1980 Summer Olympics

Highlights

On March 21, 1980, following the 1979 Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan, American president Jimmy Carter announced a boycott of the Moscow Olympics. The United States are joined by some 50 other countries - including Japan, West Germany and Canada - and many individual athletes from participating nations. Absence of a further 15 nations leads to only 80 nations competing, the lowest number since 1956. The boycott severely affects a great number of events, and even in events where the top athletes are present, the fields are small.
Soviet gymnast Aleksandr Dityatin wins a medal in each of the eight gymnastics events, including three titles.
Vladimir Salnikov (USSR) wins three gold medals in the swimming pool. His time in the 1500 m freestyle was the first below 15 minutes.
Ethiopian Muruse Yefter wins the 5000 m and 10000 m double, emulating Lasse Vir�n's 1976 performance
Waldemar Cierpinski of East Germany wins his second consecutive marathon gold.
Women's field hockey is Olympic for the first time, but all major nations boycott the tournament. The team of Zimbabwe is invited just a week before the start of the Games, but it wins the nation's first gold medal.
East Germany dominates rowing, as they bring home eleven of the available fourteen titles.
T�ofilo Stevenson of Cuba becomes the first boxer to win three consecutive Olympic titles.

See the medal winners, ordered by sport: