Laos at the 2012 Summer Olympics

Laos competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London when the event took part from 27 July – 12 August 2012. This was the nation's eighth consecutive Olympiad since 1980, except for the 1984 Summer Olympics boycott. Two athletes and one swimmer were selected to the Laotian Olympic team after the country did not qualify any competitors. Sprinter Kilakone Siphonexay was the nation's flag bearer at the opening and closing ceremonies. At the Olympics, Siphonexay and runner Laenly Phoutthavong failed to advance in the 100 m heats while swimmer Phathana Inthavong did not reach farther than the 50 m freestyle heats. Overall, Inthavong placed the highest for Laos in 2012 with a 56th finish.

Laos at the
2012 Summer Olympics
IOC codeLAO
NOCNational Olympic Committee of Laos
in London
Competitors3 in 2 sports
Flag bearer Kilakone Siphonexay
Medals
Gold
0
Silver
0
Bronze
0
Total
0
Summer Olympics appearances (overview)

Background

Following the 1978 formation of the National Olympic Committee of Laos, the NOC became part of the International Olympic Committee in 1979.[1] Laos appeared at their first Olympic Games at the 1980 Summer Olympics.[2] In May 1984, Laos became one of several countries to withdraw their participation from the 1984 Summer Olympics.[3] After not appearing in 1984, Laos competed in six consecutive Summer Olympics leading up to the 2012 Summer Olympics, which took place from 27 July to 12 August.[4][5]

While training at Chao Anouvong Stadium, the Laotian runners used concrete barbell weights made from paint cans and tires. These weights were joined together with beams from scaffolding.[6] For the 2012 Olympics, Kilakone Siphonexay and Laenly Phoutthavong represented the country in athletics while Phathana Inthavong competed in swimming.[7] With an average age of eighteen, Laos had the youngest team at the 2012 Olympics.[8] Competing in his first Olympics, Siphonexay was the flagbearer for Laos at the opening and closing ceremonies.[9] Phoutthavong and Inthavong also went to their first Olympics in 2012.[10][11]

Athletics
Main article: Athletics at the 2012 Summer Olympics

Prior to the 2012 Summer Olympics, none of the Laotian competitors qualified for the athletic events.[6] Kilakone Siphonexay entered the Olympics with a personal best of 11.24 seconds.[12] With his time, Siphonexay was one second slower than the B standard qualifying time for the men's 100 m.[13] On 4 August, Siphonexay finished sixth in the first preliminary heat with a time of 11.30 seconds.[14] Based on his placing and time during the heats, Siphonexay did not advance to the next round.[15] Overall, Siphonexay was 68th out of 75 competitors.[16]

For the women's 100 m, Laenly Phoutthavong went to the 2012 Olympics without a qualifying time or personal best.[17][18] On 3 August, Phoutthavong completed the third preliminary heat in sixth place.[19] With her placing and a time of 13.15 seconds, Phoutthavong did not qualify for the first round.[20] Out of 79 competitors, Phoutthavong was 68th overall during the Olympic event.[21]

Key

  • Note–Ranks given for track events are within the athlete's heat only
  • Q = Qualified for the next round
  • q = Qualified for the next round as a fastest loser or, in field events, by position without achieving the qualifying target
  • NR = National record
  • N/A = Round not applicable for the event
  • Bye = Athlete not required to compete in round
Men
Athlete Event Heat Quarterfinal Semifinal Final
Result Rank Result Rank Result Rank Result Rank
Kilakone Siphonexay 100 m 11.30 6 Did not advance
Women
Athlete Event Heat Quarterfinal Semifinal Final
Result Rank Result Rank Result Rank Result Rank
Laenly Phoutthavong 100 m 13.15 6 Did not advance

Swimming
Main article: Swimming at the 2012 Summer Olympics

For the swimming events, Laos had no competitors qualify for the Olympics.[6] For the men's 50m freestyle, Pathana Inthavong received a universality spot.[22][23] His entry time of 28.94 seconds was 6.06 seconds slower than the invitational time for the Olympics.[24][23] Prior to the Games, Inthavong had swam at the 2011 World Aquatics Championships as a requirement to compete as a non-qualified Olympic athlete.[25][26] On 3 August, Inthavong was second during the first heat of the 50 m freestyle event.[27] As Inthavong did not have one of the top 16 times during the heats, Inthavong did not qualify for the semifinals.[28] Overall, Inthavong finished 56th out of 58 competitors.[29]

Men
Athlete Event Heat Semifinal Final
Time Rank Time Rank Time Rank
Phathana Inthavong 50 m freestyle 28.17 56 Did not advance

See also

References
  1. "History". Lao National Olympic Committee. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  2. Grasso, John; Mallon, Bill; Heijmans, Jeroen (2015). "Laos (LAO)". Historical Dictionary of the Olympic Movement (Fifth ed.). Lanham & London: Rowman & Littlefield. p. 326. ISBN 9781442248595. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  3. "Countries boycotting the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles (date..." United Press International. 27 June 1994. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  4. "Lao People's Democratic Republic". Olympedia. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  5. "2012 Summer Olympics". Olympedia. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  6. Harris, Talek (17 May 2012). "Pumping concrete with the Laos Olympic team". Yahoo News Singapore. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  7. "Lao People's Democratic Republic at the 2012 Summer Olympics". Olympedia. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  8. "Could you be an athlete? Olympics 2012 by age, weight and height". The Guardian. 7 August 2012. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  9. "Kilakone Siphonexay". Olympedia. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  10. "Laenly Phoutthavong". Olympedia. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  11. "Phathana Inthavong". Olympedia. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  12. "Entry List by NOC". World Athletics. 27 July 2012. p. 32. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  13. "Qualification System - Games of the XXX Olympiad" (PDF). IAAF. December 2011. p. 4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 July 2012. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  14. "100 Metres men | The XXX Olympic Games". World Athletics. Preliminary Round. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  15. "2012 Summer Olympics / Athletics / 100 metres, Men". Olympedia. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  16. "2012 Summer Olympics Results - Athletics". ESPN. 2012. Athletics Men's 100m. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  17. "Entry List by NOC". World Athletics. 27 July 2012. p. 83. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  18. "Laenly Phoutthavong". World Athletics. Progression. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  19. "100 Metres women | The XXX Olympic Games". World Athletics. Preliminary Round. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  20. "2012 Summer Olympics / Athletics / 100 metres, Women". Olympedia. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  21. "2012 Summer Olympics Results - Athletics". ESPN. 2012. Athletics Women's 100m. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  22. "FINA Releases Universality Qualifiers for 2012 London Games". Swimming World Magazine. 6 July 2012. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  23. "FINA Universality Places" (PDF). FINA. 6 July 2012. p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 July 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
  24. "Qualification System - Games of the XXX Olympiad" (PDF). FINA. November 2011. p. 5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 July 2012. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  25. "14th FINA World Championships 2011 Men 50m Freestyle". FINA. Heats Summary. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  26. "Qualification System - Games of the XXX Olympiad" (PDF). FINA. November 2011. p. 3. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 July 2012. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  27. "Olympic Games London 2012 › Men 50m Freestyle". FINA. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  28. "2012 Summer Olympics / Swimming / 50 metres Freestyle, Men". Olympedia. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  29. "2012 Summer Olympics Results - Swimming". ESPN. Men's 50m Freestyle. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
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