The Olympians Who Still Refuse Their Medals: Agony From the 1972 Olympics

More than 50 years later, their silver medals still sit locked away in a Swiss vault —untouched, unwanted, and unclaimed.

It was supposed to be business as usual for Team USA basketball at the 1972 Munich Olympics. With a perfect 63–0 Olympic record, the Americans were expected to cruise to their eighth consecutive gold medal. But what unfolded on Sept. 9, 1972, was a nightmarish twist that still haunts players and fans alike — and remains arguably the most controversial finish in Olympic history.

A Game for the Ages — Then Everything Fell Apart

The gold medal match between the United States and the Soviet Union was already fraught with Cold War tension. But it came down to the final 3 seconds.

With the U.S. trailing 49–48, Doug Collins drove hard to the basket, was fouled viciously, and calmly sank two clutch free throws, giving Team USA a 50–49 lead. Victory seemed assured.

Then came the chaos.

After Doug Collins hit his free throws, the Soviets tried to inbound the ball immediately. But the horn sounded, and the referees stopped play because the Soviets were claiming they had called a timeout before the free throws. The clock had also been mismanaged. So they decided to reset the clock to 0:03 and give the Soviets another chance.

The Soviets inbounded the ball again, and time expired without them scoring. The scoreboard showed 50–49, USA, and the Americans began celebrating.

After intense lobbying by Soviet officials — and unprecedented intervention by FIBA Secretary General R. William Jones, who had no authority to do so — the clock was reset again, giving the Soviets a third chance. This time, a full-court heave landed in the hands of Aleksandr Belov, who slipped between two defenders and laid in the game-winning basket as the buzzer sounded.

The U.S. protested. A five-man jury voted 3–2 against the appeal — with all three votes against coming from Communist countries.

A Silent Protest That Echoes Through Time

To this day, every single player on the 1972 U.S. team has refused to accept their silver medals. They called it a "stolen game," and their silent protest has become one of the most enduring symbols of sports integrity.

In interviews over the years, players like Tom McMillen, Kenny Davis, and Dwight Jones expressed not just frustration, but heartbreak. Kenny Davis even included in his will that his children are not to accept the medal on his behalf.

Kenny Davis expresses his feelings about the game, stating, "After it was over, as the team captain I went out and told the press we would not accept the silver medal. Why should we? We won the gold."

Why it Still Matters

This was about principle, fairness, and national pride. For historians and die-hard sports fans, the 1972 Olympic final is a defining moment made that much more meaningful by the Cold War that raged in the background.