United States at the 1972 Summer Olympics

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. ==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. ==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 Field events Combined event – Decathlon Women Track events Field events Combined event – Pentathlon ==Basketball==

Summary 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. ==Canoeing==

Slalom Men Women Sprint ==Cycling==

Fifteen cyclists represented the United States in 1972. Road Track Pursuit Sprint Time trial ==Diving==

Dressage Eventing Jumping ==Fencing==

19 fencers represented the United States in 1972. Individual Men Women Team ==Football==

Summary Roster First round ---- ---- ==Gymnastics==

Men Team Individual final Women Team Individual finals ==Handball==

The United States, which had lost all three of its games in the first Olympic handball tournament, fared no better in the first round of the second tournament. The Americans lost to Hungary, Yugoslavia, and Japan to finish last place in the division, sending them to the thirteenth- to sixteenth-place consolation round. There, they finally got their first handball win over Spain before being defeated by Denmark. Summary '''Men's Team Competition:''' • United States - 14th place (1–4–0) • Roster - Richard Abrahamson, Fletcher Abram Jr., Roger Baker, Dennis Berkholtz, Larry Caton, Vincent DiCalogero, Elmer Edes, Thomas Hardiman, Rudolph Matthews, Sandor Rivnyak, James Rogers, Richard Schlesinger, Kevin Serrapede, Robert Sparks, Joel Voelkert, and Harry WinklerThomas Jandris)] ==Judo==

Three pentathletes represented the United States in 1972. ==Rowing==

Qualification legend: FA = Final A (medal); FB = Final B (non-medal); SF = Semifinal; R = Repechage ==Sailing==

Fourteen shooters represented the United States in 1972. Lones Wigger and John Writer won golds and Lanny Bassham and Vic Auer won silver medals. ==Swimming==

Summary Team Roster :* Peter Asch :* Steven Barnett :* Bruce Bradley :* Stanley Cole :* James Ferguson :* Eric Lindroth :* John Parker :* Gary Sheerer :* James Slatton :* Russell Webb :* Barry Weitzenberg ==Weightlifting==

==Water skiing (demonstration sport)==

'''Men's slalom:''' • Wayne Grimditch - 38.5 points, silver medal • Ricky McCormick - 27.5 points, 9th place '''Men's Figure skiing:''' • Ricky McCormick - 5340 points, gold medal • Wayne Grimditch - 4510 points, silver medal '''Men's Jump:''' • Ricky McCormick - 43.75 points, gold medal • Wayne Grimditch - 30.15 points, 14th place '''Women's slalom:''' • Liz Allen-Shetter - 35.0 points, gold medal '''Women's Figure skiing:''' • Liz Allen-Shetter - 1550 points, 5th place '''Women's Jump:''' • Liz Allen-Shetter - 25.70 points, bronze medal ==See also==