Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
competed at the
1972 Summer Olympics
The 1972 Summer Olympics (), officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad () and commonly known as Munich 1972 (german: München 1972), was an international multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from 26 August to 11 September 1972. ...
in
Munich
Munich ( ; german: München ; bar, Minga ) is the capital and most populous city of the States of Germany, German state of Bavaria. With a population of 1,558,395 inhabitants as of 31 July 2020, it is the List of cities in Germany by popu ...
,
West Germany
West Germany is the colloquial term used to indicate the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG; german: Bundesrepublik Deutschland , BRD) between its formation on 23 May 1949 and the German reunification through the accession of East Germany on 3 O ...
. Australian athletes have competed in every
Summer Olympic Games
The Summer Olympic Games (french: link=no, Jeux olympiques d'été), also known as the Games of the Olympiad, and often referred to as the Summer Olympics, is a major international multi-sport event normally held once every four years. The inau ...
. 168 competitors, 139 men and 29 women, took part in 110 events in 20 sports.
Medalists
Gold
*
Shane Gould
Shane Elizabeth Gould (born 23 November 1956) is an Australian former competition swimmer. She won three gold medals, a silver medal and a bronze, at the 1972 Summer Olympics. In 2018, she won the fifth season of ''Australian Survivor,'' becom ...
—
Swimming
Swimming is the self-propulsion of a person through water, or other liquid, usually for recreation, sport, exercise, or survival. Locomotion is achieved through coordinated movement of the limbs and the body to achieve hydrodynamic thrust that r ...
, Women's 200m Individual Medley
*
Shane Gould
Shane Elizabeth Gould (born 23 November 1956) is an Australian former competition swimmer. She won three gold medals, a silver medal and a bronze, at the 1972 Summer Olympics. In 2018, she won the fifth season of ''Australian Survivor,'' becom ...
—
Swimming
Swimming is the self-propulsion of a person through water, or other liquid, usually for recreation, sport, exercise, or survival. Locomotion is achieved through coordinated movement of the limbs and the body to achieve hydrodynamic thrust that r ...
, Women's 200m Freestyle
*
Shane Gould
Shane Elizabeth Gould (born 23 November 1956) is an Australian former competition swimmer. She won three gold medals, a silver medal and a bronze, at the 1972 Summer Olympics. In 2018, she won the fifth season of ''Australian Survivor,'' becom ...
—
Swimming
Swimming is the self-propulsion of a person through water, or other liquid, usually for recreation, sport, exercise, or survival. Locomotion is achieved through coordinated movement of the limbs and the body to achieve hydrodynamic thrust that r ...
, Women's 400m Freestyle
*
Beverley Whitfield
Beverley Joy Whitfield (15 June 1954 – 20 August 1996) was an Australian breaststroke swimmer of the 1970s, who won a gold medal in the 200-metre breaststroke at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich. She was coached by Terry Gathercole and ...
—
Swimming
Swimming is the self-propulsion of a person through water, or other liquid, usually for recreation, sport, exercise, or survival. Locomotion is achieved through coordinated movement of the limbs and the body to achieve hydrodynamic thrust that r ...
Swimming
Swimming is the self-propulsion of a person through water, or other liquid, usually for recreation, sport, exercise, or survival. Locomotion is achieved through coordinated movement of the limbs and the body to achieve hydrodynamic thrust that r ...
Swimming
Swimming is the self-propulsion of a person through water, or other liquid, usually for recreation, sport, exercise, or survival. Locomotion is achieved through coordinated movement of the limbs and the body to achieve hydrodynamic thrust that r ...
, Men's 400m Freestyle
*
John Anderson John Anderson may refer to:
Business
*John Anderson (Scottish businessman) (1747–1820), Scottish merchant and founder of Fermoy, Ireland
* John Byers Anderson (1817–1897), American educator, military officer and railroad executive, mentor of ...
Sailing
Sailing employs the wind—acting on sails, wingsails or kites—to propel a craft on the surface of the ''water'' (sailing ship, sailboat, raft, windsurfer, or kitesurfer), on ''ice'' (iceboat) or on ''land'' (land yacht) over a chosen cour ...
Sailing
Sailing employs the wind—acting on sails, wingsails or kites—to propel a craft on the surface of the ''water'' (sailing ship, sailboat, raft, windsurfer, or kitesurfer), on ''ice'' (iceboat) or on ''land'' (land yacht) over a chosen cour ...
, Men's Dragon Team Competition
Silver
*
Raelene Boyle
Raelene Ann Boyle (born 24 June 1951) is an Australian retired athlete, who represented Australia at three Olympic Games as a sprinter, winning three silver medals, and was named one of 100 National Living Treasures by the National Trust of ...
—
Athletics
Athletics may refer to:
Sports
* Sport of athletics, a collection of sporting events that involve competitive running, jumping, throwing, and walking
** Track and field, a sub-category of the above sport
* Athletics (physical culture), competi ...
, Women's 100m
*
Raelene Boyle
Raelene Ann Boyle (born 24 June 1951) is an Australian retired athlete, who represented Australia at three Olympic Games as a sprinter, winning three silver medals, and was named one of 100 National Living Treasures by the National Trust of ...
—
Athletics
Athletics may refer to:
Sports
* Sport of athletics, a collection of sporting events that involve competitive running, jumping, throwing, and walking
** Track and field, a sub-category of the above sport
* Athletics (physical culture), competi ...
Cycling
Cycling, also, when on a two-wheeled bicycle, called bicycling or biking, is the use of cycles for transport, recreation, exercise or sport. People engaged in cycling are referred to as "cyclists", "bicyclists", or "bikers". Apart from t ...
Cycling
Cycling, also, when on a two-wheeled bicycle, called bicycling or biking, is the use of cycles for transport, recreation, exercise or sport. People engaged in cycling are referred to as "cyclists", "bicyclists", or "bikers". Apart from t ...
, Men's 1.000m Time Trial
*
Clyde Sefton
Kevin "Clyde" Sefton (born 20 January 1951) is a former road racing cyclist from Australia, who was a professional rider from 1972 to 1983. He represented his native country at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, West Germany, where he won th ...
—
Cycling
Cycling, also, when on a two-wheeled bicycle, called bicycling or biking, is the use of cycles for transport, recreation, exercise or sport. People engaged in cycling are referred to as "cyclists", "bicyclists", or "bikers". Apart from t ...
, Men's Individual Road Race
*
Shane Gould
Shane Elizabeth Gould (born 23 November 1956) is an Australian former competition swimmer. She won three gold medals, a silver medal and a bronze, at the 1972 Summer Olympics. In 2018, she won the fifth season of ''Australian Survivor,'' becom ...
—
Swimming
Swimming is the self-propulsion of a person through water, or other liquid, usually for recreation, sport, exercise, or survival. Locomotion is achieved through coordinated movement of the limbs and the body to achieve hydrodynamic thrust that r ...
, Women's 800m Freestyle
*
Graham Windeatt
Graham Claude Windeatt (born 5 August 1954) is an Australian former long-distance freestyle swimmer of the 1970s, who won a silver medal in the 1500-metre freestyle at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich.Swimming
Swimming is the self-propulsion of a person through water, or other liquid, usually for recreation, sport, exercise, or survival. Locomotion is achieved through coordinated movement of the limbs and the body to achieve hydrodynamic thrust that r ...
, Men's 1.500m Freestyle
Bronze
*
Shane Gould
Shane Elizabeth Gould (born 23 November 1956) is an Australian former competition swimmer. She won three gold medals, a silver medal and a bronze, at the 1972 Summer Olympics. In 2018, she won the fifth season of ''Australian Survivor,'' becom ...
—
Swimming
Swimming is the self-propulsion of a person through water, or other liquid, usually for recreation, sport, exercise, or survival. Locomotion is achieved through coordinated movement of the limbs and the body to achieve hydrodynamic thrust that r ...
, Women's 100m Freestyle
*
Beverley Whitfield
Beverley Joy Whitfield (15 June 1954 – 20 August 1996) was an Australian breaststroke swimmer of the 1970s, who won a gold medal in the 200-metre breaststroke at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich. She was coached by Terry Gathercole and ...
—
Swimming
Swimming is the self-propulsion of a person through water, or other liquid, usually for recreation, sport, exercise, or survival. Locomotion is achieved through coordinated movement of the limbs and the body to achieve hydrodynamic thrust that r ...
, Women's 100m Breaststroke
Archery
In the first modern archery competition at the Olympics, Australia entered two men and one woman. Their highest placing competitors were
Terene Donovan
Terene Eva Donovan (born 27 December 1944) is an Australian archer. She competed at three Olympic Games, in 1972, 1980 and 1984
Events
January
* January 1 – The Bornean Sultanate of Brunei gains full independence from the United K ...
and
Graeme Telford
Graeme Telford (born 19 March 1942) is an Australian archer. He competed in the men's individual event at the 1972 Summer Olympics
The 1972 Summer Olympics (), officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad () and commonly known as Munich ...
, who both placed 9th place in their respective competitions.
Women's Individual Competition:
*
Terene Donovan
Terene Eva Donovan (born 27 December 1944) is an Australian archer. She competed at three Olympic Games, in 1972, 1980 and 1984
Events
January
* January 1 – The Bornean Sultanate of Brunei gains full independence from the United K ...
Graeme Telford
Graeme Telford (born 19 March 1942) is an Australian archer. He competed in the men's individual event at the 1972 Summer Olympics
The 1972 Summer Olympics (), officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad () and commonly known as Munich ...
- 2423 points (→ 9th place)
*
Terry Reilly
Terrence Reilly (born 24 October 1947) is an Australian archer. He competed at the 1972 Summer Olympics and the 1976 Summer Olympics
Events January
* January 3 – The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights en ...
- 2387 points (→ 15th place)
Athletics
Men's 800 metres
*
Graeme Rootham
Graeme Lindsay Rootham (born 7 March 1948) is an Australian middle-distance runner. He competed in the men's 800 metres at the 1972 Summer Olympics
The 1972 Summer Olympics (), officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad () and common ...
** Heat — 1:48.2 (→ did not advance)
Men's 1.500 metres
*
Chris Fisher
Christopher Lawrence Fisher (born December 30, 1971) is an American former director, writer, producer and attorney. He worked on the CBS television series ''Person of Interest'' as a director and executive producer.
Early life and education
Bor ...
** Heat — 3:42.5
** Semifinals — 3:42.0 (→ did not advance)
Men's 5.000 metres
* Tony Benson
** Heat — 13:42.8 (→ did not advance)
* Kerry O'Brien
** Heat — did not start (→ did not advance)
Men's 3.000m Steeplechase
* Kerry O'Brien
** Qualifying Heat — did not finish (→ did not advance)
Men's High Jump
* Lawrie Peckham
** Qualifying Round — 2.15m
** Final — 2.10m (→ 18th place)
Basketball
;Men's Team Competition
*Preliminary Round (Group A):
** Lost to Spain (74-79)
** Lost to United States (55-81)
** Lost to Czechoslovakia (68-69)
** Defeated Japan (92-76)
** Lost to Cuba (70-84)
** Defeated Brazil (75-69)
** Defeated Egypt (89-66)
*Classification Matches:
** 9th/12th place: Defeated West Germany (70-69)
** 9th/10th place: Defeated Poland (91-83) → 9th place
*Team Roster:
** Glenn Marsland
** Ian Watson
**
Richard Duke
Richard Duke (13 June 1658 – 11 February 1711) was an English clergyman and poet, associated with the Tory writers of the Restoration era.
Life
He was born in London, son of Richard Duke, and was admitted to Westminster School in 1670. He w ...
**
Bill Wyatt
William George Wyatt (born 27 July 1938) is an Australian former basketball player. He competed in the men's tournament at the 1964 Summer Olympics and the 1972 Summer Olympics
The 1972 Summer Olympics (), officially known as the Games of ...
Brian Kerle
Brian Edward Kerle (born 29 August 1945) is an Australian former basketball player and coach. He competed in the men's tournament at the 1972 Summer Olympics. As a coach, he led the St. Kilda Pumas and the Brisbane Bullets to two championships ...
Perry Crosswhite
Perry Rothrock Crosswhite AM (born 22 September 1947) is a former Australian Olympic basketballer and leading sport administrator.
Personal
He was born on 22 September 1947 in Washington, D.C. He moved to Australia in 1969 to play basketball. H ...
**
Ray Tomlinson
Raymond Samuel Tomlinson (April 23, 1941 – March 5, 2016) was an American computer programmer who implemented the first email program on the ARPANET system, the precursor to the Internet, in 1971; It was the first system able to send mail be ...
Lindsay Gaze
Lindsay John Casson Gaze (born 16 August 1936) is an Australian former basketball player and coach.
He played for Australia in three Summer Olympics qualification tournaments, between 1960 and 1968, and was the head coach of the senior Austr ...
Boxing
Men's Light Middleweight (– 71 kg)
*
Alan Jenkinson
Alan Jenkinson (born 11 February 1952) is an Australian boxer. He competed in the men's light middleweight event at the 1972 Summer Olympics
The 1972 Summer Olympics (), officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad () and commonly kno ...
** First Round — Bye
** Second Round — Defeated Michel Belliard (FRA), 4:1
** Third Round — Lost to
Mohamed Majeri
Mohamed Majeri (born 23 August 1948) is a Tunisian boxer. He competed in the men's light middleweight event at the 1972 Summer Olympics
The 1972 Summer Olympics (), officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad () and commonly known as ...
Clyde Sefton
Kevin "Clyde" Sefton (born 20 January 1951) is a former road racing cyclist from Australia, who was a professional rider from 1972 to 1983. He represented his native country at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, West Germany, where he won th ...
John Trevorrow
John Trevorrow (born 18 May 1949) is a former Australian racing cyclist. He won the Australian national road race title in 1978, 1979 and 1980. He also competed at the 1972 Summer Olympics.
He is presently the race director for the Herald Sun ...
— 32nd place
*
Donald Allan
Donald John Allan (born 24 September 1949) is an Australian former cyclist who rode at the Olympic Games and Tour de France.
Allan began cycling with the Blackburn Cycling Club in Melbourne. In 1970, he was paralysed in a car accident, breaki ...
— 58th place
;
Team time trial
A team time trial (TTT) is a road bicycle race in which teams of cyclists race against the clock (see individual time trial for a more detailed description of ITT events).
The winning team in a TTT is determined by the comparing the times of ( ...
*
Donald Allan
Donald John Allan (born 24 September 1949) is an Australian former cyclist who rode at the Olympic Games and Tour de France.
Allan began cycling with the Blackburn Cycling Club in Melbourne. In 1970, he was paralysed in a car accident, breaki ...
Clyde Sefton
Kevin "Clyde" Sefton (born 20 January 1951) is a former road racing cyclist from Australia, who was a professional rider from 1972 to 1983. He represented his native country at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, West Germany, where he won th ...
*
John Trevorrow
John Trevorrow (born 18 May 1949) is a former Australian racing cyclist. He won the Australian national road race title in 1978, 1979 and 1980. He also competed at the 1972 Summer Olympics.
He is presently the race director for the Herald Sun ...
Individual pursuit
The individual pursuit is a track cycling event where two cyclists begin the race from a stationary position on opposite sides of the track.
It is held at over for men and for women. The riders start at the same time and set off to complete the ...
Team pursuit
The team pursuit is a track cycling event similar to the individual pursuit, except that two teams, each of up to four riders, compete, starting on opposite sides of the velodrome.
Race format
Both men's and women's events are competed over ...
;Men's Team Competition
*Preliminary Round (Group B)
** Drew with New Zealand (0-0)
** Defeated Kenya (3-1)
** Lost to India (1-3)
** Defeated Mexico (10-0)
** Drew with Great Britain (1-1)
** Defeated Poland (1-0)
** Lost to the Netherlands (2-3)
*Semi Final Round
** Defeated Malaysia (2-1)
*Classification Match
** 5th/6th place: Defeated Great Britain (2-1) after extra time → 5th place
*Team Roster
** Robert Andrew
**
Greg Browning
Gregory Charles Browning (born 14 February 1953) is a retired field hockey player from Australia, who won the silver medal at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Quebec
Montreal ( ; officially Montréal, ) is the second-most populou ...
**
Ric Charlesworth
Richard Ian Charlesworth AO (born 6 February 1952) is an Australian sports coach and former politician. He played first-class cricket for Western Australia and international field hockey for the Kookaburras (the Australian national team), win ...
**
Paul Dearing
Paul Robert Dearing (2 March 1942 – 6 April 2015) was a field hockey player from Australia, who won the silver medal with the Men's National Team at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City. Four years earlier he captured the bronze medal. ...
**
Brian Glencross
Brian Alan Glencross OAM (1 May 1941 – 30 December 2022) was an Australian field hockey player and coach. As a member of the Australian National Men's Hockey Team, he won a bronze medal and a silver medal at consecutive Olympic Games – th ...
**
Robert Haigh
Robert (Herbie) Haigh (born 27 March 1945 in Adelaide, South Australia) is a former hockey player from Australia, a three time olympian who won two Olympic silver medals as a member of the national team at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Me ...
Patrick Nilan
Patrick Nilan (born 30 June 1941) is an Australian former field hockey player who competed in the 1964 Summer Olympics, in the 1968 Summer Olympics, and in the 1972 Summer Olympics
The 1972 Summer Olympics (), officially known as the G ...
Ronald Riley
Ronald William "Ron" Riley (born 14 September 1947) is a retired field hockey striker from Australia, who twice won the silver medal with the Men's National Team, first at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City and then eight years later, at ...
Ronald Wilson
Sir Ronald Darling Wilson, (23 August 192215 July 2005) was a distinguished Australian lawyer, judge and social activist serving on the High Court of Australia between 1979 and 1989 and as the President of the Human Rights and Equal Opportun ...
Judo
Modern pentathlon
Two male pentathletes represented Australia in 1972.
Men's Individual Competition:
*
Robert Barrie
Rear-Admiral Sir Robert Barrie KCB, KCH (5 May 1774 – 7 June 1841) was a British officer of the Royal Navy noted for his service in the War of 1812. He was helped early in his naval career by the patronage of his uncle, Sir Alan Gardn ...
— 4600 points (→ 32nd place)
*
Peter Macken
Peter Neville Macken (born 10 November 1938 in Sydney, Australia) is an Australian modern pentathlete and fencer who competed in five Olympic Games. He competed in the modern pentathlon at all five Olympics from 1960 to 1976 and in fencing at ...
— 4449 points (→ 41st place)
Rowing
Sailing
Shooting
Four male shooters represented Australia in 1972.
;Mixed
Swimming
Men's 100m Freestyle
*
Michael Wenden
Michael Vincent Wenden, (born 17 November 1949) is a champion swimmer who represented Australia in the 1968 Summer Olympics and 1972 Summer Olympics. In 1968 he won four medals: gold in both the 100- and 200-metre freestyle (setting world reco ...
Greg Rogers
Gregory Francis Rogers (born 14 August 1948) is an Australian former sprint freestyle swimmer of the 1960s and 1970s, who won a silver and bronze medal in the 4×200-metre and 4×100-metre freestyle relays, respectively, at the 1968 Summer Ol ...
** Heat — 53.98s
** Semifinals — 54.26s (→ did not advance)
*
Neil Rogers
Neil Rogers (November 5, 1942December 24, 2010) was an American talk radio personality. Until his retirement on June 22, 2009, ''The Neil Rogers Show'' aired weekdays from 10am-2pm on WQAM-AM, 560 WQAM. It was consistently the top-rated show ...
** Heat — 55.32s (→ did not advance)
Men's 200m Freestyle
*
Michael Wenden
Michael Vincent Wenden, (born 17 November 1949) is a champion swimmer who represented Australia in the 1968 Summer Olympics and 1972 Summer Olympics. In 1968 he won four medals: gold in both the 100- and 200-metre freestyle (setting world reco ...
** Heat — 1:56.66
** Final — 1:54.40 (→ 4th place)
* Graham White
** Heat — 1:58.60 (→ did not advance)
*
Robert Nay
Robert John Nay (15 November 1956 – 7 November 1992) was a competitive swimmer from Australia. Nay competed in the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany, but failed to reach the finals. His daughter Meagen Nay competed for Australia at t ...
** Heat — 1:57.69 (→ did not advance)
Men's 4 × 100 m Freestyle Relay
*
Neil Rogers
Neil Rogers (November 5, 1942December 24, 2010) was an American talk radio personality. Until his retirement on June 22, 2009, ''The Neil Rogers Show'' aired weekdays from 10am-2pm on WQAM-AM, 560 WQAM. It was consistently the top-rated show ...
Bruce Featherston
Bruce Featherston (born 10 July 1952) is an Australian former swimmer. He competed in five events at the 1972 Summer Olympics
The 1972 Summer Olympics (), officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad () and commonly known as Munich 19 ...
and
Greg Rogers
Gregory Francis Rogers (born 14 August 1948) is an Australian former sprint freestyle swimmer of the 1960s and 1970s, who won a silver and bronze medal in the 4×200-metre and 4×100-metre freestyle relays, respectively, at the 1968 Summer Ol ...
** Heat — 3:40.47 (→ did not advance)
Men's 4 × 200 m Freestyle Relay
*
Graham Windeatt
Graham Claude Windeatt (born 5 August 1954) is an Australian former long-distance freestyle swimmer of the 1970s, who won a silver medal in the 1500-metre freestyle at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich.Bruce Featherstone,
Michael Wenden
Michael Vincent Wenden, (born 17 November 1949) is a champion swimmer who represented Australia in the 1968 Summer Olympics and 1972 Summer Olympics. In 1968 he won four medals: gold in both the 100- and 200-metre freestyle (setting world reco ...
Michael Wenden
Michael Vincent Wenden, (born 17 November 1949) is a champion swimmer who represented Australia in the 1968 Summer Olympics and 1972 Summer Olympics. In 1968 he won four medals: gold in both the 100- and 200-metre freestyle (setting world reco ...
,
Graham Windeatt
Graham Claude Windeatt (born 5 August 1954) is an Australian former long-distance freestyle swimmer of the 1970s, who won a silver medal in the 1500-metre freestyle at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich.Robert Nay
Robert John Nay (15 November 1956 – 7 November 1992) was a competitive swimmer from Australia. Nay competed in the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany, but failed to reach the finals. His daughter Meagen Nay competed for Australia at t ...
{{DEFAULTSORT:Australia At The 1972 Summer Olympics
1972 Summer Olympics
The 1972 Summer Olympics (), officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad () and commonly known as Munich 1972 (german: München 1972), was an international multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from 26 August to 11 September 1972. ...
Olympics
The modern Olympic Games or Olympics (french: link=no, Jeux olympiques) are the leading international sporting events featuring summer and winter sports competitions in which thousands of athletes from around the world participate in a var ...