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Athletes have competed as independent Olympians at the Olympic Games for various reasons, including political transition, international sanctions, suspensions of National Olympic Committees, and compassion. Independent athletes have come from North Macedonia, East Timor, South Sudan and Curaçao following geopolitical changes in the years before the Olympics, from the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (present-day Serbia and Montenegro) as a result of international sanctions, and from India and Kuwait due to the suspensions of their National Olympic Committees. Starting from 2018, athletes from Russia have competed under a neutral designation for various reasons, mainly mass violations of anti-doping rules and since 2022, the Belarus-assisted invasion of Ukraine.

Quick Facts Independent Olympians at the Olympics, IOC code ...
Independent Olympians at the
Olympics
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IOC codeIOP, IOA, OAR
Summer appearances
Independent Olympic Participants (1992)
Individual Olympic Athletes (2000)
Independent Olympic Athletes (2012)
Independent Olympic Athletes (2016)
ROC (2020)
Individual Neutral Athletes (2024)
Winter appearances
Independent Olympic Participants (2014)
Olympic Athletes from Russia (2018)
ROC (2022)
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Apart from Russian athletes who won more than hundred medals under a neutral designation, medals were won by independent Olympians at the 1992 and 2016 Olympics, both times in shooting. The naming and country code conventions for these independent Olympians have not been consistent. Independent Paralympians have participated at Paralympic Games for the same reasons as independent Olympians.

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Precursors

Prior to the 1906 Intercalated Games, entry was not restricted to teams nominated by National Olympic Committees (NOCs). Mixed-nationality teams competed in some team events. Participants in individual events are retrospectively credited to their nationality of the time.[citation needed]

The 1940 Winter Olympics was reassigned to Garmisch-Partenkirchen in spring 1939. In concert with German claims on Czechoslovakia, the organisers refused to recognise the Czechoslovakia NOC; however, they were prepared to allow its athletes to enter under the Olympic flag.[1] In any event, the Games were cancelled because of World War II.[1]

During the Cold War, some athletes who emigrated from Soviet Bloc countries were unable to compete at the Olympics, as their original state's NOC neither wanted them on its own team nor gave them permission to transfer nationality. Some applied to compete as individuals in 1952 and 1956 but were refused.[2]

When Guyana joined the 1976 Olympic boycott, its sprinter James Gilkes asked the IOC to be allowed to compete as an individual, but was refused.[3][4][5]

The IOC first made provisions for athletes to compete under the Olympic flag in time for the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow. Some NOCs, mostly from Western Europe, wished to attend the Games despite their governments' support for the American-led boycott in protest of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. The NOCs hesitated to use national symbols without government approval, so the IOC relaxed this requirement: 14 NOCs competed under the Olympic flag, while three, New Zealand, Spain and Portugal, competed under their respective NOCs' flag.[6][7][8]

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1992 Winter and Summer Olympics

Independent Olympic Participants

During the 1992 Summer Olympics, athletes from the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the Republic of Macedonia competed as Independent Olympic participants. Macedonian athletes could not appear under their own flag because their National Olympic Committee (NOC) had not yet been formed. The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) was under United Nations sanctions which prevented the country from taking part in the Olympics. However, individual Yugoslav athletes were allowed to take part as independent Olympic participants. 58 athletes competed as independent Olympic participants, winning three medals.

Unified Team

The former Soviet Union (except the Baltic states) competed under the Olympic flag at the 1992 Winter and Summer Olympics as the Unified Team.

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2000 Summer Olympics

At the 2000 Summer Olympics, four athletes from East Timor competed as Individual Olympic Athletes during the country's transition to independence.

2012 Summer Olympics

Four athletes competed as Independent Olympic Athletes at the 2012 Summer Olympics.

After the dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles and subsequent withdrawal of the country's National Olympic Committee, three athletes from the country who qualified for the Games were allowed to compete independently. Several others competed for either Aruba or the Netherlands.

The National Olympic Committee for South Sudan was not established between the formation of that state and the 2012 Olympic qualifying. One athlete from South Sudan, Guor Marial, qualified for the Games and was allowed to compete as an independent.

Athletes from Kuwait were originally allowed to compete as Independent Olympic Athletes as well, because their National Olympic Committee was suspended. However, the NOC was reinstated allowing the athletes to compete under their own flag. Kuwait competed under the Olympic flag at the 2010 Summer Youth Olympics and 2010 Asian Games.[9]

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2014 Winter Olympics

The Indian Olympic Association was suspended from the IOC in December 2012, due to problems with its electoral process.[10] New elections were scheduled for 9 February 2014, two days after the start of the 2014 Winter Olympics.[11] Therefore, the three Indian athletes who qualified for the Games were scheduled to compete as Independent Olympic Participants.[10]

On 8 and 9 February, Shiva Keshavan participated in the luge competition and received 38th place. He would end up being the only athlete to officially compete as an Independent Olympic Participant.

On 11 February 2014, the IOC reinstated the Indian Olympic Association after Narayana Ramachandran, the president of the World Squash Federation, was voted in as the new president of the Indian Olympic Association, allowing the two remaining athletes to compete under the Indian flag rather than as independent athletes. This was the first time such a reinstatement of a NOC occurred as the Olympic Games were underway.[12][13]

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2016 Summer Olympics

Kuwaiti athletes competed independently, as the Kuwait Olympic Committee was suspended by the International Olympic Committee due to governmental interference.[14][15][16] This was the second suspension in five years; the first suspension resulted in Kuwaiti athletes being forced to compete under the Olympic flag as Athletes from Kuwait at the 2010 Asian Games. Fehaid Al-Deehani became the first Independent Olympic Athlete to win a gold medal. Like with some gold medals of the Unified Team at the 1992 Winter and Summer Olympics, the Olympic Hymn was played in the victory ceremony.

Refugees were allowed to compete under the Olympic Flag (one of two delegations to compete under that flag, alongside Kuwaiti IOAs) at the 2016 Summer Olympics, under the label Refugee Olympic Team. Ten athletes from four countries competed for this team.[17]

Due to widespread state-controlled doping in Russia, the International Association of Athletics Federations suspended the All-Russia Athletic Federation in November 2015. As a result, no Russian athlete would be able to compete internationally, including the 2016 Olympics, until the suspension was lifted. The IAAF announced a path for athletes who train outside the Russian system and could prove themselves to be clean, as well as those who have helped in the fight against doping, to be eligible to compete as neutral athletes at the 2016 Olympics.[18] Two athletes, Darya Klishina and Yuliya Stepanova were initially cleared for competition, as Independent Athletes.[19]

Although Yulia Stepanova was cleared by IAAF because of her revelations regarding Russia's systemic doping program, and the IOC's recognition of her "contribution to the protection and promotion of clean athletes", she was banned by the IOC in line with the decision to ban all Russian athletes with previous doping convictions.[20] The IOC also rejected the suggestion that 'neutral' athletes could compete outside of national selection.[21] Klishina was subsequently confirmed as competing under Russian colours, the country's only competitor in athletics at the 2016 Olympics.[22]

More information Medal, Name ...
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2018 Winter Olympics

On 5 December 2017, the IOC announced that Russia would be banned from the 2018 Winter Olympics over its state-sponsored doping program. Russian athletes were allowed to participate under the Olympic flag as "Olympic Athletes from Russia" (OAR) if they were cleared by a panel, which was chaired by Valerie Fourneyron and had representatives from the IOC, the World Anti-Doping Agency, and the Doping Free Sport Unit of the Global Association of International Sports Federations.[23][24][25]

More information Medal, Name ...
Medal Name Nationality[a] Games Sport Events
 GoldAlina Zagitova Russia 2018 Pyeongchang Figure skating Ladies' singles
 GoldRussia men's national ice hockey team
Russia 2018 Pyeongchang Ice hockey Men's tournament
 Silver Russia 2018 Pyeongchang Figure skating Team event
 SilverNikita Tregubov Russia 2018 Pyeongchang Skeleton Men's
 Silver Russia 2018 Pyeongchang Cross-country skiing Men's 4 × 10 km relay
 Silver Russia 2018 Pyeongchang Cross-country skiing Men's team sprint
 SilverEvgenia Medvedeva Russia 2018 Pyeongchang Figure skating Ladies' singles
 SilverAleksandr Bolshunov Russia 2018 Pyeongchang Cross-country skiing Men's 50 km classical
 BronzeSemion Elistratov Russia 2018 Pyeongchang Short track speed skating Men's 1500 metres
 BronzeYulia Belorukova Russia 2018 Pyeongchang Cross-country skiing Women's sprint
 BronzeAleksandr Bolshunov Russia 2018 Pyeongchang Cross-country skiing Men's sprint
 BronzeDenis Spitsov Russia 2018 Pyeongchang Cross-country skiing Men's 15 km freestyle
 BronzeNatalya Voronina Russia 2018 Pyeongchang Speed skating Women's 5000 m
 Bronze Russia 2018 Pyeongchang Cross-country skiing Women's 4 × 5 km relay
 BronzeIlya Burov Russia 2018 Pyeongchang Freestyle skiing Men's aerials
 BronzeSergey Ridzik Russia 2018 Pyeongchang Freestyle skiing Men's ski cross
 BronzeAndrey Larkov Russia 2018 Pyeongchang Cross-country skiing Men's 50 km classical
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2020 Summer Olympics

The IOC Refugee Olympic Team competed at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, as independent Olympic participants.[26] Twenty-nine athletes from 12 sports and 18 countries competed for this team. The IOC code was changed to the French acronym "EOR" which stands for Équipe olympique des réfugiés.[26]

Following a decision by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), it was announced that Russia would compete under the acronym "ROC", after the name of the Russian Olympic Committee. In the aftermatch, the IOC announced that the Russian national flag would be substituted by the flag of the Russian Olympic Committee. It would also be allowed to use team uniforms featuring the Russian national colours, the logo of the Russian Olympic Committee and bearing the acronym "ROC".[27][28]

More information Medal, Name ...
Medal Name Sport Event Date
 GoldVitalina BatsarashkinaShootingWomen's 10 m air pistol25 July
 GoldSofia PozdniakovaFencingWomen's sabre26 July
 GoldDenis Ablyazin
David Belyavskiy
Artur Dalaloyan
Nikita Nagornyy
GymnasticsMen's artistic team all-around26 July
 GoldMaksim KhramtsovTaekwondoMen's 80 kg26 July
 GoldEvgeny RylovSwimmingMen's 100 m backstroke27 July
 GoldLilia Akhaimova
Viktoria Listunova
Angelina Melnikova
Vladislava Urazova
GymnasticsWomen's artistic team all-around27 July
 GoldVladislav LarinTaekwondoMen's +80 kg27 July
 GoldInna Deriglazova
Larisa Korobeynikova
Marta Martyanova
Adelina Zagidullina
FencingWomen's team foil29 July
 GoldEvgeny RylovSwimmingMen's 200 m backstroke30 July
 GoldVitalina BatsarashkinaShootingWomen's 25 m pistol30 July
 GoldOlga Nikitina
Sofia Pozdniakova
Sofya Velikaya
FencingWomen's team sabre31 July
 GoldAndrey Rublev
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
TennisMixed doubles1 August
 GoldMusa EvloevWrestlingMen's Greco-Roman 97 kg3 August
 GoldSvetlana Kolesnichenko
Svetlana Romashina
Artistic swimmingWomen's duet4 August
 GoldAlbert BatyrgazievBoxingMen's featherweight5 August
 GoldZaur UguevWrestlingMen's freestyle 57 kg5 August
 GoldZaurbek SidakovWrestlingMen's freestyle 74 kg6 August
 GoldVlada Chigireva
Marina Goliadkina
Svetlana Kolesnichenko
Polina Komar
Alexandra Patskevich
Svetlana Romashina
Alla Shishkina
Maria Shurochkina
Artistic swimmingWomen's team7 August
 GoldAbdulrashid SadulaevWrestlingMen's freestyle 97 kg7 August
 GoldMariya LasitskeneAthleticsWomen's high jump7 August
 SilverAnastasiia GalashinaShootingWomen's 10 m air rifle24 July
 SilverSvetlana Gomboeva
Elena Osipova
Ksenia Perova
ArcheryWomen's team25 July
 SilverInna DeriglazovaFencingWomen's foil25 July
 SilverTatiana MininaTaekwondoWomen's 57 kg25 July
 SilverSofya VelikayaFencingWomen's sabre26 July
 SilverKliment KolesnikovSwimmingMen's 100 m backstroke27 July
 SilverVitalina Batsarashkina
Artem Chernousov
ShootingMixed 10 m air pistol team27 July
 SilverMikhail Dovgalyuk
Ivan Girev
Aleksandr Krasnykh[a]
Martin Malyutin
Evgeny Rylov
Mikhail Vekovishchev[a]
SwimmingMen's 4 × 200 m freestyle relay28 July
 SilverEvgeniia Frolkina
Olga Frolkina
Yulia Kozik
Anastasia Logunova
BasketballWomen's 3x3 tournament28 July
 SilverIlia Karpenkov
Kirill Pisklov
Stanislav Sharov
Alexander Zuev
BasketballMen's 3x3 tournament28 July
 SilverVasilisa Stepanova
Elena Oriabinskaia
RowingWomen's coxless pair29 July
 SilverHanna PrakatsenRowingWomen's single sculls30 July
 SilverElena OsipovaArcheryWomen's individual30 July
 SilverSergey Bida
Nikita Glazkov
Sergey Khodos
Pavel Sukhov
FencingMen's team épée30 July
 SilverYulia ZykovaShootingWomen's 50 m rifle three positions31 July
 SilverKaren KhachanovTennisMen's singles1 August
 SilverAnastasia IliankovaGymnasticsWomen's uneven bars1 August
 SilverAnton Borodachev
Kirill Borodachev
Vladislav Mylnikov
Timur Safin
FencingMen's team foil1 August
 SilverAslan Karatsev
Elena Vesnina
TennisMixed doubles1 August
 SilverSergey KamenskiyShootingMen's 50 m rifle three positions2 August
 SilverDenis AblyazinGymnasticsMen's vault2 August
 SilverAnzhelika SidorovaAthleticsWomen's pole vault5 August
 SilverMuslim GadzhimagomedovBoxingMen's heavyweight6 August
 SilverViacheslav Krasilnikov
Oleg Stoyanovskiy
VolleyballMen's beach7 August
 SilverDina AverinaGymnasticsWomen's rhythmic individual all-around7 August
 SilverRussia men's national volleyball team
VolleyballMen's tournament7 August
 SilverAnastasia Bliznyuk
Anastasia Maksimova
Angelina Shkatova
Anastasia Tatareva
Alisa Tishchenko
GymnasticsWomen's rhythmic group all-around8 August
 SilverRussia women's national handball team
HandballWomen's tournament8 August
 BronzeMikhail ArtamonovTaekwondoMen's 58 kg24 July
 BronzeLarisa KorobeynikovaFencingWomen's foil25 July
 BronzeAleksandr Bondar
Viktor Minibaev
DivingMen's synchronized 10 m platform26 July
 BronzeYulia Karimova
Sergey Kamenskiy
ShootingMixed 10 m air rifle team27 July
 BronzeMadina TaimazovaJudoWomen's 70 kg28 July
 BronzeNikita NagornyyGymnasticsMen's artistic individual all-around28 July
 BronzeKliment KolesnikovSwimmingMen's 100 m freestyle29 July
 BronzeNiyaz IlyasovJudoMen's 100 kg29 July
 BronzeAngelina MelnikovaGymnasticsWomen's artistic individual all-around29 July
 BronzeTamerlan BashaevJudoMen's +100 kg30 July
 BronzeYulia KarimovaShootingWomen's 50 m rifle three positions31 July
 BronzeImam KhataevBoxingMen's light heavyweight1 August
 BronzeAndrey ZamkovoyBoxingMen's welterweight1 August
 BronzeDaria Shmeleva
Anastasia Voynova
CyclingWomen's team sprint2 August
 BronzeAngelina MelnikovaGymnasticsWomen's floor2 August
 BronzeSergey EmelinWrestlingMen's Greco-Roman 60 kg2 August
 BronzeSergey SemenovWrestlingMen's Greco-Roman 130 kg2 August
 BronzeNikita NagornyyGymnasticsMen's horizontal bar3 August
 BronzeGleb BakshiBoxingMen's middleweight5 August
 BronzeArtur NaifonovWrestlingMen's freestyle 86 kg5 August
 BronzeZemfira MagomedalievaBoxingWomen's middleweight6 August
 BronzeGulnaz Khatuntseva
Maria Novolodskaya
CyclingWomen's madison6 August
 BronzeGadzhimurad RashidovWrestlingMen's freestyle 65 kg7 August
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2022 Winter Olympics

Similarly to the 2020 Summer Olympics, Russia competed in the 2022 Beijing Games under the "ROC" acronym due to WADA's sanctions.[27]

More information Medal, Name ...
Medal Name Sport Event Date
 GoldAlexander BolshunovCross-country skiingMen's 30 km skiathlon6 February
 GoldNatalya Nepryayeva
Tatiana Sorina
Veronika Stepanova
Yuliya Stupak
Cross-country skiingWomen's 4 × 5 km relay12 February
 GoldAlexander Bolshunov
Aleksey Chervotkin
Denis Spitsov
Sergey Ustiugov
Cross-country skiingMen's 4 × 10 km relay13 February
 GoldAnna ShcherbakovaFigure skatingWomen's singles17 February
 GoldAlexander BolshunovCross-country skiingMen's 50 kilometre freestyle19 February
 SilverNatalya NepryayevaCross-country skiingWomen's 15 km skiathlon5 February
 SilverDenis SpitsovCross-country skiingMen's 30 km skiathlon6 February
 SilverIrina Avvakumova
Evgenii Klimov
Irma Makhinia
Danil Sadreev
Ski jumpingMixed team7 February
 SilverAlexander BolshunovCross-country skiingMen's 15 km classical11 February
 SilverKonstantin IvlievShort track speed skatingMen's 500 metres13 February
 SilverNikita Katsalapov
Victoria Sinitsina
Figure skatingIce dance14 February
 SilverDaniil Aldoshkin
Sergey Trofimov
Ruslan Zakharov
Speed skatingMen's team pursuit15 February
 SilverIrina Kazakevich
Svetlana Mironova
Uliana Nigmatullina
Kristina Reztsova
BiathlonWomen's relay16 February
 SilverAlexandra TrusovaFigure skatingWomen's singles17 February
 SilverIvan YakimushkinCross-country skiingMen's 50 kilometre freestyle19 February
 SilverVladimir Morozov
Evgenia Tarasova
Figure skatingPair skating19 February
 SilverRussia men's national ice hockey team
Ice hockeyMen's tournament20 February
 BronzeUliana Nigmatullina
Kristina Reztsova
Alexander Loginov
Eduard Latypov
BiathlonMixed relay5 February
 BronzeAnastasia SmirnovaFreestyle skiingWomen's moguls6 February
 Bronze[29]Aleksandr Galliamov
Nikita Katsalapov
Mark Kondratiuk
Anastasia Mishina
Victoria Sinitsina
Kamila Valieva (DSQ)
Figure skatingTeam event7 February
 BronzeVic WildSnowboardingMen's parallel giant slalom8 February
 BronzeAlexander TerentyevCross-country skiingMen's sprint8 February
 BronzeTatiana IvanovaLugeWomen's singles8 February
 BronzeSemion ElistratovShort track speed skatingMen's 1500 metres9 February
 BronzeEduard LatypovBiathlonMen's pursuit13 February
 BronzeAngelina GolikovaSpeed skatingWomen's 500 metres13 February
 BronzeSaid Karimulla Khalili
Eduard Latypov
Alexander Loginov
Maxim Tsvetkov
BiathlonMen's relay15 February
 BronzeNatalya Nepryayeva
Yuliya Stupak
Cross-country skiingWomen's team sprint16 February
 BronzeAlexander Bolshunov
Alexander Terentyev
Cross-country skiingMen's team sprint16 February
 BronzeIlya BurovFreestyle skiingMen's aerials16 February
 BronzeSergey RidzikFreestyle skiingMen's ski cross18 February
 BronzeAleksandr Galliamov
Anastasia Mishina
Figure skatingPair skating19 February
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2024 Summer Olympics

More information Medal, Name ...
Medal Name Country Sport Event Date
 Gold Ivan Litvinovich Belarus Gymnastics Men's trampoline 2 August
 Silver Viyaleta Bardzilouskaya Belarus Gymnastics Women's trampoline 2 August
 Silver Yauheni Zalaty Belarus Rowing Men's single sculls 3 August
 Silver Mirra Andreeva
Diana Shnaider
Russia Tennis Women's doubles 4 August
 Bronze Yauheni Tsikhantsou Belarus Weightlifting Men's – 102 kg 10 August
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2026 Winter Olympics

In December 2024, the International Skating Union announced that athletes from Belarus and Russia would be allowed to participate in events at the 2026 Winter Olympics; if qualified, they would compete under the Individual Neutral Athlete banner, as was done at the 2024 Summer Olympics.[30]

See also

Footnotes

  1. The athlete's nationality is listed at the time of the competition.

    References

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