The United States competed at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, West Germany. 400 competitors, 316 men and 84 women, took part in 185 events in 21 sports.
Medalists
The United States finished second in the final medal rankings, with 33 gold and 94 total medals.
The following U.S. competitors won medals at the games. In the discipline sections below, the medalists' names are bolded.
|style="text-align:left;width:78%;vertical-align:top"| MedalNameSportEventDateDivingWomen's 3 m springboardSwimmingMen's 200 m butterflyDave EdgarDavid FairbankJerry HeidenreichJohn MurphyMark SpitzSwimmingMen's 4 × 100 m freestyle relaySwimmingMen's 200 m freestyleSwimmingWomen's 100 m freestyleShooting50 m rifle three positionsJane BarkmanJenny KempAnn MarshallSandy NeilsonKim PeytonLynn SkrifvarsSwimmingWomen's 4 × 100 m freestyle relaySwimmingMen's 100 m butterflyGary ConellySteve GenterJohn KinsellaTom McBreenMark SpitzFred TylerSwimmingMen's 4 × 200 m freestyle relayWrestlingFreestyle 68 kgWrestlingFreestyle 74 kgWrestlingFreestyle 90 kgAthleticsMen's 800 mShooting300 m rifle three positionSwimmingMen's 200 m breaststrokeSwimmingWomen's 100 m backstrokeSwimmingWomen's 100 m breaststrokeSwimmingMen's 100 m freestyleSwimmingWomen's 800 m freestyleShirley BabashoffMelissa BeloteCathy CarrDeena DeardurffJudy MelickSandy NeilsonDana ShraderSwimmingWomen's 4 × 100 m medley relaySwimmingMen's 1500 m freestyleDavid FairbankGary Hall Sr.Jerry HeidenreichJohn HenckenMitch IveyMark SpitzMike StammSwimmingMen's 4 × 100 m medley relaySwimmingWomen's 200 m backstrokeSwimmingWomen's 200 m butterflyAthleticsMen's 400 mAthleticsMen's 110 m hurdlesWilliam BentsenBuddy MelgesSailingSolingAthleticsMen's long jumpArcheryMen's individualArcheryWomen's individualEddie HartRobert TaylorGerald TinkerAthleticsMen's 4 × 100 m relayAthleticsMen's marathonBoxingLight welterweightShooting50 m rifle proneSwimmingMen's 200 m butterflySwimmingMen's 200 m freestyleSwimmingMen's 100 m backstrokeSwimmingWomen's 100 m freestyleSwimmingWomen's 200 m breaststrokeShooting50 m rifle three positionSwimmingMen's 100 m breaststrokeSwimmingMen's 400 m individual medleyWrestlingFreestyle 57 kgWrestlingFreestyle 82 kgAthleticsMen's 100 mKevin FreemanMichael PlumbJames C. WoffordEquestrianTeam eventingSwimmingMen's 400 m freestyleSwimmingWomen's 200 m freestyleAthleticsMen's 400 m hurdlesAthleticsMen's pole vaultAthleticsMen's discus throwBill HobbsFranklin HobbsCleve LivingstonMike LivingstonTim MickelsonPete RaymondLawrence TerryRowingMen's eightSwimmingMen's 200 m backstrokeSwimmingMen's 100 m freestyleSwimmingMen's 200 m individual medleyAthleticsMen's 200 mDivingMen's 10 m platformSwimmingWomen's 200 m backstrokeSwimmingWomen's 200 m butterflyAthleticsMen's 400 mAthleticsMen's shot putBasketballMen's tournamentKathy HammondMadeline ManningCheryl ToussaintAthleticsWomen's 4 × 400 m relayKathryn KusnerNeal ShapiroWilliam SteinkrausEquestrianTeam jumpingCanoeingMen's slalom C-1SwimmingMen's 200 m butterflySwimmingWomen's 200 m individual medleySwimmingMen's 100 m backstrokeDivingMen's 3 m springboardSwimmingMen's 100 m breaststrokeSwimmingMen's 100 m butterflyWrestlingFreestyle +100 kgAthleticsWomen's javelin throwSwimmingMen's 400 m freestyleSwimmingWomen's 200 m freestyleAthleticsMen's pole vaultSwimmingMen's 200 m backstrokeSwimmingWomen's 100 m backstrokeAthleticsMen's 50 km walkAthleticsMen's javelin throwEquestrianIndividual jumpingSwimmingMen's 200 m individual medleySwimmingMen's 1500 m freestyleSwimmingWomen's 200 m butterflyWater poloMen's tournamentAthleticsMen's 110 m hurdlesAthleticsWomen's 400 mGlen FosterSailingTempestCharles HorterJohn MarshallSailingDragonAthleticsMen's long jumpAthleticsMen's high jumpBoxingBantamweightBoxingWelterweightBoxingMiddleweight |style="text-align:left;width:22%;vertical-align:top"|
Medals by sportSportTotalSwimming17141243Athletics68822Wrestling3216Shooting2204Archery2002Diving1113Boxing1034Sailing1023Equestrian0213Basketball0101Rowing0101Canoeing0011Water polo0011Total33313094
Medals by dayDayDate Total1August 2700002August 2832383August 2924174August 3023275August 3152296September 104377September 2553138September 332499September 44431110September 6000011September 7212512September 8102313September 9121414September 105141015September 110101Total33313094
Medals by genderGenderTotalPercentageMale2324247175.53%Female10662223.41%Mixed01011.06%Total33313094100%
Multiple medalistsNameSportTotalMark SpitzSwimming7007Shirley BabashoffSwimming2204Jerry HeidenreichSwimming2114Melissa BeloteSwimming3003Sandy NeilsonSwimming3003John HenckenSwimming2013Steve GenterSwimming1203Mike StammSwimming1203Susie AtwoodSwimming1113Mike BurtonSwimming2002Cathy CarrSwimming2002Gary ConellySwimming2002David FairbankSwimming2002Larry BlackAthletics1102Tom BruceSwimming1102Gary Hall Sr.Swimming1102Mitch IveySwimming1012Tom McBreenSwimming1012John MurphySwimming1012Keena RothhammerSwimming1012Tim McKeeSwimming0202Kathy HammondAthletics0112Neal ShapiroEquestrian0112
Archery
In the first modern archery competition at the Olympics, the United States entered three men and three women. They took home both of the gold medals as well as a pair of 5th-place finishes.
AthleteEventRound 1Round 2TotalPointsRankPointsRankPointsRankEdwin EliasonMen's individual1193131245423485Dennis McComak11999119916239811John Williams1268 1126012528 Maureen BechdoltWomen's individual110629111229221828Linda Myers120031185623855Doreen Wilber119841226 12424
Athletics
On the victory podium after the conclusion of the men's 400 meters final, gold medalist Vince Matthews and silver medalist Wayne Collett talked to each other and failed to stand at attention during the medal ceremony. On the advice of Avery Brundage, the International Olympic Committee banned them from further competition. Since the third American competitor, world record holder John Smith, had pulled a hamstring while leading 80 meters into the final and had been ruled unfit to run, the United States were left unable to field a 4 x 400 relay team, and were thus forced to scratch from the event where they would have been heavily favored.
Men Road and track events AthleteEventHeatQuarterfinalSemifinalFinalTimeRankTimeRankTimeRankTimeRankEddie Hart100 m10.471 QDid not advanceRey Robinson10.561 QDid not advanceRobert Taylor10.321 Q10.162 Q10.301 Q10.24Larry Black200 m20.791 Q20.281 Q20.361 Q20.19Larry Burton20.801 Q20.681 Q20.782 Q20.374Chuck Smith20.791 Q20.662 Q20.863 Q20.555Wayne Collett400 m46.002 Q45.801 Q45.773 Q44.80Vincent Matthews45.942 Q45.622 Q44.941 Q44.66John Smith46.002 Q46.042 Q45.463 QKen Swenson800 m1:51.12 Qcolspan=2 rowspan=3 Did not advanceRick Wohlhuter1:49.44Did not advanceDave Wottle1:47.62 Q1:48.71 Q1:45.9Jim Ryun1500 m3:51.59colspan=2 rowspan=3 Did not advanceBob Wheeler3:41.33 Q3:40.46Did not advanceDave Wottle3:40.72 Q3:41.64Did not advanceLeonard Hilton5000 m14:07.28colspan=4 rowspan=3 Did not advanceSteve Prefontaine13:32.62 Q13:28.254George Young13:41.24Did not advanceJon Anderson10,000 m28:34.28colspan=4 rowspan=3 Did not advanceJeff Galloway29:35.011Did not advanceFrank Shorter27:58.233 Q27:51.325Willie Davenport110 m hurdles13.972 Qcolspan=2 rowspan=3 13.733 Q13.504Tom Hill13.621 Q13.471 Q13.48Rod Milburn13.571 Q13.441 Q13.24 Dick Bruggeman400 m hurdles54.366colspan=2 rowspan=3 Did not advanceRalph Mann50.182 Q49.532 Q48.51Jim Seymour49.812 Q49.331 Q48.644Doug Brown3000 m steeplechase8:41.29colspan=4 rowspan=3 Did not advanceMike Manley8:50.410Did not advanceSteve Savage8:39.07Did not advanceLarry BlackEddie HartRobert TaylorGerald Tinker4 × 100 m relay38.961 Qcolspan=2 38.541 Q38.19 Jack BachelerMarathoncolspan=6 rowspan=3 2:17:389Kenny Moore2:15:394Frank Shorter2:12:19Tom Dooley20 km walkcolspan=6 rowspan=3 1:34:58.815Goetz Klopfer1:38:33.619Larry Young1:32:53.410Steve Hayden50 km walkcolspan=6 rowspan=3 4:36:07.227William Weigle4:22:52.217Larry Young4:00:46.0
Field events AthleteEventQualificationFinalResultRankResultRankPreston CarringtonLong jump8.222 Q7.995Arnie Robinson7.994 Q8.03Randy Williams8.341 Q8.24John CraftTriple jump16.3210 Q16.835Dave Smith14.5532Did not advanceArt Walker15.2929Did not advanceChris DunnHigh jump2.1220Did not advanceRon Jourdan2.1222Did not advanceDwight Stones2.15=1 Q2.21Jan JohnsonPole vault5.1010 Q5.35Bob Seagren5.10=6 Q5.40Steve Smith4.8018Did not advanceAl FeuerbachShot put19.94=6 Q21.015Brian Oldfield19.955 Q20.916George Woods19.964 Q21.17John PowellDiscus throw59.3013 Q62.824Jay Silvester61.206 Q63.50Tim Vollmer59.6010 Q60.248Fred LukeJavelin throw81.345 Q80.068Bill Schmidt78.9610 q84.42Milt Sonsky79.968 q77.9410George FrennHammer throw62.1427Did not advanceTom Gage69.407 Q69.5012Al Schoterman65.1822Did not advance
Combined event – Decathlon AthleteEventPointsRankJeff BannisterResult11.097.2014.211.8646.7942.004.0056.984:15.8702221Points7838617417349580724807724690Jeff BennettResult10.737.2612.821.8646.2515.5836.524.8056.984:12.279744Points8728736537349847896161005730718Bruce JennerResult11.356.5313.561.9249.4915.5942.244.5566.024:18.9772210Points721721700788829788729945833668
Women Track events AthleteEventHeatQuarterfinalSemifinalFinalTimeRankTimeRankTimeRankTimeRankIris Davis100 m11.341 Q11.271 Q11.362 Q11.324Barbara Ferrell11.473 Q11.383 Q11.494 Q11.457Mattiline Render11.605 Q11.676Did not advanceBarbara Ferrell200 m23.382 Q23.304 Q23.397Did not advancePam Greene23.962 Q23.855Did not advanceJackie Thompson23.673 Q23.223 Q23.186Did not advanceDebra Edwards400 m54.435Did not advanceMable Fergerson52.053 Q52.933 Q51.914 Q51.965Kathy Hammond53.451 Q52.444 Q51.924 Q51.64Wendy Koenig800 m2:08.716colspan=2 rowspan=3 Did not advanceMadeline Manning2:02.632 Q2:02.395Did not advanceCheryl Toussaint2:08.906Did not advanceDoris Brown1500 mcolspan=2 rowspan=3 Did not advanceFrancie Kraker4:14.734 Q4:12.768Did not advanceFrancie Larrieu4:11.183 Q4:15.268Did not advancePatty Johnson100 m hurdles13.282 Qcolspan=2 rowspan=3 13.265Did not advanceLacey O'Neal13.784 Q13.897Did not advanceMamie Rallins13.513 Q13.767Did not advanceIris DavisMildrette NetterMattiline RenderMartha Watson4 × 100 m relay43.073 Qcolspan=4 43.394Mable FergersonKathy HammondMadeline ManningCheryl Toussaint4 × 400 m relay3:28.602 Qcolspan=4 3:25.15
Field events AthleteEventQualificationFinalResultRankResultRankKim AttleseyLong jump5.8029Did not advanceMartha Watson6.0923Did not advanceWillye White6.395 Q6.2711Cindy GilbertHigh jump1.7032Did not advanceSandi Goldsberry1.6038Did not advanceDeanne Wilson1.70=30Did not advanceMaren SeidlerShot put16.1814Did not advanceJan Svendsen14.9616Did not advanceOlga ConnollyDiscus throw51.5816Did not advanceRoberta BrownJavelin throw47.8819Did not advanceSherry Calvert51.3815Did not advanceKate Schmidt58.843 Q59.94
Combined event – Pentathlon AthleteEventPointsRankGale FitzgeraldResult14.4711.251.655.9723.97420619Points809672885900940Jane FrederickResult14.6012.921.745.6024.45416721Points793775974817808
Basketball
Summary TeamEventPreliminary roundSemifinalFinal / OppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultRankOppositionResultOppositionResultRankUnited States menMen's tournamentW 66–35W 81–55W 67–48W 61–54W 96–31W 74–70W 99–331 QW 68–38L 50–51
Roster
Preliminary round
Boxing
Reggie Jones was controversially eliminated in the second round of the light middleweight division (–71 kg) by Valeri Tregubov of the Soviet Union, nine years his senior, in a fight he was generally accepted to have won.