Athletics at the 1972 München Summer Games:

In 1971, Jörg Drehmel had surprised Viktor Saneyev by defeating him at the European Championships. They were the favorites in München. Cuba’s Pedro Pérez was the world record holder, having jumped 17.40 (57-1) to win the 1971 Pan-American Games, but that was the day of his life. He never again reproduced that form, and would finish only 24th in the qualifying in München, not making the final. In the final, Saneyev opened with a windy 17.35 (56-11¼) and that would hold up for the gold medal. Drehmel moved into second in round two with 17.02 (55-10¼) and would improve to 17.31 (56-9½) in the fifth round. The 1968 silver medalist, Nelson Prudêncio, was in second after round one, and in third the rest of the way, but also improved in the final round with 17.05 (55-11¼) to win his second consecutive Olympic medal. A month after the Olympics, Saneyev broke Pérez’s world record, jumping 17.44 (57-2¾).