Croatia competed at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, from 13 to 29 August 2004. This was the nation's fourth consecutive appearance at the Summer Olympics since the post-Yugoslav era. The Croatian Olympic Committee sent the nation's smallest delegation to the Games since its debut in 1992. A total of 81 athletes, 66 men and 15 women, competed in 14 sports. Men's water polo, and men's handball were the only team-based sports in which Croatia had its representation in these Olympic Games. The Croatian team featured three Olympic medalists from Sydney: rowers and brothers Nikša and Siniša Skelin, and four-time Olympian and defending weightlifting champion Nikolaj Pešalov in the men's lightweight class. Table tennis player and Olympic silver medalistZoran Primorac became the first Croatian to participate in five Olympic Games as an individual athlete. Former Bosnian athlete and discus throwerDragan Mustapić served as the team captain and oldest member of the team at age 41, while backstroke swimmer Sanja Jovanović was youngest at age 17. Three-time Olympic water polo player and two-time medalist Dubravko Šimenc was appointed by the committee to become the nation's flag bearer in the opening ceremony. Croatia left Athens with a total of five medals, being considered as the nation's most successful Olympics in history based on the overall medal tally. All of these medals were awarded for the first time to the Croatian athletes in swimming, men's coxless pair in rowing, and men's tennis doubles. Meanwhile, Croatia men's handball team proved particularly successful in Athens, as they beat the Germans for their only gold medal at these Games, adding it to their previous record from the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.
Croatian athletes have so far achieved qualifying standards in the following athletics events. ;Men ;Track & road events ;Field events ;Women ;Field events
Boxing
Croatia sent two boxers to the 2004 Summer Olympics.
Canoeing
Slalom
Sprint
Qualification Legend: Q = Qualify to final; q = Qualify to semifinal
Equestrian
Eventing
Handball
;Summary
Men's tournament
;Roster ;Group play ;Quarterfinal ;Semifinal ;Gold Medal Final ; Won Gold Medal
Rowing
Croatian rowers qualified the following boats: ;Men Qualification Legend: FA=Final A ; FB=Final B ; FC=Final C ; FD=Final D ; FE=Final E ; FF=Final F ; SA/B=Semifinals A/B; SC/D=Semifinals C/D; SE/F=Semifinals E/F; R=Repechage
Sailing
Croatian sailors have qualified one boat for each of the following events. ;Men ;Open M = Medal race; OCS = On course side of the starting line; DSQ = Disqualified; DNF = Did not finish; DNS= Did not start; RDG = Redress given
Shooting
;Women
Swimming
Croatian swimmers earned qualifying standards in the following events : ;Men ;Women
Table tennis
Three Croatian table tennis players qualified for the following events. ;Men
Taekwondo
Two Croatian taekwondo jin qualified for the following events.
Tennis
Croatia nominated three male and two female tennis players in the tournament.
Water polo
Men's tournament
;Roster ;Group play ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ;7th-12th Classification Quarterfinal ---- ;7th-10th Classification Semifinal ---- ;9th-10th Place Classification
