Softball's first year as an Olympic sport was 1996. Unfortunately, softball is being dropped as an Olympic sport after the 2008 Games in Beijing.
Nigeria
American softball player Jennie Finch won two Olympic medals ... a gold at the 2004 Games in Athens and a silver at the 2008 Games in Beijing.
Kieren Perkins won gold in men's 1500 meter freestyle and Susie O'Neill won gold in women's 200 meter butterfly at the 1996 Games in Atlanta.
Since netball is not an Olympic sport, Irene has not won an Olympic gold medal but she has won gold medals at the Netball World Championships and Commonwealth Games.
USA
Softball's first year as an Olympic sport was 1996. Unfortunately, softball is being dropped as an Olympic sport after the 2008 Games in Beijing.
The United States of America.
Softball was introduced as an Olympic medal sport for women in 1996. The United States won the gold medal at those Olympic Games held in Atlanta. As of now, softball is scheduled to be discontinued as an Olympic sport after the 2008 Games in Beijing.
Michele Smith won 2 gold medals with the United States Olympic softball team at the 1996 Games in Atlanta and the 2000 Games in Sydney.
The USA has won 3 gold medals in softball at the Olympics, in 1996 (Atlanta), 2000 (Sydney) and 2004 (Athens). They were beaten into the silver medal position by the hosts in 2008 (Beijing)
United States
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Japan won the last Olympic softball event. That was the only time the USA did not win the gold medal.
Japan won the last Olympic softball event. That was the only time the USA did not win the gold medal.
Softball made its Olympic premiere at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. It was the first of only four Olympic games featuring softball. The United States won gold, with China placing second and Australia third.
Nigeria