Swimming at the 1972 Summer Games: Previous Summer Games ▪ Next Summer Games
Host City: München, West Germany
Venue(s): Swimming Hall, Olympic Park, München
Date Started: September 1, 1972
Date Finished: September 2, 1972
Gold: | ![]() |
Silver: | ![]() |
Bronze: | ![]() |
The favorite was the silver medalist from Mexico City, [Halyna Prozumenshchykova], now Stepanova. She won the first semi to make the final, but in the other final American [Cathy Carr] posted the fastest qualifying time, with an Olympic record 1:15.00. The final was an easy victory for Carr, who took the lead on the first lap and increase her lead throughout, finishing in a world record 1:13.58. Stepanova almost 1½ seconds behind, with Australian [Beverley Whitfield], earlier the winner of the 200 breaststroke, taking third.