Singapore at the Olympics
The small yet highly developed South East Asian nation of Singapore first made its Summer Olympic Games in 1948 and has sent delegations to the quadrennial meet since then. Its entry to the Olympiad was made possible thanks to being a separate British Crown Colony from the Straits Settlements just before the Olympics started. In 1964 Singaporean athletes participated at the Games as part of the Federation of Malaysia.
When Singapore gained full independence from Malaysia in 1965, the nation participated as Singapore in every Games from then on, except in 1980 when it joined the US-led Olympic boycott.
Lady Luck smiled on Singapore in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Summer Olympic Games as it won its first-ever gold medal thanks to Joseph Schooling who reigned supreme in the men’s 100 meters butterfly event in the swimming competition. All in all, Singapore sent 25 athletes in the Games in saw action in seven sports.
The nation has captured one gold medal in 2016, one silver medal each in 1960 and 2008 and a couple of bronze medals in 2012.
Trivia
- Singapore's first Olympic medal was by weightlifter Tan Howe Liang, a silver medal in lightweight weightlifting in 1960.
- Singapore's first Olympic gold medal was won in 2016 by swimmer Joseph Schooling in the men's 100 meter butterfly, beating a trio of tied second place getters which included Michael Phelps.
Related Pages
- List of all countries that have participated at the Olympic Games.
- About Singapore at the Winter Olympics
- About Malaysia at the Olympics
- About sport in Singapore
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