summer olympics took summer olympics held beijing china august country participation beijing marked eighth consecutive appearance summer olympics debut ninth olympic appearance delegation included athletes participating sports athletics swimming selected flag bearer opening ceremony athletes progressed heat round background participated summer olympic games debut summer olympics munich summer olympics beijing competing olympic debut sending athletes games number athletes participating summer games games moscow athletes selected compete games track field athletes swimmers athletics men competition bronze medalist africa games participated meters appearance beijing marked appearance olympic games olympics placed seventh heat august ran time seconds finished seventh heat seven athletes finished 49th athletes seconds ahead slowest athlete seconds quickest athlete seconds slowest athlete qualified semi finals progress women competition competing second olympics oldest competitor aged competed meters august competed summer olympics drawn heat ran time seconds finished heat exactly second winner finished 40th athletes overall seconds faster slowest athlete seconds fastest athlete seconds slowest athlete progressed semi finals ranks given track events athlete heat qualified round qualified round fastest loser field events position achieving qualifying target national record round applicable event bye athlete required compete round swimming men competition competed heat meters freestyle august competed summer olympics progress heats repeated result failed qualify semi finals finished heat time seconds ahead overall finished 62nd competitors qualify semi finals women competition woman competing swimming olympics athlete competed meters freestyle olympics second olympics competing selected compete heat finished second heat time seconds ahead time placed athletes qualify semi finals men women men competition competing olympics man year old athlete competing olympic games fought match thailand round lost progress quarter finals men
Benin at the 2008 Summer Olympics