Democratic Republic of the Congo (COD)

This nation was formerly known as the Belgian Congo, but changed its name to the Democratic Republic of the Congo upon independence in June 1960. In October 1971, the name was changed to Zaire, but in May 1997, the nation took back the name to Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The National Olympic Committee was formed on 28 November 1963 and recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in 1968. As the Democratic Republic of the Congo, it was represented by five cyclists at the Mexico City Olympics in 1968. The nation’s second Olympic appearance came 16 years later in Los Angeles as Zaire, where it was represented by three track & field athletes – two men and a woman – and six boxers. Zaire also competed in 1988, 1992, and 1996.

The country never competed in the Olympics as the Belgian Congo, and competed as the Democratic Republic of the Congo again in 2000, 2004, 2008, and 2012. It is also often referred to as Congo (Kinshasa) to differentiate it from the People’s Republic of the Congo, which is then called Congo (Brazzaville). No athlete from this variantly-named nation has yet won an Olympic medal.

It is difficult to describe the “best” performance by a Kinshasan Olympian. Four boxers have placed equal ninth, but two won only one match, and the other two won none, advancing by walkover or losing the first bout. The 1976 women’s basketball team placed 12th, but that was last place. The best performance probably occurred in 1996 when Willy Kalombo placed 16th in the men’s marathon, from 124 starters.