Haiti at the Olympics
Haiti's National Olympic Committee, the Comité Olympique Haïtien (HAI), was first created in 1914 and was only recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) a decade later (1924). The Haitian nation was first represented in the Summer Olympics when fencers André Corvington and Léon Thiércelin competed in Paris, France. From that point on, they had to wait for the Comité Olympique Haïtien to be internationally recognized before they participated again.
Before an official team from Haiti was sent to the Olympics in 1924, the French rugby team in 1900 included Haiti born Constantin Henriquez, who became the first black athlete to compete at the Olympics, and also the first black athlete to win a gold medal. Also, two fencers of Haitian nationality competed at the 1900 Summer Olympics.
In 1924, Haiti sent eleven athletes as well as two officials to Paris, France. The men's shooting team (Astrel Rolland, Destin Destine, Eloi Metullus, Ludovic Augustin, and Ludovic Valborge) made Haitian history when they became the first athletes representing Haiti to ever win an Olympic medal. They won the bronze for the men's team free rifle in June 27, 1924.
The very next Olympiad, Haiti again won the silver when Sylvio Cator took the second place in men's long jump in 1928 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Since then, Haiti is yet to win another Olympic medal.
Haiti set their first-ever contingent to the Winter Olympics in Beijing 2022.
Trivia
- During the opening ceremony of the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games, athletes from Liechtenstein were shocked to discover that their flag was identical to the flag of Haiti. After the games, a yellow crown was added to the flag of Liechtenstein.
- The first Haitian Olympic medal was in 1924, when the Haiti's shooting team took third place in the free rifle competition.
- Haiti athlete Sylvio Cator won the silver in the 1928 Amsterdam Olympic Games for long jump.
Related Pages
- Haiti at the Winter Olympics
- List of all countries that have participated at the Olympic Games.
- About sport in Haiti
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