New Zealand competed at the
1972 Summer Olympics
The 1972 Summer Olympics (), officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad () and officially branded as Munich 1972 (; ), were an international multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from 26 August to 11 September 1972. It was the ...
in
Munich
Munich is the capital and most populous city of Bavaria, Germany. As of 30 November 2024, its population was 1,604,384, making it the third-largest city in Germany after Berlin and Hamburg. Munich is the largest city in Germany that is no ...
,
West Germany
West Germany was the common English name for the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) from its formation on 23 May 1949 until German reunification, its reunification with East Germany on 3 October 1990. It is sometimes known as the Bonn Republi ...
. For the first time at the Olympics,
God Defend New Zealand
"God Defend New Zealand" (, meaning 'New Zealand') is one of two national anthems of New Zealand, the other being "God Save the King". Legally the two have equal status, but "God Defend New Zealand" is more commonly used. Originally written as a ...
was played instead of God Save the King/Queen. The
New Zealand Olympic Committee
The New Zealand Olympic Committee (before 1994, The ''New Zealand Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association'') is both the National Olympic Committee and the Commonwealth Games Association in New Zealand responsible for selecting athletes to re ...
was represented by 89 competitors, 82 men and 7 women, who took part in 63 events in 14 sports.
Medal tables
Archery
In the first modern archery competition at the Olympics, New Zealand entered one man in the competition.
Athletics
Track and road
Field
Boxing
Canoeing
Cycling
Eight cyclists represented New Zealand in 1972.
Road
;Men's individual road race
Track
;Men's 1000 m time trial
;Men's team pursuit
Brent Pascoe was the reserve rider, but did not compete.
Gymnastics
Men's individual
;Apparatus qualifying and all-around
Sale did not qualify for any of the apparatus finals.
Women's individual
;Apparatus qualifying and all-around
Foote did not qualify for any of the apparatus finals.
Field hockey
Men's tournament
;Team roster
;Head coach
Ross Gillespie
;Group B
;9th / 10th Place play-off
New Zealand finished the men's field hockey tournament in ninth place.
Judo
Rowing
1972 was the last year that only men competed at the Olympic rowing events. New Zealand entered boats in four of the seven events. The gold medal won by the
1972 New Zealand eight is one of New Zealand's most memorable performances, and was in 2008 rated by sports journalist
Joseph Romanos
Joseph Romanos (born 1957) is a New Zealand journalist, author and broadcaster focusing mainly on sport.
Life and career
Romanos attended St Patrick's College in Wellington. His father Richie Romanos played cricket for Wellington in the 1951� ...
as New Zealand's best ever team performance at the Olympic Games.
Sailing
Jonty Farmer
Jonathan George "Jonty" Farmer (23 April 1945 – 4 September 2023) was a New Zealand sailor who represented his country at the 1968 and 1976 Summer Olympics.
Biography
Farmer was born in 1945 in Te Puke in the Bay of Plenty. He later lived in R ...
,
Jack Hansen,
Geoff Smals and
Bryan Treleaven were named as alternates but did not compete.
Shooting
Four male shooters represented New Zealand in 1972.
;Mixed 25 m rapid fire pistol
;Mixed 50 m rifle, prone
;Mixed 50 m running target
Swimming
Weightlifting
Wrestling
Officials
* Chef de Mission –
Joe McManemin
* Assistant team manager –
Jack Prestney
* Team doctor –
Tom Anderson
Thomas Anderson (born November 8, 1970) is an American technology entrepreneur and co-founder of the social networking website Myspace, which he founded in 2003 with Chris DeWolfe. He was later president of Myspace and a strategic adviser ...
* Chaperone –
Doris Fitzsimmons
* Archery section manager – Jack Richards
* Athletics
** Section manager –
Graham Davy
Graham John Davy (4 October 1936 – 18 June 2018) was a New Zealand athlete and sports administrator. He won one national athletics title, and served as the chair of directors of the New Zealand Sports Foundation.
Biography
Born in the Auckla ...
** Coach –
Valdemars Briedis
* Boxing section manager – David Tipping
* Canoeing section manager – Stan Robinson
* Cycling
** Section manager – Colin Hollows
** Coach / mechanic – Bruce Goldsworthy
* Field hockey
** Section manager – Merv Good
** Coach –
Ross Gillespie
* Gymnastics section manager – Cameron A. R. Buchanan
* Judo section manager – Jack Fielding
* Rowing
** Section manager –
Fred Strachan
** Coach –
Rusty Robertson
Russell Robertson (1927 – 17 February 1990), known as Rusty Robertson, was a New Zealand-born, world class rowing coach of New Zealand and later, Australian national representative rowing crews. He was the national rowing coach of New Zealand ...
** Assistant coach –
Ted Lindstrom
* Sailing section manager –
Hal Wagstaff
* Shooting section manager – Hong Tse
* Swimming
** Section manager – Graeme Brockett
** Coach –
Pic Parkhouse
* Weightlifting
** Section manager – Peter Watson
** Coach – Paul Newberry
* Wrestling section manager – Art Pickering
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:New Zealand At The 1972 Summer Olympics
Nations at the 1972 Summer Olympics
1972 Summer Olympics
The 1972 Summer Olympics (), officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad () and officially branded as Munich 1972 (; ), were an international multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from 26 August to 11 September 1972. It was the ...
Summer Olympics
The Summer Olympic Games, also known as the Summer Olympics or the Games of the Olympiad, is a major international multi-sport event normally held once every four years. The inaugural Games took place in 1896 in Athens, then part of the King ...