Netherlands have participated in the summer Olympics since the first modern Olympics of 1896. 257 medals have been won by Dutch athletes in these summer games, including 74 gold medals.
Three Dutch athletes have four gold medals each, most gold medals won individually in the summer games. Fanny Blankers Koen (pictured), a.k.a. the "Flying Housewife" won four gold medals, all at London 1948. There, she won gold in the women's 100m, 200m, 80m hurdles and in the 4x100m relay.
Equestrian rider Charles Pahud de Mortanges also won four gold medals in the summer games. He won gold in the men's team three day event at Paris 1924 and Amsterdam 1928, and again in the men's individual three day event at Amsterdam 1928 and Los Angeles 1932.
Swimmer Inge de Bruijn (pictured) also won four Olympic golds. Three of them at Sydney 2000, in the women's 50m and 100m freestyle and the 100m butterfly. At Athens 2004, she won gold in the women's 50m freestyle. Not bad for someone who has been idle from swimming for a few years.
Four Dutch athletes have won three gold medals each:
- Adolf van der Voort von Zijp (equestrian)
- Rie Mastoenbroek (swimming)
- Pieter van den Hoogenband (swimming)
- Anky von Grunsven (equestrian)
- Gerard de Kruijff (equestrian)
- Wim Ruska (judo)
- Ronald Florijn (rowing)
- Nico Rienks (rowing)
At the team level, the Dutch (field) hockey team has had a great record in the Olympics, with the men winning gold twice (Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000) and the women winning gold twice as well (Los Angeles 1984 and Beijing 2008). Men's volleyball won gold at Atlanta 1996, and also women's water polo won gold at Beijing 2008.
As of now, 126 Dutch athletes are headed to London to compete in 11 events including various athletics and swimming events, as well as cycling and taekwondo. Men's and women's (field) hockey have also qualified for the London games as well.
Up next: New Zealand
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