Who Holds The Record For The Most Olympic Medals For India
India has secured a total of 35 Olympic medals, with 12 of those medals coming from team sports. This impressive tally has resulted in 222 physical Olympic medals being awarded to Indian athletes . The men’s hockey teams of 1928-1936 and 1948-64 were particularly dominant, contributing significantly to this count. Despite these successes, only a small number of Indians have earned multiple medals in individual sports.
In the history of Indian participation in the Olympics, 37 athletes have won multiple medals, collectively amassing 88 medals, while 134 athletes have each secured a single medal. Considering that only 171 Indians have ever laid hands on an Olympic medal, this achievement is indeed noteworthy. Here, we honor those who have won the most Olympic medals for India.
Four Olympic Medals:
- Udham Singh - Field Hockey - 1952 Gold, 1956 Gold, 1960 Silver, 1964 Gold
- Leslie Claudius - Field Hockey - 1948 Gold, 1952 Gold, 1956 Gold, 1960 Silver
Udham Singh and Leslie Claudius are among the elite group of athletes who have each won four Olympic medals as part of India's legendary men’s hockey teams. Singh holds the distinction of winning the most Olympic medals for India, further enhancing his legacy as the coach of the team that won bronze in the 1968 Mexico City Olympics. Although he missed the 1948 Olympics due to a finger injury, his versatility on the field is well remembered.
Claudius, who was the first Indian to win four Olympic medals, also made history as the first hockey player globally to compete in four Olympics and achieve 100 caps for his national team.
Three Olympic Medals:
- Dhyan Chand - Field Hockey - 1928 Gold, 1932 Gold, 1936 Gold
- Richard James Allen - Field Hockey - 1928 Gold, 1932 Gold, 1936 Gold
- Balbir Singh Sr. - Field Hockey - 1948 Gold, 1952 Gold, 1956 Gold
- Ranganathan Francis - Field Hockey - 1948 Gold, 1952 Gold, 1956 Gold
- Randhir Singh Gentle - Field Hockey - 1948 Gold, 1952 Gold, 1956 Gold
Dhyan Chand, often hailed as India’s greatest hockey player, along with Richard James Allen, won three consecutive gold medals for India. Dhyan Chand's incredible skill in goal-scoring is legendary, with 33 goals in 12 Olympic matches. Meanwhile, Allen’s prowess as a goalkeeper is unmatched, with only two goals conceded across three Olympics, a record that still stands.
Balbir Singh Sr., recognized as one of the finest centre-forwards in hockey history, led India to three post-war Olympic gold medals. His remarkable goal-scoring ability was crucial to India's dominance, including his record-breaking five goals in the 1952 Olympic final against the Netherlands. Ranganathan Francis and Randhir Singh Gentle were also key figures in India’s success during this era.
Other notable Indians who have won three Olympic medals include Shankar Lakshman (2 Gold, 1 Silver), Haripal Kaushik (2 Gold, 1 Silver), John Peter (1 Gold, 1 Silver, 1 Bronze), Prithipal Singh (1 Gold, 1 Silver, 1 Bronze), and Harbinder Singh (1 Gold, 2 Bronze).
Two Olympic Medals:
- Norman Pritchard - Men’s 200m Sprint and Hurdles - 1900 Silver x2
- Sushil Kumar - Wrestling - 2008 Bronze, 2012 Silver
- PV Sindhu - Badminton - 2016 Silver, 2020 Bronze
Norman Pritchard was India’s first Olympic medalist, earning two silver medals in the 1900 Paris Games. Although there is some debate about his representation, the IOC records him as competing for British India.
Sushil Kumar ended a 56-year wait for an Indian wrestling medal with his bronze in 2008, followed by a silver in 2012. He remains the only Indian wrestler with multiple Olympic medals.
PV Sindhu made history by winning India’s second-ever Olympic medal in badminton with a silver in 2016 and a bronze in 2020. She remains the only Indian woman with multiple Olympic medals and aims to make history again at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Several other Indian hockey players have also earned two Olympic medals, including Carlyle Tapsell, Roop Singh, and Jaswant Rai, among others.
On the Verge of More:
Athletes like Neeraj Chopra, Lovlina Borgohain, Mirabai Chanu, and members of the current men’s hockey team have the potential to add to their Olympic medal tally at the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics.