Softball was introduced as an Olympic sport for women (only) in the 1996 Summer Olympics. On July 11, 2005, the IOC voted to drop baseball and softball from the Olympic program for 2012, ¹ a decision that was reaffirmed on February 9, 2006.²

Medal table

Rank	Nation	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Total
1	United States (USA)	3	1	0	4
2	Japan (JPN)	1	1	1	3
3	Australia (AUS)	0	1	3	4
4	China (CHN)	0	1	0	1

Medalists

Games	Gold	Silver	Bronze
1996 Atlanta	United States	China	Australia
2000 Sydney	United States	Japan	Australia
2004 Athens	United States	Australia	Japan
2008 Beijing	Japan	United States	Australia

Participating Nations

Nation	1996	2000	2004	2008	Years
Australia	3	3	2	3	4
Canada	5	8	5	4	4
China	2	4	4	5	4
Chinese Taipei	6	-	6	6	3
Cuba	-	7	-	-	1
Greece	-	-	7	-	1
Japan	4	2	3	1	4
Italy	-	5	8	-	2
Netherlands	7	-	-	8	2
New Zealand	-	6	-	-	1
Puerto Rico	8	-	-	-	1
United States	1	1	1	2	4
Venezuela	-	-	-	7	1
Total Nations	8	8	8	8

References

v • d • e Softball at the Summer Olympics 1996 • 2000 • 2004 • 2008 List of medalists