Puerto Rico at the Olympics

Puerto Rico at the Olympics

Puerto Rico first joined the Olympic Games in 1948 and has sent athletes to every Summer Olympics since then. They began taking part in the Winter Olympics in 1984.

Athletes from Puerto Rico have won medals in sports like boxing, track and field, tennis, and wrestling.

The Puerto Rico Olympic Committee was formed in 1948 and was recognized by the International Olympic Committee the same year. When Puerto Rican athletes win gold medals, "La Borinqueña" is played instead of the U.S. national anthem.

Summer Olympics

1948 London Olympics

Puerto Rico joined the Olympics for the first time at the 1948 Summer Games in London. Nine athletes competed in eight sports. Boxer Juan Evangelista Venegas won Puerto Rico’s first Olympic medal, a bronze in bantamweight boxing. He beat boxers from Egypt, Canada, and Ireland.

1952 Helsinki Olympics

Puerto Rico sent 21 athletes to the 1952 Helsinki Olympics in athletics, basketball, boxing, fencing, and shooting. This was the first time Puerto Rico competed in basketball. The team placed 9th after winning games against Bulgaria and the Philippines. Three boxers competed but none won a medal.

1956 Melbourne Olympics

At the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, Puerto Rico sent 10 athletes in shooting and athletics. They did not win any medals but performed well.

1960 Rome Olympics

In the 1960 Rome Olympics, Puerto Rico sent 27 athletes to compete in seven sports: athletics, basketball, boxing, fencing, shooting, weightlifting, and wrestling. The basketball team placed 13th. The boxing team did well but did not win any medals. This was the first time Puerto Rico competed in weightlifting and wrestling.

1964 Tokyo Olympics

At the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, Puerto Rico sent 32 athletes to compete in seven sports including athletics, basketball, boxing, fencing, shooting, and weightlifting. The basketball team achieved a remarkable 4th place. The boxing team did well, with many athletes reaching the quarterfinals. Puerto Rico also competed in fencing, shooting, and weightlifting.

1968 Mexico City Olympics

During the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, Puerto Rico sent 58 athletes to compete in athletics, basketball, boxing, cycling, fencing, judo, shooting, weightlifting, wrestling, and sailing. The boxing team did well but did not win any medals. The basketball team placed 9th. This was the first time Puerto Rico competed in judo, wrestling, and sailing.

1972 Munich Olympics

At the 1972 Munich Olympics, 59 Puerto Rican athletes competed in 11 sports including athletics, basketball, boxing, cycling, fencing, judo, shooting, swimming, weightlifting, wrestling, and sailing. The boxing team did well but did not win any medals. The basketball team placed 6th. This was the first time Puerto Rico competed in swimming.

1976 Montreal Olympics

The 1976 Montreal Olympics saw Puerto Rico’s largest team ever, with 80 athletes competing in 12 sports. Orlando Maldonado won Puerto Rico’s second Olympic medal, a bronze in light flyweight boxing. The basketball team placed 9th.

1980 Moscow Olympics

Despite the U.S.-led boycott of the 1980 Moscow Olympics, Puerto Rico chose to participate with a smaller team of 15 athletes in athletics, boxing, judo, and shooting. Although they did not win any medals, the boxing team did well. Puerto Rico’s participation showed their commitment to the Olympic movement.

1984 Los Angeles Olympics

The 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles were important for Puerto Rico, with 51 athletes competing in 13 sports. This was the first time Puerto Rico took part in both the Summer and Winter Olympics. Puerto Rico won two boxing medals: Luis Ortiz won silver in lightweight, and Arístides González won bronze in middleweight. The basketball team placed 6th.

1988 Seoul Olympics

During the 1988 Seoul Olympics, Puerto Rico had 52 athletes in 11 sports. Athletes competed in athletics, fencing, judo, and shooting, with some reaching later rounds. Puerto Rico’s boxing team remained strong.

1992 Barcelona Olympics

In 1992, Puerto Rico sent 75 athletes to the Barcelona Olympics in 13 sports. Aníbal Santiago Acevedo won a bronze medal in welterweight boxing. The basketball team lost to the U.S. "Dream Team". This was Puerto Rico’s first time in table tennis and badminton.

1996 Atlanta Olympics

In the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, 69 Puerto Rican athletes competed in 16 sports. Boxing stood out, with Daniel Santos winning a bronze medal in welterweight boxing. The men’s volleyball team debuted and placed 11th. The basketball team placed 10th, and the athletics team had strong performances.

2000 Sydney Olympics

During the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Puerto Rico had 29 athletes in 12 sports. Although they did not win any medals, the athletes performed well. The boxing team was competitive but did not win a medal. Puerto Rico remained dedicated to many sports.

2004 Athens Olympics

During the 2004 Athens Olympics, Puerto Rico participated with 43 athletes in 15 sports. The basketball team made history by beating the United States "Dream Team" 92-73. The boxing team competed well but did not reach the medal stages. Puerto Rico also competed in taekwondo and shooting.

2008 Beijing Summer Olympics

During the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Puerto Rico participated with 22 athletes in eight sports. Although they did not secure any medals, the team performed well in boxing, athletics, and wrestling. The women’s wrestling team debuted. The basketball team did not qualify, but Puerto Rico’s athletes showed commitment.

2012 London Olympics

The 2012 London Olympics were very successful for Puerto Rico. The island sent 25 athletes, its youngest team ever, to compete in eight sports.

Puerto Rico achieved two major accomplishments. Jaime Espinal won a silver medal in the 84 kg men’s freestyle wrestling event, marking Puerto Rico’s first wrestling Olympic medal and the country’s second silver medal. Javier Culson won a bronze medal in the men’s 400m hurdles, Puerto Rico’s first Olympic medal in track and field.

Athletes also competed in boxing, judo, shooting, swimming, and table tennis, with many reaching later rounds. The silver and bronze medals brought great pride to Puerto Rico.

2016 Rio Olympics

The 2016 Rio Olympics were significant for Puerto Rico, as the island won its first Olympic gold medal. The team had 40 athletes in 15 sports.

Monica Puig won the gold medal in women’s singles tennis, defeating Germany’s Angelique Kerber in the final. This was Puerto Rico’s first Olympic gold medal.

The Games also featured young table tennis athletes Adriana Díaz and Brian Afanador, showing Puerto Rico’s growing talent in table tennis.

Puerto Rico also competed in boxing, track and field, judo, and swimming, with many athletes advancing to later rounds. Although the basketball team did not qualify, Puig’s gold medal brought immense pride.

2020 Tokyo Olympics

The 2020 Tokyo Olympics, held in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, saw Puerto Rico send 37 athletes to 15 sports.

Jasmine Camacho-Quinn won gold in the women’s 100m hurdles, setting a new Olympic record and bringing Puerto Rico its second Olympic gold medal and first in track and field.

Table tennis athletes Adriana Díaz and Brian Afanador were flag-bearers in the opening ceremony, with Díaz reaching the third round in women’s singles.

Puerto Rico also competed in boxing, judo, shooting, and swimming, with many athletes advancing to later stages.

Flag Bearers

Medal tables

Medals by Summer Sport

List of medalists