Great Britain, represented by the British Olympic Association (BOA), competed at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia. British athletes have competed in every Summer Olympic Games. 189 competitors, 163 men and 26 women, took part in 108 events in 17 sports. The Melbourne Games saw an improvement on Great Britain and Northern Ireland's performance at the two preceding Games. British athletes won six gold medals (up from just one in 1952). Overall, they won twenty-four medals, finishing eighth.

Medallists

Gold

Silver

Bronze

Athletics

Men's 110m Hurdles Men's 1500m Men's Marathon Women's Discus Throw

Boxing

Men's Light Flyweight (– 48 kg) Men's Flyweight (– 51 kg) Men's Bantamweight (– 54 kg) Men's Featherweight (– 57 kg) Men's Light Welterweight (– 63.5 kg) Men's Light Middleweight (– 67 kg) Men's Middleweight (– 75 kg)

Canoeing

Cycling

Benny Foster was the British cycling team manager.

Diving

Men's 10m Platform Women's 10m Platform

Fencing

Nine fencers, seven men and two women, represented Great Britain in 1956.

Football

Gymnastics

The British Gymnastics team competed in 15 events, and was made up of 14 gymnasts, (6 men and 8 women), including Frank Turner, competing in his third Summer Olympics.

Hockey

Modern pentathlon

Three male pentathletes represented Great Britain in 1956.

Rowing

Great Britain had 12 male rowers participate in three out of seven rowing events in 1956.

Sailing

Shooting

Six shooters represented Great Britain in 1956.

Swimming

Water polo

Weightlifting

Wrestling