Marshall Islands at the 2008 Summer Olympics The medals in the event went to athletes from Iran, Italy, the United States, and China. Marshall Islands at the 2008 Summer Olympics The Marshall Islands took part in the 2008 Summer Olympics, which were held in Beijing, China from 8 to 24 August 2008. The 2008 Summer Olympics were the Marshall Islands' first appearance at the Olympics. The delegation included five athletes, two in athletics, two in swimming, and one in taekwondo. The Marshall Islands failed to win an Olympic medal at these Games. Athletes representing the Marshall Islands participated in four different events. Anju Jason was the first
Suriname at the 2008 Summer Olympics athletes to any one Games. Prior to and including 2008, one Surinamese athlete had won the two medals ever claimed by Surinamese athletes–Anthony Nesty, who won a gold medal in 1988, and a bronze medal in 1992, both in swimming events. No medals were won in Beijing. Although Nesty did not participate in any event at the Beijing Olympics, he was Suriname's flag bearer at the ceremonies. He also served as the head coach for the Surinamese Olympic swim team, having served previously as associate head coach for the University of Florida swim team and, during the 2004 Summer Olympics