Afghanistan at the 2016 Summer Olympics


competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 5 to 21 August 2016. The country's participation at Rio de Janeiro marked its fourth consecutive appearance at the Summer Olympics. and fourteenth total. Afghanistan had officially made its debut in 1936 and missed five editions. Rohullah Nikpai, who previously won a medal for Afghanistan in taekwondo did not participate. Afghanistan failed to earn a single Olympic medal in Rio for the first time since 2004.

Background

Afghanistan had participated in twelve Summer Olympics between its debut in the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Nazi Germany, and the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Afghanistan won a total of two bronze medals in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 2012 London Olympics respectively, both by Rohullah Nikpai in Taekwondo. The Afghanistan National Olympic Committee sent a total of three athletes to the Games, trimming into half of the roster from London 2012. Track sprinters Abdul Wahib Zahiri and Kamia Yousufi competed in athletics, while judoka Mohammad Tawfiq Bakhshi was selected to carry the Afghan flag in the opening ceremony.

Athletics

Afghanistan was represented by Abdul Wahib Zahiri and Kamia Yousufi in athletics. Both athletes made their Olympic debuts, with Zahiri participating in the Men's 100 m event while Yousufi took part in the Women's 100 m. Yousufi ran her preliminary heat in a full-body kit and hijab. Despite finishing last and not qualifying for the next round, she became Afghanistan's national record holder with 14.02 seconds. Zahiri ran his heats in 11.56 seconds and finished seventh, failing to advance to the quarterfinals.
;Track & road events

Judo

31-year-old Mohammad Tawfiq Bakhski, captain of the Afghan national judo team, represented Afghanistan in men's judo and participated in the men's half-heavyweight category event. Bakhshi lost in the round of 64 to Jorge Fonseca of Portugal.