What are the origins of this fun-filled festive custom?
This is the first and only gold medal Panama has ever won, to date. "It is a dream come true. I am very proud to represent Panama and Latin America," he said.
Syria has a total of four Olympic medals, but the 1996 Games in Atlanta are particular special for Syrians. This is when they witnessed heptathlete Ghada Shouaa win gold.
Shouaa went on to become the top heptathlete in the world for two consecutive years after stepping onto the podium. She is considered one of the best Arab female athletes of all time.
Nazarov previously represented his country at the Olympics in 2004, 2008, and 2012. It was not until 2016 that he won a medal, and a gold one to boot!
Irving Saladino placed 36th in his event at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, so it seemed like he was far from becoming an Olympic medalist. Four year later, however, he beat the odds and won the gold medal in the long jump at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Tajikistan made Olympic history in the hammer throw competition at Rio 2016, when track and field athlete Dilshod Nazarov brought the gold medal home.
In Athens 2004, Ahmed Al-Maktoum won gold in the double trap event in shooting.
"Where you come from doesn’t matter at all. Whether you’re from a rich region or family or a poor one, you can still achieve your goals at school or in sport if you concentrate enough and dedicate yourself to them completely," said Mutola.
Over the years, there have been a few royals who have participated at the Olympics. Shaikh Ahmed Al-Maktoum (middle) from the UAE actually participated in three.
The victory did not bring any animosity between the two Olympians, though. "There is never any trash talk. I would love to see him in Singapore. He’s just an overall good guy," said Schooling of Phelps.
Swimmer Joseph Schooling made history in Rio 2016. Not only did he win Singapore's first and only gold medal, but he also did it by beating Michael Phelps in the 100 m butterfly!
The East African nation saw track and field athlete Maria Mutola first compete in the Olympics in 1988 at the age of 15. It was not until years later that she won her country's first ever Olympic gold in the 800 m event at Sydney 2000.
The taekwondo featherweight athlete Ahmad Abughaush made history at the Rio 2016 Games. Not only did he win Jordan's first ever Olympic medal, but he brought the most valuable one home: gold!
Jordan went on to win silver and bronze at Tokyo 2020 (in taekwondo and karate), but Ahmad Abughaush remains the the only athlete with an Olympic gold medal in the country's history.
Peru's only gold medal was won by Edwin Vásquez in the 50 m pistol event at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London.
Suriname's Anthony Nesty beat Matt Biondi from Team USA and brought the gold medal home, putting Suriname's name in the Olympic books.
One-hundredth of a second (0.01) was the difference between the silver and gold in the 100 m butterfly event of the 1988 Olympics in Seoul.
Kirani James went on to win silver at Rio 2016, and bronze at Tokyo 2020. James is the first and only Grenadian Olympic medalist in history!
London 2012 saw 18-year-old sprinter Kirani James winning gold in the 400 m category.
"The gold medal for me is the encouragement of two years of hard work. I started in 2013, and here I am. I am very proud of my medal," he said.
Hoàng Xuân Vinh was 41 when he won his gold medal in the 10 m air pistol event at the Rio 2016 Games. It was the first Olympic gold in Vietnam's history.
Sources: (Ranker) (The Olympics)
See also: Countries that pay the most for an Olympic gold medal
Rio 2016 was the stage where Ivorian taekwondo athlete Cheick Sallah Cisse made history. This was also Cisse's first ever Olympic Games.
Poll went on to win two bronze medals at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, but she'll certainly never forget the moment she stood on the podium with a gold medal around her neck in 1996.
In 1996, swimmer Claudia Poll became the first Costa Rican athlete to win a gold medal. She did so in the 200 m freestyle swimming event at the Atlanta Games.
"I am so thrilled I could execute, and yeah, I achieved my dream of winning a gold medal, but also winning Bermuda's first gold medal," she said.
Niyongabo won Burundi's first and only Olympic gold medal in the 5,000 m race at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
Tokyo 2020 was special for triathlete Flora Duffy. For the first time in history, a Bermudian athlete won gold!
The East African nation is far from being an Olympic powerhouse, but long-distance runner Venuste Niyongabo made sure his country's name entered Olympic history.
Countries such as the US, China, and Great Britain (to name a few) have hundreds of Olympic gold medals to their names, but this is not the case for every nation competing at the Games. In fact, some countries only have one single gold medal—a medal they are certainly very proud of.
Some of the stories about how these athletes won gold are truly fascinating. These men and women put their countries in the exclusive list of Olympic gold winners, and now it's time to get to know them. Click on for more!
Countries with exactly one Olympic gold medal
It took one nation nearly 100 years to win gold
LIFESTYLE Olympic games
Countries such as the US, China, and Great Britain (to name a few) have hundreds of Olympic gold medals to their names, but this is not the case for every nation competing at the Games. In fact, some countries only have one single gold medal—a medal they are certainly very proud of.
Some of the stories about how these athletes won gold are truly fascinating. These men and women put their countries in the exclusive list of Olympic gold winners, and now it's time to get to know them. Click on for more!