Athletics Gallery

1972 Munich Olympics - Mens 400m Hurdles

Athletics - 1972 Munich Olympics - Men's 400m Hurdles Round One Heat Four
Uganda's John Akii-Bua on the way to winning his heat in the Olympiastadion, Munich, West Germany. Behind is the USA's Dick Bruggeman (#975), who finished seventh in the heat.
In the final Akii-Bua won the gold medal in a new World Record of 47.82. He was his country's first Olympic Champion

© Colorsport

Olympic 400m winner Vince Matthews shows his disinterest in the medal ceremony in Munich in 1972

Athletics - 1972 Munich Olympics - Men's 400m Medal Presentation
USA's gold medal winner Vince Matthews (facing camera) shows his disinterest in the ceremony, while silver medalist and compatriot Wayne Collett stands alongside him on the no.1 tier in the Olympiastadion, Munich, West Germany. Also pictured is Kenya's bronze medalist Julius Sang.
The success was overshadowed by the suspension of Matthews and Collett by the IOC after the medal ceremony, where they were talking to each other and fidgeting while the US national anthem played, leading many to believe it was a Black Power protest like that of Tommie Smith and John Carlos in 1968.
Collett stated afterwards "I couldn't stand there and sing the words because I don't believe they're true. I wish they were. I believe we have the potential to have a beautiful country, but I don't think we do."

© Colorsport

1972 Munich Olympics - Womens 200m Final

Athletics - 1972 Munich Olympics - Women's 200m Final
East Germany's Renate Stecher (#147) wins the gold medal just ahead of Australia's Raelene Boyle (#2) in the Olympiastadion, Munich, West Germany. Poland's Irena Szewinska (#285) won the bronze, while East Germany's Ellen Strophal (#149) was fourth and West Germany's Anne Kroniger (#165) tied fifth. Also pictured is Jamaica's Rosie Allwood (#220) who finished eighth.
Strecher won the gold medal in a new World Record of 22.40s, while Kroniger finished tied fifth and Annum seventh. Strecher's victory completed a 100m/200m double at the Munich Games, and she would also win a silver medal as part of the East Germany team in the 4x100m relay

© Colorsport