We look back at all the results at the MTB events in the Olympic Games, from Atlanta 1996 to Tokyo 2021

In 1996 mountain biking was for the first time an Olympic sport at the Olympic Games in Atlanta, something that at the time was quite an achievement if we take into account that this modality had been born just a decade before. With Paris 2024 just a few weeks away, let's take a look back at the winners in each edition.

We look back at all the results of the Olympic Games in MTB since 1996

1996 Atlanta Olympic Games

Dutchman Bart Bretjens and Italian Paola Pezzo made history by becoming the first ever Olympic mountain bike champions.

Medals in the men's event

1. Bart Bretjens NED
2. Thomas Frischknecht SUI
3. Miguel Martinez FRA

Medals in the women's event

1. Paola Pezzo ITA
2. Alison Sydor CAN
3. Susan Demattei EE.UU

2000 Sydney Olympic Games

By the year 2000 mountain biking was still young but its evolution and success were unstoppable. In the women's category, Paola Pezzo would win her second gold medal, something that no other cyclist had achieved so far. Moreover, a first generation change was already taking place.

Medals in the men's event

1. Miguel Martinez FRA
2. Filip Meirhaeghe BEL
3. Christoph Sauser SUI

Medals in the women's event

1. Paola Pezzo ITA
2. Barbara Blatter SUI
3. Margarita Fullana ESP

2004 Athens Olympic Games

Athens 2004 marked the beginning of the Absalon era and Hermida continued to make his place in the history of the sport with his silver medal.

Medals in the men's event

1. Julian Absalon FRA
2. Jose Antonio Hermida ESP
3. Bart Bretjens NED

Medals in the women's event

1. Gunn Rita Dahle-Flesjå NOR
2. Marie-Helene Premont CAN
3. Sabine Spitz GER

2008 Beijing Olympics

We can mark Beijing 2008 as the Olympic Games in which a generation of MTB began, of which Schurter is the last representative. Absalon continued with his mandate, but in Beijing a certain Nino Schurter won the bronze medal and for Carlos Coloma it would be his first participation in an Olympic Games.

Medals in the men's event

1. Julian Absalon FRA
2. Jean Christophe Peraud FRA
3. Nino Schurter SUI

Medals in the women's event

1. Sabine Spitz GER
2. Maja Wloszczowska POL
3. Irina Kalentyeva RUS

2012 London Olympic Games

Medals in the men's event

1. Jaroslav Kulhavy CZE
2. Nino Schurter SUI
3. Marco Aurelio Fontana ITA

Medals in the women's event

1. Julie Bresset FRA
2. Sabine Spitz GER
3. Georgia Gould USA

2016 Rio Olympic Games

The Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro were undoubtedly the beginning, or the confirmation, of the modern XCO. On an artificial and technical course, the Swiss Nino Schurter won the last major title that was missing from his list of titles and the Swedish Jenny Rissveds surprised everyone with her victory in the women's race.

Medals in the men's event

1. Nino Schurter SUI
2. Jaroslav Kulhavy CZE
3. Carlos Coloma ESP

Medals in the women's event

1. Jenny Rissveds SUE
2. Maja Wloszczowska POL
3. Catharine Pendrel CAN

2021 Tokyo Olympic Games

A year late due to the Covid pandemic, the XCO event at the Tokyo Olympics was an extraordinary race in every way. The heat and humidity were very conditioning factors for everyone, but Great Britain's Thomas Pidcock took the men's gold medal after an amazing performance. In the women's race, Switzerland's Jolanda Neff surprised everyone with a very high level that allowed her to take the gold medal after a tough fight at the beginning of the race with France's Pauline Ferrand Prevot.

The men's podium went to Pidcock, gold, Mathias Fluckiger, silver, and an epic David Valero, bronze, who made a historic comeback to get into the medals.

Medals in the men's event

1. Thomas Pidcock GB
2. Mathias Fluckiger SUI
3. David Valero ESP

The women's podium was entirely Swiss with Jolanda Neff, Sina Frei and Linda Indergand.

Medals in the women's event

1. Jolanda Neff SUI
2. Sina Frei SUI
3. Linda Indergand SUi

After reviewing all the results of the MTB event at the Olympic Games, who are your favourites for Paris 2024? We read you on our social networks!