summer olympics competed summer olympics beijing china participation marked sixth olympic appearance included smallest number athletes represented history competed olympic games participated swimmer participated delegation arrived beijing august august including athletes coaches officials local olympic committee came beijing special invitation observed progress trained brazil opening ceremony closing ceremony athletes eliminated preliminary rounds august consequently earn medals background competed consecutive olympic games entrance beijing olympics marked sixth consecutive appearance summer olympics seoul south_korea summer fewest athletes history far participated olympics men participating events compares participation previous summer olympics athens represented athletes sports olympic representatives included female athletes occurred previously atlanta summer olympics male athletes participating distinct sports august athletes left beijing aboard flight accompanied trainers officials president officials left beijing days later alongside member group formed delegation summer olympic games delegation arrived olympic village august alongside cuba welcoming ceremony chinese military hoisted flag national anthem performed delegation governing body exchanged gifts athletes enter march nations opening ceremony representing closing ceremony swimmer participating beijing olympics trained train olympics left train brazil taking advantage agreement fostered participation pan american games rio_de_janeiro left wednesday june participate later traveled train brazilian having seen progress extended special invitation guaranteed participation beijing olympics accepted invitation second final athlete year olympic games faced china august fourteenth match preliminary round defeated advance swimming netherlands born swimmer participate beijing summer olympics spent year prior olympics trainer preparing florida receiving specialist training alongside swim team returned days starting february soon returned united_states resume training qualify swimming championships qualifying secured spot beijing olympics completed practice beijing august day competition assigned heat race fastest swimmer heat august time men metre freestyle event overall 53rd event result advance
Aruba at the 2008 Summer Olympics