The National Olympic and Sports Association of Iceland sent a total of 26 athletes, 21 men and 5 women, to compete in 5 sports, including men's handball, the nation's only team-based sport at these Olympic games. Seven Icelandic athletes had previously competed in Sydney, including swimmer Örn Arnarson, who finished fourth in the men's 200 m backstroke. Handball player Guðmundur Hrafnkelsson, who competed in his third Olympics since 1988 and helped his team set a remarkable comeback to the Games after an eight-year absence, was appointed by the committee to become the nation's flag bearer in the opening ceremony.[1]
Iceland failed to win an Olympic medal for the first time since 1996, although pole vaulter Þórey Edda Elísdóttir achieved a best result for the team at these Games with a fifth-place finish.
Icelandic athletes have so far achieved qualifying standards in the following athletics events (up to a maximum of 3 athletes in each event at the 'A' Standard, and 1 at the 'B' Standard).[2][3]
Key
Note–Ranks given for track events are within the athlete's heat only
Q = Qualified for the next round
q = Qualified for the next round as a fastest loser or, in field events, by position without achieving the qualifying target
Icelandic swimmers earned qualifying standards in the following events (up to a maximum of 2 swimmers in each event at the A-standard time, and 1 at the B-standard
time):
