Yesterday was the third anniversary of Mongolia’s first Olympic gold medal. On August 14, 2008, N.Tuvshinbayar won the gold medal in the heavyweight (100kg) judo competition at the Beijing Olympics. He was the first gold medalist from Mongolia since the country began participating in the Olympic Games in 1964.

Twenty-one athletes from Mongolia took part in the 1964 Games, which were held in Tokyo. Mongolia won its first Olympic medals four years later in Mexico City, with Mongolian athletes taking home one silver and two bronze medals.

In addition to N.Tuvshinbayar, the following Mongolian athletes also won medals at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing: E.Badar-Uugan (boxing, 57 kg), gold medal; O.Gundegmaa, (25-meter sport pistol) and P.Serdamba (boxing, 48 kg) silver medals. And Mongolian athlete D.Baatarjav won a gold medal at the 2008 Paralympic Games.

With the 2012 Olympics in London beginning in less than a year, we wish all Mongolia’s Olympic competitors good luck!