Great Britain, represented by the British Olympic Association (BOA), competed at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, United States. British athletes have competed in every single Summer Olympic Games. 300 competitors, 184 men and 116 women, took part in 175 events in 22 sports. The Atlanta games saw Great Britain's worst performance at a Summer Olympics since 1952, finishing in 36th position with a single gold medal, and 15 medals overall.
The "rock bottom" British performance at the Atlanta Olympics led to a period of soul searching about the state of British sport. Insufficient funding was identified as a major factor in the poor performance, and this led to a wholesale reform of how elite sports were funded, organised and supported in the UK: At the instigation of the then Prime Minister John Major, UK Sport was created the following year, a public body which distributes National Lottery funding for elite sports. Previously, due to a lack of funding, cyclist Chris Boardman had acclimatised to the humidity of Atlanta by practicing in his home bathroom with the shower turned on, and divers Bob Morgan and Tony Ally sold their Olympic kits while in Atlanta in order to raise funds. Leon Taylor, who would win a silver medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics, suggested the public humiliation for the British Olympic Association from the newspaper stories about Morgan & Ally's actions obligated them to bring in better athlete funding. Nevertheless, the single gold medal won by rowers Matthew Pinsent and Steve Redgrave ensured that Great Britain maintained its record of winning at least one gold medal at every Summer Olympics.
Medallists
Gold
Silver
- Ben Ainslie â Sailing, Men's Open Laser Class
- Steve Backley â Athletics, Men's javelin throw
- Roger Black â Athletics, Men's 400 m
- Jonathan Edwards â Athletics, Men's triple jump
- Paul Palmer â Swimming, Men's 400 m Freestyle
- Jamie Baulch, Roger Black, Mark Richardson, Iwan Thomas, Mark Hylton (heats) and Du'aine Ladejo (heats) â Athletics, Men's 4 à400 m Relay
- John Merricks and Ian Walker â Sailing, Men's 470 Class
- Neil Broad and Tim Henman â Tennis, Men's Doubles
Bronze
Medals by day
Archery
Athletics
Men's 100 metres
- Linford Christie
- Heat - 10.26
- Quarter-final - 10.03
- Semi-final - 10.04
- Final - DSQ
- Ian Mackie
- Heat - 10.27
- Quarter-final - 10.25
- Semi-final - DNS
Men's 200 metres
- John Regis
- Heat - 20.78
- Quarter-final - 20.56
- Semi-final - 20.58 (â did not advance)
Men's 400 metres
- Roger Black
- Heat - 45.28
- Quarter-final - 44.72
- Semi-final - 44.69
- Final - 44.41 (â Silver Medal)
- Iwan Thomas
- Heat - 45.22
- Quarter-final - 45.04
- Semi-final - 45.01
- Final - 44.70 (â 5th Place)
- Du'aine Ladejo
- Heat - 46.27
- Quarter-final - 45.62 (â did not advance)
Men's 800 metres
- Curtis Robb
- Heat - 1:45.85
- Semi-Final - 1:47.48 (â did not advance)
- Craig Winrow
- Heat - 1:47.41
- Semi-Final - 1:48.57 (â did not advance)
Men's 1500 metres
- John Mayock
- Heat - 3:42.31
- Semi-final - 3:34.55
- Final - 3:40.18 (â 11th Place)
- Kevin McKay
- Heat - 3:38.02
- Semi-final - 3:43.61 (â did not advance)
Men's 5,000 metres
- John Nuttall
- Qualification â 13:52.16
- Semi-final â 14:08.39 (â did not advance)
Men's 10,000 metres
- Paul Evans
- Qualification â 28:24.39
- Final - DNF
- Jon Brown
- Qualification â 28:19.85
- Final - 27:59.72 (â 10th place)
Men's Marathon
Men's 110m Hurdles
- Colin Jackson
- Heat - 13.36
- Quarter-final - 13.33
- Semi-final - 13.17
- Final - 13.19 (â 4th Place)
- Andy Tulloch
- Heat - 13.56
- Quarter-final - 13.68 (â did not advance)
Men's 400m Hurdles
- Jon Ridgeon
- Heat â 49.31
- Semi-final â 49.43 (â did not advance)
- Gary Jennings
- Heat â 50.41 (â did not advance)
- Peter Crampton
- Heat â 49.78 (â did not advance)
Men's 3,000 metres Steeplechase
- Keith Cullen
- Heat â 8:31.26
- Semi-finals â 8:46.74 (â did not advance)
- Justin Chaston
- Heat â 8:28.32
- Semi-finals â 8:28.50 (â did not advance)
- Spencer Duval
- Heat â 8:46.76 (â did not advance)
Men's 50 km Walk
Men's 4 ÃÂ 100m Relay
Men's 4 ÃÂ 400m Relay
Men's High Jump
- Steve Smith
- Qualification - 2.28
- Final - 2.35 (â Bronze Medal)
Men's Pole Vault
- Neil Winter
- Qualification - 5.40 (â did not advance)
Men's Triple Jump
Men's Shot Put
Men's Discus Throw
- Bob Weir
- Qualification â 61.64 m (â did not advance)
- Glen Smith
- Qualification â 54.88 m (â did not advance)
Men's Hammer Throw
- David Smith
- Qualification â 69.32 m (â did not advance)
Men's Javelin Throw
- Steve Backley
- Qualification - 84.14
- Final â 87.44 (â Silver Medal)
- Mick Hill
- Qualification - 80.48
- Final â 78.58 (â 12th Place)
Men's Decathlon
Women's 100 metres
- Stephi Douglas
- Heat - 11.61
- Quarter-final - 11.75 (â did not advance)
- Simmone Jacobs
- Heat - 11.39
- Quarter-final - 11.47 (â did not advance)
Women's 200 metres
- Katharine Merry
- Heat - 23.14
- Quarter-final - 23.17 (â did not advance)
- Simmone Jacobs
- Heat - 23.36
- Quarter-final - 22.96 (â did not advance)
Women's 400 metres
- Donna Fraser
- Heat - 52.78
- Quarter-final - 51.58 (â did not advance)
- Phylis Smith
- Heat - 51.29
- Quarter-final - 52.16 (â did not advance)
Women's 800 metres
- Kelly Holmes
- Heat - 1:58.80
- Semi-final - 1:58.49
- Final - 1:58.81 (â 4th Place)
Women's 1500 metres
- Kelly Holmes
- Heat - 4:07.36
- Semi-final - 4:05.88
- Final - 4:07.46 (â 11th Place)
Women's 5,000 metres
Women's Marathon
Women's 110 m Hurdles
- Angela Thorp
- Heat - 12.93
- Quarter-final - 12.99
- Semi-final - 12.80 (â did not advance)
Women's 400 m Hurdles
- Sally Gunnell
- Qualification â 55.29
- Semi-finals â DNF (â did not advance)
Women's 10km Walk
Women's 4ÃÂ100 metres Relay
<br />Women's 4ÃÂ400 metres Relay
Women's Long Jump
- Denise Lewis
- Qualification â 6.33 m (â did not advance)
Women's Triple Jump
- Ashia Hansen
- Qualification â 14.55 m
- Final â 14.49 m (â 5th place)
- Michelle Griffith
- Qualification â 13.70 m (â did not advance)
Women's High Jump
- Lea Haggett
- Qualification â 1.90 m (â did not advance)
- Debbie Marti
- Qualification â 1.85 m (â did not advance)
Women's Shot Put
- Judy Oakes
- Qualification â 18.56 m
- Final â 18.34 m (â 11th place)
Women's Discus Throw
Women's Javelin Throw
Women's Heptathlon
- Denise Lewis
- Final result â 6489 points (â Bronze Medal)
Badminton
Beach volleyball
Boxing
Canoeing
Cycling
Road competition
Men's Individual Time Trial
* Final â 1:04:36 (â Bronze Medal)
Women's Individual Road Race
* Final â 02:37:06 (â 11th place)
* Final â 02:37:06 (â 19th place)
* Final â 02:53:47 (â 43rd place)
Women's Individual Time Trial
* Final â 39:09 (â 14th place)
* Final â 41:16 (â 21st place)
Track competition
Men's Team Pursuit
Mountain Bike
Men's Cross Country
* Final â 2:29:10 (â 12th place)
* Final â 2:32:30 (â 15th place)
Women's Cross Country
* Final â 2:04.44 (â 22nd place)
Diving
Men's 3m Springboard
* Preliminary heat â 345.33
* Semi-final â 203.46 (â did not advance, 18th place)
* Preliminary heat â 318.69 (â did not advance, 24th place)
Women's 10m Platform
* Preliminary heat â 251.73
* Semi-final â 158.43
* Final â 259.68 (â 9th place)
Equestrian
Fencing
Two fencers, one man and one woman, represented Great Britain in 1996.
Men's sabre
Women's foil
Gymnastics
Hockey
Men's team competition
- Preliminary round (group B)
* Great Britain â South Korea 2âÂÂ2
* Great Britain â Netherlands 2âÂÂ2
* Great Britain â Malaysia 2âÂÂ2
* Great Britain â South Africa 2âÂÂ0
* Great Britain â Australia 0âÂÂ2
* 5thâÂÂ8th place: Great Britain â Pakistan 1âÂÂ2
* 7thâÂÂ8th place: Great Britain â India 4âÂÂ3 (â Seventh place)
* Simon Mason (gk)
* Julian Halls
* Jon Wyatt
* Soma Singh
* Jason Laslett (c)
* Kalbir Takher
* Jason Lee
* Phil McGuire
* John Shaw
* Russell Garcia
* Nick Thompson
* David Luckes (gk)
* Simon Hazlitt
* Chris Mayer
* Calum Giles
* Daniel Hall
Women's Team Competition
* Great Britain â South Korea 0âÂÂ5
* Great Britain â Netherlands 1âÂÂ1
* Great Britain â United States 1âÂÂ0
* Great Britain â Spain 2âÂÂ2
* Great Britain â Australia 0âÂÂ1
* Great Britain â Germany 3âÂÂ2
* Great Britain â Argentina 5âÂÂ0
* Great Britain â Netherlands 0âÂÂ0 (The Netherlands wins after penalty strokes, 3âÂÂ4) â Fourth place
* Jill Atkins
* Anna Bennett
* Karen Brown
* Chris Cook
* Tina Cullen
* Mandy Davies
* Susan Fraser
* Kathryn Johnson
* Tammy Miller
* Joanne Mould
* Mandy Nicholls
* Pauline Robertson
* Hilary Rose (gk)
* Rhona Simpson
* Jane Sixsmith
* Joanne Thompson (gk)
Judo
Modern pentathlon
Men's Individual Competition:
Rowing
Men
Women
Sailing
Shooting
Swimming
Men's 50 m Freestyle
* Heat â 22.73
* B-Final â 23.01 (â 16th place)
Men's 100 m Freestyle
* Heat â 51.03 (â did not advance, 28th place)
Men's 200 m Freestyle
* Heat â 1:49.05
* Swim-off â 1:48.89
* Final â 1:49.39 (â 8th place)
* Heat â 1:51.06
* B-Final â 1:50.59 (â 15th place)
Men's 400 m Freestyle
* Heat â 3:51.98
* Final â 3:49.00 (â Silver Medal)
Men's 1500 m Freestyle
* Heat â 15.14.81
* Final â 15:02.48 (â Bronze Medal)
* Heat â 15:22.65 (â did not advance, 10th place)
Men's 100 m Backstroke
* Heat â 56.27
* B-Final â 56.07 (â 10th place)
* Heat â 57.17 (â did not advance, 28th place)
Men's 200 m Backstroke
* Heat â 2:01.35
* B-Final â 2:02.40 (â 13th place)
* Heat â 2:07.75 (â did not advance, 32nd place)
Men's 100 m Breaststroke
* Heat â 1:02.78
* B-Final â 1:02.51 (â 11th place)
Men's 200 m Breaststroke
* Heat â 2:14.96
* Final â 2:14.37 (â 4th place)
Men's 100 m Butterfly
* Heat â 53.73
* B-Final â 53.23 (â 9th place)
Men's 200 m Butterfly
* Heat â 1:58.16
* Final â 1:58.47 (â 7th place)
Men's 4 ÃÂ 100 m Freestyle Relay
* Heat â 3:21.34
* Final â 3:21.52 (â 8th place)
Men's 4 ÃÂ 200 m Freestyle Relay
* Heat â 7:21.92
* Final â 7:18.74 (â 5th place)
Men's 4 ÃÂ 100 m Medley Relay
* Heat â DSQ (â did not advance)
<br /> Women's 50 m Freestyle
* Heat â 26.39 (â did not advance, 23rd place)
Women's 100 m Freestyle
* Heat â 56.40
* B-Final â 56.32 (â 14th place)
* Heat â 56.62
* B-Final â 56.58 (â 16th place)
Women's 200 m Freestyle
* Heat â 2:01.46
* B-Final â 2:02.58 (â 13th place)
Women's 400 m Freestyle
* Heat â 4:14.50
* B-Final â 4:14.13 (â 9th place)
Women's 800 m Freestyle
* Heat â 8:37.54
* Final â 8:41.75 (â 8th place)
Women's 100 m Backstroke
* Heat â 1:03.89
* B-Final â 1:03.61 (â 13th place)
Women's 200 m Backstroke
* Heat â 2:15.12
* B-Final â 2:14.50 (â 12th place)
Women's 100 m Breaststroke
* Heat â 1:10.83 (â did not advance, 17th place)
Women's 200 m Breaststroke
* Heat â 2:31.12
* B-Final â 2:31.39 (â 14th place)
Women's 200 m Individual Medley
* Heat â 2:18.81 (â did not advance, 21st place)
Women's 400 m Individual Medley
* Heat â 4:54.64 (â did not advance, 19th place)
Women's 4 ÃÂ 100 m Freestyle Relay
* Heat â 3:48.26 (â did not advance, 9th place)
Women's 4 ÃÂ 200 m Freestyle Relay
* Heat â 8:14.92 (â did not advance, 10th place)
Women's 4 ÃÂ 100 m Medley Relay
* Heat â 4:13.75 (â did not advance, 13th place)
Table tennis
Tennis
Men
Women
Weightlifting
Men's Light-Heavyweight
* Final â 147.5 + 180.0 = 327.5 (â 12th place)
Wrestling
References