Lesotho’s history at the Olympics

Lesotho’s National Olympic Committee (LNOC) was formed in 1971 and was recognised by the International Olympic Committee in 1972. Lesotho made its Olympic debut that year and has since competed at every Olympic Games except for 1976 when the country joined the Africa boycott. In its Olympic history, Lesotho has entered 45 athletes (35 men, 10 women) and competed in four sports: athletics (26 men, seven women), boxing (eight men), swimming (one woman) and taekwondo (one man, two women).

Lesotho, Munich 1972

Lesotho’s best Olympic Games performances have all come in the men’s marathon race. Thabiso Moqhali finished 16th of 100 entrants in 2000 and 33rd of 110 contestants in 1992. Thabiso Ralekhetla was 29th of 124 runners in 1996 and Vincent Rakhabele was 36th of 74 in 1980 and 61st of 107 in 1984. Frans Ntaole finished 40th in 1984. 

Lesotho, Seoul 1988 

Other notable results for Lesotho include middleweight boxer Sello Mojela winning his first bout in 1988 and finishing tied for ninth place and a similar result for welterweight Mokete Mokhosi in 2000 in taekwondo.