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China has won at least one gymnastics gold medal every year since 1984.

Competed in the 1932, 1936 and 1948 Olympics, and had a single swimmer at the 1952 Games.

After that, left the Olympic arena - except for the 1980 Olympic Winter Games in Lake Placid - until 1984. Boycotted the 1980 Moscow Games.

In 1956, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) accepted a Taiwanese team, called the Republic of China, for the Games in Melbourne, and the People's Republic dropped out when a nationalist Chinese banner was raised in the Olympic Village.

In order to resolve the China/Taiwan issue, the IOC decided in 1981 that Taiwan, which was formerly known as the Republic of China, would become Chinese Taipei. China showed up with a full-strength delegation in 1984, 1988, and 1992.

At the 2000 Games, China finished third with 59 medals (28 gold, 16 silver, 15 bronze).

In Athens, China finished third with 63 medals, but more than half (32) were gold. Only the United States won more gold medals (36).

Although China didn't win its first medal until 1984, it now ranks 13^th on the all-time medal chart with 286 - 112 gold, 96 silver and 78 bronze - obtained in only six Games.

Beijing was defeated by Sydney in the fourth and final round of voting for the right to host the 2000 Games. On July 13, 2001, Beijing was awarded the 2008 Games over Toronto, Istanbul, Paris and Osaka.