Team, Men

Hungary and the Soviet Union had split the six Olympic gold medals in the team event, and they had won every World Championships going back to 1954. Hungary was World Champion in 1975, while the Soviets had won in 1973 and 1974. But Hungary was not considered to be as strong as in recent years. In the fencing segment, the Soviets were competing against Great Britain when something odd was noticed. Boris Onishchenko fought Adrian Parker and his sword registered a hit although he did not appear to have come close to one. In the next match against Jim Fox, the same thing occurred. The British requested that Onishchenko’s sword be inspected and it was found to be rigged so that it could register a hit even when one had not been made. Onishchenko was disqualified which resulted in the elimination of the Soviet team. Onishchenko was taken away from the Olympic Village and was never seen again internationally. The world media gave him one of the most apt nicknames ever – Boris Dis-onishchenko.

With the Soviets eliminated, Czechoslovakia took the lead after the second phase and led thru the swimming. But Great Britain was very strong in the run and they won that phase by a large margin, enough to pull them ahead of the Czechs and into the gold medal. Czechoslovakia won the silver, while Hungary edged out Poland for the bronze. Hungary would been relative easy winners but for a disastrous show jumping section. One of the Hungarians had his round ruined when he failed to tighten the chin strap on his riding hat and it slipped over his eyes. Great Britain and Czechoslovakia had never before won a medal in modern pentathlon either at the Olympics or the World Championships, although Britain had been fourth at the 1975 World Championships, with Fox winning an individual bronze.