{"id":456179,"date":"2020-12-04T10:00:23","date_gmt":"2020-12-04T17:00:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=456179"},"modified":"2020-12-04T18:23:05","modified_gmt":"2020-12-05T01:23:05","slug":"swimming-world-presents-the-1972-munich-olympics-tale-of-how-a-close-race-between-gunnar-larsson-and-tim-mckee-led-to-an-international-rule-allowing-ties","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/swimming-world-presents-the-1972-munich-olympics-tale-of-how-a-close-race-between-gunnar-larsson-and-tim-mckee-led-to-an-international-rule-allowing-ties\/","title":{"rendered":"Swimming World Presents – The 1972 Munich Olympics Tale of How a Close Race Between Gunnar Larsson and Tim McKee Led To An International Rule Allowing Ties"},"content":{"rendered":"

999-The latest issue of Swimming World Magazine<\/em><\/span>
\nis now available for download in the<\/span> Swimming World Vault<\/span><\/strong><\/a>!<\/p>\n

Non-Subscribers Can Download This Issue Here<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

FIT TO BE TIED:<\/span><\/h1>\n

The 1972 Munich Olympics Tale of How a Close Race Between Gunnar Larsson and Tim McKee Led To An International Rule Allowing Ties
\n<\/span><\/h1>\n

By John Lohn<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

At the 1972 Munich Olympics, Sweden\u2019s Gunnar Larsson was awarded the gold medal in the men\u2019s 400 IM, edging USA\u2019s Tim McKee by 2-thousandths of a second. Subsequently, international swimming rules were changed to record results to 1-hundredth of a second, allowing for ties among swimmers with identical times.<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The guy in Lane 4 charged to the finish, looked to the scoreboard and saw what he wanted. He was an Olympic champion, the \u201c1\u201d next to his name confirming the achievement.<\/p>\n

The man in Lane 7 surged for the wall, looked to the scoreboard and saw the outcome he desired. He was an Olympic champion, the \u201c1\u201d next to his name confirming the achievement.<\/p>\n

Gunnar Larsson and Tim McKee arrived at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich in search of gold, and for a moment at the conclusion of the 400 meter individual medley, they both believed their quest was fulfilled. But when the medals were presented inside the Schwimmhalle, only Larsson wore the metal of the most-cherished medal.<\/p>\n

There have only been three gold-medal ties in the history of Olympic swimming, and all occurred in sprint freestyle events. In 1984, Americans Nancy Hogshead and Carrie Steinseifer shared the title in the 100 freestyle at the Los Angeles Games. Sixteen years later, the United States\u2019 Gary Hall Jr. and Anthony Ervin each earned gold in the 50 freestyle at the Sydney Games. At the most recent Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, American Simone Manuel and Canadian Penny Oleksiak posted identical times in the 100 freestyle.<\/p>\n

The fact those six athletes\u2014and not three\u2014were honored as Olympic champions is the direct result of what happened in 1972, when Larsson and McKee were inseparable to the human eye and to the hundredth of a second, but not to the timing system in use during the era.<\/p>\n

Gunnar Larsson and Tim McKee arrived at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich in search of gold, and for a moment at the conclusion of the 400 meter individual medley, they both believed their quest was fulfilled. But when the medals were presented inside the Schwimmhalle, only Larsson wore the metal of the most-cherished medal.<\/p>\n

There have only been three gold-medal ties in the history of Olympic swimming, and all occurred in sprint freestyle events. In 1984, Americans Nancy Hogshead and Carrie Steinseifer shared the title in the 100 freestyle at the Los Angeles Games. Sixteen years later, the United States\u2019 Gary Hall Jr. and Anthony Ervin each earned gold in the 50 freestyle at the Sydney Games. At the most recent Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, American Simone Manuel and Canadian Penny Oleksiak posted identical times in the 100 freestyle.<\/p>\n

The fact those six athletes\u2014and not three\u2014were honored as Olympic champions is the direct result of what happened in 1972, when Larsson and McKee were inseparable to the human eye and to the hundredth of a second, but not to the timing system in use during the era.<\/p>\n

There was no shortage of storylines in Munich, where Mark Spitz corralled seven gold medals and as many world records, and where Australian 15-year-old Shane Gould won five individual medals. So, Larsson and McKee were just doing their part by producing the tightest race\u2014at least to date\u2014in Olympic history.<\/p>\n

Despite their personal designs on Olympic gold, neither Larsson nor McKee was the favorite heading into the final of the 400 individual medley. That status went to McKee\u2019s American teammate, Gary Hall, who blasted a world record of 4:30.81 at the United States Olympic Trials in Chicago. It was the fourth time Hall broke the world record since 1969, and it would take a catastrophic failure to keep him off the top of the podium.<\/p>\n

And then…<\/p>\n

Known for his skill in the butterfly and backstroke events, it was not surprising that Hall attacked the front half of the final, which consisted of those two strokes. The aggression displayed by Hall was stunning, as he built a massive advantage during the opening 200 meters. With a weak breaststroke leg, Hall knew he needed separation, but there was also a need to have enough energy for the back half of the race. Would Hall hit a wall?<\/p>\n

\u201cHall went out very fast in the first two legs and was eight seconds ahead (of me) at the 200,\u201d Larsson said. \u201cI had told my dad before the Olympics that if I was six seconds behind or less (at the midway point), I was going to beat him. But six seconds in the last 200 meters is a lot. He went out too hard and died.\u201d<\/p>\n

As the competitors shifted into the breaststroke leg, Hall started to show signs of fatigue, and coupled with his struggles in the stroke, McKee was in front of his countryman by the 275-meter mark. Meanwhile, Larsson narrowed his deficit significantly.<\/p>\n

One of several international swimmers on the Long Beach State University roster of Coach Don Gambril, Larsson was a well-known force to members of Team USA. And as a former world record holder and European champion in the 400 freestyle, Larsson was fully expected to make a push down the stretch.<\/p>\n

But would he have enough room to catch McKee?<\/p>\n

With every stroke, Larsson cut into his deficit and took what was a no-doubt-about-it victory for one of the Americans and made the outcome disputable. At one point, McKee snuck a peek across the pool and saw he had a sizable edge. But when the swimmers approached the wall, there was no separating them, and confusion reigned.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat whole last leg, I knew I had it won,\u201d McKee said. \u201cThen when I touched and saw Larsson, I didn\u2019t think I\u2019d won. When I saw a \u201c1\u201d next to my name on the scoreboard, I thought I\u2019d won again…but 15 seconds later, I saw the \u201c1\u201d next to his name. Then I didn\u2019t know what was going on.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

To read the full story of how this close race led to an international rule allowing ties, <\/a><\/strong><\/span>
\ncheck out the Swimming World December 2020 issue…<\/a>Click here to download now<\/a>!<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"SW<\/a>[PHOTO CREDIT: PETER H. BICK]<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Get Swimming World Magazine<\/em> and Swimming World Biweekly<\/em> FREE When You<\/span>
\nBecome A Member of the International Swimming Hall of Fame<\/em><\/a><\/span><\/h3>\n

New! 30 Day Membership to ISHOF AND<\/em> Digital Swimming World Subscription for just $10 a month!<\/a><\/span><\/h3>\n

Want more? Get a 1 Year ISHOF Family Membership With Swimming World Print AND<\/em> Digital Subscription<\/span> Order Now!<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/h3>\n

Non-Subscribers can click here to download this issue for only $5.94<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

Swimming World Magazine December 2020 Issue<\/span><\/h2>\n

FEATURES<\/p>\n

012<\/span> SWIMMERS OF THE MILLENNIUM\u2019S FIRST 20 YEARS (2000-19)<\/strong><\/span>
\nby John Lohn, David Rieder, Andy Ross and Dan D\u2019Addona<\/strong><\/span>
\nWorld & American: Michael Phelps & Katie Ledecky
\nEuropean: Pieter van den Hoogenband & Inge de Bruijn
\nPacific Rim: Ian Thorpe & Leisel Jones
\nAfrican: Chad le Clos & Kirsty Coventry<\/p>\n

019<\/span> PROVING THEIR METTLE<\/strong><\/span>
\nby Andy Ross<\/strong>
\nAfter the South African media made several disparaging comments about the women\u2019s swimming team in 2016 when none of their swimmers had qualified for the Rio Olympics, Tatjana Schoenmaker and her South African teammates have been supporting one another and working together to show just how good they can be.<\/p>\n

021<\/span> FIT TO BE TIED<\/strong><\/span>
\nby John Lohn<\/strong>
\nAt the 1972 Munich Olympics, Sweden\u2019s Gunnar Larsson was awarded the gold medal in the men\u2019s 400 IM, edging USA\u2019s Tim McKee by 2-thousandths of a second. Subsequently, international swimming rules were changed to record results to 1-hundredth of a second, allowing for ties among swimmers with identical times.<\/p>\n

034<\/span> MENTAL PREP: BEFORE THE BEEP WITH CLAIRE CURZAN<\/strong><\/span>
\nby Shoshanna Rutemiller<\/strong><\/p>\n

COACHING<\/p>\n

010<\/span> TOUGHEST WORKOUTS (Part 2)<\/strong><\/span>
\nby Michael J. Stott<\/strong>
\nSwimming has had its share of taskmasters over the years. In the second of a two-part series on workouts designed to push swimmers to their limits are some sets from respected authoritative figures at Germantown, Arden Hills, Bluefish and Florida who have trained exceptional athletes that have excelled on the international stage.<\/p>\n

038<\/span> SWIMMING TECHNIQUE CONCEPTS: BREASTSTROKE BREATHING HEAD TIMING DELAY<\/strong><\/span>
\nby Rod Havriluk<\/strong>
\nIn breaststroke, most swimmers learn to synchronize their head and arm motions to breathe and to recover to the non-012 breathing position. However, a delay in the head motion both to breathe and to recover affords benefits of less resistance, more propulsion and a faster stroke rate.<\/p>\n

040<\/span> SPECIAL SETS: DAVE SALO\u2014THE MAN AND THE METHOD<\/strong><\/span>
\nby Michael J. Stott<\/strong>
\nDave Salo has represented the United States as an Olympic, World Championships and Pan Pacific Championships coach and has guided the USC Trojans to 18 NCAA Top 10 finishes in 14 years. But his enduring legacy will most likely be his training mindset that emphasizes race-pace training and quality over quantity.<\/p>\n

043<\/span> Q&A WITH COACH MICHAEL BROOKS<\/strong><\/span>
\nby Michael J. Stott<\/strong><\/p>\n

044<\/span> HOW THEY TRAIN THOMAS HAGAR<\/strong><\/span>
\nby Michael J. Stott<\/strong><\/p>\n

TRAINING<\/p>\n

037<\/span> DRYSIDE TRAINING: POSSIBLY THE 5 BEST DRYLAND EXERCISES EVER!<\/strong><\/span>
\nby J.R. Rosania<\/strong>
\nIf done properly and regulary, these exercises can enhance your stroke, technique, power and speed.<\/p>\n

JUNIOR SWIMMER<\/p>\n

047<\/span> UP & COMERS: ERIKA PELAEZ<\/strong><\/span>
\nby Shoshanna Rutemiller<\/p>\n

COLUMNS & SPECIAL SECTIONS<\/p>\n

008<\/span> A VOICE FOR THE SPORT<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

009<\/span> DID YOU KNOW: ABOUT THE ART OF SWIMMING?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

026<\/span> HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

036<\/span> DADS ON DECK<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

046<\/span> HASTY HIGH POINTERS<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

048<\/span> GUTTERTALK<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

049<\/span> PARTING SHOT<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n