France at the Summer Olympics

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France has competed at nearly all Summer Olympics, missing only the 1904 Summer Olympics. The nation was one of 13 to compete at the inaugural 1896 Summer Olympics.

Year	Sports	Competitors	Events	Entries	Medals				Rank
					Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
1896	6	13	18	27	5	4	2	11	4th
1900	20				27Differs from IOC count of 26. One gold medal, that of Michel Théato, has been removed, as Théato was Luxembourgish. Two gold medals, from mixed team results in sailing, have been added.	43Differs from IOC count of 41. Two silver medals, from mixed team results in tennis, have been added.	35Differs from IOC count of 34. One gold medal, from a mixed team result in polo, has been added.	105	1st

Archery

France was one of three nations to compete in the first Olympic archery contests in 1900.

Year	Archers	Events	Entries	Medals				Rank
				Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
1900	129	6	?	3	5	4	12	1st

Athletics

Year	Athletes	Events	Entries	Medals				Rank
				Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
1896	6	9	13	0	1	1	2	5th
1900	22	18	28	0	4	2	6	7th

Cricket

France was one of two nations to compete in the only Olympic cricket event, in 1900. They lost, making them the only nation to lose an Olympic cricket match and the only Olympic silver medallists in Cricket.

Year	Cricketers	Events	Entries	Medals				Rank
				Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
1900	12	1	1	0	1	0	1	2nd

Croquet

France was one of two nations to compete in the only Olympic croquet events, in 1900. Six men and three women from France competed, whereas only one foreign entrant (from Belgium) did so. The French won all seven medals in the three croquet events.

Year	Players	Events	Entries	Medals				Rank
				Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
1900	9	3	15	3	2	2	7	1st

Cycling

Cycling quickly became a French strong point in Olympic competition, with the French cyclists winning every event they entered in 1896. The French again dominated both the events in 1900 edition, taking five of six medals.

Year	Cyclists	Events	Entries	Medals				Rank
				Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
1896	2	4	7	4	1	1	6	1st
1900	59	2	62	2	2	1	5	1st

Equestrian

France was one of five nations to compete in the inaugural Olympic equestrian events, taking one gold medal in the three events in a tie with Italy while Belgium took the other two.

Year	Equestrians	Events	Entries	Medals				Rank
				Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
1900	22	3	37	1	0	2	3	3rd

Fencing

France was expected to do well in fencing at the inaugural Games, but took second stage to host Greece. Four years later, the French fencers did actually dominate fencing in Paris, taking five of seven championships.

Year	Fencers	Events	Entries	Medals				Rank
				Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
1896	4	2	4	1	2	0	3	2nd
1900	224	7	264	5	5	5	15	1st

Football

France was one of three nations to compete in the inaugural football contest in 1900.

Year	Footballers	Events	Entries	Medals				Rank
				Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
1900	13	1	1	0	1	0	1	2nd

Golf

France was one of four nations to compete in the inaugural golf events in 1900.

Year	Golfers	Events	Entries	Medals				Rank
				Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
1900	9	2	9	0	0	0	0	—

Gymnastics

Pelota

France lost the first (and only, as yet) pelota match, to take the silver medal.

Polo

France was one of four nations to compete in the debut of Olympic polo, with a mixed French/British teams taking a bronze medal. Another team, composed of only Frenchmen, took 5th of the 5 teams.

Rowing

France was one of six nations to compete in the debut of Olympic rowing, taking two gold medals as well as three silvers and a bronze.

Rugby

France won the gold medal in the first Olympic rugby competition, in 1900.

Sailing

Shooting

Swimming

Tennis

France won its first tennis medals when it hosted the Olympic Games in 1900. The nation won no championships, however.

Tug of war

Water polo

Notes