Swimming at the 1972 Summer Olympics
| Swimming at the Games of the XX Olympiad | |
|---|---|
Olympia Schwimmhalle | |
| Venue | Olympia Schwimmhalle |
| Dates | 28 August – 4 September 1972 |
| No. of events | 29 |
| Competitors | 532 from 52 nations |
| Swimming at the 1972 Summer Olympics | ||
|---|---|---|
 | ||
| Freestyle | ||
| 100 m | men | women |
| 200 m | men | women |
| 400 m | men | women |
| 800 m | women | |
| 1500 m | men | |
| Backstroke | ||
| 100 m | men | women |
| 200 m | men | women |
| Breaststroke | ||
| 100 m | men | women |
| 200 m | men | women |
| Butterfly | ||
| 100 m | men | women |
| 200 m | men | women |
| Individual medley | ||
| 200 m | men | women |
| 400 m | men | women |
| Freestyle relay | ||
| 4 × 100 m | men | women |
| 4 × 200 m | men | |
| Medley relay | ||
| 4 × 100 m | men | women |
The 1972 Summer Olympics were held in Munich, West Germany, 29 events in swimming were contested. There was a total of 532 participants from 52 countries competing.[1][2]
Perhaps the most spectacular athletic events were in swimming. Mark Spitz had a remarkable run, competing in seven events, winning seven Olympic titles and setting seven world records. In 2008, Michael Phelps matched Spitz's feat of setting seven world records in a single Olympics. According to the official Olympic website, "He took part in the 4 × 200 m one hour after his final in the 100 m butterfly. As for the 200 m freestyle gold, it was his third medal in three days" [1].
On the women's side of the competition, Shane Gould of Australia won five medals. She won the 200 m and 400 m freestyle as well as the 200 m individual medley, each with a new world-record time. In addition, she won the silver and the bronze in the 800 m and 100 m freestyle, respectively. In 2022, Gould remains the only woman in history to have claimed five medals in solo events in swimming at a single Olympic Games.[3] Another 15-years-old, American Sandy Neilson, won three gold medals.
The Olympic record was broken at least once in all 29 events. In 20 of those events, a new world record was set.
Events[edit]
The following events were contested (all pool events were long course, and distances are in metres unless otherwise stated):
- Freestyle: 100 m, 200 m, 400 m, 800 m (women), 1500 m (men)
- Backstroke: 100 m, 200 m
- Breaststroke: 100 m, 200 m
- Butterfly: 100 m, 200 m
- Individual Medley: 200 m, 400 m
- Relays: 4 × 100 m free, 4 × 200 m free (men); 4 × 100 m medley
Participating nations[edit]
532 swimmers from 52 nations competed.[1]
Argentina (4)
Australia (24)
Austria (2)
Belgium (4)
Brazil (12)
Bulgaria (3)
Cambodia (4)
Canada (38)
Chinese Taipei (3)
Colombia (4)
Czechoslovakia (3)
Denmark (6)
East Germany (37)
Ecuador (1)
Egypt (2)
El Salvador (7)
Finland (1)
France (18)
Great Britain (36)
Greece (5)
Hong Kong (2)
Hungary (16)
Iceland (4)
Ireland (7)
Israel (1)
Italy (24)
Jamaica (1)
Japan (15)
Kuwait (2)
Lebanon (2)
Malaysia (2)
Mexico (22)
Netherlands (19)
New Zealand (6)
Norway (4)
Peru (3)
Philippines (7)
Poland (5)
Romania (3)
Singapore (3)
South Korea (1)
Soviet Union (26)
Spain (9)
Sweden (15)
Switzerland (10)
Trinidad and Tobago (1)
Turkey (2)
United States (51)
Uruguay (2)
Venezuela (4)
West Germany (44)
Yugoslavia (5)
Medal table[edit]
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  United States (USA) | 17 | 14 | 12 | 43 |
| 2 |  Australia (AUS) | 6 | 2 | 2 | 10 |
| 3 |  East Germany (GDR) | 2 | 5 | 2 | 9 |
| 4 |  Japan (JPN) | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| 5 |  Sweden (SWE) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 6 |  Soviet Union (URS) | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| 7 |  Canada (CAN) | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| 8 |  West Germany (FRG) | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| 9 |  Hungary (HUN) | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
 Italy (ITA) | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 11 |  Great Britain (GBR) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Totals (11 entries) | 29 | 29 | 29 | 87 | |
Results[edit]
Men's events[edit]
Women's events[edit]
Gallery of the medalists[edit]
Some of the Olympic medalists in Munich:
-
Mark Spitz, winner of the 100-metre freestyle, 200-metre freestyle, 100-metre butterfly, 200-metre butterfly, 4 × 100-metre freestyle relay, 4 × 200-metre freestyle relay, and 4 × 100-metre medley relay. -
Mike Burton, winner of the 1500-metre freestyle. -
Gunnar Larsson, winner of the 200-metre individual medley and 400-metre individual medley. -
Shane Gould, winner of the 200-metre freestyle, 400-metre freestyle, and 200-metre individual medley. -
John Hencken, winner of the 200-metre breaststroke. -
Brad Cooper, winner of the 400-metre freestyle. -
Roland Matthes, winner of the 100-metre backstroke and 200-metre backstroke. -
Cathy Carr, winner of the 100-metre breaststroke and 4 × 100-metre medley relay. -
Melissa Belote, winner of the 100-metre backstroke, 200-metre backstroke, and 4 × 100-metre medley relay.
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References[edit]
- ^ a b "Swimming at the 1972 Munich Summer Games". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
- ^ "Olympedia – Swimming at the 1972 Summer Olympics". www.olympedia.org. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
- ^ "Happy 65th To Shane Gould, Still The Only Swim Sorority Champ To Claim Five Solo Medals In The Olympic Pool At One Games". State of Swimming. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
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