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In Rio, These 10 Countries Won Their First-Ever Olympic Gold Medal

Here is the list of the countries who won the gold for the first time in Olympic history. 

AP
Published: 
Sports Buzz
3 min read
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For some nations, winning an Olympic gold is quite the regular occurrence. At the Rio de Janeiro Games, plenty of first-timers got to hear their anthems played in celebration as well.

Going into Sunday’s final day of competition in Rio, 10 teams — including the independent team of Olympians — were assured of leaving these games with their first gold medals.

That’s the most first-timers since 16 nations got their inaugural feel of Olympic gold at the Atlanta Games in 1996.

And those were hardly the only medal milestones at these games. The United States became the first team to win 1,000 gold medals in summer games competition, and a record 87 teams got at least one medal in Rio.

A look at the 10 first-time Olympic champions:–

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Bahrain

Ruth Jebet, born in Kenya but now running for Bahrain, won the women’s steeplechase. Bahrain was making its ninth trip to the Olympics.

Here is the list of the countries who won the gold for the first time in Olympic history. 
Bahrain’s Ruth Jebet shows off her gold medal during the ceremony for the women’s 3000-meter steeplechase final during the athletics competitions of the 2016 Summer Olympics at the Olympic stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo: AP)
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Fiji

Men’s rugby took gold, giving Fiji its first gold in 14 trips to the Summer Olympics.

Here is the list of the countries who won the gold for the first time in Olympic history. 
Fiji’s team phase for a group photograph after winning the men’s rugby sevens gold medal match against Britain at the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo: AP)
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The IOC

Fehaid Al Deehani is an officer in the Kuwaiti army, but his nation is suspended by the International Olympic Committee. He was permitted to compete as an independent, becoming the first with that distinction to win gold when he prevailed in double trap shooting.

Ivory Coast

Cheick Sallah Junior Cisse won gold in taekwondo, the first gold in 14 Olympiads for Côte d’Ivoire.

Here is the list of the countries who won the gold for the first time in Olympic history. 
Cheick Sallah Junior Cisse of Ivory Coast celebrates with his national flag after winning a men’s Taekwondo 80-kg gold medal final at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo: AP)
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Jordan

Ahmad Abughaush prevailed in taekwondo. This was Jordan’s 10th trip to the Summer Olympics.

Here is the list of the countries who won the gold for the first time in Olympic history. 
Ahmad Abughaush, of Jordan, shows of his gold medal in the men’s 68-kg taekwondo competition at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo: AP)
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Kosovo

Majlinda Kelmendi prevailed in women’s judo. Kosovo was first recognized by the IOC in 2014, so this was its first time at the Summer Games.

Here is the list of the countries who won the gold for the first time in Olympic history. 
Kosovo’s Majlinda Kelmendi receives the gold medal after winning the women’s 52-kg judo competition at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo: AP)
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Puerto Rico

Monica Puig won the women’s tennis gold, completing a dazzling run through the field. Puerto Rico’s first gold came in its 18th trip to the Summer Games.

Here is the list of the countries who won the gold for the first time in Olympic history. 
Monica Puig of Puerto Rico poses holding the gold medal of the women’s tennis competition at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo: AP)
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Singapore

Joseph Schooling won the men’s 100-meter butterfly, beating Michael Phelps among others. It took Singapore 16 trips to the Summer Games before winning a gold.

Here is the list of the countries who won the gold for the first time in Olympic history. 
United States’ silver medal winner Michael Phelps, Hungary’s silver medal winner Laszlo Cseh, Singapore’s gold medal winner Joseph Schooling and South Africa’s silver medal winner Chad Le Clos, from left, in the men’s 100-meter butterfly medals ceremony during the swimming competitions at the 2016 Summer Olympics, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo: AP)
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Tajikistan

Dilshod Nazarov won the men’s hammer throw. This was Tajikistan’s sixth time sending a team to the Summer Olympics.

Here is the list of the countries who won the gold for the first time in Olympic history. 
Tadjikistan’s Dilshod Nazarov holds up his gold medal for the men’s hammer throw during an athletics medals ceremony at the Summer Olympics at Olympic stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo: AP)
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Vietnam

Hoang Xuan Vinh in 10-meter air pistol gave the Vietnamese their first gold in 15 trips to the Olympics.

Here is the list of the countries who won the gold for the first time in Olympic history. 
Hoang Xuan Vinh of Vietnem displays his gold medal following the victory ceremony for the men’s 10-meter air pistol event at Olympic Shooting Center at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo: AP)

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Topics:  Olympics 2016   Sports   Rio Olympics 2016 

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