Australia competed at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, USSR. In partial support of the American-led boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics, Australia competed under the Olympic Flag. 121 competitors, 93 men and 28 women, took part in 92 events in 17 sports.
For the first time in the Olympics history, there were two flag bearers, Denise Boyd (athletics) and Max Metzker (swimming), Australia's first joint-flag carriers, carried the Olympic flag in the opening ceremony instead of the national flag. Countries marched in order of the Russian alphabet, and Australia was therefore second in the parade of nations, following Greece, which has traditionally led the march since 1928.
Athletes who competed at the Games were formally recognized by the Australian Government on July 30, 2025.
Medalists
MedalNameSportEventDate Swimming Women's 800 metre freestyle 26 July (heat) Swimming Men's 4 x 100 metre medley relay 24 July Athletics Men's 400 metre 30 July Canoeing Men's K-1 500 metres 1 August Swimming Women's 200 metre butterfly 24 July Swimming Men's 200 metre freestyle 21 July Swimming Men's 1500 metre freestyle 22 July Swimming Men's 100 metre breaststroke 22 July Swimming Men's 200 metre backstroke 26 July
Competitors SportMenWomenTotalArchery 1 2 3Athletics 14 7 21Basketball 12 - 12Boxing 2 – 2Canoeing 5 - 5Cycling 11 - 11Diving 1 2 3Fencing 1 2 3Gymnastics 1 2 3Judo 3 - 3Modern pentathlon 1 – 1Rowing 11 5 16Shooting 1 1 2Swimming 10 7 17Water polo 11 – 11Weightlifting 5 – 5Wrestling 3 – 3 Total 93 28 121
Archery
In the third Olympic archery competition that Australia contested, the nation sent two women and one man. Officials: Section Manager - Keith Gaisford
Men Rank Archer Round 1 Score Round 1 Rank Round 2 Score Round 2 Rank Total Score 26 Scott Dumbrell 1142 27 1129 25 2271
Women Rank Archer Round 1 Score Round 1 Rank Round 2 Score Round 2 Rank Total Score Terene Donovan 1172 10 1171 10 2343 15 Carole Toy 1123 17 1162 14 2285
Athletics
Officials: Section Manager - Ray Durie, Chief Coach - John Daly, Coach - Jean Roberts, Coach - Pat Clohessy Men Track and road events
AthleteEventHeatsQuarterfinalSemifinalFinalResultRankResultRankResultRankResultRankRick Mitchell400 metres46.633 Q45.731 Q45.482 Q44.84 David Fitzsimons5000 metres13:46.47 Q-13:58.310Did not advanceSteve Austin13:43.26 Q-13:47.611Did not advanceSteve Austin5000 metres29:45.25Did not advanceBill Scott28:58.703 Qcolspan=428:15.089Rob de CastellaMarathoncolspan=62:14:3110Chris Wardlawcolspan=62:20:4228Gerard Barrettcolspan=6DNFDavid Smith20 kilometres walkcolspan=6DSQDavid Smith50 kilometres walkcolspan=6DNFWilli Sawallcolspan=64:08:258
Field events AthleteEventQualificationFinalDistancePositionDistancePositionGary HoneyLong jump7.4423Did not advanceIan CampbellTriple jump17.021 Q16.725Ken Lorraway16.802 Q16.448Peter FarmerHammer throw69.1613Did not advance
Combined events – Decathlon Athlete100 metresLong jump Shot putHigh jump 400 m 110 m hurdlesDiscus throwPole vaultJavelin throw1500 metresFinalRankPeter Hadfield11.047.3613.341.8550.3715.69w48.024.6058.124:51.2770913
Women Track and road events
AthleteEventHeatsQuarterfinalSemifinalFinalResultRankResultRankResultRankResultRankDenise Boyd100 metres11.562 Q11.354 Q11.448Did not advanceDebbie Wells11.725 q11.667Did not advanceDenise Boyd200 metres23.368 Q22.918 Q22.803 Q22.767Penelope Gillies100 metres hurdles13.686Did not advance
Field events AthleteEventQualificationFinalDistancePositionDistancePositionChristine StantonHigh jump1.8810 Q1.916Pam MatthewsJavelin throw55.727Did not advancePetra Rivers55.80 9Did not advanceGael MulhallShot putcolspan=218.00 12Gael MulhallDiscus54.9015Did not advance
Basketball
Men's Team Competition Offivccials - Section Manager - Robert Staunton, Coach - Lindsay Gaze, Assistant Coach - Alan Dawe
TeamEventPreliminary round Group C Classification roundOppositionScoreOppositionScoreOppositionScoreRankOppositionScoreOppositionScoreOppositionScoreOppositionScoreRankAustraliaMen's tournament L 76-83W 84-77W 64-558 W 91-86 L 74-101W 94-65W 93-758
Team Roster: Peter Ali Stephen Breheny Perry Crosswhite Mel Dalgleish Ian Davies Gordon McLeod Danny Morseau Les Riddle Larry Sengstock Phil Smyth Michael Tucker Peter Walsh
Boxing
Officials: Section Manager - Arthur Tunstall AthleteEventRound of 32Round of 16QuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinalOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultRankNorman StevensLightweightL 1-4Did not advanceBenny PikeLight heavyweightW RTL KODid not advance
Canoeing
Officials: Section Manager - Zoltan Sziegeti, Coach - Reg Hatch
Men AthleteEventHeatsRepechageSemifinalsFinalTimeRankTimeRankTimeRankTimeRankJohn SumegiK-1 500 metres1:44.451 QScolspan=21:46.1111:44.12Barry Kelly, Robert LeeK-4 500 metres1:36.312 QScolspan=21:36.632 QF1:36.455Barry Kelly, Robert Lee, Ken Vidler, Crosbie BaulchK-4 1000 metres3:10.493 QFcolspan=2colspan=23:19.878
Cycling
Officials: Section Manager - Les Dunn, Track Coach - Charlie Walsh, Road Coach - John Hardaker
Road - Men AthleteEventTimeRankKevin BradshawRoad raceMichael Wilsonat 9:1025Remo SansonettiGraham SeersKevin Bradshaw Remo Sansonetti David Scarfe Michael WilsonTeam time trial2:08:25.211
Track - Men
Sprint AthleteEventPreliminaryRound 1Round 1RepechagePreliminaryRound 2Round 2RepechageRound of 16Round of 16RepechageQuarterfinalsSemifinals Classification 5-8OppositionTimeOppositionTimeOppositionTimeOppositionTimeOppositionTimeOppositionTimeOppositionTimeOppositionTimeOppositionTimeRankKenrick TuckerSprintW 11.35W10.93 L W11.49L, L Did not advance,, 7
Time trial AthleteEventTimeRankKenrick TuckerTime trial1:07.70910 Pursuit AthleteEventQualificationQuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinal / TimeRankOppositionTimeOppositionTimeOppositionTimeRankKevin PooleIndividual pursuit4:49.719Did not advanceColin Fitzgerald Kevin Nichols Gary Sutton Kelvin PooleTeam pursuit4:21.768 Q L 4:22.02Did not advance
Note - Michael Turtur did not compete in 4000m team pursuit due to illness.
Diving
Officials: Coach - Ian Nicholls Men AthleteEventQualificationFinalPointsRankPointsRankSteve Foley3 m springboard521.8211Did not advanceSteve Foley10 m platform427.4416Did not advance
Women AthleteEventPreminaryFinalTotalPointsRankPointsRankPointsRankJenny Donnet3 m springboard376.7718Did not advanceValerine McFarlane413.977444.0606651.0456Jenny Donnet10 m platform264.0017Did not advanceValerine McFarlane333.577333.0007499.7857
Fencing
Officials: Section Manager - Neil Archibald Men AthleteEventRound 1Round 2EliminationFinalWonLostRankWonLostRankWonLostRankWonLostRankGreg BenkoMen's épée412Q23 5Did not advance17Greg BenkoMen's foil31=1 Q234 Q01Did not advance9
Women AthleteEventRound 1Round 2EliminationFinalWonLostRankWonLostRankWonLostRankWonLostRankMitzi FergusonWomen's foil223Q056Did not advance22Helen Smith23Did not advance25
Gymnastics
Officials: Section Manager - Frances Thompson Men Rank Gymnast Prelim Prelim Floor Pommelhorse Rings Vault Parallelbars Horizontalbar Final Total34 Lindsay Nylund 109.15 54.5758.8008.6009.3509.7008.9509.70055.100109.675
Women
RankGymnastPrelimVaultUneven barsBalance beamFloor FinalTotal 32 Marina Sulicich35.8008.7008.7507.5508.90033.90069.700 33 Kerry Bayliss35.2758.5008.1508.9508.60034.20069.475
Judo
Officials: Section Manager - John Rodda AthleteEventRound of 32Round of 16QuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinalOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultRankMichael YoungHalf LightweightW LDid not advance=13Michael PickenLightweight L'Did not advance=7Mark CarewMiddleweightLDid not advance=19
Modern pentathlon
Officials: Section Manager - Howard Edmunds Men
RankAthlete Rid.Fen.Sho.Swi.Run. Score37 Robert Barrie1062 610 846 1124 10544696
Rowing
Officials: Section Manager - John Boultbee, Chief Coach & Men's Pair - Reinhold Batschi, Coach Men's Eight - Paul Dane, Coach Women's Four - David Palfreyman Men
AthleteEventHeatsRepechageSemifinalsFinalTimeRankTimeRankTimeRankTimeRank Coxless pair7:50.0557:13.2435:56.7466:59.1310
AthleteEventSemifinalsRepechageFinal TimeRankTimeRankTimeRank Eight6:05.1245:45.0425:56.746
Women AthleteEventHeatRepechageFinalTimeRankTimeRankTimeRankCoxed four3:34.0833:26.7733:26.375
Shooting
Officials: Section Manager - Bob Hemery Mixed AthleteEventFinalScoreRankYvonne Hill50 m rifle, prone59611David Hollister59515
Swimming
Officials: Section Manager- Peter Bowen Pain, Coach - Bill Sweetenham, Coach Joe King Men AthleteEventHeatSemifinalFinalTimeRankTimeRankTimeRankGraeme Brewer100 metre freestyle52.59 16 Q51.91852.228Neil Brooks51.11 8 Q52.7014Did not advanceMark Tonelli52.04 4 Q52.1710Did not advanceGraeme Brewer200 metre freestyle1:51.923 Qcolspan=2 1:51.60Ron McKeon1:52.667 Qcolspan=2 1:52.606Graeme Brewer400 metre freestyle3:57.199colspan=2 Did not advanceRon McKeon3:56.776 Qcolspan=2 3:57.008Max Metzker3:56.424 Qcolspan=2 3:56.877Max Metzker1500 metre freestyle15:21.634 Qcolspan=2 15:14.49Mark Kerry100 metre backstroke58.087 Q58.079Did not advanceGlenn Patching58.309 Q1:00.3116Did not advanceMark Tonelli2:03.603 Q57.893 Q57.987Mark Kerry200 metre backstroke58.087 Qcolspan=2 2:03.14Paul Moorfoot2:04.878 Qcolspan=2 2:06.158Mark Tonelli2:07.0415colspan=2 Did not advancePeter Evans100 metre breaststroke1:04.554 Qcolspan=2 1:03.96Lindsay Spencer1:04.786 Qcolspan=2 1:05.046Peter Evans200 metre breaststroke2:26.6212colspan=2 Did not advanceLindsay Spencer2:21.084 Qcolspan=2 2:19.685Paul Moorfoot200 metre butterfly2:05.6915colspan=2 Did not advancePaul Moorfoot400 metre individual medley4:34.2816colspan=2 Did not advanceMark Tonelli Mark Kerry Graeme Brewer Ron McKeon Max Metzker (heat)4 x 200 metre freestyle relay7:34.064 Qcolspan=2 7:30.827 Mark Kerry Peter Evans Mark Tonelli Neil Brooks Glenn Patching (heat)4 x 100 metre medley relay3:48.942 Qcolspan=2 3:45.70
Women AthleteEventHeatSemifinalFinalTimeRankTimeRankTimeRankMichelle Pearson100 metre freestyle58.9013colspan=2 Did not advanceRosemary Brown59.3516colspan=2 Did not advanceRosemary Brown200 metre freestyle2:04.5910colspan=2 Did not advanceKaren Van der Graaf2:06.0616colspan=2 Did not advanceRosemary Brown400 metre freestyle4:21.3613colspan=2 Did not advanceMichelle Ford4:13.903 Qcolspan=2 4:11.654Rosemary Brown800 metre freestyle8:49.479colspan=2 Did not advanceMichelle Ford8:42.363 Qcolspan=2 8:28.90 ORLisa Forrest200 metre backstroke2:15.403 Qcolspan=2 2:16.757Georgina Parkes2:17.7810colspan=2 Did not advanceLisa Curry200 metre breaststroke2:39.4214colspan=2 Did not advanceLisa Curry100 metre butterfly1:02.928 Qcolspan=2 1:02.405Karen Ramsay1:03.6213colspan=2 Did not advanceMichelle Ford200 metre butterfly2:12.721 Qcolspan=2 2:11.66Karen Ramsay2:17.8211colspan=2 Did not advanceLisa Curry400 metre individual medley5:01.5811colspan=2 Did not advanceLisa Curry Karen Van de Graaf Rosemary Brown Michelle Pearson 4 x 100 metre freestyle relay3:56.245 Qcolspan=2 3:54.165Lisa Forrest Lisa Curry Karen Van de Graaf Rosemary Brown 4 x 100 metre medley relay4:23.336 Qcolspan=2 4:19.906
Water polo
Officials: Manager - John Whitehouse, Coach - Tom Hoad Men's Team Competition
TeamPreliminary round7-12 PlacingOppositionScoreOppositionScoreOppositionScoreRankOppositionScoreOppositionScoreOppositionScoreOppositionScoreOppositionScoreOppositionScoreRankAustralia men's BulgariaW 9-5 CubaL 4-6 YugoslaviaL 2-98W 8-5 Romania 4-4W 4-2 NetherlandsW 7–3W 9-4W 5-47
Team Roster Michael Turner David Neesham Robert Bryant Peter Montgomery Julian Muspratt Andrew Kerr Anthony Falson Charles Turner Martin Callaghan Randall Goff Andrew Steward
Weightlifting
Officials: Section Manager - Lyn Jones
AthleteEventSnatchClean & JerkTotalRankLorenzo OrsiniBantamweight9512522016Bill StelloisLightweight122.5160282.511Robert KabbasLightweight142.5 - -DNFLuigi FratangeloMiddle-Heavyweight142.5 - -DNFDon MitchellHeavyweight II162.5190352.57
Wrestling
Officials: Section Manager - Sam Parker