Great Britain at the 1996 Summer Olympics

Great Britain at the 1996 Summer Olympics
Flag of the United Kingdom
IOC code	GBR
NOC	British Olympic Association
in Atlanta
Competitors	300 (184 men and 116 women) in 22 sports
Flag bearer	Steve Redgrave (opening) Roger Black (closing)
Medals Ranked 36th	Gold 1 Silver 8 Bronze 6 Total 15
Summer Olympics appearances (overview)
1896 1900 1904 1908 1912 1920 1924 1928 1932 1936 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020
Other related appearances
1906 Intercalated Games

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.^[1]

The Atlanta games saw Great Britain's worst performance at a Summer Olympics since 1952. As final medal rankings were tabulated, Great Britain finished in 36th position, with just one gold and overall total of just 15 medals. This was the country's lowest ever numerical ranking in the table and were dubbed “The Team of Shame”, leaving Great Britain with numerous questions about the overall state of sport in the country. Due to a lack of funding athletes were forced to recreate the humidity of Atlanta by practising in their bathrooms at home with the shower turned on, and several sold their Olympic kit on the streets in order to raise funds to repay loans.^[2][3][4] The poor British performance at the Atlanta Olympics led to the introduction of National Lottery funding for elite sports,^[5] which started the following year.^[6] 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

Medals by sport

Sport				Total
Rowing	1	0	1	2
Athletics	0	4	2	6
Sailing	0	2	0	2
Swimming	0	1	1	2
Tennis	0	1	0	1
Cycling	0	0	2	2
Total	1	8	6	15

Medals by day

Medals by date
Day	Date				Total
1	20 July	0	0	0	0
2	21 July	0	0	0	0
3	22 July	0	1	0	1
4	23 July	0	0	0	0
5	24 July	0	0	0	0
6	25 July	0	0	1	1
7	26 July	0	0	0	0
8	27 July	1	1	1	3
9	28 July	0	0	2	2
10	29 July	0	1	0	1
11	30 July	0	1	0	1
12	31 July	0	1	1	2
13	1 Aug	0	1	0	1
14	2 Aug	0	0	0	0
15	3 Aug	0	2	1	3
16	4 Aug	0	0	0	0
Total		1	8	6	15

Archery

Women's Individual Competition:

• Alison Williamson – Round of 16, 10th place (2–1)

Men's Individual Competition:

• Gary Hardinges – Round of 32, 28th place (1–1)
• Steven Hallard – Round of 64, 55th place (0–1)

Athletics

Men's 5,000 metres

• John Nuttall

• Qualification – 13:52.16
• Semi-final – 14:08.39 (→ did not advance)

Men's 4 × 400 m Relay

• Iwan Thomas, Jamie Baulch, Du'aine Ladejo, Mark Richardson and Roger Black

• Heat – 3:01.79
• Semi-final – 3:01.36
• Final – 2:56.60 (→ Silver Medal)

Men's 400 m Hurdles

• Jon Ridgeon

• Heat – 49.31 s
• Semi-final – 49.43 s (→ did not advance)

• Gary Jennings

• Heat – 50.41 s (→ did not advance)

• Peter Crampton

• Heat – 49.78 s (→ did not advance)

Men's 3,000 metres Steeplechase

• Keith Cullen

• Heat – 8:31.26
• Semi-finals – 8:46.74 (→ did not advance)

• Justin Chaston

• Heat – 8:28.32
• Semi-finals – 8:28.50 (→ did not advance)

• Spencer Duval

• Heat – 8:46.76 (→ did not advance)

Men's Marathon

• Richard Nerurkar – 2:13.39 (→ 5th place)
• Peter Whitehead – 2:22.37 (→ 55th place)
• Steve Brace – 2:23.28 (→ 60th place)

Men's 50 km Walk

• Chris Maddocks – 4:18:41 (→ 34th place)

Men's Discus Throw

• Bob Weir

• Qualification – 61.64 m (→ did not advance)

• Glen Smith

• Qualification – 54.88 m (→ did not advance)

Men's Hammer Throw

• David Smith

• Qualification – 69.32 m (→ did not advance)

Women's 4×400 metres Relay

• Phylis Smith, Allison Curbishley, Donna Fraser and Georgina Oladapo

• Qualification – 3:28.13 (→ did not advance)

Women's 400 m Hurdles

• Sally Gunnell

• Qualification – 55.29
• Semi-finals – DNF (→ did not advance)

Women's Long Jump

• Denise Lewis

• Qualification – 6.33 m (→ did not advance)

Women's Triple Jump

• Ashia Hansen

• Qualification – 14.55 m
• Final – 14.49 m (→ 5th place)

• Michelle Griffith

• Qualification – 13.70 m (→ did not advance)

Women's High Jump

• Lea Haggett

1. Qualification – 1.90 m (→ did not advance)

• Debbie Marti

1. Qualification – 1.85 m (→ did not advance)

Women's Javelin Throw

• Tessa Sanderson

• Qualification – 58.86 m (→ did not advance)

• Shelley Holroyd

• Qualification – 54.72 m (→ did not advance)

Women's Discus Throw

• Jacqui McKernan

• Qualification – 58.88 m (→ did not advance)

Women's Shot Put

• Judy Oakes

• Qualification – 18.56 m
• Final – 18.34 m (→ 11th place)

Women's Heptathlon

• Denise Lewis

• Final Result – 6489 points (→ Bronze Medal)

Women's Marathon

• Liz McColgan – 2:34.30 (→ 16th place)
• Karen MacLeod – 2:42.08 (→ 45th place)
• Suzanne Rigg – 2:52.09 (→ 58th place)

Women's 10 km Walk

• Vicky Lupton – 47:05 (→ 33rd place)

Badminton

Beach volleyball

Boxing

Athlete	Event	Round of 32	Round of 16	Quarterfinals	Semi-finals	Final
		Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Opposition Result	Rank
David Burke	Featherweight	Huste (GER) L 9–13	Did not advance
Fola Okesola	Heavyweight	Bye	Jones (USA) L RSCI	Did not advance

Canoeing

Cycling

Diving

Men's 3m Springboard

• Tony Ally

• Preliminary Heat – 345.33
• Semi-final – 203.46 (→ did not advance, 18th place)

• Bobby Morgan

• Preliminary Heat – 318.69 (→ did not advance, 24th place)

Women's 10m Platform

• Hayley Allen

• Preliminary Heat – 251.73
• Semi-final – 158.43
• Final – 259.68 (→ 9th place)

Equestrian

Fencing

Two fencers, one man and one woman, represented Great Britain in 1996.

Men's sabre

• James Williams

Women's foil

• Fiona McIntosh

Gymnastics

Hockey

Judo

Modern pentathlon

Men's Individual Competition:

• Richard Phelps – 5254pts (→ 18th place)

Rowing

Men

Athlete	Event	Heats		Repechage		Semi-finals		Final
		Time	Rank	Time	Rank	Time	Rank	Time	Rank
Peter Haining	Single sculls	7:42.65	4 R	7:45.95	2 SA/B	7:30.47	6 FB	6:55.06	11
Matthew Pinsent Steve Redgrave	Pair	6:50.04	1 Q	N/A		6:50.30	1 FA	6:20.09
James Cracknell Bob Thatcher Guy Pooley*	Double sculls	7:00.74	5 R	7:00.81	1 SC/D	6:51.22	2 FC	6:51.41	17
Nicholas Strange Andrew Sinton	Lightweight double sculls	6:56.86	5 R	6:22.27	2 SA/B	6:39.20	5 FB	6:31.15	12
Tim Foster Rupert Obholzer Greg Searle Jonny Searle	Four	6:14.74	1 Q	N/A		6:10.78	1 FA	6:07.28
Ben Helm Tom Kay David Lemon James McNiven	Lightweight four	6:35.95	5 R	6:02.65	2 SA/B	6:19.07	5 FB	6:05.13	10
Peter Bridge Roger Brown Richard Hamilton Ben Hunt-Davis Matthew Parish Graham Smith Alex Story James Walker Garry Herbert (cox)	Eight	5:49.37	4 R	5:33.22	3 FB	N/A		5:40.23	8

Women

Sailing

Shooting

Swimming

Men's 50 m Freestyle

• Mark Foster

• Heat – 22.73
• B-Final – 23.01 (→ 16th place)

Men's 100 m Freestyle

• Nicholas Shackell

• Heat – 51.03 (→ did not advance, 28th place)

Men's 200 m Freestyle

• Paul Palmer

• Heat – 1:49.05
• Swim-off – 1:48.89
• Final – 1:49.39 (→ 8th place)

• Andrew Clayton

• Heat – 1:51.06
• B-Final – 1:50.59 (→ 15th place)

Men's 400 m Freestyle

• Paul Palmer

• Heat – 3:51.98
• Final – 3:49.00 (→ Silver Medal)

Men's 1500 m Freestyle

• Graeme Smith

• Heat – 15.14.81
• Final – 15:02.48 (→ Bronze Medal)

• Paul Palmer

• Heat – 15:22.65 (→ did not advance, 10th place)

Men's 100 m Backstroke

• Neil Willey

• Heat – 56.27
• B-Final – 56.07 (→ 10th place)

• Martin Harris

• Heat – 57.17 (→ did not advance, 28th place)

Men's 200 m Backstroke

• Adam Ruckwood

• Heat – 2:01.35
• B-Final – 2:02.40 (→ 13th place)

• Martin Harris

• Heat – 2:07.75 (→ did not advance, 32nd place)

Men's 100 m Breaststroke

• Richard Maden

• Heat – 1:02.78
• B-Final – 1:02.51 (→ 11th place)

Men's 200 m Breaststroke

• Nick Gillingham

• Heat – 2:14.96
• Final – 2:14.37 (→ 4th place)

Men's 100 m Butterfly

• James Hickman

• Heat – 53.73
• B-Final – 53.23 (→ 9th place)

Men's 200 m Butterfly

• James Hickman

• Heat – 1:58.16
• Final – 1:58.47 (→ 7th place)

Men's 4 × 100 m Freestyle Relay

• Nicholas Shackell, Alan Rapley, Mark Stevens, and Mike Fibbens

• Heat – 3:21.34
• Final – 3:21.52 (→ 8th place)

Men's 4 × 200 m Freestyle Relay

• Paul Palmer, Andrew Clayton, Mark Stevens, and James Salter

• Heat – 7:21.92
• Final – 7:18.74 (→ 5th place)

Men's 4 × 100 m Medley Relay

• Neil Willey, Richard Maden, James Hickman, and Nicholas Shackell

• Heat – DSQ (→ did not advance)

Women's 50 m Freestyle

• Sue Rolph

• Heat – 26.39 (→ did not advance, 23rd place)

Women's 100 m Freestyle

• Karen Pickering

• Heat – 56.40
• B-Final – 56.32 (→ 14th place)

• Sue Rolph

• Heat – 56.62
• B-Final – 56.58 (→ 16th place)

Women's 200 m Freestyle

• Karen Pickering

• Heat – 2:01.46
• B-Final – 2:02.58 (→ 13th place)

Women's 400 m Freestyle

• Sarah Hardcastle

• Heat – 4:14.50
• B-Final – 4:14.13 (→ 9th place)

Women's 800 m Freestyle

• Sarah Hardcastle

• Heat – 8:37.54
• Final – 8:41.75 (→ 8th place)

Women's 100 m Backstroke

• Helen Slatter

• Heat – 1:03.89
• B-Final – 1:03.61 (→ 13th place)

Women's 200 m Backstroke

• Joanne Deakins

• Heat – 2:15.12
• B-Final – 2:14.50 (→ 12th place)

Women's 100 m Breaststroke

• Jaime King

• Heat – 1:10.83 (→ did not advance, 17th place)

Women's 200 m Breaststroke

• Marie Hardiman

• Heat – 2:31.12
• B-Final – 2:31.39 (→ 14th place)

Women's 200 m Individual Medley

• Sue Rolph

• Heat – 2:18.81 (→ did not advance, 21st place)

Women's 400 m Individual Medley

• Sarah Hardcastle

• Heat – 4:54.64 (→ did not advance, 19th place)

Women's 4 × 100 m Freestyle Relay

• Sue Rolph, Alison Sheppard, Carrie Willmott, and Karen Pickering

• Heat – 3:48.26 (→ did not advance, 9th place)

Women's 4 × 200 m Freestyle Relay

• Claire Huddart, Victoria Horner, Janine Belton, and Karen Pickering

• Heat – 8:14.92 (→ did not advance, 10th place)

Women's 4 × 100 m Medley Relay

• Helen Slatter, Jaime King, Caroline Foot, and Karen Pickering

• Heat – 4:13.75 (→ did not advance, 13th place)

Table tennis

Tennis

Men

Athlete	Event	Round of 64	Round of 32	Round of 16	Quarterfinals	Semi-finals	Final / BM
		Opposition Score	Opposition Score	Opposition Score	Opposition Score	Opposition Score	Opposition Score	Rank
Tim Henman	Singles	Matsuoka (JPN) W 7–6(7–4), 6–3	Woodbridge (AUS) L 6–7(6–8), 6–7(5–7)	Did not advance
Greg Rusedski		Frana (ARG) W 4–6, 7–5, 6–3	Gustafsson (SWE) W 6–7(4–7), 7–6(7–3), 6–3	Bruguera (ESP) L 6–7(7–9), 3–6	Did not advance
Neil Broad Tim Henman	Doubles	N/A	Krošlák / Kučera (SVK) W 6–3, 6–3	Connell / Nestor (CAN) W 7–6(7–5), 4–6, 6–4	Novák / Vacek (CZE) W 7–6(7–4), 6–4	Goellner / Prinosil (GER) W 4–6, 6–3, 10–8	Woodbridge / Woodforde (AUS) L 4–6, 4–6, 2–6

Women

Athlete	Event	Round of 64	Round of 32	Round of 16	Quarterfinals	Semi-finals	Final / BM
		Opposition Score	Opposition Score	Opposition Score	Opposition Score	Opposition Score	Opposition Score	Rank
Clare Wood	Singles	Farina (ITA) L 2–6, 2–6	Did not advance
Valda Lake Clare Wood	Doubles	N/A	K Maleeva / M Maleeva (BUL) W 3–6, 7–6(10–8), 6–3	Coetzer / de Swardt (RSA) W 7–5, 7–5	G Fernández / MJ Fernández (USA) L 2–6, 1–6	Did not advance

Weightlifting

Men's Light-Heavyweight

• Anthony Arthur

• Final – 147.5 + 180.0 = 327.5 (→ 12th place)

Wrestling

References