Basketball at the 1972 Summer Olympics Basketball at the 1972 Summer Olympics Basketball contests at the 1972 Summer Olympics took place at Rudi-Sedlmayer-Halle in Munich, Germany from August 27 to September 9. The Soviet Union won the gold medal, after a controversial gold medal game against the United States. This was the first time the USA did not win a gold medal since the sport's introduction into the Olympics in 1936. The bronze was won by Cuba, the only Olympic medal they have won in basketball. † – Medals refused by the team Automatic qualifications were granted to the host country and the first four places
Soviet Union at the 1972 Summer Olympics usual. Because there were people from different republics in one team. In the following table for team events number of team representatives, who received medals are counted, not "one medal for all the team", as usual. Because there were people from different sports societies in one team. Soviet Union at the 1972 Summer Olympics The Soviet Union (USSR) competed at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, West Germany. 371 competitors, 298 men and 73 women, took part in 180 events in 22 sports. The USSR finished first in the final medal rankings, with 50 gold and 99 total medals. In