Four athletes will fly Mongolia’s flag when the cross-country skiing competition begins on Saturday.

Tuvshinbayar Naidan claims Mongolia's first gold medal as he defeats Ashkat Zhitkeyev of Kazakhstan in men's half-heavyweight judo. Naidan shows more aggression at the start of the match, taking a commanding lead, but is unable to score an ippon. Zhitkeyev tries to pin Naidan, but the Mongolian counters with two more throws to win the gold. Judo 100kg Men Final - Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics - Tuvshinbayar Naidan (MGL), Askhat Zhitkeyev (KAZ)

Judoka Makhgalyn Bayarjavkhlan leads Mongolia's Olympic athletes in the Parade of Nations during the Beijing 2008 Opening Ceremonies. Marching with pride the Mongolia athletes carry the Olympic hope of their nation. Mongolia - Parade of Nations - Opening Ceremony - Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics

London 2012 - Battsetseg Soronzonbold celebrates with Mongolia’s flag upon winning a bronze medal in women’s wrestling 63kg freestyle on 8 August, 2012.

Two years after skiing on snow for the first time, Brazil’s Taynara da Silva still feels the jitters before a descent.

Under a magnificent blue autumn sky, the Opening Ceremony of the Games of the XVIII Olympiad was filled with exciting moments, in particular when Japanese athlete Yoshinori Sakai, born on 6 August 1945 and nicknamed “Hiroshima Baby”, lit the Olympic cauldron in a symbolic gesture of peace and hope. At the end of the Ceremony, Japanese jet planes formed the Olympic rings in the sky.   

Ahead of the World Judo Championships in Tokyo, olympic.org highlights some of the judoka who have made a big impact on the global stage since their breakthrough performances at the Youth Olympic Games