Yakov Springer Yakov Springer Yakov Springer (1921 – 6 September 1972) was a wrestler and a weightlifting coach and judge, but is best known as one of the victims of the Munich massacre at the 1972 Summer Olympics. During the Holocaust, Springer took part in Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. The Polish-born Springer was murdered with 10 other men who were representing Israel in the Olympics in Munich. They were murdered by Palestinian terrorists, from the PLO Black September group. The Palestinians took the 11 Israelis as hostages and asked for the release of 236 Palestinian prisoners in Israel and Germany. After the hostages
Yugoslavia at the 1972 Summer Olympics Yugoslavia at the 1972 Summer Olympics Athletes from the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia competed at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, West Germany. 126 competitors, 113 men and 13 women, took part in 73 events in 15 sports. Men's 800 metres Men's 1500 metres Men's 5000 metres Men's Light Middleweight (– 71 kg) Five cyclists represented Yugoslavia in 1972. Yugoslavia won the second Olympic handball tournament. In the first round, they defeated all three opponents (Japan, the United States, and Hungary to take first place in the group and join seven other teams in advancing to the second round.