Historically, Italy has been successful in the Olympic Games, taking part from the first Olympiad and in 47 Games out of 48, not having "officially" participated in the 1904 Summer Olympics. Italy has taken part in all the Winter Olympic Games, winning 141 medals, and 618 medals at the Summer Olympic Games. Italy has won a total of 259 gold medals which makes them the 6th most successful country in Olympic history, after the USA, the Soviet Union, Germany, Great Britain and France. Italy has the sixth highest medal total of all time with 759. Italy has the third longest medaling streak after Sweden and Finland. Italy has medaled in 40 straight Olympic games, starting with the 1936 Summer Olympics. The Italian National Olympic Committee was created in 1914 and recognised in 1915. As of 2020 Italy is the most successful nation at fencing in Olympic history. Hosted Games Italy has hosted the Games on three occasions, with a fourth occasion is planning for the 2026 Winter Olympics. Medal tables According to the official count of the International Olympic Committee, Italy has won 618 medals at Summer Olympics. In the Summer Olympic Games, Italy has finished 2nd in 1932, 3rd in 1960, 4th in 1936, and 5th in 1924, 1928, 1948, 1952, 1956, 1964, 1980 and 1984. In the Winter Olympic Games, Italy has finished 4th in 1968 and 1994, and 6th in 1952 and 1992. Italy ranks 1st all-time in fencing, 2nd in cycling, 3rd in luge, 4th in boxing and shooting, 5th in alpine skiing, and 6th in bobsled, cross-country skiing and short track speed skating. Medals by Summer Games Performance of cyclist Frank Bizzoni, who immigrated from Italy to the United States but still was an Italian citizen by some accounts in 1904, is currently disputed and not recognized by the International Olympic Committee. Medals by Winter Games Medals by summer sport Medals by winter sport Athletes with most appearances Notes: the names highlighted in pink indicate that they are female athletes. Notes: the names in bold indicate that they are still active. Athletes with most medals The Italian athlete who won the most medals in the history of the Olympic Games, is the fencer Edoardo Mangiarotti. Men gold medalist In this table (sorted by individual totals gold medals), the men who have won gold individual medals at the Olympics (but also at the World Championships). Notes: