The United Kingdom competed as Great Britain 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.
Chris Brasher — Athletics, Men's 3.000m SteeplechaseTerence Spinks — Boxing, Men's FlyweightRichard McTaggart — Boxing, Men's LightweightBertie Hill, Arthur Rook, and Francis Weldon — Equestrian, Three-Day Event TeamGillian Sheen — Fencing, Women's Foil IndividualJudy Grinham — Swimming, Women's 100m BackstrokeDerek Johnson — Athletics, Men's 800mGordon Pirie — Athletics, Men's 5.000mJean Scrivens, Heather Armitage, June Foulds, and Anne Pashley — Athletics, Women's 4 × 100 m RelayThelma Hopkins — Athletics, Women's High JumpThomas Nicholls — Boxing, Men's FeatherweightArthur Brittain, William Holmes, and Alan Jackson — Cycling, Men's Team Road RaceRobert Perry, David Bowker, John Dillon, and Neil Kennedy-Cochran — Sailing, Men's 5½ Meter ClassDerek Ibbotson — Athletics, Men's 5.000mMichael Wheeler, Peter Higgins, Derek Johnson, and John Salisbury — Athletics, Men's 4 × 400 m RelayNicholas Gargano — Boxing, Men's WelterweightJohn McCormack — Boxing, Men's Light MiddleweightTom Simpson, Donald Burgess, Michael Gambrill, and John Geddes — Cycling, Men's 4.000m Team PursuitAlan Jackson — Cycling, Men's Individual Road RaceFrancis Weldon — Equestrian, Three-Day Event IndividualPeter Robeson, Pat Smythe, and Wilf White — Equestrian, Jumping TeamMargaret Edwards — Swimming, Women's 100m BackstrokeTerrence Smith and Jasper Blackall — Sailing, Men's Sharpie 12m²Graham Mann, Ronald Backus, and Jonathan Janson — Sailing, Men's DragonMen's 110m Hurdles
Peter HildrethHeat — 14.5s (→ did not advance)Jack ParkerHeat — 14.8s (→ did not advance)Men's 1500m
Brian HewsonFinal— 3:42.6 (→ 5th place)Ian BoydFinal— 3:43.0 (→ 8th place)Ken WoodFinal— 3:44.76 (→ 9th place)Men's Marathon
Harry Hicks — 2:39:55 (→ 15th place)Fred Norris — did not finish (→ no ranking)Ron Clark — did not finish (→ no ranking)Women's Discus Throw
Suzanne AlldayQualifying Round — 41.45 m (→ did not advance, 14th place)Men's Light Flyweight (– 48 kg)
Owen ReillyMen's Flyweight (– 51 kg)
Terence SpinksMen's Bantamweight (– 54 kg)
Thomas NichollsMen's Featherweight (– 57 kg)
Richard McTaggartMen's Light Welterweight (– 63.5 kg)
Nicholas GarganoMen's Light Middleweight (– 67 kg)
John McCormackMen's Middleweight (– 75 kg)
Ron RedrupSprintKeith Harrison — 15th placeTime trialAlan Danson — 1:12.3 (→ 5th place)TandemEric Thompson
Peter Brotherton — 4th placeTeam pursuitDonald Burgess
John Geddes
Michael Gambrill
Tom Simpson — 4:42.2 (→ Bronze Medal)Team road raceAlan Jackson
Arthur Brittain
William Holmes — 23 points (→ Silver Medal)Individual road raceAlan Jackson — 5:23:16 (→ Bronze Medal)Arthur Brittain — 5:23:40 (→ 6th place)William Holmes — 5:23:40 (→ 14th place)Harold Reynolds — 5:24:44 (→ 19th place)Men's 10m Platform
Peter TarseyPreliminary Round — 68.34 (→ did not advance, 14th place)Roy WalshPreliminary Round — 62.56 (→ did not advance, 20th place)Raymond CannPreliminary Round — 60.08 (→ did not advance, 21st place)Women's 10m Platform
Phyllis LongPreliminary Round — 49.15Final — 76.15 (→ 7th place)Charmain WelshPreliminary Round — 46.55Final — 69.05 (→ 12th place)Nine fencers, seven men and two women, represented Great Britain in 1956.
Men's foilAllan JayRaymond PaulRené PaulMen's team foilRené Paul, Bill Hoskyns, Raymond Paul, Allan Jay, Ralph CoopermanMen's épéeBill HoskynsAllan JayMichael HowardMen's team épéeRené Paul, Raymond Paul, Michael Howard, Bill Hoskyns, Allan JayMen's sabreOlgierd PorebskiRalph CoopermanBill HoskynsMen's team sabreOlgierd Porebski, Bill Hoskyns, Ralph Cooperman, Allan Jay, Raymond PaulWomen's foilGillian SheenMary Glen-HaigThe 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.
Three male pentathletes represented Great Britain in 1956.
IndividualDonald CobleyThomas HudsonGeorge NormanTeamDonald CobleyThomas HudsonGeorge NormanSingle scull - Tony Fox - UnplacedDouble scull - Sidney Rand, W H Rand - UnplacedEight - M G Delahooke, J A L Russell, S G D Tozer, A R Watson, I Welsh, Chris Davidge, R A Wheadon, K A Masser, J F K HindeSix shooters represented Great Britain in 1956.
25 m pistolHenry SteeleFrederick Cooper50 m pistolFrederick CooperHenry Steele300 m rifle, three positionsSteffen Cranmer50 m rifle, three positionsSteffen CranmerFrederick Hopkinson50 m rifle, proneSteffen CranmerFrederick HopkinsonTrapJoe WheaterErnest Fear 
