Athletes of the Year 1972

Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year: Mark Spitz, Swimming

Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year: Olga Korbut, Gymnastics

ABC's Wide World of Sports Athlete of the Year: Olga Korbut, gymnastics

1972 Summer Olympics

The Munich, Germany Olympics, named The Games of Joy and Peace were forever marred when on the third day Palestinian terrorists kidnapped and later murdered 11 Israeli athletes. The Munich Massacre

Nation................. Gold ....Silver ...Bronze ...Total
Soviet Union.........50 ........27 ..........22 ..........99
United States ......33 ........31 ..........30 ..........94
East Germany .....20 ........23 ..........23 ..........66
West Germany.... 13 ........11 ..........16 ..........40

Japan ....................13 ..........8 ............8 ...........29

Olga Korbut stole the show in gymnastics for the Soviet Union. The tiny 17 year old came back for a fall to win the 2 gold metals and became the darling of the world. The Olga Korbut Page

United States swimmer Mark Spitz set the world record winning seven gold medals which held until 2008 when Michael Phelps broke his record by winning 8 gold metals. A Jewish Mark Spitz was whisked away before the closing ceremonies to protect him from any added terrorist plots. ESPN on Mark Spitz

The most contested basketball game of all time! With referees backing up the clock twice, the USSR got an extra chance and beat the USA 51 to 50. It broke the US winning streak that had held since 1936. The judges lined up under cold war politics and to this day the United States has refused to accept the Silver medals which are being held in a Swiss vault. Review of the infamous USSR win over the USA basketball team.

1972 Winter Olympics

1972 Winter Olympics takes place in Sapporo, Japan. The USSR won the most medals (16), and the most gold medals (8)

Nation................. Gold ....Silver ...Bronze ...Total
Soviet Union...........8 .........5 ..........3 .............16

Switzerland... .........4 .........3 ..........3 .............10

Netherlands ..........4 ..........3 ..........2 ..............9
East Germany .......3 ..........4 ..........7 ............14

United States ........3 ..........2 ..........3 ..............8
West Germany...... 3 ..........1 ..........1 ..............5

College Sports 1972

College Football 1972

1972 Heisman: Johnny Rodgers, Nebraska WB

1972 ROSE BOWL #1 USC Trojans 42 #3 Ohio State Buckeyes 17

1972 SUGAR BOWL #2 Oklahoma Sooners 14 #5 Penn State Nittany Lions 0

1972 COTTON BOWL #7 Texas Longhorns 17 #4 Alabama Crimson Tide 13

1972 ORANGE BOWL #9 Nebraska Cornhuskers 40 #12 Notre Dame Fighting Irish 6

College Basketball 1972

NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship: UCLA wins 81-76 over Florida St.

1971 NCAA Division I-A national football championship: The Nebraska Cornhuskers win 38-6 over the University of Alabama Crimson Tide to claim back-to-back National Championship titles on January 1, 1972.