200 metres, Men

The favorites were American Larry Black and Jamaica’s Don Quarrie, the 1971 Pan American champion. The 1971 European Champion was Valery Borzov, who had already won the 100 and was expected to challenge. Quarrie sustained a hamstring pull in the semis and did not qualify. Borzov dominated the final, winning by almost two metres over Black, with Italy’s Pietro Mennea in third. Black was unfortunate to have drawn lane one in the final, but Borzov won the race by 0.19, so the result might not have changed even with a better lane draw. Borzov later became an IOC Member from Ukraine in 1994. He also married Soviet gymnastic legend Lyudmila Turishcheva. His 100/200 double was the first ever won by a sprinter from outside North America. Fourth-place finisher Larry Burton later played for five years in the NFL as a wide receiver for the New Orleans Saints and San Diego Chargers.