Нидерланды / Netherlands

The Netherlands first competed in the Paris 1900 Olympic Games when they sent a team of 30. The first gold medal came in rowing's coxed pairs.

The first Dutch women to strike gold were their gymnastics team at the Amsterdam 1928 Olympic Games.

The last time the Olympic Games were held in London, in 1948, Fanny BLANKERS-KOEN won four gold medals and was the undoubted star of the Games. Her victories came in 100m, 200m, 80m hurdles and 4x100m relay.

The late Anton GEESINK won the open class judo at the Tokyo 1964 Olympic Games. He was a member of the International Olympic Committee from 1987 until his death in 2010.

Swimmer Inge de BRUIN won three gold medals at the Sydney 2000 Games and retained her 50m freestyle title at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games. She also claimed two silver and two bronze medals.

Cycling is a popular participation sport in the Netherlands. The most successful Dutch performer is Leontine ZIJLAARD-van MOORSEL, who won excelled on the road and track. She won three gold medals in 2000 and added another one in Athens in 2004.

Marianne VOS won the women's points race in 2008 Rider Anky van GRUNSVEN's gold in Beijing was her third successive gold medal in dressage. She also has five silver medals and has competed in six successive Olympic Games from 1988 to 2008.

The most successful Dutch team sport has been hockey. The men won gold in 1996 and 2000, while the women's team finally won gold in Beijing in 2008 after taking bronze in 1996 and 2000, and the silver in 2004.

The women's water polo team also won gold in Beijing.