Field hockey was introduced at the
Modern Olympic Games as a men's competition at the
1908 Games in
London.
Great Britain won the first two editions in
1908 (as
England) and
1920. It was removed from the Olympic schedule of the
Summer Olympic Games for the
1924 Paris Games because of the lack of an international sporting structure. The
International Hockey Federation (FIH) was founded in Paris that year as a response to the same. Men's field hockey was added to the Olympics for the next Olympic Games in
1928 Games held at
Amsterdam. that won the gold at the
1936 Berlin Olympics Starting in
1928,
India won the gold medal in seven out of eight Olympics till
1964 including six consecutive gold medals from the
1928 Olympics to
1956.
Pakistan won its first gold medal in
1960 and won three gold and silver medals each in a run lasting from 1956 to
1984.
West Germany won the gold medal in the
1972 Munich Olympics, for the first gold medal by a non-Asian country since 1928. Olympic field hockey games were first played on
artificial turf at the
1976 Montreal Games and was won by
New Zealand. The domination of both the Asian countries came to an end in the late 1980s with India winning its last gold medal in the competition in
1980 and Pakistan in 1984. India holds the record for the most appearances in the Olympic men's competitions (22) and
Spain has appeared in the most Olympic men's competitions (19) without winning the men's gold medal with the best place finishes being the silver medal won in
1980,
1996, and
2008. Australia and Netherlands hold the record for the most appearances in the Olympic women's competitions (11). == Men ==