Spain has participated in the summer Olympics since the first modern day Olympics of 1896 (Athens). 113 medals have been won by Spanish athletes in the summer games, including 34 gold medals.
Four Spanish athletes have won two individual gold medals in the summer games. One of those is track cyclist Joan Llaneras (pictured), who won the men's point race twice-at Sydney 2000 and again at Beijing 2008. Llaneras joins the other three that have won two golds each in the summer games for Spain:
- Luis Doreste (sailing), won mixed two person Dinghy at Los Angeles 1984, and mixed two person heavyweight Dinghy at Barcelona 1992.
- Theresa Zabell (sailing), won women's two person Dinghy at Barcelona 1992 and again at Atlanta 1996.
- Gervasio Deferr (gymnastics), won men's horse vault at Sydney 2000 and again at Beijing 2008.
For Spain, their biggest athletes have won gold in the summer games as well. Take multi-time Tour de France winner Miguel Indurain (pictured), who won gold in the men's individual time trial at Atlanta 1996.
Former world number one in men's tennis and multiple grand slam singles champion Rafael Nadal (pictured) won men's singles gold at Beijing 2008, defeating Fernando Gonzalez (CHI) in final.
At the team level, men's football (soccer) won gold at Barcelona 1992, defeating Poland in the final. Also at Barcelona, the women's (field) hockey team defeated Germany in the final to win gold. Finally, the men's water polo team defeated Croatia in the final to win gold at Atlanta 1996.
As of now, 228 Spanish athletes are headed to London to compete in 21 events, including athletics, boxing, cycling, equestrian, judo, swimming, taekwondo, triathlon, weightlifting and wrestling. In addition, the following teams have also qualified for the London games:
- men's basketball
- men's (field) hockey
- men's football (soccer)
- men's handball
- men's water polo
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