Independent Olympic Athletes at the 2012 Summer Olympics

Four independent Olympic Athletes competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, the United Kingdom.^[1] These were athletes from the former Netherlands Antilles, and from the newly formed state of South Sudan. This was the third time that athletes had competed as independent participants in the Olympics.^[2][3] None of the athletes won an Olympic medal.

Independent Olympic Athletes at the 2012 Summer Olympics
Olympic Flag
IOC code	IOA
in London
Competitors	4 in 3 sports
Flag bearer	Brooklyn Kerlin
Summer Olympics appearances (overview)
1992 1996 2000 2004–2008 2012 2016 2020 2024
Other related appearances
Netherlands Antilles (1952–2008)  Aruba (1988–)  Netherlands (1900–)  Sudan (1960–)  South Sudan (2016–)

Background

Netherlands Antilles

The Netherlands Antilles Olympic Committee, which had planned to continue functioning after the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles in October 2010, had its membership withdrawn by the IOC Executive Committee at the IOC session of July 2011. However, athletes from the former Netherlands Antilles who qualified for the 2012 Olympics were allowed to participate independently under the Olympic flag, in addition to the possibility of competing for the Netherlands (as for example Churandy Martina did) or Aruba (because they have Dutch nationality).^[4] Ultimately, three athletes from the Netherlands Antilles participated as independent Olympic athletes.

South Sudan

South Sudan gained its independence from Sudan in July 2011. As of the 2012 Summer Olympics, it had not formed a National Olympic Committee.^[5] Athletes from this nation were therefore unable to enter with a National Olympic Committee (NOC). Guor Marial qualified for the men's marathon and competed as an independent Olympian.^[6][7]

Opening ceremony

Brooklyn Kerlin was the flag bearer of the athletes during the opening ceremony. She was chosen by her peers to represent the "makers of the Olympics".^[8] Hannah Bailes, a London 2012 Ceremonies Cast Member, who was also a volunteer, was selected to carry the Independent Olympic Athletes placard.

Sports

Athletics

Main article: Athletics at the 2012 Summer Olympics

Key

• Note–Ranks given for track events are within the athlete's heat only
• Q = Qualified for the next round
• N/A = Round not applicable for the event

Men

Athlete	From	Event	Heat		Semifinal		Final
			Result	Rank	Result	Rank	Result	Rank
Liemarvin Bonevacia	Curaçao	400 m	45.60	3 Q	1:36.42	8	Did not advance
Guor Marial	South Sudan	Marathon	—				2:19:32	47

Judo

Main article: Judo at the 2012 Summer Olympics

Athlete	From	Event	Round of 64	Round of 32	Round of 16	Quarterfinals	Semifinals	Repechage	Final / BM
			Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Rank
Reginald de Windt[9]	Curaçao	Men's −81 kg	Bye	Nifontov (RUS) L 0004–1000	Did not advance

Sailing

Main article: Sailing at the 2012 Summer Olympics

Women

Athlete	From	Event	Race											Net points	Final rank
			1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	M*
Philipine van Aanholt	Curaçao	Laser Radial	36	38	38	29	33	37	16	27	42	37	EL	291	36

M = Medal race; EL = Eliminated – did not advance into the medal race;

See also

• Independent Olympic Participants at the 1992 Summer Olympics
• Individual Olympic Athletes at the 2000 Summer Olympics
• Refugee Olympic Team at the 2016 Summer Olympics

References

1. "Independent Olympic Athletes". London2012.com. London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Archived from the original on 2013-02-28.
2. "Independent Olympic Athletes: Olympians Without A Country". FreakyPhenomena.com. Archived from the original on 8 August 2012. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
3. "Independent Independent / Individual Olympic Participants". TopEndSports.com. Archived from the original on 2012-05-04. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
4. "Curtain comes down on 123rd IOC Session". Olympic.org. International Olympic Committee. Archived from the original on 2012-08-15. Retrieved 11 July 2011.
5. "Shaheen Urges IOC to Allow New Hampshire Runner and Sudan Refugee to Compete in Olympics As an Independent Athlete". Shaheen.Senate.gov. Office of Senator Jeanne Shaheen. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 14 February 2014. However, South Sudan is only a year old and has yet to form a National Olympic Committee of its own.
6. "Runner without country to compete at Olympics". ESPN.go.com. Associated Press. Retrieved 21 July 2012.
7. "Passport-less athlete approved to compete". Olympic.org. International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 21 July 2012.
8. "Richmond upon Thames College alumnus flag bearer for Independent Olympic Athletes in the Opening Ceremony". Podium.ac.uk. 29 July 2012. Archived from the original on 1 August 2012. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
9. "Qualification summary" (PDF). IntJudo.eu. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-06-19.