Memories of Moscow 1980: Brooks & Medley Relay Mates Deliver Thunder From Down
In this archive recalling the events of the Moscow Olympics on the 40th anniversary of the Games in 2020, we note how the hosts, the Soviet Union, mopped up in many of the men's events with seven golds. None of them were for 100m solo events, which proved critical in a battle with Dolphins
In the absence of the United States, West Germany and Canada due to boycott, the form guide for men's medley relay at Moscow 2020 this day 40 years ago looked set to be a battle between hosts, the USSR, and Sweden, with Australia, Britain, East Germany, France and Hungary all with a shot at the medals.
The Swedes were having a fantastic week: Bengt Baron had claimed the 100m backstroke crown; Per Arvidsson had triumphed in the 100m butterfly and Per Holmertz, despite a foot injury sustained on pre-Games camp, had taken silver behind East German Jorg Woithe in the 100m freestyle. Add in Glen Christiansen, Swedish champion with a best within half a second of what it took to win gold in the solo event he did not race in and Russia understood well that it had its work cut out.
The Swedes took the same tactic as the Russians: the best quartet would be saved for the final. The Australians raced their best team in heats barring one spot, Glen Patching, on backstroke, to be replaced by Mark Kerry in the final and backstroke specialist Mark Tonelli called on to give it his best shot on butterfly.
In the heats, the teenager racing breaststroke for Sweden left his blocks a touch too early: the best quartet was out of the final. The Russians had it – but someone forgot to tell the Aussies.
