Норвегия / Norway

Norway were first represented by a team of seven at the Paris 1900 Olympic Games. Norway's first medallist was Carl Albert ANDERSEN, who took bronze in the men's pole vault.

He also claimed a silver in gymnastics in the team event at the London 1908 Games, where Ole OSTMO took four medals in rifle shooting, starting a tradition of Norwegian success on the shooting range.

At the same Games, Albert HELGERUD won gold in the three position rifle shooting individual and team.

Otto OLSEN remains their most successful summer Olympian. He won four gold medals in a career that spanned the 1920 Games in Antwerp and 1924 in Paris.

Norwegians have also been successful in water sports. In sailing, Thor THORVALDSON, Sigve LIE and Hakon BARFOD won sailing gold in the dragon class in 1948 and 1952.

Peter LANDE JR and Bjorn BERGVALL took gold in the flying Dutchman in 1960.

In rowing, brothers Frank and Alf HANSEN won the double sculls at the 1976 Games.

At the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, Olaf TUFTE retained his single sculls title. He is Norway's most successful Olympic rower and also boasts a silver in double sculls.

Canoeing has also been a successful sport for Norway. The Canadian four won gold over 1000m in Mexico City in 1968. Knut HOLMANN won gold in the men's kayak singles over 1000m in 1996 and retained his title in 2000.

He added gold in the 500m. He competed in five consecutive Olympic Games and also claimed two silver medals and a bronze.

Kayaker Eirik VERAS LARSEN completed his set of Olympic medals in Beijing. He already had a gold and a bronze from the Athens 2004 Olympic Games.

In football, Norway won the gold medal in women's football at Sydney 2000.

In athletics, Andreas THORKILDSEN won back-to-back gold medals in men's javelin in 2004 and 2008.

Trine SOLBERG-HATTESTAD won the women's javelin in 2000. Norway's most success has come at the Winter Olympic Games. Oslo hosted these Games in 1952 and the Lillehammer 1994 Games received universal praise.