The Games of the XVI Olympiad

With the exception of the equestrian events, the 1956 Summer Olympics were held in Melbourne, Australia, from November 22 to December 8, 1956. A total of 3,342 athletes from 72 countries participated in the games; Hungary was represented by 111 athletes.

Due to the Suez Crisis and the events of the Hungarian Revolution, seven countries withdrew from the games for political reasons (the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, and China).

The Hungarian Olympic team won 9 gold, 10 silver, and 7 bronze medals in Melbourne.

The most successful athlete of the Melbourne Olympics was gymnast Ágnes Keleti, who won gold medals in the floor exercise, balance beam, uneven bars, and team portable apparatus events, and silver medals in the individual all-around and team competitions.

Forty-eight members of the delegation did not return home from the Olympics, including gymnast Ágnes Keleti and water polo player Ervin Zádor.