15 greatest upsets in Summer Olympic history

1. 1972: The Soviets ‘earn’ hoops gold

Sitting in a vault in Lusanne, Switzerland are 12 silver Olympic medals. These medals will never be worn, as they are a symbol of the heartbreak of the 1972 U.S. Men’s Basketball team. Their loss to the Soviets is not only the biggest upset in Olympic history, but also the most controversial event in the long history of the Summer Games.

From 1936 to 1972, the United States Men’s Basketball  team had won every gold medal in Olympic competition. Heading into the finale against the USSR, the US had ripped through the group phase, going 7-0 with a 230 point differential. In comparison, the Soviets also went 7-0, showing the same kind of dominance as the United States.

It was a perfect setup for the Gold Medal Game, and it was a classic battle. The United States led 50-49 with three seconds left in the game, though the Soviets had the ball. They inbounded the ball, but the clock stopped at .01 seconds, and the Soviet coaching staff protested that the referees ignored their time out.

The Soviets were given a second chance and time ran out, but the scorer’s table did not start the clock. On the third attempt, the Soviets made the bucket, giving them a 51-50 win and the gold medal. The Americans protested the result, never picked up their medals, and to this day, do not concede that the Soviets won.

It was the most shocking moment in Summer Olympic history, and the biggest upset of all-time.

For more Olympics news, check out our hub page.