Slovakia at the 2016 Summer Olympics

Slovakia at the
2016 Summer Olympics
Slovakia at the; 2016 Summer Olympics
IOC code	SVK
NOC	Slovak Olympic and Sports Committee
Website	www.olympic.sk (in Slovak)
in Rio de Janeiro
Competitors	51 in 12 sports
Flag bearers	Danka Barteková (opening); Erik Vlček (closing)
Medals; Ranked 37th	Gold 2 Silver 2 Bronze 0 Total 4
Summer Olympics appearances (overview)
	1996; 2000; 2004; 2008; 2012; 2016; 2020; 2024;
Other related appearances
	Hungary (1896–1912); Czechoslovakia (1924–1992)

Slovakia competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 5 to 21 August 2016. This was the nation's sixth consecutive appearance at the Summer Olympics after gaining its independence from the former Czechoslovakia.

The Slovak Olympic Committee fielded a team of 51 athletes, 32 men and 19 women, across 12 sports at the Games. Although its full roster was larger by four athletes than in London 2012, this was still one of Slovakia's smallest delegations sent to the Summer Olympics.^[2]^[3] Slovakia made its Olympic debut in archery, as well as its return to synchronized swimming and table tennis after nearly a decade.

The Slovak team featured 17 returning Olympians, including skeet shooter Danka Barteková, who won the bronze in London four years earlier, 2015 world champion Matej Tóth, who entered his fourth consecutive Games as a top medal favorite in the 50 km race walk, and sprint kayaker and two-time medalist Erik Vlček, who joined the slalom canoe legend Michal Martikán as the only Slovaks participating in five Olympics. The only medalist returning from the previous Games to compete in Rio de Janeiro, Barteková was nominated by the committee to carry the Slovak flag at the opening ceremony.^[1] Other notable Slovak athletes included pro mountain biker Peter Sagan, twins Dana and Jana Velďáková in both long and triple jump, slalom canoe duo and cousins Ladislav and Peter Škantár, and world-ranked triathlete Richard Varga.

Slovakia left Rio de Janeiro with four medals (two gold and two silver), matching its overall tally from the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.^[4] Among the medalists were Tóth, who walked away with Slovakia's first ever track and field gold in his event, and the Škantár cousins, who succeeded the Hochschorner twins Pavol and Peter to win the Olympic title in the slalom canoe double.^[5]^[6]

^ ^a ^b "550. valné zhromaždenie SOV schválilo zloženie slovenskej výpravy na OH 2016, istých je 52 športovcov, s vlajkou na otváracom ceremoniáli Barteková" [50. The General Assembly approved the composition of the 52 athletes on the Slovak team at the 2016 Olympics, with Barteková carrying the flag in the opening ceremony] (in Slovak). Slovak Olympic Committee. 8 July 2016. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
^ "Slovensko vysiela na olympiádu 52 športovcov, nečakané zmeny v tenise" [Slovakia sends 52 athletes to the Olympics; unexpected changes happened in tennis] (in Slovak). TV Noviny. 30 July 2016. Retrieved 18 December 2016.
^ "Slovensko má na OH 2016 reprezentovať 52 športovcov, tenisti Martin aj Zelenay môžu hrať" [52 athletes will represent Slovakia at the 2016 Olympics; Tennis players Martin and Zelenay are eligible to play] (in Slovak). Slovak Olympic Committee. 30 July 2016. Retrieved 18 December 2016.
^ "Slovak athletes win four medals in Rio". RTVS. 18 December 2016. Retrieved 22 August 2016.
^ Mulvenney, Nick (19 August 2016). "Toth overhauls Tallent to win 50km walk gold". Reuters. Retrieved 18 December 2016.
^ "Success for Slovakia's Skantar cousins and Spain's Chourraut at the Whitewater Arena". Olympics. 12 August 2016. Retrieved 18 December 2016.

[flag-bearer-1] "550. valné zhromaždenie SOV schválilo zloženie slovenskej výpravy na OH 2016, istých je 52 športovcov, s vlajkou na otváracom ceremoniáli Barteková" [50. The General Assembly approved the composition of the 52 athletes on the Slovak team at the 2016 Olympics, with Barteková carrying the flag in the opening ceremony] (in Slovak). Slovak Olympic Committee. 8 July 2016. Retrieved 19 July 2016.

[2] "Slovensko vysiela na olympiádu 52 športovcov, nečakané zmeny v tenise" [Slovakia sends 52 athletes to the Olympics; unexpected changes happened in tennis] (in Slovak). TV Noviny. 30 July 2016. Retrieved 18 December 2016.

[3] "Slovensko má na OH 2016 reprezentovať 52 športovcov, tenisti Martin aj Zelenay môžu hrať" [52 athletes will represent Slovakia at the 2016 Olympics; Tennis players Martin and Zelenay are eligible to play] (in Slovak). Slovak Olympic Committee. 30 July 2016. Retrieved 18 December 2016.

[4] "Slovak athletes win four medals in Rio". RTVS. 18 December 2016. Retrieved 22 August 2016.

[5] Mulvenney, Nick (19 August 2016). "Toth overhauls Tallent to win 50km walk gold". Reuters. Retrieved 18 December 2016.

[6] "Success for Slovakia's Skantar cousins and Spain's Chourraut at the Whitewater Arena". Olympics. 12 August 2016. Retrieved 18 December 2016.

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