INDONESIA AT THE OLYMPICS: MEDALS, STAR ATHLETES, ISSUES

INDONESIA AT THE OLYMPICS

Raema Lisa Rumbewas won three Olympic medals for Indonesia, two silvers and a bronze, the most of any Indonesian; she's from Papua

Indonesia first participated in the Olympic Games in 1952, sending athletes to compete in every Summer Olympics since then except for two: in 1964, due to the controversy surrounding the 1962 Asian Games, which resulted in Israel and the Republic of China being banned, and in 1980, when Indonesia participated in the US-led boycott of the Summer Olympics. Indonesia's National Olympic Committee was established in 1946 and recognised in 1952. Indonesia has never participated in the Winter Olympics.

Indonesia has traditionally been good at badminton and women's weightlifting in the Olympics, especially badminton. Indonesia has won at least one gold medal in badminton at every Olympics except the London 2012 Games since the sport was introduced.. At the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens Indonesia won 1 gold medal, 1 silver medal and 2 bronze medals for a total of 4 medals. Indonesia sent 39 athletes in 29 sports to the 2004 Olympics in Athens At the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Indonesia athletes won 1 gold medal, 3 silver medals, and 2 bronze medals for a total of 6 medals.

The 2004 Olympics in Athens were not broadcast on television because broadcasters couldn’t attract enough advertisers because the events took place mostly in the middle of the night and the not many Indonesian athletes were considered medal contenders.

Indonesia has won the highest number of medals among all Southeast Asian nations, with 10 golds, 14 silvers, and 16 bronze for a total of 40 medals.

Medals by sport
Sport — Gold — Silver — Bronze — Total
Badminton — 8 — 6 — 8 — 22
Weightlifting — 1 — 7 — 8 — 16
Sport climbing — 1 — 0 — 0 — 1
Archery — 0 — 1 — 0 — 1
Totals — 10 — 14 — 16 — 40

Indonesia Olympic Medalists by Sport

Lilies Handayani, Nurfitriyana Saiman, Kusuma Wardhani won Indonesia first Olympic medals, silvers in Archery at Seoul in 1988

Sport Climbing:
Gold — Veddriq Leonardo — 2024 Paris — Men's speed

Archery:
Silver — Lilies Handayani, Nurfitriyana Saiman, Kusuma Wardhani — 1988 Seoul — Women's team

Badminton:
Gold — Susi Susanti — 1992 Barcelona — Badminton — Women's singles
Gold — Alan Budikusuma — 1992 Barcelona — Men's singles
Silver — Ardy Wiranata — 1992 Barcelona — Men's singles
Silver — Eddy Hartono, Rudy Gunawan — 1992 Barcelona — Men's doubles
Bronze — Hermawan Susanto — 1992 Barcelona — Men's singles
Gold — Rexy Mainaky, Ricky Subagja — 1996 Atlanta — Men's doubles
Silver — Mia Audina — 1996 Atlanta — Women's singles
Bronze — Susi Susanti — 1996 Atlanta — Women's singles
Bronze — Antonius Ariantho, Denny Kantono — 1996 Atlanta — Men's doubles
Gold — Tony Gunawan, Candra Wijaya — 2000 Sydney — Men's doubles
Silver — Tri Kusharjanto, Minarti Timur — 2000 Sydney — Mixed doubles
Silver — Hendrawan — 2000 Sydney — Men's singles
Gold — Taufik Hidayat — 2004 Athens — Men's singles
Bronze — Eng Hian, Flandy Limpele — 2004 Athens — Men's doubles
Bronze — Sony Dwi Kuncoro — 2004 Athens — Men's singles
Gold — Hendra Setiawan, Markis Kido — 2008 Beijing — Men's doubles
Silver — Nova Widianto, Liliyana Natsir — 2008 Beijing — Mixed doubles
Bronze — Maria Kristin Yulianti — 2008 Beijing — Women's singles
Gold — Tontowi Ahmad, Liliyana Natsir — 2016 Rio de Janeiro — Mixed doubles
Gold — Greysia Polii, Apriyani Rahayu — 2020 Tokyo — Women's doubles
Bronze — Anthony Sinisuka Ginting — 2020 Tokyo — Men's singles
Bronze — Gregoria Mariska Tunjung — 2024 Paris — Women's singles

Weightlifting
Silver — Raema Lisa Rumbewas — 2000 Sydney — Weightlifting — Women's 48 kilogram
Bronze — Sri Indriyani — 2000 Sydney — Women's 48 kilogram
Bronze — Winarni Binti Slamet — 2000 Sydney — Women's 53 kilogram
Silver — Raema Lisa Rumbewas — 2004 Athens — Women's 53 kilogram
Bronze — Raema Lisa Rumbewas — 2008 Beijing — Women's 53 kilogram
Bronze — Eko Yuli Irawan — 2008 Beijing — Men's 56 kilogram
Bronze — Triyatno — 2008 Beijing — Men's 62 kilogram
Silver — Citra Febrianti — 2012 London — Women's 53 kilogram
Silver — Triyatno — 2012 London — Men's 69 kilogram
Bronze — Eko Yuli Irawan — 2012 London — Men's 62 kilogram
Silver — Sri Wahyuni Agustiani — 2016 Rio de Janeiro — Women's 48 kilogram
Silver — Eko Yuli Irawan — 2016 Rio de Janeiro — Men's 62 kilogram
Silver — Eko Yuli Irawan — 2020 Tokyo — Men's 61 kilogram
Bronze — Windy Cantika Aisah — 2020 Tokyo — Women's 49 kilogram
Bronze — Rahmat Erwin Abdullah — 2020 Tokyo — Men's 73 kilogram
Gold — Rizki Juniansyah — 2024 Paris — Men's 73 kilogram

Notable Indonesian Olympic Medal Winners

Future married couple Susi Susanti and Alan Budikusuma won Indonesia’s first two gold medals in the women's and men's singles events respectively at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, where badminton was introduced for the firrt time as an Olympic sport. It marked the start of Indonesia's gold medal tradition in the next five Summer Games. However in 2012 London Olympics Indonesia failed to garner any gold medal. [Source: Wikipedia]

Barcelona 1992 was also the only Games in which Indonesia won 2 gold medals until Paris in 2024. Indonesia won its most total medals — six — at Sydney in 2000 and Beijing in 2008. It won five total medals at Barcelona in 1992 and Tokyo in 2020.

Archers Lilies Handayani, Nurfitriyana Saiman & Kusuma Wardhani gained the republic's first ever podium finish, a silver medal, in the women's team event at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. It was the first time that Indonesia won a medal in a sport other than badminton or weightlifting. In 2024 at Paris, Veddriq Leonardo won a gold in Men's speed sport climbing.

Veddriq Leonardo — Olympic Gold Medal Winner in Sports Climbing

Veddriq Leonardo (born 11 March 1997) is an Indonesian specialist in speed climbing who has twice held the world record in the discipline. He first reached the top of the record books during the 2021 IFSC Climbing World Cup in Salt Lake City, where he set a new mark on his way to winning the men’s speed event. He later reclaimed the record at the 2023 IFSC Climbing World Cup in Seoul, reinforcing his status as one of the fastest climbers in the world. In 2024, he won the Olympic gold medal in speed climbing, becoming Indonesia’s first Olympic champion outside of badminton. [Source: Wikipedia]

Leonardo grew up in Indonesia and was introduced to climbing during his early teenage years. He first encountered competition speed climbing in his first year of high school, a period that proved decisive in shaping his athletic career. By 2014, he was already competing at the national level, finishing in the top eight at the national championships in Tanjung Balai Karimun. His steady progress continued, and in 2016 he earned a bronze medal at the junior national championships in Bangka Belitung, signaling his emergence as a promising young climber.

He made his international debut in 2018 at the IFSC Climbing World Cup in Moscow, where he achieved a breakthrough result by finishing third. From there, Leonardo rapidly advanced in the global rankings, becoming known for his explosive starts and consistent finishes in the speed discipline. His performances in World Cup events throughout the early 2020s established him as a leading figure in the sport.

Achievements
Olympic Games: Gold medal, speed climbing (2024)
IFSC Climbing World Cup: Multiple event wins, including Salt Lake City 2021 and Seoul 2023
World Record Holder (speed climbing): Held the record twice between 2021 and 2023
National Championships: Bronze medal, junior level (2016)

Star Indonesian Weightlifters

Indonesia won one silver medal and two bronze medals in women's weightlifting at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. At the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Lisa Raema Rumbewas won a silver medal in women’s weightlifting in the 53 kilogram division. She was the first Indonesia athlete to win a medal as two Olympics in a row. She also won a silver medal in 2000.

Raema Lisa Rumbewas was born in Jayapura, Papua. Competing in two different weight classes, she won silver medals at the 2000 Summer Olympics (48 kilograms) and the 2004 Summer Olympics (53 kilograms). Coming from eastern Indonesia, her success helped broaden the national profile of weightlifting beyond the country’s traditional sporting centers.

Triyatno, born in metro Lampung in southern Sumatra, rose through junior competitions before reaching the Olympic stage. He won a bronze medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics in the 62 kilograms category and later secured a silver medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics in the 69 kilograms division. His progression from youth championships to Olympic podiums reflects a steady development path within Indonesia’s weightlifting system.

Eko Yuli Irawan, also born in Lampung, also emerged from junior-level success to become one of Indonesia’s most consistent Olympic performers.He earned bronze medals at both the 2008 Summer Olympics and the 2012 Summer Olympics. His 2008 medal was especially notable as it was Indonesia’s first medal of those Games, achieved when he was still a teenager. He then went on to win silver medals at both the 2016 Summer Olympics and the 2020 Summer Olympics.

Star Indonesian Badminton Players

Indonesia is a world powerhouse in badminton. It has won at least one gold medal in badminton at every Olympics except the London 2012 Games since the sport was introduced. Two of Indonesia's biggest sports stars are Alan Budi Kuuma and Susia Susanti. They won gold medals in the men's and women's singles events at Barcelona in 1992 and afterwards fell in love and got married.

In Olympics competition, usually different players have won medals in different events and different Olympics. There have never been really dominating players. Susia Susanti is the only Indonesian to win two Olympic medals. She also won a bronze in the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, At the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydneym Tony Gunawan and Candra Wijaya won the gold medal in men's doubles and Hendrawan won a silver in the men’s singles. Tri Kusharyanto and Minarti Timur won silver in the mixed doubles.

Taufik Hidayat is widely regarded as one of the greatest men’s singles players in badminton history, known for his skill, speed, and distinctive style of play. He joined Indonesia’s national team at just 15 and quickly rose to prominence, finishing runner-up at the prestigious All England Open in 1999 at the age of 17. [Source: Yonex; inblive.in.com, June 16, 2013]

His career highlights came in the mid-2000s. Hidayat won the gold medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics, defeating higher-ranked opponents as an unseeded player. He followed this by winning the World Championship in 2005, becoming the first men’s singles player to hold both Olympic and world titles. He also claimed six titles at the Indonesia Open and won gold medals at the Asian Games in 2002 and 2006.

Over a 17-year professional career, Hidayat reached World No. 1 and became known for his trademark backhand smash and creative shot-making. He was a central figure in Indonesia’s team successes as well, contributing to victories in events such as the Thomas Cup. He also had notable rivalries with top players including Lee Chong Wei and Lin Dan.

Hidayat retired in 2013 at the Indonesia Open, ending a career that spanned more than two decades in the sport, including 17 years at the professional level. After retiring, he shifted his focus to developing future talent through the Taufik Hidayat Arena in Jakarta, where he trains young players from Indonesia and abroad, continuing his influence on the sport beyond his playing days.

Indonesian Athletes Get Meatball Restaurant, Cash, Cows, and a House after Winning Olympic Gold

Greysia Polii and Apriyani Rahayu of Indonesia won the gold medal in badminton women’s doubles event at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2021, winning Indonesia's first gold at the Tokyo games by beating China's Chen Qing Chen and Jia Yi Fan. [Source: Vanessa Gu, Business Insider, August 4, 2021]

Their win triggered a wave of celebrations across Indonesia and prompted some unusual reward. Officials in Sulawesi, the home region of Apriyani Rahayu, pledged to give her five cows and a house. At the same time, the restaurant chain Baso Aci Abang offered both players a shopfront each, highlighting the national pride generated by their achievement.

Additional rewards came from the national government and tourism sector. Indonesia’s tourism minister, Sandiaga Uno, announced that the pair would be treated to free trips to six of the country’s top tourist destinations, including Wakatobi, a renowned diving area.

These prizes were awarded on top of a substantial government bonus of 5 billion rupiah (about $350,000). The scale of the rewards was especially notable given Indonesia’s economic context, where the gross national income per capita was about $11,750 in 2020.

“She Never Gets Tired”: Father of Olympic Champ Apriyani Rahayu,

Apriyani Rahayu built her Olympic gold medal on consistent preparation, regular training, and personal discipline. Partnering with Greysia Polii, she won the women’s doubles title at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, securing Indonesia’s first gold medal of the Games. [Source: Apriyani Rahayu, AFP, August 3, 2021]

During the Olympics, she stayed in close contact with her father. He said she called frequently, especially before matches, to ask for support. “Whenever she leaves the hotel heading to the venue, she always called me asking for prayers,” he said, adding that he would remind her “to be calm and leave everything to Allah.”

Her preparation followed a clear routine. Before leaving for Tokyo, Rahayu returned to her hometown in Konawe, Southeast Sulawesi, where she visited her family and her mother’s grave. According to her father, Ameruddin Pora, “She has this tradition whenever she wants to attend a competition, she always returns home to meet her parents, asking me for a prayer.” Family members also gathered during the visit to pray for her before departure.

Pora emphasized that her results were based on both preparation and work ethic. He described her as “always a very motivated person” who “never gets tired practicing,” pointing to years of consistent training as the foundation of her success. He also noted that he prayed not only for his daughter but for her partner as well: “I don’t only pray for Rahayu, but also for Greysia. I pray for both.”

He added that her motivation was strengthened after the death of her mother in 2015, which he said she used as encouragement in her career. The Olympic victory, he said, reflected a combination of sustained effort and support: “Our prayers are finally answered by God.”

Issues with Olympic Sports in Indonesia

Indonesia’s poor performance at the 2006 Asian Games at Doha was a reckoning for Indonesia and highlighted problems within the national team, particularly its inability to compete consistently at the regional and international level. While some countries left Doha with strong results, Indonesia’s 131-member squad managed only two gold medals, three silvers, and 15 bronzes—an outcome widely seen as disappointing. [Source: Jakarta Post, December 19, 2006]

Indonesia finished behind not only dominant teams like China, South Korea, and Japan, but also smaller Southeast Asian nations such as Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam. For a country of its size and population, this result raised serious concerns about the competitiveness of its national team and the effectiveness of its training systems.

Officials and national leaders expressed concern. Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono urged athletes to improve and restore Indonesia’s competitiveness. At the core of the problem is a weak national sports development system. Limited investment in grassroots programs, inadequate training facilities, and inconsistent support structures have all contributed to the decline. Earlier national strategies had emphasized building talent through schools and community programs, but these efforts have not been sustained.

Economic pressures since the 1997 Asian financial crisis have also shifted attention away from sports. Government priorities have focused more on economic recovery than athlete development, and public interest in sports careers has declined as a result. While financial rewards for medalists have increased, including bonuses and housing incentives, these measures have not addressed deeper structural issues.

In November 2019, an Indonesian teenage gymnast, Shalfa Avrila Sania, was sent home from training for the Southeast Asian Games, with her family claiming she was dismissed after being accused of no longer being a virgin. Her mother said coaches questioned her behavior and used this as justification, a claim the government denied, insisting the decision was based on performance and discipline. The family rejected the accusations, pointing to her strong athletic record and submitting medical evidence to defend her reputation. Officials stated that any dismissal based on virginity would violate privacy and dignity.[Source: Beh Lih Yi, Reuters, November 29, 2019]

Indonesian Badminton Players Banned for Throwing Matches at the 2012 London Olympics.

Indonesian badminton players Greysia Polii and Meiliana Jauhari were banned after their involvement in a match-throwing scandal at the 2012 London Olympics. The pair, along with teams from China and South Korea, were disqualified for deliberately trying to lose group-stage matches in order to secure a more favorable position in the knockout rounds. [Source: Associated Press, September 5, 2012; Richard Allen Greene, CNN, August 2, 2012; Sara Schonhardt, Christian Science Monitor, August 2, 2012]

The Badminton World Federation ruled that the players had “not used their best efforts to win” and had damaged the integrity of the sport. Their matches drew boos from spectators, as players were seen serving into the net and making minimal effort to continue rallies.

Following the incident, the Indonesian Badminton Association imposed an additional four-month ban on Polii and Jauhari, as well as their coach Paulus Firman, suspending them from all national and international tournaments.

The scandal was widely linked to the Olympic tournament format at the time, which used a group stage before knockout rounds. This system created incentives for “tanking” matches to avoid stronger opponents later. Indonesian officials acknowledged the problem and called for a return to a straight knockout format to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Image Sources: Wikimedia Commons

Text Sources:“Encyclopedia of World Cultures Volume 5: East/Southeast Asia:” edited by Paul Hockings, 1993; “Culture and Customs of Indonesia” by Jill Forshee, Greenwood Press, 2006; National Geographic, New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Smithsonian magazine, Encyclopedia.com, Library of Congress, Indonesia Tourism website (indonesia.travel), Indonesia government websites, Live Science, The Conversation, The New Yorker, Time, BBC, CNN, Reuters, Associated Press, AFP, Lonely Planet Guides, Google AI, Wikipedia, The Guardian and various websites, books and other publications.

Last updated April 2026