What country won the first gold medal in the first modern-day Olympics?

Brainy Blonde

James B. Connolly (United States), winner of the hop, step, and jump (the first final event in the 1896 Olympics), was the first Olympic champion of the modern Olympic Games. Several sites confirm this, including: http://history1900s.about.com/library/misc/blolympicfacts.htm?terms=olympics Sep 25 02, 1:18 PM

RickF

If memory serves - and as you get older it does so less and less - gold medals were not awarded at the 1896 Olympics. I think winners got a silver medal and a wreath of laurel leaves. Also, the concept of 'country teams' did not really arrive until later. Most of the competitors were either Greek, or over there to work or on holiday. There were no official teams and entry was as indiviuals - and paid for individually. Sep 25 02, 2:25 PM