Background
The scoreboard at the end of the 1972 Olympic basketball final revealed that the apparently unthinkable had happened - America had been beaten at their own game. The United States had approached that final with an imperious record. They had won all sixty-two matches they had played since basketball first became an Olympic sport at the 1936 Berlin Games. Now, after processing to the final in Munich thirty-six years later having dispatched eight challengers they fully expected to be once more crowned Olympic champions. The trouble was the Soviet Union side, who now formed their opponents in the gold medal match, had also had an unbeaten run to the final. The Russians stormed to an early seven point lead and a highly physical encountered ensued with players on both sides dismissed from the court. With the United States one point behind and ten seconds remaining on the clock, Doug Collins burst towards the basket only to be halted by a punch. The very obvious foul resulted in the Americans being awarded two free throws at a potential point a piece. With three seconds remaining Collins sank the throws and the USA team erupt in celebration having, as they thought, won 50-49. Yet in a highly controversial twist, the clock was twice reset, and when play resumed for a second time, Aleksander Belov scored to give the Olympic basketball title to the Russians.
Olympics Photo Quiz 5
What form did the USA teams's protest at the result take?
The Answer will be published along with the next Highly Questionable quiz and associated blog post.
Olympics Photo Quiz 4 Answer
Jesse Owens was the black American athlete who won gold medals in the 100m, 200m, long jump and 4 x 100m relay at the 1936 Berlin Olympics much to the discomfort of the racist Nazi organisers of those Games.
The author of the Highly Questionable? quiz and trivia blog, Harry Reid, is a freelance question setter, writer and blogger. He can be contacted at harryreid@btinternet.com
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