The 1972 Munich Olympics were marked by historic achievements and unprecedented controversy but will be forever defined by devastating catastrophe.
In hosting the 1972 Munich Games, West Germany was eager to erase the stain of the 1936 Games in Berlin that came to symbolize a paragon of Nazi propaganda. Munich introduced the first-ever Olympic mascot, the dachshund “Waldi,” and its official motto, “the cheerful Games,” looked to project that feel-good spirit.
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The 1972 Munich Olympics were marked by historic achievements and unprecedented controversy but will be forever defined by devastating catastrophe.
However, it was all overshadowed by one of the greatest tragedies to ever befell a sporting event – the massacre of the Israeli Olympic team.
A lengthy negotiation with West German authorities ensued, with much of the drama unfolding on live television. At one point, two of the hostages were allowed to have a brief conversation with German authorities through a second-floor window to prove they were alive. But when one tried to answer a question he was clubbed in the head by the butt of a rifle. An Associated Press image of one of the masked kidnappers on an Olympic village balcony quickly became iconic.
The games were put on hold for 34 hours. But despite heavy criticism they resumed upon the decision of International Olympics Committee chief Avery Brundage, who already faced charges of anti-Semitism for his instrumental role in the 1936 Olympics and close ties to Nazi officials.
The mustachioed American was the undisputed sporting star of the games. He won gold in all seven of his events, a feat surpassed only by Michael Phelps at the 2008 Beijing Games. Spitz placed first in the 100-meter freestyle, the 200-meter freestyle, the 100-meter butterfly, the 200-meter butterfly, the 4×100-meter freestyle relay, the 4×200-meter freestyle relay and the 4×100-meter medley relay. Astoundingly, he set a world record in each event.
The teenage Soviet gymnast exploded on the scene, becoming a star after winning gold in the team competition. The “Sparrow from Minsk” also won gold in the Balance Beam and floor exercise, narrowly missing out in the all-around because of a dramatic fall.
The game remains one of the most controversial events in Olympics history. The team of U.S. college stars entered the game protecting a 63-0 overall record for Americans in men's basketball, winning gold in every Olympics. At the height of the Cold War, the U.S. was once again a heavy favorite over the Soviet Union.
It started out that way, with American swimmer Mark Spitz winning the gold medal and setting world records in all his seven events. It continued with a coming out party for Soviet gymnast Olga Korbut, who soared to three gold medals and helped revolutionize the sport with her acrobatic performances. And it concluded with the men’s basketball final, in which the United States suffered its first-ever international loss in a game marred by multiple questionable calls in the final seconds to hand the Soviet Union a 51-50 victory.
FILE - In this Aug. 26, 1972, file photo, West German middle distance runner, junior athlete Guenther Zahn (18), stands near the Olympic flame he lit above the Olympic Stadium during the opening ceremony of the Summer Olympic Games in Munich, Germany. (AP PhotoFile)
However, it was all overshadowed by one of the greatest tragedies to ever befell a sporting event – the massacre of the Israeli Olympic team.
THE MASSACRE
In the early hours of Sept. 5, eight Palestinians from the “Black September” group raided the Olympic village. They infiltrated the Israeli living quarters and killed an Israeli weightlifter and wrestling coach before taking nine others hostage. The Palestinian attackers demanded the release of prisoners held by Israel and two left-wing extremists in West German jails. To prove their resolve, the attackers castrated one of the Israelis before he was shot dead and tossed the body of the other out on the street.
FILE - In this Aug. 1972, file photo, Olga Korbut, of Russia, throws up her arms in joy after winning the Individual Women's Gymnastic event at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany. (AP PhotoFile)
A lengthy negotiation with West German authorities ensued, with much of the drama unfolding on live television. At one point, two of the hostages were allowed to have a brief conversation with German authorities through a second-floor window to prove they were alive. But when one tried to answer a question he was clubbed in the head by the butt of a rifle. An Associated Press image of one of the masked kidnappers on an Olympic village balcony quickly became iconic.
Eventually, the kidnappers were transferred to an airfield, along with their hostages, under the guise of meeting their demands. But amid a botched German rescue attempt, the Palestinian kidnappers opened fire on their hostages and hurled a grenade inside one of the helicopters in which the Israelis were bound.
Altogether, 11 Israelis were killed in the brazen operation that shocked the world, gave the Palestinian cause a worldwide audience and ushered in a new era of global terrorism. In response, Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir set up a special unit from Israel’s top-secret Mossad agency to hunt down and eliminate all those involved in the massacre.
FILE - In this Aug. 26, 1972, file photo, the Israeli Olympic team parades in the Olympic Stadium, Munich, during the opening ceremony of the 1972 Olympic Games. (AP PhotoFile)
The games were put on hold for 34 hours. But despite heavy criticism they resumed upon the decision of International Olympics Committee chief Avery Brundage, who already faced charges of anti-Semitism for his instrumental role in the 1936 Olympics and close ties to Nazi officials.
Only 44 years later, did the IOC finally commemorate the victims before the 2016 Rio Games.
MARK SPITZ
FILE - In this Sept. 4, 1972, file photo, American swimmer, Mark Spitz, competes in the butterfly segment of the 400-meter medley swimming event at the Summer Olympic swim hall in Munich, Germany. The American team placed first setting up a new world record in 3:48.16 min. (AP PhotoFile)
The mustachioed American was the undisputed sporting star of the games. He won gold in all seven of his events, a feat surpassed only by Michael Phelps at the 2008 Beijing Games. Spitz placed first in the 100-meter freestyle, the 200-meter freestyle, the 100-meter butterfly, the 200-meter butterfly, the 4×100-meter freestyle relay, the 4×200-meter freestyle relay and the 4×100-meter medley relay. Astoundingly, he set a world record in each event.
As a Jewish athlete, there was concern that he would also be targeted. He was placed under guard and escorted out the country for his own safety after the massacre.
OLGA KORBUT
FILE - In this Aug. 31, 1972, file photo, American swimmer Mark Spitz holds five of the seven gold medals he won at the Olympics in Munich, Germany. (AP PhotoPool, File)
The teenage Soviet gymnast exploded on the scene, becoming a star after winning gold in the team competition. The “Sparrow from Minsk” also won gold in the Balance Beam and floor exercise, narrowly missing out in the all-around because of a dramatic fall.
Her performance at the 1972 Games is widely credited with redefining gymnastics as an acrobatic, rather than dance-centric, sport and ushered in a new era of popularity. The originator of the “Korbut flip” later became the inaugural inductee to the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame.
THE BASKETBALL FINAL
FILE - In this Sept. 10, 1972, the Soviet Union's Alexander Belov scores the winning basket to push his team past the United States 51-50 in the gold medal game at the Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany. (AP PhotoFile)
The game remains one of the most controversial events in Olympics history. The team of U.S. college stars entered the game protecting a 63-0 overall record for Americans in men's basketball, winning gold in every Olympics. At the height of the Cold War, the U.S. was once again a heavy favorite over the Soviet Union.
After a close-fought game, the Americans clung to a 50-49 lead with three seconds left. The Soviets immediately inbounded the ball but confusion over whether a time-out had been called sparked an official to halt play with a second left, triggering the first do-over.
The Soviets inbounded the ball again, failing to score and setting off an American celebration and fans streaming into the court. But the officials hadn’t properly re-set the clock and inexplicably ordered another take. With a third chance at hand, the Soviets heaved a desperation pass the length of the floor that was converted into a layup to edge ahead at the buzzer.
FILE - In this Sept. 10, 1972, file photo, Soviet players and supporters join in a joyous melee on the floor of the Munich Basketball Stadium, in Munich, after the Soviet team scored a 51-50 victory over the United States in the gold medal game of the Olympic basketball tournament. (AP PhotoFile)
An irate U.S. team boycotted the medal ceremony and filed an official protest. A panel swiftly rejected it along political lines. The U.S. team still refuses to claim their silver medals.
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