Olympic Families

It is not unusual for sporting success to run in families, largely in part to common fortunate genes. There would be hundreds of related athletes who have participated in the Olympics, below are examples of just some of the more interesting related competitors at the Summer Olympic Games. See also many more examples of Royal families competing at the Olympics. See more Olympic Trivia.

Siblings

The first brother and sister to win Olympic medals were William Dod , who won the men's archery competition, and his sister Charlotte 'Lottie' Dod who won the silver medal in the women's archery competition - in 1908.

, who won the men's archery competition, and his sister who won the silver medal in the women's archery competition - in 1908. Kenyan born distance runner Bernard Lagat is a five-time Olympian, having competed in the 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016 games. In 2016, he was joined at the Games by his sister Viola Lagat representing Kenya.

is a five-time Olympian, having competed in the 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016 games. In 2016, he was joined at the Games by his sister representing Kenya. Godfrey Brown won gold and silver in the 400 yds and 4x400 relay in 1936, and his sister Audrey Brown won the silver on the same day in the womens 100 yd relay for Great Britain.

won gold and silver in the 400 yds and 4x400 relay in 1936, and his sister won the silver on the same day in the womens 100 yd relay for Great Britain. Four sets of siblings competed for Australia in Beijing - three playing in the water polo competition and one in the hockey team.

Brothers

The first brothers to win Olympic gold medals were Americans John and Sumner Paine - they came first in the military pistol and free pistol shooting events respectively in 1896.

- they came first in the military pistol and free pistol shooting events respectively in 1896. At the 1912 Games, the winning yacht in the 6m class "Mac Miche", was crewed by three French brothers - Amedée, Gaston and Jacques Thube .

. Italian fencers Aldo and Nedo Nadi won a combined 9 gold medals, and one silver when Aldo lost to Nedo. (1912 Stockholm, 1920 Antwerp)

won a combined 9 gold medals, and one silver when Aldo lost to Nedo. (1912 Stockholm, 1920 Antwerp) In 2016, Great Britain's Alistair Brownlee and his younger brother Jonny Brownlee took first and second place in the men's triathlon. Four years earlier in 2012, they finished first and third.

and his younger brother took first and second place in the men's triathlon. Four years earlier in 2012, they finished first and third. Germany's Christoph Harting won gold in the Rio 2016 discus, following his brother Robert's win in 2012. William Dod (1908) with his sister

Charlotte 'Lottie' Dod

became the first brother and sister

to win Olympic medals (1908) with his sisterbecame the first brother and sisterto win Olympic medals

Twins (and more)

The first twins to win Olympic Gold medals were the Swedish brothers Vilhelm Carlberg (3 golds) and Eric Carlberg (2 gold) in shooting in 1912.

(3 golds) and (2 gold) in shooting in 1912. At Moscow 1980 both the gold and silver medal-winning rowing teams in the coxless pairs event were identical twins - Gold went to Bernd and Jorg Landvoigt (East Germany), silver to Nikolai and Yuri Pimenov (Soviet Union).

(East Germany), silver to (Soviet Union). Identical twins Georgina Earl and Caroline Meyer (both formerly Evers-Swindells) competed together in the rowing double sculls, winning gold at Athens in 2004 and Beijing in 2008

and (both formerly Evers-Swindells) competed together in the rowing double sculls, winning gold at Athens in 2004 and Beijing in 2008 Triplets Leila, Liina and Lily Luik from Estonia made history when they took part in the marathon at the Rio Olympics, becoming the first identical triplets to compete against each other.

Mother - Son

In Rio 2016 a mother and son from Georgia both competed in shooting events. For Nino Salukvadze it was her 8th Olympics, and for the first time she was joined by her son Tsotne Machavariani.

Mother - Daughter

The first time in which a mother and daughter competed in an Olympic event together was the golf tournament of 1900. The event was won by US golfer Margaret Abbott . Her mother Mary Abbott , a novelist, also competed in the event, finishing joint seventh.

. Her mother , a novelist, also competed in the event, finishing joint seventh. British archers Jessie and Brenda Wadworth were the only other mother and daughter to compete at the same Olympics. They competed in 1908 in the only archery event open to women, the double National round competition. Jessie came forth, while Brenda finished in ninth place.

Father - Son

Swedish shooters, Oscar Swahn ("the oldest ever Olympian") and his son, Alfred Swahn , competed together at the 1912, 1920, and 1924 Olympics.

("the oldest ever Olympian") and his son, , competed together at the 1912, 1920, and 1924 Olympics. Rower Jack Kelly from the USA won a gold in 1920, and his son, Jack Jr. Kelly , took bronze in 1956.

from the USA won a gold in 1920, and his son, , took bronze in 1956. Fijian sailor Colin Philp, Sr. , competed with his son Tony Philp in 1984, 1988 and 1992. Also, another sibling joined them in 1988 ( Colin, Jr. Philp ) and in 1992 ( David Philp ).

, competed with his son in 1984, 1988 and 1992. Also, another sibling joined them in 1988 ( ) and in 1992 ( ). US sprinter Charlie Jenkins won a gold medal in 1956 in the 400m and 4x400m relay. Thirty-six years later, his son Charles "Chip" Jenkins won a gold in the 4x400m, making it the first time in history that a father and a son won gold medals in the same event.

won a gold medal in 1956 in the 400m and 4x400m relay. Thirty-six years later, his son won a gold in the 4x400m, making it the first time in history that a father and a son won gold medals in the same event. Father and Son, William Earl Buchan and William Carl Buchan won gold medals at the same Olympics but in different events. Both won sailing gold in the 1984 Olympics while sailing on different boats: Bill sailed a Star and Carl sailed a Flying Dutchman.

and won gold medals at the same Olympics but in different events. Both won sailing gold in the 1984 Olympics while sailing on different boats: Bill sailed a Star and Carl sailed a Flying Dutchman. At Barcelona in 1992, Andreas Keller won a gold medal as part of the German field hockey team, and became the third generation of his family to win a medal in the event. His grandfather, Erwin Keller, earned a silver medal in 1936 and his father, Carsten Keller, a gold in 1972.

Father - Daughter

Danish Sailors Paul Elvstrøm and his daughter, Trine Elvstrøm-Myralf, competed in the same Olympic event twice, in 1984 and 1988 competing in the Mixed Multihull. They finished 4th in 1984, 15th in 1988. The father was previously a four-time winner of the one-person dinghy event from 1948 to 1960.

Husband - Wife

Count Hermann Alexandre de Pourtalès and Countess Hélène de Pourtalès (from an old Huguenot family of Switzerland). Both husband and wife sailed on the same boat and won a gold and a silver in the 1-2 ton sailing class at the 1900 Olympic Games. He was the first member of royalty to become an Olympic champion. Hélène was the first woman to compete at the Olympics and the first female Olympic medalist. Their nephew Bernard was also a crew member.

(from an old Huguenot family of Switzerland). Both husband and wife sailed on the same boat and won a gold and a silver in the 1-2 ton sailing class at the 1900 Olympic Games. He was the first member of royalty to become an Olympic champion. Hélène was the first woman to compete at the Olympics and the first female Olympic medalist. Their nephew Bernard was also a crew member. Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips — They met through equestrian events, and were married between 1973 and 1992. Phillips was a member of the British three-day event team, which won the gold medal at the Munich Olympics and in 1988 won silver in the same event. Anne competed as a member of the UK equestrian team in 1976. Their daughter Zara competed in the 2012 London Olympics.

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