Olympic Games

Munich, 1972

This was the second time that the Olympic Games had been hosted in Germany, the first time was in Berlin in 1936.
The Olympic Oath is taken by a referee for the first time.
These Games are overshadowed when members of the Black September terrorist group kidnaped eleven Israeli athletes from the Olympic Village, killing two and taking the other nine hostage. as the result of a bungled rescue attempt by the German authorities, the remaining nine captives were killed alongside three of their captors - all but three of the terrorists are killed. After a day of mourning, the Games continue, although Spitz, a Jew, leaves the country for his own safety.
The U.S. basketball team loses a game for the first time, falling to the Soviet Union, but refuses to accept the silver medal, claiming that the clock had been improperly restarted in the final moments.
The Soviets lead the U.S. in the medal count, 99 (50 gold) to 94 (33 gold).

In 1972 American Frank Shorter pulled the US into the running boom by winning the gold medal in the marathon at the Munich Olympics. Shorter was actually born in Munich.
British Equestrian, Lorna Johnstone was 70 years and 5 days old when she rode at the 1972 Games, thus being the oldest woman ever to compete at an Olympic Games.
Mark Spitz from USA won seven gold medals at the Munich Games, and won them all in world record time.