How many medals has India won in athletics at the Olympics over the years?

India has won a total of 38 medals so far at the Olympic Games since the first edition they competed in 1900. Of the 38 medals they have won until now, only three have come from athletics.

India’s first two medals have come from the 1900 Summer Olympics when they made their first appearance in the quadrennial event. Norman Pritchard, who is the first Indian to win the Olympic medal, won both of the nation's only two athletics medals.

Pritchard competed in the 200m sprint and 200m hurdles event at the 1900 Paris Olympics. He set a world record of 26.8s in the men's 200m hurdles semi-finals. He was overtaken soon after by USA's Alvin Kraenzlein, who ran 25.4s for the gold medal in the final. Pritchard settled for silver in 26.0 seconds.

Norman Pritchard also won the silver medal in the men's 200m sprint. He qualified for the final after a second-place finish in the semifinals and ran 22.8 to win his and his country's second silver medal. USA's Walter Tewksbury took the gold in 22.8.

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Neeraj Chopra brought home India's 3rd medal in athletics

Alongside Norman Pritchard’s two Olympic medals, Neeraj Chopra brought gold in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Neeraj Chopra thus became the first Indian to claim gold in athletics.

Chopra won India's first track and field Olympic gold medal in history after winning the men's javelin throw in Tokyo. He threw an impressive 86.65m in the qualification round to qualify for the final, where he later threw 87.58m to win the gold medal.

Neeraj Chopra also won the world title in the javelin throw at the 2023 World Championships with a throw of 88.17m. The 26-year-old is the favorite for another gold medal heading into the Paris Olympics 2024 javelin throw competition, the final of which is scheduled for August 8.