| | Event type

High Jump, Women

Date	3 – 4 September 1972
Status	Olympic
Location	Olympiastadion, Olympiapark, München
Participants	40 from 22 countries

In 1971, Ilona Gusenbauer of Austria had won the European Championships and also jumped 1.92 (6-3½) later in that year to equal the last world record set by the redoubtable Iolanda Balaş. Gusenbauer was favored. There were 40 high jumpers in München and 23 qualified for the final so the competition seemed endless. Seven jumpers were alive after 1.85 metres (6-0¾), but at 1.88 (6-2) only three cleared – Gusenbauer in her second attempt, but home crowd favorite Ulrike Meyfarth and Yordanka Blagoeva (BUL) had first attempt clearances. At 1.90 (6-2¾), Meyfarth cleared on her second jump and won the gold medal. She went on to better the world record with 1.92 (6-3½). Meyfarth was only 16-years-old in 1972 – actually 16 years, 123 days on the day of her victory, and she remains the youngest winner of an individual medal in track & field athletics. The 1972 high jump competition still had a mixture of straddlers and floppers, with Gusenbauer using the straddle and Meyfarth the flop.

Pos	Number	Competitor	NOC	Qualifying	Final
1	152	Ulrike Meyfarth	FRG	1.76 (=6)	1.92 (1)	Gold
2	145	Yordanka Blagoeva	BUL	1.76 (=1)	1.88 (2)	Silver
3	15	Ilona Gusenbauer	AUT	1.76 (=1)	1.88 (3)	Bronze
4	103	Barbara Inkpen	GBR	1.76 (22)	1.85 (4)
5	32	Rita Schmidt	GDR	1.76 (=1)	1.85 (5)
6	219	Sara Simeoni	ITA	1.76 (=6)	1.85 (6)
7	228	Rosie Witschas	GDR	1.76 (=6)	1.85 (7)
8	49	Debbie Brill	CAN	1.76 (=6)	1.82 (8)
9	221	Andrea Bruce	JAM	1.76 (=17)	1.82 (9)
10	297	Ellen Mundinger	FRG	1.76 (=6)	1.82 (10)
11	161	Audrey Reid	JAM	1.76 (=6)	1.82 (11)
=12	74	Grith Ejstrup	DEN	1.76 (=1)	1.82 (=12)
=12	128	Rita Gildemeister	GDR	1.76 (=1)	1.82 (=12)
14	170	Renate Gärtner	FRG	1.76 (=6)	1.82 (14)
15	327	Miloslava Hübnerová	TCH	1.76 (=20)	1.82 (15)
=16	204	Erika Rudolf	HUN	1.76 (=17)	1.79 (=16)
=16	168	Ria Ahlers	NED	1.76 (=6)	1.79 (=16)
18	329	Alena Prosková	TCH	1.76 (19)	1.79 (18)
=19	187	Cornelia Popescu	ROU	1.76 (=6)	1.76 (19)
=19	403	Snežana Hrepevnik	YUG	1.76 (15)	1.76 (20)
21	75	Solveig Langkilde	DEN	1.76 (16)	1.76 (21)
22	325	Milada Karbanová	TCH	1.76 (=20)	1.76 (22)
23	196	Magdolna Csábi-Komka	HUN	1.76 (23)	1.71 (23)
24 r1/2	400	Breda Babošek	YUG	1.73 (24)	–
25 r1/2	70	Marima Rodríguez	CUB	1.73 (25)	–
26 r1/2	350	Antonina Lazaryeva	URS	1.73 (26)	–
27 r1/2	102	Ros Few	GBR	1.73 (27)	–
28 r1/2	311	Trix Rechner	SUI	1.73 (28)	–
29 r1/2	51	Louise Hannah	CAN	1.73 (29)	–
=30 r1/2	101	Penny Dimmock	GBR	1.70 (=30)	–
=30 r1/2	398	Deanne Wilson	USA	1.70 (=30)	–
32 r1/2	377	Cindy Gilbert	USA	1.70 (32)	–
=33 r1/2	305	Michiyo Inaoka	JPN	1.65 (=33)	–
=33 r1/2	232	Doris Bisang	SUI	1.65 (=33)	–
=35 r1/2	233	Mihoko Yama	JPN	1.65 (=35)	–
=35 r1/2	301	Roxana Vulescu	ROU	1.65 (=35)	–
37 r1/2	210	Lára Sveinsdóttir	ISL	1.60 (37)	–
38 r1/2	378	Sandi Goldsberry	USA	1.60 (38)	–
AC r1/2	290	Nnenna Njoku	NGR	– (NH)	–
AC r1/2	250	Wu Yu-Chih	TPE	– (NH)	–
DNS	255	Kari Karlsen	NOR	– (DNS)	–
DNS	201	Margit Papp	HUN	– (DNS)	–
DNS	240	Gladys Chai	MAS	– (DNS)	–
DNS	261	María Luisa Vilca	PER	– (DNS)	–
DNS	342	Galina Filatova	URS	– (DNS)	–

Qualifying Round

Date	3 September 1972 — 10:00
Format	Top 12 and ties and all those clearing 1.76 metres advanced to the final.

Pos	Number	Competitor	NOC	Best Height Cleared	Misses at Best Height Cleared	Total Misses thru Best Height Cleared	Total Attempts thru Best Height Cleared
=1	15	Ilona Gusenbauer	AUT	1.76	0	0	3	Q
=1	145	Yordanka Blagoeva	BUL	1.76	0	0	3	Q
=1	74	Grith Ejstrup	DEN	1.76	0	0	3	Q
=1	128	Rita Gildemeister	GDR	1.76	0	0	3	Q
=1	32	Rita Schmidt	GDR	1.76	0	0	3	Q
=6	49	Debbie Brill	CAN	1.76	0	0	4	Q
=6	228	Rosie Witschas	GDR	1.76	0	0	4	Q
=6	170	Renate Gärtner	FRG	1.76	0	0	4	Q
=6	152	Ulrike Meyfarth	FRG	1.76	0	0	4	Q
=6	297	Ellen Mundinger	FRG	1.76	0	0	4	Q
=6	219	Sara Simeoni	ITA	1.76	0	0	4	Q
=6	161	Audrey Reid	JAM	1.76	0	0	4	Q
=6	168	Ria Ahlers	NED	1.76	0	0	4	Q
=6	187	Cornelia Popescu	ROU	1.76	0	0	4	Q
15	403	Snežana Hrepevnik	YUG	1.76	0	4	9	Q
16	75	Solveig Langkilde	DEN	1.76	1	1	4	Q
=17	204	Erika Rudolf	HUN	1.76	1	1	5	Q
=17	221	Andrea Bruce	JAM	1.76	1	1	5	Q
19	329	Alena Prosková	TCH	1.76	1	1	6	Q
=20	325	Milada Karbanová	TCH	1.76	1	2	7	Q
=20	327	Miloslava Hübnerová	TCH	1.76	1	2	7	Q
22	103	Barbara Inkpen	GBR	1.76	1	3	8	Q
23	196	Magdolna Csábi-Komka	HUN	1.76	2	2	6	Q
24	400	Breda Babošek	YUG	1.73	0	1	4
25	70	Marima Rodríguez	CUB	1.73	0	2	4
26	350	Antonina Lazaryeva	URS	1.73	1	1	4
27	102	Ros Few	GBR	1.73	1	1	5
28	311	Trix Rechner	SUI	1.73	1	3	6
29	51	Louise Hannah	CAN	1.73	2	2	6
=30	101	Penny Dimmock	GBR	1.70	0	0	3
=30	398	Deanne Wilson	USA	1.70	0	0	3
32	377	Cindy Gilbert	USA	1.70	2	3	6
=33	305	Michiyo Inaoka	JPN	1.65	0	0	2
=33	232	Doris Bisang	SUI	1.65	0	0	2
=35	233	Mihoko Yama	JPN	1.65	1	1	3
=35	301	Roxana Vulescu	ROU	1.65	1	1	3
37	210	Lára Sveinsdóttir	ISL	1.60	0	0	1
38	378	Sandi Goldsberry	USA	1.60	1	1	2
NH	290	Nnenna Njoku	NGR	–	–	–	–
NH	250	Wu Yu-Chih	TPE	–	–	–	–
DNS	201	Margit Papp	HUN	–	–	–	–
DNS	342	Galina Filatova	URS	–	–	–	–
DNS	255	Kari Karlsen	NOR	–	–	–	–
DNS	240	Gladys Chai	MAS	–	–	–	–
DNS	261	María Luisa Vilca	PER	–	–	–	–

Group A

Date	3 September 1972

Pos	Start Order	Competitor	NOC	Best Height Cleared	Misses at Best Height Cleared	Total Misses thru Best Height Cleared	Total Attempts thru Best Height Cleared	Attempts at 1.60 m	Attempts at 1.65 m	Attempts at 1.70 m	Attempts at 1.73 m	Attempts at 1.76 m
=1	15	Ilona Gusenbauer	AUT	1.76	0	0	3	-	-	o	o	o
=1	145	Yordanka Blagoeva	BUL	1.76	0	0	3	-	-	o	o	o
=1	128	Rita Gildemeister	GDR	1.76	0	0	3	-	-	o	o	o
=1	32	Rita Schmidt	GDR	1.76	0	0	3	-	-	o	o	o
=5	228	Rosie Witschas	GDR	1.76	0	0	4	-	o	o	o	o
=5	170	Renate Gärtner	FRG	1.76	0	0	4	-	o	o	o	o
=5	152	Ulrike Meyfarth	FRG	1.76	0	0	4	-	o	o	o	o
=5	297	Ellen Mundinger	FRG	1.76	0	0	4	-	o	o	o	o
=5	161	Audrey Reid	JAM	1.76	0	0	4	-	o	o	o	o
=5	168	Ria Ahlers	NED	1.76	0	0	4	-	o	o	o	o
=5	187	Cornelia Popescu	ROU	1.76	0	0	4	-	o	o	o	o
12	403	Snežana Hrepevnik	YUG	1.76	0	4	9	o	o	xxo	xxo	o
13	75	Solveig Langkilde	DEN	1.76	1	1	4	-	-	o	o	xo
14	204	Erika Rudolf	HUN	1.76	1	1	5	-	o	o	o	xo
15	329	Alena Prosková	TCH	1.76	1	1	6	o	o	o	o	xo
=16	325	Milada Karbanová	TCH	1.76	1	2	7	o	o	xo	o	xo
=16	327	Miloslava Hübnerová	TCH	1.76	1	2	7	o	xo	o	o	xo
18	103	Barbara Inkpen	GBR	1.76	1	3	8	o	o	xxo	o	xo
19	196	Magdolna Csábi-Komka	HUN	1.76	2	2	6	-	o	o	o	xxo
20	400	Breda Babošek	YUG	1.73	0	1	4	-	o	xo	o	xxx
21	70	Marima Rodríguez	CUB	1.73	0	2	4	-	-	xxo	o	xxx
22	350	Antonina Lazaryeva	URS	1.73	1	1	4	-	o	o	xo	xxx
DNS	201	Margit Papp	HUN	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
DNS	342	Galina Filatova	URS	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–

Group B

Date	3 September 1972

Pos	Start Order	Competitor	NOC	Best Height Cleared	Misses at Best Height Cleared	Total Misses thru Best Height Cleared	Total Attempts thru Best Height Cleared	Attempts at 1.60 m	Attempts at 1.65 m	Attempts at 1.70 m	Attempts at 1.73 m	Attempts at 1.76 m
1	74	Grith Ejstrup	DEN	1.76	0	0	3	-	-	o	o	o
=2	49	Debbie Brill	CAN	1.76	0	0	4	-	o	o	o	o
=2	219	Sara Simeoni	ITA	1.76	0	0	4	-	o	o	o	o
4	221	Andrea Bruce	JAM	1.76	1	1	5	-	o	o	o	xo
5	102	Ros Few	GBR	1.73	1	1	5	o	o	o	xo	xxx
6	311	Trix Rechner	SUI	1.73	1	3	6	-	xo	xo	xo	xxx
7	51	Louise Hannah	CAN	1.73	2	2	6	o	o	o	xxo	xxx
=8	101	Penny Dimmock	GBR	1.70	0	0	3	o	o	o	xxx	–
=8	398	Deanne Wilson	USA	1.70	0	0	3	o	o	o	xxx	–
10	377	Cindy Gilbert	USA	1.70	2	3	6	xo	o	xxo	xxx	–
=11	305	Michiyo Inaoka	JPN	1.65	0	0	2	o	o	xxx	–	–
=11	232	Doris Bisang	SUI	1.65	0	0	2	o	o	xxx	–	–
=13	233	Mihoko Yama	JPN	1.65	1	1	3	o	xo	xxx	–	–
=13	301	Roxana Vulescu	ROU	1.65	1	1	3	o	xo	xxx	–	–
15	210	Lára Sveinsdóttir	ISL	1.60	0	0	1	o	xxx	–	–	–
16	378	Sandi Goldsberry	USA	1.60	1	1	2	xo	xxx	–	–	–
NH	290	Nnenna Njoku	NGR	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
NH	250	Wu Yu-Chih	TPE	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
DNS	255	Kari Karlsen	NOR	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
DNS	240	Gladys Chai	MAS	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
DNS	261	María Luisa Vilca	PER	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–

Final Round

Date	4 September 1972 — 15:00

Pos	Start Order	Competitor	NOC	Best Height Cleared	Misses at Best Height Cleared	Total Misses thru Best Height Cleared	Total Attempts thru Best Height Cleared	Attempts at 1.60 m	Attempts at 1.66 m	Attempts at 1.71 m	Attempts at 1.76 m	Attempts at 1.79 m	Attempts at 1.82 m	Attempts at 1.85 m	Attempts at 1.88 m	Attempts at 1.90 m	Attempts at 1.92 m	Attempts at 1.94 m
1	152	Ulrike Meyfarth	FRG	1.92	0	1	9	-	-	o	o	o	o	o	o	xo	o	xxx	=WR
2	145	Yordanka Blagoeva	BUL	1.88	0	0	6	-	-	o	o	o	o	o	o	xxx	–	–
3	15	Ilona Gusenbauer	AUT	1.88	1	5	11	-	-	xo	xo	o	o	xxo	xo	xxx	–	–
4	103	Barbara Inkpen	GBR	1.85	0	0	6	-	o	o	o	o	o	o	xxx	–	–	–
5	32	Rita Schmidt	GDR	1.85	1	1	6	-	-	o	o	o	o	xo	xxx	–	–	–
6	219	Sara Simeoni	ITA	1.85	1	2	7	-	-	o	o	o	xo	xo	xxx	–	–	–
7	228	Rosie Witschas	GDR	1.85	2	2	8	-	o	o	o	o	o	xxo	xxx	–	–	–
8	49	Debbie Brill	CAN	1.82	0	0	4	-	-	o	o	o	o	xxx	–	–	–	–
9	221	Andrea Bruce	JAM	1.82	0	0	5	-	o	o	o	o	o	xxx	–	–	–	–
10	297	Ellen Mundinger	FRG	1.82	0	1	5	-	-	o	o	xo	o	xxx	–	–	–	–
11	161	Audrey Reid	JAM	1.82	0	2	6	-	-	o	xo	xo	o	xxx	–	–	–	–
=12	74	Grith Ejstrup	DEN	1.82	1	1	5	-	-	o	o	o	xo	xxx	–	–	–	–
=12	128	Rita Gildemeister	GDR	1.82	1	1	5	-	-	o	o	o	xo	xxx	–	–	–	–
14	170	Renate Gärtner	FRG	1.82	2	2	6	-	-	o	o	o	xxo	xxx	–	–	–	–
15	327	Miloslava Hübnerová	TCH	1.82	2	3	8	-	o	o	xo	o	xxo	xxx	–	–	–	–
=16	204	Erika Rudolf	HUN	1.79	0	0	4	-	o	o	o	o	xxx	–	–	–	–	–
=16	168	Ria Ahlers	NED	1.79	0	0	4	-	o	o	o	o	xxx	–	–	–	–	–
18	329	Alena Prosková	TCH	1.79	0	1	4	-	-	xo	o	o	xxx	–	–	–	–	–
19	187	Cornelia Popescu	ROU	1.76	0	0	3	-	o	o	o	xxx	–	–	–	–	–	–
20	403	Snežana Hrepevnik	YUG	1.76	0	0	5	o	o	o	o	o	–	–	–	–	–	–
21	75	Solveig Langkilde	DEN	1.76	1	1	2	-	-	-	xo	xxx	–	–	–	–	–	–
22	325	Milada Karbanová	TCH	1.76	2	3	6	-	o	xo	xxo	xxx	–	–	–	–	–	–
23	196	Magdolna Csábi-Komka	HUN	1.71	0	0	1	-	-	o	xxx	–	–	–	–	–	–	–