Date: September 10, 1972
Photographer: Associated Press
Details: The background of this photo is set against the height of the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union, where the sports arena also became a battleground, particularly in the Olympic Games. Historically, the American basketball team had dominated the sport in successive Olympic tournaments, consistently securing the gold medal. However, a new rule was introduced banning professional players from participating in the Olympics, which gave the Soviet Union an advantage. The Soviets registered all their top players as amateurs, unlike the American players, who were part of the NBA. Due to this new regulation, the United States was forced to compete with amateur players, yet they still excelled throughout the tournament and reached the final to face the Soviet Union.
The game began with the Soviets leading by a significant margin. However, the American team gradually closed the gap, bringing the match down to its final seconds. With less than 10 seconds remaining, the Soviet Union was ahead 48-49. The Americans were awarded two free throws, both of which were successfully converted, giving the U.S. a 50-49 lead. The American players started celebrating on the court, assuming they had won the gold medal. However, the head of the basketball administrative committee approached the referees, demanding that the clock be reset by three seconds due to a refereeing error. This was done amid protests from the Americans. During these three seconds, a Soviet player scored a basket, resulting in a final score of 50-51, and the Soviet Union won the game amidst shock and outrage from the American team.
An appeal was submitted by the American team administrators to the panel of five referees, three of whom were from communist countries. The appeal was rejected by a majority vote (three to two). Feeling wronged, the American players unanimously decided not to accept their silver medals. The team did not attend the medal ceremony, as depicted in the photo. One of the players stated, “If we had lost, I would have been proud to display my silver medal. But we did not face defeat; we faced cheating.”
Years later, there were calls within the United States to offer the players a chance to reconsider and accept their silver medals, especially since one team member was open to the idea. However, the Olympic Committee stated that it would be difficult to implement or distribute the medals unless all team members agreed. The players met and unanimously decided to decline the medals, which remain preserved in Lausanne, Switzerland, to this day.
