 1 1 1 1 – 1 19––––––––––––––11 14 7 – – 2 – 1 2 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 37 – – – – – – – – – – 1 – – – – 1 2 – – – – – – 1 1 1 1 1 – 1 – 8 – – – – 1 1 – – – – 1 – – – – 3Total Athletes 60 11 – – 10 6 4 8 8 7 11 10 8 5 148
The Total Athletes column indicates the number of athletes who have competed in each sport and is not intended to be a total of the athletes at each Olympic Games as some have participated in multiple Olympic Games. The Total Athletes row indicates the number of athletes who have competed at each Olympic Games.
Top finishes by sport Summer Olympics Name Games Sport Event Result Archery Men's individual Athletics (track & road event) Women's 1500 metres Athletics (field event) Women's shot put Boxing Men's – 48 kg Cycling Women's points race 1968 Team Football Men's football Judo Men's 71 kg Rowing Women's single sculls & Manuel Escobar Sailing Flying Dutchman Shooting Women's 25 metre pistol Swimming Women's 800 metre freestyle Tennis Men's singles Weightlifting Women's +75 kg Weightlifting Men's 62 kg Wrestling Women's freestyle 48 kg
Summer Olympic Games 1968 Mexico City
Though the International Olympic Committee recognized El Salvador's National Olympic Committee (Comité Olímpico de El Salvador) in 1938, the nation's first Olympic Games participation did not occur until the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, Mexico."El Salvador at the 1968 Ciudad de México Summer Games." Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved on 15 March 2014. The contingent of 60 athletes marked the largest in El Salvador's Olympic participation. Salvadorian athletes competed in seven sports (athletics, cycling, football, sailing, shooting, swimming, and weightlifting) but won no medals. Both the all-time youngest and oldest Olympic participants from El Salvador competed at these games. Swimmer Rubén Guerrero (13 years, 351 days) swam in five events: the Men's 400 meters Freestyle, 1,500 meters Freestyle, 4 × 100 meters Freestyle Relay, 100 meters Butterfly, and 200 meters Individual Medley."Rubén Guerrero." Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved on 15 March 2014. Roberto Soundy (68 years, 229 days) finished 54th in the Mixed Trap Shooting event."Roberto Soundy." Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved on 15 March 2014. Swimmer Salvador Vilanova was selected to carry his nation's flag during the opening ceremony."El Salvador." Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved on 15 March 2014.
1972 Munich
El Salvador's presence was much reduced when the nation sent only 11 athletes to the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, West Germany."El Salvador at the 1972 München Summer Games." Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved on 15 March 2014. These athletes competed in swimming and shooting events, marking the lowest number of contested sports in El Salvador's Olympic history. Swimmer Salvador Vilanova was once again selected to carry his nation's flag during the opening ceremony.
1984 Los Angeles
No athletes were sent to the 1976 Summer Olympics,1976 Summer Olympics Official Report from the Organizing Committee , vol. 1, p. 132. and El Salvador took part in the boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics.
El Salvador returned to Olympic competition by sending ten athletes to participate in the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California, United States."El Salvador at the 1984 Los Angeles Summer Games." Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved on 15 March 2014. El Salvador competed in athletics, judo, swimming, shooting, and wrestling. Long-distance runner Kriscia García was chosen to carry her nation's flag during the opening ceremony.
1988 Seoul
Six athletes were sent to compete at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea."El Salvador at the 1988 Seoul Summer Games." Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved on 15 March 2014. Salvadorian athletes competed in athletics, boxing, judo, and wrestling. Wrestler Gustavo Manzur was chosen to carry his nation's flag during the opening ceremony.
1992 Barcelona
El Salvador sent its smallest-ever contingent of athletes to the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain."El Salvador at the 1992 Barcelona Summer Games." Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved on 15 March 2014. Four athletes participated in athletics, judo, and swimming. Swimmer María José Marenco was selected to carry her nation's flag during the opening ceremony.
1996 Atlanta
Eight Salvadorian athletes competed in the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, United States."El Salvador at the 1996 Atlanta Summer Games." Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved on 15 March 2014. They competed in five events: athletics, judo, swimming, cycling, and weightlifting. Cyclist Maureen Kaila Vergara finished fifth, only six points off of the podium, in the first Women's Point Race to be contested at an Olympics. Judoka Juan Vargas was selected to carry his nation's flag during the opening ceremony.
2000 Sydney
El Salvador sent eight athletes to the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia."El Salvador at the 2000 Sydney Summer Games." Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved on 15 March 2014. They competed in seven sports: athletics, archery, cycling, judo, shooting, swimming, and weightlifting. Weightlifter Eva Dimas was chosen to carry her nation's flag during the opening ceremony.
2004 Athens
Seven athletes were sent to represent El Salvador at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece."El Salvador at the 2004 Athina Summer Games." Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved on 15 March 2014. The athletes participated in seven sports: athletics, archery, cycling, shooting, swimming, and weightlifting. Cyclist Evelyn García was chosen to carry her nation's flag during the opening ceremony.
2008 Beijing
El Salvador competed in more sports at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China, than at any other games in their history."El Salvador at the 2008 Beijing Summer Games." Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved on 15 March 2014. Eleven athletes competed in nine sports: athletics, cycling, judo, rowing, shooting, swimming, tennis, weightlifting, and wrestling. Pistol shooter Luisa Maida finished in eighth place in the Women's Sporting Pistol (25 meters), only 15.2 points away from medaling. Weightlifter Eva Dimas, who also carried the flag in 2000, was selected to carry her nation's flag during the opening ceremony.
2012 London
Ten Salvadorian athletes were sent to represent their nation at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, United Kingdom."El Salvador at the 2012 London Summer Games." Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved on 15 March 2014. The nation had representation in seven sports: athletics, rowing, swimming, cycling, judo, shooting, and weightlifting. Cyclist Evelyn García, who also carried the flag in 2004, was selected to carry her nation's flag during the opening ceremony.
See also List of Salvadorian Olympians List of flag bearers for El Salvador at the Olympics El Salvador at the Paralympics
References
External links