Countries That Have Competed But NEVER Won Any Olympic Medal

Tons of athletes worldwide dream of representing their countries at the Olympic games. The odds of one doing that are slim to none. However, that doesn’t mean it’s completely impossible. The ultimate goal of any Olympian is to come home with a medal around their neck. Even though the Modern Olympics have been going on since the late 1800s, there are still some countries that haven’t seen any of their athletes win a medal.

Antigua and Barbuda are two of the most beautiful countries in the world. The islands situated in the Caribbean are a common tourist destination for anyone looking to relax and forget about the real world. Arguably the closest the country has ever gotten to a medal is when Charmaine Gilgeous ran in the women’s 400-meter dash at the 1992 Olympics. Her son, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, is one of the best basketball players in the world and represents Canada in international competitions. If Antigua and Barbuda were to win a medal, it would likely come in track and field or swimming.

Another country that has struggled when it comes to Olympic competitions is Cambodia. The country has experienced more in the last 50 years than many countries have been forced to deal with in their existence. Because of the country’s political climate, the citizens have focused on the nation, not the Olympics. With more than 17 million people, there are enough folks in the country to assume someone will win a medal soon. For more Olympic content, click here to read about the most iconic moments in Summer Olympics history.

To compile this list of countries that have competed but never won any Olympic medal, 24/7 Tempo consulted Olympic-related sources. These include World Atlas, Olympics.com, and NBCSports.

Albania

Albania is known for its beautiful views along the coast and rich history. However, the country isn’t known for producing stellar Olympians. Albania first gained independence in 1912, which means the citizens have had more than enough time to train and become great athletes. The country puts tons of its resources into tourism, since so many folks from around the world come to see the Mediterranean Sea in person.

If Albania were to win a medal, the event would likely be in canoeing or kayaking. There are countless places where locals take their vessels to on a regular basis. Athletes from Albania might also find themselves competing in the triathlon event. The ease of swimming, biking, and running around the country makes training seem like almost second nature. Albania will likely have to wait until Los Angeles for their next shot at taking home a medal.

Antigua and Barbuda

Nobody can argue how amazing Antigua and Barbuda is. Like Albania, the Caribbean island puts most of their focus into tourism, is that’s how the country stays afloat. However, folks on the island are still proud and hopeful to see one of their own stand on a medal podium in the near future. One of the biggest problems Antigua and Barbuda faces is the constant threat of natural disasters. The training centers and practice areas are constantly at risk of being destroyed.

One of the most notable athletes to come from Antigua and Barbuda is Charmaine Gilgeous. She competed in the 1992 games in the women’s 400-meter dash. While she didn’t medal herself, her son looks like he’ll bring home a medal for Canada in the near future. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is one of the top players in the NBA today. Internationally, he represents Canada. The folks from Antigua and Barbuda still root him on as hard as they can, though.

Cape Verde

Plenty of African nations are known for producing top tier Olympians. Cape Verde isn’t one of the countries known for their athletics. The group of islands off the western part of the continent is where plenty of folks from around the world go to relax and unwind. The population is around 600,000 people, which means there are far less athletes to stand out. Cape Verde has been a country for only 50 years. They’ve had fewer chances at competing as a nation than most.

Like the other countries on this list, tons of the residents of Cape Verde are strong swimmers. They live on an ocean and have access to some of the best water in the world. As of now, Cape Verde doesn’t have the same level of training centers as tons of other countries around the world. Since the Olympics are constantly rising in popularity, there’s a chance the country will put more resources into training.

Bolivia

Bolivia is one of the South American countries to never win a Summer Olympic medal in history. Unlike Cape Verde, though, it’s not for a lack of people. There are more than 12 million folks who reside in Bolivia, making it one of the most populated countries to never win a medal. The two most popular sports in the country are soccer and racquetball. The national racquetball team is one of the best in the world. However, racquetball isn’t recognized as an Olympic sport.

If the country were to win a medal at the Olympics, they would likely do so in a sport like badminton. The top talent in soccer and tennis is already established. Badminton is similar enough to racquetball that the athletes could bring their experience over. If it weren’t for either of those, folks from Bolivia would likely succeed at running. The weather is usually ideal for those to be outdoors and train for the games.

Fiji

Few countries around the world compare to the beauty of Fiji. More than 300 islands make up the nation of Fiji, where folks from around the world go to see some of the most beautiful water in the world. The country is known for a lot, however, it’s not known for producing top tier Olympians. Fiji is one of the countries that’s never won an Olympic medal of any kind. Part of the reason is the country has only been established on its own since 1970.

It’s no secret that Fiji’s best chance at winning a medal is in rugby. The sport is engrained in nearly every Polynesian country, and Fiji is no different. The country also had a great shot at winning a medal in golf, as its where star Vijay Singh was born. He has won countless tournaments throughout his career, but never brought home an Olympic medal. Look out for Fiji in rugby in upcoming Olympics, as they aim to bring home a medal.

Laos

Laos is home to one of the largest Buddhist populations in the world. The architecture in Vientiane was designed to look as beautiful on the outside as it does in the inside. However, the country is also known for never winning an Olympic medal. The country has been through plenty of more serious situations in their history, which has taken the focus away from winning various athletic competitions.

There are nearly 8 million people residing in Laos, which means there are plenty of potential athletes to bring home gold. The most popular sports in the country are martial arts. Laos would likely have success in judo. Kickboxing and Mauy Thai, which is where the sport of Mauy Lao comes from, were denied for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. The citizens of Laos will have to hope one of the locals qualifies for the 2028 Summer games.

Andorra

Given the size and population of Andorra, it’s not too shocking to see them on the list of countries who have never won an Olympic medal. The country is only 180 square miles and is home to roughly 85,000 people. The countries of France and Spain border Andorra. That means that the top athletes from the country go to train in other places. They’re more likely to become citizens of France or Spain to grow their brand.

The biggest sports in Andorra are rugby and basketball. Most of the citizens of Andorra prefer winter sports, such as skiing and snowboarding. If Andorra were to medal in the Summer Olympics, they’d have to incentivize people to compete for them. This would likely mean shelling out top dollar to the competitors. However, with the growth of social media, there’s a chance the athletes would grow naturally online after winning the various events.

Aruba

Millions of people flock to Aruba every year to unwind from the real world. The Caribbean island is known for being the perfect place to relax and not worry about rain ruining your vacation. While the island is home to some of the friendliest people in the world, it’s not known as a place that produces the best Olympians in the world. In fact, nobody representing Aruba has stood on the medal stand.

One of the main reasons for this is that the top athletes from Aruba typically represent the Netherlands at the games. The Dutch are in control of Aruba. However, the country has competed on their own at the games since 1988. The most popular sports on the island are baseball and beach volleyball. Baseball will be back in the games in 2028, and fans cannot wait. For now, fans will have to wait and hope the country can pull off a win at the 2024 games.

Cambodia

Few countries have experienced what Cambodia has during their existence. Unfortunately for the citizens, it still hasn’t amounted to winning a medal during the Summer Olympics. There are roughly 17 million people in the country, which means there are likely a few athletes around the nation who could bring home a medal. The most popular sport in Cambodia is soccer. Other team sports haven’t gained the same popularity in Cambodia as they have in other parts of the world.

There are a lot of other things in Cambodia that should take priority above sending athletes to the Olympics. That doesn’t mean it won’t ever happen, though. The Olympics are the perfect time to inspire hope and create legendary moments for others in your country to rally around.

El Salvador

Even though El Salvador is only 8,000 square miles, more than six million people make up the population. The country is still in search of their first Olympic medal, though. The country participates in sports like swimming and track and field every games, where athletes showcase their abilities against the rest of the world. Team sports like soccer dominate the lives of the citizens of El Salvador.

While the country hasn’t won a medal yet, they’ve been in position for many years. Their best chance was in 1968 during the games in Mexico City. The country sent 60 athletes to represent them at the Summer Olympics that year. Individual sports are likely the way El Salvador will win an Olympic medal in the future. While the soccer team is good, there’s plenty of great competition from other countries around the world.

Honduras

Another Central American country that’s struggled with Olympic success is Honduras. The country has competed in the games since 1968. However, the first citizen of Honduras has yet to take their place on the medal stand. Like El Salvador, soccer is the most popular sport for locals to play in Honduras. However, swimming and combat sports have risen in popularity as well. There are nearly 10 million people residing in Honduras, which means there’s likely at least one or two folks who can compete with the best of them.

The additions of baseball and softball will give Honduras another shot at medals in the games. Baseball and softball are two wildly popular sports in Latin America, and Honduras is no different. The games in 2028 will be big for Honduras, since baseball and softball will be officially back in the games. Competitions like triathlons are another place where folks from Honduras will thrive, with the great outdoor access people there have.

Lesotho

Lesotho is arguably most-known for being the country South Africa completely surrounds. While people enjoy the uniqueness of the geography, the locals are still waiting to see one of their own on the medal podium. Because of the relationship with South Africa, the country of Lesotho doesn’t have as many sports options. Those who have the desire to compete typically flee to the nation that surrounds them.

The biggest sport in Lesotho is soccer. The top league in the country is called the Lesotho Premier League. However, 12 out of the 16 teams who play in the league call the capital city of Maseru home. There will be more options for locals as time progresses. Lesotho will likely have to put more funding into the training of the country before they win a medal at the Olympics.

These countries can look to Saint Lucia for hope.

For plenty of these countries, they feel as though they’ll never compete with the big dogs of the United States and China. Prior to the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, Saint Lucia was another country on this list. However, Julien Alfred changed all of that. The sprinter from the Caribbean island took the world by storm. She won the women’s 100-meter dash and came in second to Gabby Thomas in the women’s 200-meter dash.

There was a viral video going around of the locals gathering to watch Alfred live on a large screen in the middle of town. There was tons of pride from the locals seeing one of their own finally achieving what so many hadn’t done before. It’s a great reminder that no matter how big or small your country is, greatness can come from anywhere. One of the countries on this list can take their name off this list in 2028 when the games shift to Los Angeles. For more Olympic coverage, click here to read about the oldest Olympic athletes in sports history.

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