The United Kingdom competed as Great Britain at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, West Germany. 284 competitors, 210 men and 74 women, took part in 159 events in 18 sports. British athletes have competed in every Summer Olympic Games.
The Great Britain team included 69-year-old equestrian Lorna Johnstone - the oldest British athlete ever to appear in the Olympic Games.
Mary Peters — Athletics, Women's PentathlonRichard Meade — Equestrian, Three-Day Event Individual CompetitionMary Gordon-Watson, Richard Meade, Bridget Parker, and Mark Phillips — Equestrian, Three-Day Event Team CompetitionChris Davies and Rodney Pattisson (Helmsman) — Sailing, Flying DutchmanDavid Hemery, David Jenkins, Alan Pascoe, and Martin Reynolds — Athletics, Men's 4x400 metres RelayAnn Moore — Equestrian, Jumping Individual CompetitionDavid Starbrook — Judo, Men's Half-Heavyweight (93 kg)David Wilkie — Swimming, Men's 200m BreaststrokeDavid Hunt and Alan Warren (Helmsman) — Sailing, TempestIan Stewart — Athletics, Men's 5000 metresDavid Hemery — Athletics, Men's 400m HurdlesRalph Evans — Boxing, Men's Light FlyweightGeorge Turpin — Boxing, Men's BantamweightAlan Minter — Boxing, Men's Light MiddleweightMichael Bennett, Ian Hallam, Ronald Keeble, and William Moore — Cycling, Men's 4000m Team PursuitBrian Jacks — Judo, Men's Middleweight (80 kg)Angelo Parisi — Judo, Men's Open CategoryJohn Kynoch — Shooting, Men's Running Game TargetIn the first modern archery competition at the Olympics, Great Britain entered three men and three women. Their highest placing competitor was Lynne Evans, at 16th place in the women's competition.
Men's Individual Competition:
Roy Matthews – 2385 points (→ 17th place)John Snelling – 2356 points (→ 26th place)Ronald Bishop – 2244 points (→ 45th place)Women's Individual Competition:
Lynne Evans – 2313 points (→ 16th place)Carol Sykes – 2273 points (→ 21st place)Pauline Edwards – 2249 points (→ 25th place)Men's 100 metres
Brian GreenHeat, Round 1— 10.41Heat, Round 2— 10.58Semifinals — 10.52 (→ did not advance)Les PiggotHeat, Round 1— 10.54Heat, Round 2— 10.53 (→ did not advance)Don HallidayHeat, Round 1— 10.58Heat, Round 2— 10.60 (→ did not advance)Men's 200 metres
Brian GreenHeat, Round 1— 21.26Heat, Round 2— 21.41 (→ did not advance)Men's 400 metres
Martin ReynoldsHeat, Round 1— 46.46Heat, Round 2— 46.11Semifinals — 46.71 (→ did not advance)David JenkinsHeat, Round 1— 46.15Heat, Round 2— 45.99Semifinals — 45.91 (→ did not advance)Gary ArmstrongHeat, Round 1— 46.48Heat, Round 2— 47.10 (→ did not advance)Men's 800 metres
Andy CarterHeat — 1:47.6Semifinals — 1:46.5Final — 1:46.6 (→ 6th place)Dave CropperHeat — 1:47.5Semifinals — 1:48.4 (→ did not advance)Colin CampbellHeat — 1:54.8 (→ did not advance)Men's 1500 metres
Brendan FosterHeat — 3:40.8Semifinals — 3:38.2Final — 3:39.0 (→ 5th place)Ray SmedleyHeat — 3:42.1Semifinals — 3:45.8 (→ did not advance)John KirkbrideHeat — 3:45.3 (→ did not advance)Men's 5000 metres
Ian StewartHeat — 13:33.0Final — 13:27.6 (→ 3rd place)Ian McCaffertyHeat — 13:38.2Final — 13:43.2 (→ 11th place)David BedfordHeat — 13:49.8Final — 13:43.2 (→ 12th place)Men's 10000 metres
David BedfordHeat — 27:53.6Final — 28:05.4(→ 6th place)Lachie StewartHeat — 28:31.4 (→ did not advance)Dave HoltHeat — 28:46.8(→ did not advance)Men's Marathon
Ron Hill 2:16:30.6 (→ 6th place)Donald MacGregor 2:16:34.4 (→ 7th place)Colin Kirkham 2:21:54.8 (→ 20th place)Men's 110m Hurdles
Alan PascoeHeat — 14.08Semifinals — 14.24 (→ did not advance)Berwyn PriceHeat — 13.94Semifinals — 14.37 (→ did not advance)David WilsonHeat — 14.31 (→ did not advance)Men's 400m Hurdlles
David HemeryHeat — 49.72Semifinals — 49.66Final — 48.52 (→ 3rd place)Men's 3000m Steeplechase
Andy HoldenHeat — 8:33.8 (→ did not advance)Steve HollingsHeat — 8:35.0 (→ did not advance)John BicourtHeat — 8:38.8 (→ did not advance)Men's 4 × 100 m Relay
Berwyn Price, Don Halliday, Dave Dear, and Brian GreenHeat — 39.63Les Piggot, Don Halliday, Dave Dear, and Brian GreenSemifinals — 39.47 (→ did not advance)Men's 4 × 400 m Relay
Martin Reynolds, Alan Pascoe, David Hemery and David JenkinsSemifinals — 3:01.3Final — 3:00.5 (→ 2nd place)Men's Long Jump
Alan LerwillQualification — 7.86Final — 7.91 (→ 7th place)Lynn DaviesQualification — 7.64 (→ did not advance)Men's Pole Vault
Mike BullQualification — 4.80 (→ did not advance)Men's Shot Put
Geoff CapesQualification — 18.94 (→ did not advance)Men's Discus
Bill TancredQualification — 57.24 (→ did not advance)John WattsQualification — 53.86 (→ did not advance)Men's Javelin
Dave TravisQualification — 74.68 (→ did not advance)Men's Hammer Throw
Barry WilliamsQualification — 66.32Final — 68.18 (→ 16th place)Howard PayneQualification — 64.56 (→ did not advance)Men's Decathlon
Barry King 7468 points (→ 15th place)Peter Gabbett DNFMen's 20 km Walk
Paul Nihill 1:28:44.4 (→ 6th place)Phil Embleton 1:33:22.2 (→ 14th place)Peter Marlow 1:35:38.8 (→ 17th place)Men's 50 km Walk
Paul Nihill 4:14:09.4 (→ 9th place)John Warhurst 4:23:21.6 (→ 18th place)Howard Timms 4:34:43.8 (→ 25th place)Women's 100 metres
Andrea LynchHeat, Round 1— 11.52Heat, Round 2— 11.57Semifinals — 11.64(→ did not advance)Anita NeilHeat, Round 1— 11.55Heat, Round 2— 11.58 (→ did not advance)Sonia LannamanHeat, Round 1— 11.45Heat, Round 2— 11.72 (→ did not advance)Women's 200 metres
Donna MurrayHeat, Round 1— 23.76Heat, Round 2— 23.69Semifinals — 24.03 (→ did not advance)Delia PascoeHeat, Round 1— 23.97Heat, Round 2— 23.72 (→ did not advance)Margaret CritchleyHeat, Round 1— 24.04Heat, Round 2— 24.05 (→ did not advance)Women's 400 metres
Jannette RoscoeHeat, Round 1— 53.67Heat, Round 2— 53.01 (→ did not advance)Verona BernardHeat, Round 1— 53.31Heat, Round 2— 53.29 (→ did not advance)Janet SimpsonHeat, Round 1— 54.13 (→ did not advance)Women's 800 metres
Rosemary StirlingHeat — 2:03.6Semifinals — 2:02.4Final — 2:00.2 (→ 7th place)Margaret CoomberHeat — 2:03.0 (→ did not advance)Patricia CropperHeat — 2:03.6 (→ did not advance)Women's 1500 metres
Sheila CareyHeat — 4:13.0Semifinals — 4:07.4Final — 4:04.8 (→ 5th place)Joyce SmithHeat — 4:11.3Semifinals — 4:09.4 (→ did not advance)Joan AllisonHeat — 4:14.9 (→ did not advance)Women's 100m hurdles
Judy VernonHeat — 13.37 (→ did not advance)Ann WilsonHeat — 13.53 (→ did not advance)Men's Light Flyweight (– 48 kg)
Ralph Evans → Bronze MedalFirst Round — Salvador García (MEX), 4:1Second Round — Defeated Héctor Velasquez (CHL), 5:0Quarterfinals — Defeated Chanyalev Haile (ETH), 5:0Semifinals — Lost to György Gedo (HUN), 5:0Men's Light Middleweight (– 71 kg)
Alan Minter → Bronze MedalFirst Round — ByeSecond Round — Defeated Reginald Ford (GUY), KO-2Third Round — Defeated Valeri Tregubov (URS), 5:0Quarterfinals — Defeated Loucif Hanmani (ALG), 4:1Semifinals — Lost to Dieter Kottysch (FRG), 2:3Eleven cyclists represented Great Britain in 1972.
Individual road racePhil Bayton — 5th placePhil Edwards — 6th placeDavid Lloyd — did not finish (→ no ranking)John Clewarth — did not finish (→ no ranking)Team time trialPhil BaytonJohn ClewarthPhil EdwardsDavid LloydSprintErnie CrutchlowGeoff Cooke1000m time trialMichael BennettFinal — 1:09.45 (→ 17th place)TandemDavid Rowe and Geoff Cooke → 10th placeIndividual pursuitIan HallamIndividual pursuitMick BennettIan HallamRon KeebleWilli MooreMen's 3m Springboard:
Christopher Walls – 332.07 points (→ 17th place)John David Baker – 321.15 points (→ 23rd place)Brian Wetheridge – 310.53 points (→ 28th place)Men's 10m Platform:
Frank Dufficy – 271.77 points (→ 21st place)Andrew Michael Gill – 268.68 points (→ 22nd place)Brian Wetheridge – 262.59 points (→ 28th place)Women's 3m Springboard:
Alison Jean Drake – 378.18 points (→ 12th place)Heien Mary Koppeil – 242.22 points (→ 22nd place)Women's 10m Platform:
Beverly Williams – 301.26 points (→ 12th place)Heien Mary Koppell – 178.17 points (→ 18th place)19 fencers, 14 men and 5 women, represented Great Britain in 1972.
Men's foilBarry PaulGraham PaulMike BreckinMen's team foilMike Breckin, Barry Paul, Graham Paul, Anthony Power, Ian SingleMen's épéeTeddy BourneRalph JohnsonGraham PaulMen's team épéeTeddy Bourne, Bill Hoskyns, Edward Hudson, Ralph Johnson, Graham PaulMen's sabreRichard OldcornJohn DeanfieldRichard CohenMen's team sabreDavid Acfield, Richard Cohen, Rodney Craig, John Deanfield, Richard OldcornWomen's foilSue GreenJanet Bewley-Cathie-Wardell-YerburghClare Henley-HalstedWomen's team foilSue Green, Clare Henley-Halsted, Sally Anne Littlejohns, Janet Bewley-Cathie-Wardell-Yerburgh, Susan WrigglesworthMen's Team CompetitionPreliminary Round (Group B)Defeated Mexico (6-0)Lost to India (0-5)Lost to New Zealand (1-2)Defeated Kenya (2-0)Drew with Australia (1-1)Defeated the Netherlands (3-1)Defeated Poland (2-1)Semi Final RoundDefeated Spain (2-0)Classification Match5th/6th place: Lost to Australia (1-2) after extra time → 6th placeTeam RosterJoe AhmadMichael CroweMike CorbyBernie CottonTony EkinsGraham EvansJohn FrenchTerry GreggDennis HayChristopher LanghornePeter MillsRichard OliverDavid Austin SavageKeith SinclairPaul SvehlikRui SaldanhaThree male pentathletes represented Great Britain in 1972.
Men's Individual Competition:
Jeremy Robert Fox – 5292 points (→ 4th place)Barry Lillywhite – 4538 points (→ 36th place)Robert Lawson Phelps – 4427 points (→ 47th place)Men's Team Competition:
Fox, Lillywhite, and Phelps – 14257 points (→ 9th place)Alternate Member:
James DarbyMen's Single Scull
Kenny DwanHeat — 7:57.49Repechage — 8:10.32Semi Finals — 8:38.62B-Final — 8:00.38 (→ 9th place)Men's Double scull
Tim Crooks, Patrick Delafield(→ 5th place)Men's Coxless pair
M M K Cooper, J T McCarthy(→ 12th place)Men's Coxed pair
Michael Hart, David Maxwell, A F InnsHeat — 7:49.56Repechage — 8:01.14Semi Finals — 8:21.61B-Final — 7:59.57 (→ 8th place)Men's Coxless four
Frederick Smallbone, Leonard Robertson, James Clark, W G Mason(→ 7th place)Men's Coxed four
Alan Almand, C T Pierce, Rooney Massara, Hugh Matheson, Patrick Sweeney(→ 10th place)Flying Dutchman
Rodney Pattison (Helmsman) and Chris Davies (Gold Medal)Tempest
Alan Warren (Helmsman) and David Hunt (Silver Medal)Finn
Patrick Pym (Helmsman) (12th Place)Dragon
Simon Tait (Helmsman), Charles Currey and Ian HannaySoling
John Oakley (Helmsman), Barry Dunning and Charles Reynolds (5th place)Star
Stuart Jardine (Helmsman) and John WastallFourteen male shooters represented Great Britain in 1972. John Kynoch won bronze in the 50 m running target event.
25 m pistolJohn CookeTony Clark50 m pistolFrank WyattHarry Cullum300 m rifle, three positionsMalcolm Cooper50 m rifle, three positionsMalcolm CooperBob Churchill50 m rifle, proneJohn PalinPhil Lawrence50 m running targetJohn KynochJohn AnthonyTrapRonald CarterBrian BaileySkeetJoe NevilleColin SephtonMen's 100m Freestyle
Malcolm WindeattHeat — 54.70s (→ did not advance)Brian BrinkleyHeat — 55.06s (→ did not advance)Men's 200m Freestyle
John MillsHeat — 2:00.17 (→ did not advance)Brian BrinkleyHeat — 1:56.99 (→ did not advance)Michael BaileyHeat — 2:00.79 (→ did not advance)Men's 4 × 200 m Freestyle Relay
Brian Brinkley, John Mills, Michael Bailey, and Colin CunninghamHeat — 7:58.33Final — 7:55.59 (→ 8th place)