Milestone

Despite the absence of Africans involved in a 22-country boycott led by Tanzania, protesting against a recent tour of South Africa by the New Zealand national rugby side, the 1976 Olympics were filled with excellent competitions. Individual stars included Klaus Dibiasi (ITA), who won his third straight gold medal in platform diving, and Irena Szewinska (POL), winner of the 400m athletics event, who brought her career total to seven medals - in five different events. Alberto Juantorena (CUB) became the first athlete to win the 400m and the 800m.

Viktor Saneev won the triple jump for the third time. In gymnastics, Nadia Comaneci, a fourteen-year old Romanian girl, was the major attraction. For the first time in the history of the Games, she was honoured with the maximum possible score (10) on several occasions (3 gold medals, 1 silver, 1 bronze).

(Credit: IOC / Olympic Museum)