We look back at all the results at the MTB events in the Olympic Games, from Atlanta 1996 to Rio 2016

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 Tokyo 2020 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 that started a generation of MTB that could end in Tokyo 2020. Absalon continued with his reign, but in Beijing a rider named Nino Schurter won the bronze medal

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

After reviewing all the results of the MTB event at the Olympic Games, who are your favourites for Tokyo 2021? We read you on our social networks!