The six participants in the WorldHockey Olympic Qualifier in Chile (March 1 to 9) have a vast array of Olympic experience: while top seeded teams Great Britain and India are regular participants and boast an impressive collection of medals, Russia and Austria have participated in three Games, Mexico only had two modest participations and only Chile have never played in an Olympic competition.
At the top of the list is of course India, with 18 participations. In fact, India participated in every Olympic Games since their first appearance at the 1928 Games in Amsterdam. They collected a record 8 Gold Medals, with an uninterrupted series of 6 victories between 1928 and 1956. They have also won 1 Silver and 2 Bronze medals, but their last honours were back in 1980 in Moscow, when the competition was marred by the boycott of most top hockey teams.
Great Britain participated in 15 Olympic Games (originally as England), with uninterrupted participation since 1984. This series could even have been longer without the 1980 boycott and if they had been called for the 1976 Games in Montreal when, as first reserve country, they were expecting to take the spot of Kenya that withdrew at the last minute. Great Britain collected 3 Gold, 1 Silver and 2 Bronze medals, with the highlight probably the victory in 1988 in Seoul.
The ruthless format of the Olympic Qualifier, with only one team earning a berth for Beijing, will leave one of these two regulars out of the Olympic competition.
Russia participated (as USSR) for the first time in 1980, when they organized the Games at home in Moscow, finishing third in a competition reduced to six teams by the boycott. They participated again as USSR in 1988 in Seoul, finishing in 7th place in a stronger field this time, then in 1992 in Barcelona as a “Unified Team”, finishing 10th.
Austria also participated in 3 Olympic Games, finishing unclassified in 1928 in Amsterdam and in 1948 in London, then finishing 7th in 1952 in Helsinki.
Mexico participated in 2 Olympic Games (1968 as host and 1972 in Munich), finishing last out of 16 teams in both occasions.
| India have participated in 18 Olympic Games |
| 2004 - Athens |
7th |
of 12 teams |
| 2000 - Sydney |
7th |
of 12 teams |
| 1996 - Atlanta |
8th |
of 12 teams |
| 1992 - Barcelona |
7th |
of 12 teams |
| 1988 - Seoul |
6th |
of 12 teams |
| 1984 - Los Angeles |
5th |
of 12 teams |
| 1980 - Moscow |
1st |
of 6 teams |
| 1976 - Montreal |
7th |
of 11 teams |
| 1972 - Munich |
3rd |
of 16 teams |
| 1968 - Mexico |
3rd |
of 16 teams |
| 1964 - Tokyo |
1st |
of 15 teams |
| 1960 - Rome |
2nd |
of 16 teams |
| 1956 - Melbourne |
1st |
of 12 teams |
| 1952 - Helsinki |
1st |
of 12 teams |
| 1948 - Londres |
1st |
of 13 teams |
| 1936 - Berlin |
1st |
of 11 teams |
| 1932 - Los Angeles |
1st |
of 3 teams |
| 1928 - Amsterdam |
1st |
of 9 teams |
| |
|
|
| Great Britain have participated in 15 Olympic Games |
| 2004 - Athens |
9th |
of 12 teams |
| 2000 - Sydney |
6th |
of 12 teams |
| 1996 - Atlanta |
7th |
of 12 teams |
| 1992 - Barcelona |
6th |
of 12 teams |
| 1988 - Seoul |
1st |
of 12 teams |
| 1984 - Los Angeles |
3rd |
of 12 teams |
| 1972 - Munich |
6th |
of 16 teams |
| 1968 - Mexico |
12th |
of 16 teams |
| 1964 - Tokyo |
n/c* |
of 15 teams |
| 1960 - Rome |
4th |
of 16 teams |
| 1956 - Melbourne |
4th |
of 12 teams |
| 1952 - Helsinki |
3rd |
of 12 teams |
| 1948 - London |
2nd |
of 13 teams |
| 1920 - Antwerp |
1st |
of 4 teams (as England) |
| 1908 - London |
1st |
of 6 teams (as England) |
| |
|
|
| Austria have participated in 3 Olympic Games |
| 1952 - Helsinki |
7th |
of 12 teams |
| 1948 - London |
n/c* |
of 13 teams |
| 1928 - Amsterdam |
n/c* |
of 9 teams |
| |
|
|
| Russia have participated in 3 Olympic Games |
| 1992 - Barcelona |
10th |
of 12 teams (as United Team) |
| 1988 - Seoul |
7th |
of 12 teams (as USSR) |
| 1980 - Moscow |
3rd |
of 6 teams (as USSR) |
| |
|
|
| Mexico have participated in 2 Olympic Games |
| 1972 - Munich |
16th |
of 16 teams |
| 1968 - Mexico |
16th |
of 16 teams |
(* n/c: unclassified)
