1972 Summer Olympics medal table explained

1972 Summer Olympics medals
Location:Munich,
Award2 Type:Most total medals
Award1 Type:Most gold medals
Award3 Type:Medalling NOCs
Award3 Winner:48
Previous:1968
Main:Olympics medal tables
Next:1976

The 1972 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad, were a summer multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from 26 August through 11 September 1972.[1] [2] 7,134 athletes representing 121 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) participated,[3] which included 11 teams making their debut at the Summer Olympics: Albania,[4] Dahomey (now Benin),[5] Gabon,[6] North Korea,[7] Lesotho,[8] Malawi,[9] Saudi Arabia,[10] Somalia,[11] Swaziland (now Eswatini),[12] Togo,[13] and Upper Volta (now Burkina Faso).[14] The games featured 195 events in 21 sports across 27 disciplines.[15] Kayaking, the canoe slalom, and indoor handball all made their Olympic debuts, while archery returned to the Olympic program after a 52-year hiatus.

Rhodesia had been barred from participating at the 1968 Games due to racial policies and threats by athletes to boycott the event, but in 1971, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) ruled that Rhodesia would be invited to compete at the 1972 Olympic Games.[16] [17] [18] Athletes from other African nations protested this invitation and again threatened to boycott the games over those policies. Four days before the opening ceremonies, the IOC voted to rescind their invitation and exclude the Rhodesian athletes.[19] [20]

Athletes representing 48 NOCs received at least one medal, with 25 NOCs winning at least one gold medal. The Soviet Union won the most gold medals, with 50, and the most overall medals, with 99. North Korea and Uganda won their nations' first Summer Olympic gold medals, which was the first medal of any kind at the Summer Olympics for North Korea.[21] Colombia and Niger also won their nations' first Olympic medals of any kind.[22] [23]

Among individual participants, American swimmer Mark Spitz won the most medals at the games with seven, all of which were gold.[24] Spitz also became the record holder for most gold medals at a single Olympic Games, a record that stood for 36 years until American swimmer Michael Phelps surpassed that mark with eight gold medals at the 2008 Summer Olympics.[25]

Medal table

The medal table is based on information provided by the IOC and is consistent with IOC conventional sorting in its published medal tables. The table uses the Olympic medal table sorting method. By default, the table is ordered by the number of gold medals the athletes from a nation have won, where a nation is an entity represented by a NOC. The number of silver medals is taken into consideration next and then the number of bronze medals.[26] [27] If teams are still tied, equal ranking is given and they are listed alphabetically by their IOC country code.[28]

At the 1972 Games, events in boxing resulted in bronze medals being awarded to each of the competitors who lost their semi-final matches, as opposed to them taking part in a third place tiebreaker.[29] Events in judo used a repechage system, which also resulted in two bronze medals being awarded.[30]

In the women's uneven bars, there was a two-way tie for second, resulting in two silver medals being issued and no bronze medal being awarded.[31] In men's football, the third-place match ended in a tie, resulting in both teams receiving bronze medals.[32]

Key Changes in medal standings (see below)

Changes in medal standings

See also: List of stripped Olympic medals.

List of official changes in medal standings
EventAthlete Net changeComment
Cycling, men's individual road race–1–1Jaime Huélamo was disqualified for doping violations.[33] New Zealand's Bruce Biddle finished fourth, but was not awarded the bronze due to stipulations that medal winners had to be drug tested.[34] Biddle had tried to get tested following the race on the advice of his team's manager, in the event of a disqualification, but he was turned away.[35]
Cycling, men's team time trial–1–1Aad van den Hoek was disqualified for doping violations, causing the entire Dutch cycling team to lose their medals, as it was a team event.[36] The Belgian team finished fourth, but did not receive the bronze medals because they had not been subjected to drug testing, a requirement for medal winners at the time.[37]
Judo, men's 63 kg–1–1Bakhvain Buyadaa was disqualified for doping violations.[38] Neither athlete who finished third was awarded the silver, which is considered vacant.[39]
Swimming, men's 400 metre freestyle–1–1Rick DeMont was disqualified after testing positive for ephedrine, a substance which was found in DeMont's asthma medication. DeMont had declared his asthma medication to the team, but the team had failed to clear it with the IOC, leading to his gold medal being stripped from him.[40] [41]
+1–10
+1–10
+1+1
List of official changes by country
GoldSilverBronzeNet change
+1–10
–1–1
–1–1
–1–1
–1+10

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Munich 1972 Olympic Games Athletes, Massacre, Facts, & Summer Olympics . . 3 January 2025 . en . 11 December 2024 . 19 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240119230836/https://www.britannica.com/event/Munich-1972-Olympic-Games . live .
  2. Web site: 1972 Summer Olympics Overview . . https://web.archive.org/web/20250211190454/https://www.olympedia.org/editions/18 . 11 February 2025 . live . 19 February 2025.
  3. Web site: Munich 1972 Summer Olympics – Athletes, Medals & Results . . 2 January 2025 . 17 December 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211217150855/https://olympics.com/en/olympic-games/munich-1972 . live .
  4. Web site: Albania (ALB) . . 18 February 2025 . 30 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231030122426/https://www.olympedia.org/countries/ALB . live .
  5. Web site: Benin (BEN) . . 18 February 2025 . 4 February 2025 . https://web.archive.org/web/20250204225033/https://www.olympedia.org/countries/BEN . live .
  6. Web site: Gabon – Profile . . https://web.archive.org/web/20241006043147/https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/profile/gabon . 6 October 2024 . dead . 30 December 2024 .
  7. Web site: DPR Korea – Profile . . https://web.archive.org/web/20241006042817/https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/profile/dpr-korea . 6 October 2024 . dead . 30 December 2024.
  8. Web site: Lesotho (LES) . . 18 February 2025 . 7 June 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200607130603/https://www.olympedia.org/countries/LES . live .
  9. Web site: Malawi (MAW) . . 18 February 2025 . 26 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231026143001/https://www.olympedia.org/countries/MAW . live .
  10. Web site: Saudi Arabia – Profile . . https://web.archive.org/web/20241130175344/https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/profile/saudi-arabia . 30 November 2024 . dead . 23 December 2024.
  11. Web site: Somalia (SOM) . . 18 February 2025 . 28 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231028151501/https://www.olympedia.org/countries/SOM . live .
  12. Web site: Eswatini (SWZ) . . 18 February 2025 . 29 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231029161137/https://www.olympedia.org/countries/SWZ . live .
  13. Web site: Togo – Profile . . https://web.archive.org/web/20241006044518/https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/profile/togo . 6 October 2024 . dead . 30 December 2024 .
  14. Web site: Burkina Faso – Profile . . https://web.archive.org/web/20241127221257/https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/profile/burkina-faso . 27 November 2024 . dead . 30 December 2024.
  15. Web site: Timeline: When every Olympic sport made its debut . . 4 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240813221315/https://www.cnn.com/2024/08/04/sport/olympic-sports-timeline-history-dg/index.html . 13 August 2024 . live . Choi . Annette . 18 February 2025 . en.
  16. Web site: Chikamhi . Eddie . ZOC, NAAZ pay tribute to Zimbabwe's Olympic pioneer Tseriwa . . 19 February 2025 . Zimbabwe . en . 16 March 2023 . 4 April 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230404095841/https://www.herald.co.zw/zoc-naaz-pay-tribute-to-zimbabwes-olympic-pioneer-tseriwa/ . live .
  17. News: Two sprinters gave the black-power salute at the Olympics. It took them decades to recover from that gesture. . . 28 May 2018 . Maese . Rick . subscription . 19 February 2025 . en . 31 March 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230331141807/https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/two-sprinters-gave-the-black-power-salute-at-the-olympics-it-took-them-decades-to-recover-from-that-gesture/2018/05/28/b29e9dfc-4a58-11e8-827e-190efaf1f1ee_story.html . live .
  18. Web site: Rhodesia, Barred in '68, Invited to '72 Olympics . . 29 March 1971 . https://web.archive.org/web/20250219201743/https://www.nytimes.com/1971/03/29/archives/rhodesia-barred-in-68-invited-to-72-olympics.html . 19 February 2025 . live . 19 February 2025 . 45.
  19. Web site: Olympics Boycott? . . 1972-08-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20250317160942/https://www.nytimes.com/1972/08/22/archives/olympics-boycott.html . 2025-03-17 . live . 19 February 2025 . 42.
  20. Web site: Amdur . Neil . 23 August 1972 . Rhodesia Out of Olympics After a Dispute on Racism . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20250102210021/https://www.nytimes.com/1972/08/23/archives/rhodesia-out-of-olympics-after-a-dispute-on-racism-rhodesia-is.html . 2 January 2025 . 2 January 2025 . . 1.
  21. Web site: Uganda – Profile . . https://web.archive.org/web/20241226041952/https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/profile/uganda . 26 December 2024 . dead . 3 January 2025 .
  22. Web site: Colombia – Profile . . https://web.archive.org/web/20241006042827/https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/profile/colombia . 6 October 2024 . dead . 3 January 2025 .
  23. Web site: Niger – Profile . . https://web.archive.org/web/20241006043820/https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/profile/niger . 6 October 2024 . dead . 3 January 2025.
  24. Web site: 1972 Munich Summer Games . . 3 January 2025 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200417040848/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/summer/1972/ . 17 April 2020 . dead.
  25. Web site: Michael Phelps: The man who dominated the Olympic pool like no other . . 5 September 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240926103755/https://olympics.com/en/news/michael-phelps-olympic-medals-record-how-many-gold-swimmer-world-record . 26 September 2024 . live . Venkat . Rahul . 3 January 2025.
  26. Web site: Olympic medal table: USA beat China to top spot at Paris 2024 . . 11 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240812015233/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/olympics/olympics-2024-medal-table-count-paris-b2594580.html . 12 August 2024 . live . Ostlere . Lawrence . 12 August 2024 . en.
  27. Web site: A Medal Count That Adds Up To Little . . 18 August 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230321004238/https://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/19/sports/olympics/19araton.html . 21 March 2023 . live . Araton . Harvey . subscription . 25 July 2024 .
  28. Web site: What happens if two countries are tied in the Olympic medal table? Tiebreaker rules explained . . 10 August 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240811152350/https://en.as.com/olympic_games/what-happens-if-two-countries-are-tied-in-the-olympic-medal-table-tiebreaker-rules-explained-n/ . 11 August 2024 . live . Cons . Roddy . 11 August 2024 . en-us .
  29. Web site: Explained: Two bronze medals are awarded in the Olympics boxing competition . . 1 August 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230328143327/https://olympics.com/en/news/why-two-bronze-medals-boxing . 28 March 2023 . live . Ansari . Aarish . 2 August 2024 .
  30. Web site: Repechage in wrestling and other sports explained – the second chance . . 21 June 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240802015913/https://olympics.com/en/news/what-is-repechage-rules . 2 August 2024 . live . Nag . Utathya . 2 August 2024 .
  31. Web site: Munich 1972 uneven bars women Results – Olympic gymnastics-artistic . . https://web.archive.org/web/20221109134517/https://olympics.com/en/olympic-games/munich-1972/results/gymnastics-artistic/uneven-bars-women . 9 November 2022 . live . 18 February 2025.
  32. Web site: Football, Men . . 18 February 2025 . 28 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230228035556/https://www.olympedia.org/results/33855 . live .
  33. Web site: Cycling: Biddle's Olympic medal riddle . . 7 July 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20250219202340/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/olympics/cycling-biddles-olympic-medal-riddle/LU6OX4Q23BP72PRDKO4FVRKL5M/ . 19 February 2025 . live . Alderson . Andrew . 19 February 2025 . en-NZ.
  34. Web site: Olympics: Biddle's bid for bronze declined . . 2 September 2003 . https://web.archive.org/web/20250219201856/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/olympics-biddles-bid-for-bronze-declined/RC2JJIZYPMODHVKTNP2PXVEML4/ . 19 February 2025 . live . 19 February 2025 . en-NZ.
  35. Web site: Bruce Biddle . . https://web.archive.org/web/20250214204816/https://olympic.org.nz/athletes/bruce-biddle . 14 February 2025 . live . 19 February 2025 . en.
  36. Web site: 1 August 2004 . Cycling . subscription . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20250219182915/https://www.thetimes.com/article/cycling-xxwj5szlvcp . 19 February 2025 . 19 February 2025 . . en.
  37. Web site: Cycling at the 1972 Munchen Summer Games: Men's 100 kilometres Team Time Trial . . 19 February 2025 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200418020126/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/summer/1972/CYC/mens-100-kilometres-team-time-trial.html . 18 April 2020 . dead.
  38. Web site: Athletes Who Were Denied Their Olympic Medal Moments Because Others Were Doping . . 14 August 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20250119113424/https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/08/14/sports/olympics-medal-doping.html . 19 January 2025 . live . He . Nicole . Lai . K. K. Rebecca . Murray . Paul . 19 February 2025.
  39. Web site: Lightweight (≤63 kilograms), Men . . https://web.archive.org/web/20250114142220/https://www.olympedia.org/results/15139 . 14 January 2025 . live . 19 February 2025.
  40. Web site: Grohmann . Karolos . 14 February 2022 . Olympic swimmer remembers his 1972 doping punishment . subscription . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220519233936/https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/us-doping-blunder-munich-72-games-sent-me-dark-place-demont-2022-02-14/ . 19 May 2022 . 19 February 2025 . Reuters.
  41. News: Better late than never . 30 January 2001 . https://web.archive.org/web/20010507004733/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/olympics/news/2001/01/30/usoc_demont_ap/ . 7 May 2001 . dead . . Associated Press.

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