Argentina (ARG)

Although Argentina had a founding member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in José Benjamin Zubiaur, it did not have a National Olympic Committee until the 1920s. In early 1920, the Comité Pro-Juegos Olimpicos de Amberes was founded, and Dr. Marcelo de Alvear became president. As Alvear was residing in Paris, the vice-president, Dr. Cesar Vialle, acted as president. In March 1922, this Committee was dissolved and, on 31 December 1923, the Comité Olímpico Argentino was formed.

Argentina first competed officially at the 1924 Olympics in Paris. Prior to that, at least three Argentine athletes had competed at the Olympics: Francisco Camet as a fencer in 1900, Horatio Torromé in 1908 figure skating, and a boxer, Ángel Rodríguez, in 1920. Since 1924, Argentina has competed at every Olympic Games, with the exception of 1980. Argentina has won more Olympic gold medals than any other South American country, except for Brazil. Two Argentines have won four medals: Carlos Espínola has won four in sailing from 1996-2008, with two silvers in windsurfing and two bronzes in the Multihull Tornado class; and Lucha Aymar, who won two silver and two bronze in hockey from 2000-2012. The footballer Javier Mascherano is the only Argentine to win two gold medals (2004 and 2008).

Argentina has competed at the Olympic Winter Games of 1928, 1948, 1952, and all Winter Games since 1960. Although Argentina is most famous athletically for its footballers, at the Olympic Winter Games it has competed in nine disciplines – Alpine skiing, biathlon, bobsleigh, cross-country skiing, figure skating, freestyle skiing, luge, skeleton, snowboarding, and speed skating.

The Birkner’s and Simari Birkner’s represent the first family of Argentine Olympians, mostly in Alpine skiing. Macarena Simari Birkner competed at the 2002, 2010, and 2014 Olympic Winter Games, and her sister, Maria Belén Simari Birkner, competed in 2002, 2006, and 2010. Their brother, Cristian Simari Birkner, competed four times, from 2002-14. In addition, other members of this Argentine Winter Olympic family include Carolina Birkner (1988), an aunt to all three above; her twin brother, Ignacio Birkner (1988); another brother, Jorge Birkner (1984-88); and her nephew, also called Jorge Birkner (2014) (cousin to Macarena, Maria Belén, and Cristian). Other cousins of this family include Bautista Saubidet and Francisco Saubidet, who windsurfed at the 2016 and 2020 Olympic Games, respectively.

In 1943, the Olympic Committee of Argentina was awarded with the Olympic Cup.