A number of deaf people have competed in the modern Olympic Games, with the earliest known being Oskar Wetzell, a Finnish diver who competed in the 1908 Olympics in London. There is also a specific event for the deaf, the Deaflympics, organized by the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf. This is also held every four years.
In some cases, adaptations have been made to accommodate deaf athletes. Summer games
Athletes The table below shows Deaf athletes known to have competed in the Olympics. All either competed at the Deaflympics, or would have qualified to do so. To qualify for the Deaflympics, "athletes must have a hearing loss of at least 55db in their 'better ear'. Hearing aids, cochlear implants and the like are not allowed to be used in competition, to place all athletes on the same level"Historical overview of the Paralympics, Special Olympics, and Deaflympics . Thefreelibrary.com. Retrieved on 17 October 2011. In the Olympics, there is no restriction on hearing loss or use of hearing aids.
Person (Nation)Deaflympic GamesOlympic GamesGamesSportMedalGamesSportMedalRef 1908 London1912 StockholmDiving 1928 AmsterdamBoxing 1928 AmsterdamRowing 1961 Helsinki1965 Washington DC1969 BelgradeWrestling
1952 Helsinki1956 MelbourneWrestling 1960 Rome1964 Tokyo1968 Mexico City1972 Munich1976 MontrealFencing
1961 Helsinki1969 Belgrade1977 BucharestAthletics
1964 Tokyo1968 Mexico City1972 MunichAthletics 1969 Belgrade1973 Malmö1977 Bucharest1981 KölnAthletics
1968 Mexico CityAthletics 1977 BucharestSwimming
1984 Los AngelesSwimming 1985 Los Angeles1989 Christchurch1993 Sofia2005 MelbourneAthletics
1992 BarcelonaAthletics 1997 Copenhagen2001 Rome2005 Melbourne2009 Taipei2013 SofiaSwimmingCycling
2000 Sydney2004 AthensSwimming 2004 AthensFencing 1997 Copenhagen2001 Rome2005 Melbourne2009 Taipei Wrestling
2004 AthensWrestling 2004 AthensDiving 2004 Athens2008 Beijing2012 London2016 RioBasketball 2008 Beijing2012 LondonDiving 2012 London2016 Rio2020 Tokyo2024 ParisVolleyball 2009 Taipei2013 Sofia2017 SamsunAthletics 2018 Pyeongchang2022 BeijingBobsleigh 2017 Samsun2021 Caxias do Sul2025 Tokyo Golf 2020 TokyoGolf
Opening ceremony Person (Nation)GamesRoleReferences KAOS Choir (GBR)2012 LondonPerformed British National anthemEvelyn Glennie (GBR)2012 LondonLead percussionist Mike Hawthorne (GBR)2012 LondonDancer
See also Deaf people in sports
References