The United Kingdom competed as Great Britain at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, USSR. British athletes have competed in every Summer Olympic Games. 219 competitors, 149 men and 70 women, took part in 145 events in 14 sports.
The UK government allowed its athletes to choose whether to compete, and only a few athletes chose to stay away. There was a token boycott of the opening ceremony, the Olympic flag was raised for the British medal winners and the Olympic anthem played for the five gold medalists.
Allan Wells — Athletics, Men's 100 metresSteve Ovett — Athletics, Men's 800 metresSebastian Coe — Athletics, Men's 1500 metresDaley Thompson — Athletics, Men's DecathlonDuncan Goodhew — Swimming, Men's 100 m BreaststrokeAllan Wells — Athletics, Men's 200 metresSebastian Coe — Athletics, Men's 800 metresNeil Adams — Judo, Men's Lightweight (71 kg)Henry Clay, Andrew Justice, Chris Mahoney, Duncan McDougall, Malcolm McGowan, Colin Moynihan, John Pritchard, Richard Stanhope, and Allan Whitwell — Rowing, Men's EightsPhilip Hubble — Swimming, Men's 200 m ButterflySharron Davies — Swimming, Women's 400 m Individual MedleyJune Croft, Helen Jameson, Margaret Kelly, and Ann Osgerby — Swimming, Women's 4 × 100 m Medley RelaySteve Ovett — Athletics, Men's 1500 metresGary Oakes — Athletics, Men's 400 m HurdlesBeverley Goddard-Callender, Heather Hunte, Sonia Lannaman, and Kathy Smallwood-Cook — Athletics, Women's 4 × 100 m RelayDonna Hartley, Joslyn Hoyte-Smith, Linsey MacDonald, and Michelle Probert — Athletics, Women's 4 × 400 m RelayAnthony Willis — Boxing, Men's Light WelterweightArthur Mapp — Judo, Men's Open ClassMalcolm Carmichael and Charles Wiggin — Rowing, Men's Coxless PairsJohn Beattie, David Townsend, Ian McNuff, and Martin Cross — Rowing, Men's Coxless FoursGary Abraham, Duncan Goodhew, David Lowe, and Trevor Smith — Swimming, Men's 4 × 100 m Medley RelayIn the third appearance by Great Britain in modern Olympic archery, two men and two women represented the country. Mark Blenkarne missed winning a medal in the men's competition by only three points, by far the most successful result for Great Britain since archery was returned to the Olympic schedule.
Women's Individual Competition:
Gillian Patterson — 2216 points (→ 22nd place)Christine Harris — 2187 points (→ 25th place)Men's Individual Competition:
Mark Blenkarne — 2446 points (→ 4th place)Dennis Savory — 2407 points (→ 13th place)Men's CompetitionMen's 100 metres
Allan WellsHeat — 10.35Quarterfinals — 10.11Semifinals — 10.27Final — 10.25 (→ Gold Medal)Cameron SharpHeat — 10.38Quarterfinals — 10.38Semifinals — 10.60 (→ did not advance)Drew McMasterHeat — 10.43Quarterfinals — 10.42 (→ did not advance)Men's 800 metres
Steve OvettHeat — 1:49.4Semifinals — 1:46.6Final — 1:45.4 (→ Gold Medal)Sebastian CoeHeat — 1:48.5Semifinals — 1:46.7Final — 1:45.9 (→ Silver Medal)Dave WarrenHeat — 1:49.9Semifinals — 1:47.2Final — 1:49.3 (→ 8th place)Men's 1,500 metres
Sebastian CoeHeat — 3:40.1Semifinals — 3:39.4Final — 3:38.4 (→ Gold Medal)Steve OvettHeat — 3:36.8Semifinals — 3:43.1Final — 3:39.0 (→ Bronze Medal)Steve CramHeat — 3:44.1Semifinals — 3:43.6Final — 3:41.0 (→ 8th place)Men's 10,000 metres
Brendan FosterHeat — 28:55.2Final — 28:22.6 (→ 11th place)Mike McLeodHeat — 28:57.3Final — 28:40.8 (→ 12th place)Geoff SmithHeat — 30:00.1 (→ did not advance)Men's Marathon
Dave BlackFinal — did not finish (→ no ranking)Bernie FordFinal — did not finish (→ no ranking)Ian ThompsonFinal — did not finish (→ no ranking)Men's 4x400 metres Relay
Alan Bell, Terry Whitehead, Rod Milne, and Glen CohenHeat — 3:05.9Final — did not finish (→ no ranking)Men's 110 m Hurdles
Wilbert GreavesHeat — 13.85Semifinals — 13.98 (→ did not advance)Mark HoltomHeat — 13.83Semifinals — 13.94 (→ did not advance)Men's 400 m Hurdles
Gary OakesHeat — 50.39Semifinals — 50.07Final — 49.11 (→ Bronze Medal)Men's 3,000 m Steeplechase
Colin ReitzHeat — 8:35.3Semifinals — 8:29.8 (→ did not advance)Roger HackneyHeat — 8:36.4Semifinals — 8:29.2 (→ did not advance)Tony StayningsHeat — 8:47.5Semifinals — 8:52.3 (→ did not advance)Men's Pole Vault
Brian HooperQualification — 5.35 mFinal — 5.35 m (→ 11th place)Men's High Jump
Mark NaylorQualification — 2.21 mFinal — 2.21 m (→ 9th place)Men's Triple Jump
Keith ConnorQualification — 16.57 mFinal — 16.87 m (→ 4th place)Men's Shot Put
Geoff CapesQualification — 19.75 mFinal — 20.50 m (→ 5th place)Men's Javelin Throw
David OttleyQualification — 77.20 m (→ did not advance, 14th place)Men's Hammer Throw
Chris BlackQualification — 66.74 m (→ did not advance, 14th place)Paul DickensonQualification — 64.22 m (→ did not advance, 15th place)Men's Decathlon
Daley ThompsonFinal — 8495 points (→ Gold Medal)Bradley McStravickFinal — 7616 points (→ 15th place)Men's 20 km Walk
Roger MillsFinal — 1:32:37.8 (→ 10th place)Men's 50 km Walk
Ian RichardsFinal — 4:22:57 (→ 11th place)Women's CompetitionWomen's 100 metres
Kathy Smallwood-CookHeat — 11.37Quarterfinals — 11.24Semifinals — 11.30Final — 11.28 (→ 6th place)Heather Hunte-OakesHeat — 11.40Quarterfinals — 11.25Semifinals — 11.36Final — 11.34 (→ 8th place)Sonia LannamanHeat — 11.58Quarterfinals — 11.20Semifinals — 11.38 (→ did not advance)Women's 800 metres
Christina Boxer-CahillHeat — 2:02.1Semifinals — 2:00.9 (→ did not advance)Women's 1,500 metres
Janet MarlowHeat — 4:15.9 (→ did not advance)Women's 100 m Hurdles
Shirley StrongHeat — 13.39Semifinal — 13.12 (→ did not advance)Lorna BootheHeat — 13.86 (→ did not advance)Women's High Jump
Louise MillerQualification — 1.88 mFinal — 1.85 m (→ 11th place)Women's Long Jump
Susan HearnskawQualification — 6.66 mFinal — 6.50 m (→ 9th place)Sue ReeveQualifying Round — 6.48 mFinal — 6.46 m (→ 10th place)Women's Discus Throw
Meg RitchieQualification — 58.66 mFinal — 61.16 m (→ 9th place)Women's Javelin Throw
Tessa SandersonQualification — 48.76 m (→ did not advance)Fatima WhitbreadQualification — 47.44 m (→ did not advance)Women's Shot Put
Angela LittlewoodFinal — 17.53 m (→ 13th place)Women's Pentathlon
Judy Livermore — 4304 points (→ 13th place)- 100 metres — 13.57 s
- Shot Put — 13.56 m
- High Jump — 1.77 m
- Long Jump — 5.71 m
- 800 metres — 2:25.30
Susan Longden — 4234 points (→ 15th place)- 100 metres — 14.10 s
- Shot Put — 11.47 m
- High Jump — 1.74 m
- Long Jump — 6.09 m
- 800 metres — 2:19.60
Yvette Wray — 4159 points (→ 16th place)- 100 metres — 13.78 s
- Shot Put — 12.01 m
- High Jump — 1.65 m
- Long Jump — 5.60 m
- 800 metres — 2:15.90
Men's Flyweight (51 kg)
Keith Wallace- First Round — Bye
- Second Round — Lost to Daniel Radu (Romania) on points (1-4)
Men's Bantamweight (54 kg)
Raymond Gilbody- First Round — Bye
- Second Round — Defeated João Luis de Almeida (Angola) on points (5-0)
- Third Round — Lost to Daniel Zaragoza (Mexico) on points (1-4)
Men's Featherweight (57 kg)
Peter Joseph Hanlon- First Round — Bye
- Second Round — Defeated Antonio Esparragoza (Venezuela) on points (4-1)
- Third Round — Lost to Viktor Rybakov (Soviet Union) on points (0-5)
Men's Lightweight (60 kg)
George Gilbody- First Round — Bye
- Second Round — Defeated Blackson Siukoko (Zambia) on points (4-1)
- Quarter Finals — Lost to Richard Nowakowski (East Germany) on points (5-0)
Men's Light-Welterweight (63.5 kg)
Anthony Willis → Bronze Medal- First Round — Defeated Jaime Soares França (Brazil) on points (5-0)
- Second Round — Defeated Shadrach Odhiambo (Sweden) on points (5-0)
- Quarter Finals — Defeated William Lyimo (Tanzania) after knock-out in third round
- Semi Finals — Lost to Patrizio Oliva (Italy) on points (0-5)
Twelve cyclists represented Great Britain in 1980.
Individual road raceJohn HeretyJeff WilliamsNeil MartinJoseph WaughTeam time trialRobert DownsDes FretwellSteve JonesJoseph WaughSprintTerrence Tinsley1000m time trialTerrence TinsleyIndividual pursuitSean YatesTeam pursuitTony DoyleMalcolm ElliottGlen MitchellSean YatesMen's Springboard
Christopher SnodePreliminary Round — 557.10 points (→ 5th place)Final — 844.470 points (→ 6th place)Men's Platform
Christopher SnodePreliminary Round — 468.21 points (→ 9th place, did not advance)Martyn BrownPreliminary Round — 380.91 points (→ 19th place, did not advance)Eleven fencers, six men and five women, represented Great Britain in 1980.
Men's foilPierre HarperRob BrunigesMen's team foilJohn Llewellyn, Steven Paul, Rob Bruniges, Pierre HarperMen's épéeSteven PaulJohn LlewellynNeal MallettMen's team épéeSteven Paul, John Llewellyn, Neal Mallett, Rob BrunigesMen's sabreMark SladeWomen's foilAnn BrannonLinda Ann MartinSusan WrigglesworthWomen's team foilSusan Wrigglesworth, Ann Brannon, Wendy Ager-Grant, Linda Ann Martin, Hilary CawthorneThree male pentathletes represented Great Britain in 1980.
Individual
Robert Nightingale — 5,168 pts, 15th placePeter Whiteside — 5,085 pts, 21st placeNigel Clark — 4,809 pts, 33rd placeTeam:
Nightingale, Whiteside and Clark — 15,062pts, 8th placeMen's Single scull
Hugh Matheson(→ 6th place)Men's Double scull
James Clark, Chris Baillieu(→ 4th place)Men's Coxless pair
Malcolm Carmichael, Charles Wiggin(→ Bronze)Men's Coxed pair
N Christie, J Macleod, D Webb(→ 9th place)Men's Coxless four
John Beattie, David Townsend, Ian McNuff, Martin Cross(→ Bronze)Men's Coxed four
Leonard Robertson, C Seymour, J Roberts, G A Rankine, A F Inns(→ 7th place)Men's Eight
Henry Clay, Andrew Justice, Chris Mahoney, Duncan McDougall, Malcolm McGowan, John Pritchard, Richard Stanhope, Allan Whitwell, Colin Moynihan(→ Silver)Women's Single scull
B Mitchell(→ 5th place)Women's Double scull
S Hanscombe, A Ayling(→ 7th place)Women's Coxed four
P Janson, B Buckley, P Bird-Hart, J Cross, S Brown(→ 6th place)Women's Eight
G Hodges, J Toch, P Sweet, L Clark, E Paton, R Clugston, N Boyes, B Jones, P Wright(→ 5th place)Men's CompetitionMen's 100 m Freestyle
Mark TaylorHeats — 52.65 (→ did not advance)Men's 200 m Freestyle
Martin SmithHeats — 1:54.17 (→ did not advance)Kevin LeeHeats — 1:55.63 (→ did not advance)Men's 100 m Butterfly
Gary AbrahamFinal — 55.42 (→ 6th place)Men's 200 m Butterfly
Philip HubbleFinal — 2:01.20 (→ Silver Medal)Peter MorrisFinal — 2:02.27 (→ 4th place)Stephen PoulterFinal — 2:02.93 (→ 8th place)Men's 100 m Breaststroke
Duncan GoodhewFinal — 1:03.44 (→ Gold Medal)Men's 200 m Breaststroke
Duncan GoodhewFinal — 2:20.92 (→ 6th place)Men's 100 m Backstroke
Gary AbrahamFinal — 58.38 (→ 8th place)Men's 200 m Backstroke
Douglas CampbellFinal — 2:04.23 (→ 7th place)Men's 4 × 200 m Freestyle Relay
Douglas Campbell, Philip Hubble, Martin Smith, and Andrew AstburyFinal — 7:30.81 (→ 6th place)Men's 4 × 100 m Medley Relay
Gary Abraham, Duncan Goodhew, David Lowe, and Martin SmithFinal — 3:47.71 (→ Bronze Medal)Women's CompetitionWomen's 200 m Freestyle
June CroftFinal — 2:03.15 (→ 6th place)Women's 100 m Butterfly
Ann OsgerbyFinal — 1:02.21 (→ 4th place)Janet OsgerbyFinal — 1:02.90 (→ 8th place)Women's 200 m Butterfly
Ann OsgerbyFinal — 2:14.83 (→ 6th place)Women's 100 m Breaststroke
Margaret KellyHeats — 1:12.38Final — 1:11.48 (→ 4th place)Susannah BrownsdonHeats — 1:12.83Final — 1:12.11 (→ 6th place)Women's 400 m Individual Medley
Sharron DaviesHeats — 4:52.38Final — 4:46.83 (→ Silver Medal)Sarah KerswellHeats — 5:03.75 (→ did not advance)Women's 4 × 100 m Freestyle Relay
Sharron Davies, Kaye Lovatt, Jacquelina Willmott, and June CroftFinal — 3:51.71 (→ 4th place)Women's 4 × 100 m Medley Relay
Helen Jameson, Margaret Kelly, Ann Osgerby, and June CroftFinal — 4:12.24 (→ Silver Medal)