HEADLINES

AUG. 31, 1972: DAY 6

Angry U.S. Sprinters Blame Coach for Disqualification

Confusion about the schedule for the second-round heats in the 100 meters caused two U.S. sprinters, Rey Robinson and Eddie Hart, to be disqualified. The only U.S. sprinter who did arrive in time for the start, Robert Taylor, finished second and advanced. He also would finish second the next day in the final, behind Soviet Valery Borzov.

Coincidentally, Borzov almost missed the second round. He too had been given the wrong start time. But he had remained at the stadium instead of returning to the village and was sleeping when he heard the sprinters being called for his heat.

Spitz Makes It Five for Five With Two Races to Go

With two events remaining, Mark Spitz had already become the greatest swimmer in Olympic history. He won his third individual event, the 100-meter butterfly, and set his third world record. He also anchored the winning 800-freestyle relay team to a world record. His fifth gold medal was a record for a swimmer in a single Olympics, passing the four won by the United States’ Don Schollander in 1964. Spitz’s seven gold medals, including the two he won in relays in ‘68, tied the all-time Olympic record for swimmers set by Johnny Weismuller.

*--* MEDALS

*--*

*--* East Germany 8 6 9 23 Country G S B T Soviet Union 14 10 10 34 United States 12 11 8 31

*--*

*--* QUOTE

*--*

“An American tragedy.”

--Howard Cosell’s pronouncement on ABC after the disqualification of two U.S. sprinters