The history of Olympic mountain biking may be relatively short, starting in 1996 at the Atlanta Games, but it's packed with adrenaline-pumping moments and remarkable athletes. The only mountain biking discipline featured in the Olympics is Cross-Country (XC) cycling, and it's been thrilling audiences ever since its debut.

The Cross-Country Olympic (XCO) Format

Cross-Country Olympic (XCO) is the name of the game when it comes to Olympic mountain biking. It involves completing multiple laps around a challenging 4-10 km (2.5-6.0 mile) circuit, with elite races lasting around 90 minutes. It's a test of both endurance and technical skills, making it the heart-pounding spectacle that it is.

Olympic Mountain Biking Gold Medal Winners

• 1996 Atlanta
  • Gold: Bart Brentjens (Netherlands)
  • Silver: Thomas Frischknecht (Switzerland)
  • Bronze: Miguel Martinez (France)
• 2000 Sydney
  • Gold: Miguel Martinez (France)
  • Silver: Filip Meirhaeghe (Belgium)
  • Bronze: Christoph Sauser (Switzerland)
• 2004 Athens
  • Gold: Julien Absalon (France)
  • Silver: José Antonio Hermida (Spain)
  • Bronze: Bart Brentjens (Netherlands)
• 2008 Beijing
  • Gold: Julien Absalon (France)
  • Silver: Jean-Christophe Péraud (France)
  • Bronze: Nino Schurter (Switzerland)
• 2012 London
  • Gold: Jaroslav Kulhavý (Czech Republic)
  • Silver: Nino Schurter (Switzerland)
  • Bronze: Marco Aurelio Fontana (Italy)
• 2016 Rio de Janeiro
  • Gold: Nino Schurter (Switzerland)
  • Silver: Jaroslav Kulhavý (Czech Republic)
  • Bronze: Carlos Coloma Nicolás (Spain)
• 2020 Tokyo
  • Gold: Tom Pidcock (Great Britain)
  • Silver: Mathias Flückiger (Switzerland)
  • Bronze: David Valero (Spain)

Notably, in the Tokyo Games in 2021, we witnessed Mathieu van der Poel's flying crash—a moment etched in our memory. Out for revenge, he's already given the Paris 2024 course a test ride in September 2023, setting the stage for a thrilling showdown against defending champion Tom Pidcock.

Women's Olympic Mountain Biking Gold Medal Winners

• 1996 Atlanta
  • Gold: Paola Pezzo (Italy)
  • Silver: Alison Sydor (Canada)
  • Bronze: Susan DeMattei (United States)
• 2000 Sydney
  • Gold: Paola Pezzo (Italy)
  • Silver: Barbara Blatter (Switzerland)
  • Bronze: Margarita Fullana (Spain)
• 2004 Athens
  • Gold: Gunn-Rita Dahle (Norway)
  • Silver: Marie-Hélène Prémont (Canada)
  • Bronze: Sabine Spitz (Germany)
• 2008 Beijing
  • Gold: Sabine Spitz (Germany)
  • Silver: Maja Włoszczowska (Poland)
  • Bronze: Irina Kalentieva (Russia)
• 2012 London
  • Gold: Julie Bresset (France)
  • Silver: Sabine Spitz (Germany)
  • Bronze: Georgia Gould (United States)
• 2016 Rio de Janeiro
  • Gold: Jenny Rissveds (Sweden)
  • Silver: Maja Włoszczowska (Poland)
  • Bronze: Catharine Pendrel (Canada)
• 2020 Tokyo
  • Gold: Jolanda Neff (Switzerland)
  • Silver: Sina Frei (Switzerland)
  • Bronze: Linda Indergand (Switzerland)