The 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Canada, marked a historic milestone for Bermuda as boxer Clarence Hill won the island’s first-ever Olympic medal, placing Bermuda on the map as the smallest country or territory to win a Summer Olympic medal, a distinction that we held until 2021. Bermuda also showcased talent in sailing and athletics, and made an Olympic relay appearance, entering a 4x100m track team.
The official Olympic site notes: “The 1976 Montreal Games were marred by an African boycott involving 22 countries. The boycott was organised by Tanzania to protest the fact that the New Zealand rugby team had toured Apartheid South Africa and that New Zealand was scheduled to compete in the Olympic Games. Women’s events in basketball, rowing and team handball all made their Olympic debut. Hockey was played on an artificial pitch for the first time.”
- Location: Montreal, Canada
- Athletes: 6084
- Teams: 92
- Bermuda athletes: 16
- Sports Bermuda competed in: Athletics, Boxing & Sailing
- Athletics: Calvin Dill, Clark Godwin, Deborah Jones, Mike Sharpe, Gregory Simons, Raymond Swan, Renelda Swan, and Dennis Trott
- Boxing: Robert Burgess and Clarence Hill
- Sailing: Richard Belvin, Gordon Floor, Howard Lee, Larry Lindo, Raymond Pitman, and Penny Simmons
