Athletics at the 1972 Summer Olympics – Men's 100 metres
Rank Name Nationality Time
1 Barka Sy Senegal 10.30
2 Bernd Borth East Germany 10.48
3 Audun Garshol Norway 10.49
4 Su Wen-Ho Republic of China 10.59
5 Gana Abba Kimet Chad 10.89
6 Raimo Vilén Finland 11.00
7 Lionel Caero Bolivia 11.19
Preliminaries -- Heats
The men's 100 metres sprint event at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, West Germany, was held at Olympiastadion on 31 August and 1 September. This event is notable for the absence of favorites and world record holders Eddie Hart and Rey Robinson from their quarterfinal heats due to a communication error, leading to American sprint coach Stan Wright being given the wrong starting time. The three qualified American athletes, Robinson, Hart and Robert Taylor, were at the ABC television headquarters watching what they believed were replays of their morning preliminary races before being informed they were watching live coverage of the races they were scheduled to run in. The athletes rushed to the stadium, but Hart and Robinson, scheduled in the first two races, missed their heats, while Robert Taylor hurried to take off his warm up uniform before running his heat. An appeal by American officials to have Robinson and Hart run in another heat was rejected.