Swimming at the 1972 Summer Olympics – Men's 200 metre freestyle
Encyclopedia
The men's 200 metre freestyle event at the 1972 Olympic Games
took place August 29. This swimming
event used freestyle swimming
, which means that the method of the stroke is not regulated (unlike backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly events). Nearly all swimmers use the front crawl
or a variant of that stroke. Because an Olympic size swimming pool is 50 metres long, this race consisted of four lengths of the pool.
Key: WR = World record
1972 Summer Olympics
The 1972 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from August 26 to September 11, 1972....
took place August 29. This swimming
Swimming (sport)
Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...
event used freestyle swimming
Freestyle swimming
Freestyle is an unregulated swimming style used in swimming competitions according to the rules of FINA. The front crawl stroke is almost universally used during a freestyle race, as this style is generally the fastest...
, which means that the method of the stroke is not regulated (unlike backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly events). Nearly all swimmers use the front crawl
Front crawl
The front crawl, forward crawl, or freestyle is a swimming stroke usually regarded as the fastest of the four front primary strokes. As such, the front crawl stroke is nearly universally used during a freestyle swimming competition, hence the synonymously used term "freestyle". It is one of two...
or a variant of that stroke. Because an Olympic size swimming pool is 50 metres long, this race consisted of four lengths of the pool.
Medalists
Final
| Rank | Athlete | Country | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Mark Spitz Mark Spitz Mark Andrew Spitz is a retired American swimmer. He won seven gold medals at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games, an achievement only surpassed by Michael Phelps who won eight golds at the 2008 Olympics.... |
1:52.78 | WR | |
 |
Steve Genter Steve Genter Steve Genter is a former freestyle swimmer and three-time Olympic medalist. He won the gold medal in the 4x200m Freestyle Relay at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, West Germany.-References:* *... |
1:53.73 | ||
 |
Werner Lampe Werner Lampe Werner Lampe is a German swimmer and Olympic medalist. He was born in Hannover, and is the brother of Hans Lampe and father of Oliver Lampe. He participated at the 1972 and 1976 Summer Olympics, winning a silver medal in 4 x 200 metre freestyle relay, and a bronze medal in 200 metre freestyle in... |
1:53.99 | ||
| 4 | Mike Wenden | 1:54.40 | ||
| 5 | Fred Tyler Fred Tyler Frederick Daniel Tyler is an American swimmer and aquatics coach, winner of several high school and college championships and a gold medal in the 4x200 meter freestyle relay at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany.-High school and Indiana University:Fred Tyler began his high school swimming... |
1:54.96 | ||
| 6 | Klaus Steinbach Klaus Steinbach Klaus Steinbach is a former World Record holding and Olympic freestyle swimmer from Germany. He swam for Germany at the 1972 and 1976 Olympics.... |
1:55.65 | ||
| 7 | Vladimir Bure Vladimir Bure Vladimir Valeryevich Bure is a retired Soviet Olympic swimmer and a fitness coach for the New Jersey Devils of the NHL. Bure is the father of NHL players Pavel and Valeri Bure.-USSR:... |
1:57.24 | ||
| 8 | Ralph Hutton Ralph Hutton Ralph Hutton is a former Canadian swimmer. Hutton won a silver medal at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City.-References:* , from http://www.sports-reference.com/; retrieved 2009-11-28.... |
1:57.56 |
Key: WR = World record