Because of the lack of competition, the team's worst possible result would have been five silvers and a bronze; thus, Brulé's victory over Belgium's van Innis in the individual moving bird at 50 metres to take the gold medal was the only actual success the team had.

Thirteen swimmers, ten men and three women, represented France in 1920.

France competed in the Olympic water polo tournament for the third time in 1920.

France was defeated by Brazil in the opening round, not qualifying for either the silver or bronze tournaments.

Guillemot took the nation's first Olympic gold medal in athletics by winning the 5,000 metres.

The team won three medals, including one of each type, after four of the 15 men advanced to the semifinals.

The two French featherweight boxers faced off in the finals, taking gold and silver.

France, which had not won a single bout in 1908, took fourth place on the boxing medals leader board.

The best results for the country were in vaulting with a pair of silvers, one by Field in the individual and one by the team in combined score.

The French épéeists swept the individual medals for the second time (having accomplished the feat in 1908 as well), and the foilists took a silver and a bronze.

After receiving a bye into the quarterfinal, which was awarded as a 2–0 victory due to Switzerland withdrawing the morning before the first round due to internal dissent, France defeated Italy to move into the semifinals.

Under the Bergvall System in use for the tournament, France would still have gad the opportunity to play for the silver medal; however, the team left host nation Belgium after their semifinal loss and did not play in the tournament for second place.

France competed in the inaugural Olympic ice hockey tournament.

The French team were shut out by the United States, losing 8–0 to take the silver medal.

France took a single medal: Johnson's silver in the 300 metre military rifle prone position.

Ten tennis players, seven men and two women, competed for France in 1920.

Cadine and Gance won their weight classes, making France the only country that year to take two championships.