| | 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	Nr	Athlete	NOC	Qualifying Round	Final Round
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 (3 September 1972 — 10:00)

Top 12 and ties and all those clearing 1.76 metres advanced to the final.

Pos	Athlete	NOC	Height	Misses	Total Misses	Total Attempts
=1	Ilona Gusenbauer	AUT	1.76	0	0	3	Q
=1	Yordanka Blagoeva	BUL	1.76	0	0	3	Q
=1	Grith Ejstrup	DEN	1.76	0	0	3	Q
=1	Rita Gildemeister	GDR	1.76	0	0	3	Q
=1	Rita Schmidt	GDR	1.76	0	0	3	Q
=6	Debbie Brill	CAN	1.76	0	0	4	Q
=6	Rosie Witschas	GDR	1.76	0	0	4	Q
=6	Renate Gärtner	FRG	1.76	0	0	4	Q
=6	Ulrike Meyfarth	FRG	1.76	0	0	4	Q
=6	Ellen Mundinger	FRG	1.76	0	0	4	Q
=6	Sara Simeoni	ITA	1.76	0	0	4	Q
=6	Audrey Reid	JAM	1.76	0	0	4	Q
=6	Ria Ahlers	NED	1.76	0	0	4	Q
=6	Cornelia Popescu	ROU	1.76	0	0	4	Q
15	Snežana Hrepevnik	YUG	1.76	0	4	9	Q
16	Solveig Langkilde	DEN	1.76	1	1	4	Q
=17	Erika Rudolf	HUN	1.76	1	1	5	Q
=17	Andrea Bruce	JAM	1.76	1	1	5	Q
19	Alena Prosková	TCH	1.76	1	1	6	Q
=20	Milada Karbanová	TCH	1.76	1	2	7	Q
=20	Miloslava Hübnerová	TCH	1.76	1	2	7	Q
22	Barbara Inkpen	GBR	1.76	1	3	8	Q
23	Magdolna Csábi-Komka	HUN	1.76	2	2	6	Q
24	Breda Babošek	YUG	1.73	0	1	4
25	Marima Rodríguez	CUB	1.73	0	2	4
26	Antonina Lazaryeva	URS	1.73	1	1	4
27	Ros Few	GBR	1.73	1	1	5
28	Trix Rechner	SUI	1.73	1	3	6
29	Louise Hannah	CAN	1.73	2	2	6
=30	Penny Dimmock	GBR	1.70	0	0	3
=30	Deanne Wilson	USA	1.70	0	0	3
32	Cindy Gilbert	USA	1.70	2	3	6
=33	Michiyo Inaoka	JPN	1.65	0	0	2
=33	Doris Bisang	SUI	1.65	0	0	2
=35	Mihoko Yama	JPN	1.65	1	1	3
=35	Roxana Vulescu	ROU	1.65	1	1	3
37	Lára Sveinsdóttir	ISL	1.60	0	0	1
38	Sandi Goldsberry	USA	1.60	1	1	2
NH	Nnenna Njoku	NGR	–	–	–	–
NH	Wu Yu-Chih	TPE	–	–	–	–
DNS	Margit Papp	HUN	–	–	–	–
DNS	Galina Filatova	URS	–	–	–	–
DNS	Kari Karlsen	NOR	–	–	–	–
DNS	Gladys Chai	MAS	–	–	–	–
DNS	María Luisa Vilca	PER	–	–	–	–

Qualifying Round, Group A (3 September 1972)

Pos	Athlete	NOC	Height	Misses	Total Misses	Total Attempts	1.60 m	1.65 m	1.70 m	1.73 m	1.76 m
=1	Ilona Gusenbauer	AUT	1.76	0	0	3	-	-	o	o	o
=1	Yordanka Blagoeva	BUL	1.76	0	0	3	-	-	o	o	o
=1	Rita Gildemeister	GDR	1.76	0	0	3	-	-	o	o	o
=1	Rita Schmidt	GDR	1.76	0	0	3	-	-	o	o	o
=5	Rosie Witschas	GDR	1.76	0	0	4	-	o	o	o	o
=5	Renate Gärtner	FRG	1.76	0	0	4	-	o	o	o	o
=5	Ulrike Meyfarth	FRG	1.76	0	0	4	-	o	o	o	o
=5	Ellen Mundinger	FRG	1.76	0	0	4	-	o	o	o	o
=5	Audrey Reid	JAM	1.76	0	0	4	-	o	o	o	o
=5	Ria Ahlers	NED	1.76	0	0	4	-	o	o	o	o
=5	Cornelia Popescu	ROU	1.76	0	0	4	-	o	o	o	o
12	Snežana Hrepevnik	YUG	1.76	0	4	9	o	o	xxo	xxo	o
13	Solveig Langkilde	DEN	1.76	1	1	4	-	-	o	o	xo
14	Erika Rudolf	HUN	1.76	1	1	5	-	o	o	o	xo
15	Alena Prosková	TCH	1.76	1	1	6	o	o	o	o	xo
=16	Milada Karbanová	TCH	1.76	1	2	7	o	o	xo	o	xo
=16	Miloslava Hübnerová	TCH	1.76	1	2	7	o	xo	o	o	xo
18	Barbara Inkpen	GBR	1.76	1	3	8	o	o	xxo	o	xo
19	Magdolna Csábi-Komka	HUN	1.76	2	2	6	-	o	o	o	xxo
20	Breda Babošek	YUG	1.73	0	1	4	-	o	xo	o	xxx
21	Marima Rodríguez	CUB	1.73	0	2	4	-	-	xxo	o	xxx
22	Antonina Lazaryeva	URS	1.73	1	1	4	-	o	o	xo	xxx
DNS	Margit Papp	HUN	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
DNS	Galina Filatova	URS	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–

Qualifying Round, Group B (3 September 1972)

Pos	Athlete	NOC	Height	Misses	Total Misses	Total Attempts	1.60 m	1.65 m	1.70 m	1.73 m	1.76 m
1	Grith Ejstrup	DEN	1.76	0	0	3	-	-	o	o	o
=2	Debbie Brill	CAN	1.76	0	0	4	-	o	o	o	o
=2	Sara Simeoni	ITA	1.76	0	0	4	-	o	o	o	o
4	Andrea Bruce	JAM	1.76	1	1	5	-	o	o	o	xo
5	Ros Few	GBR	1.73	1	1	5	o	o	o	xo	xxx
6	Trix Rechner	SUI	1.73	1	3	6	-	xo	xo	xo	xxx
7	Louise Hannah	CAN	1.73	2	2	6	o	o	o	xxo	xxx
=8	Penny Dimmock	GBR	1.70	0	0	3	o	o	o	xxx	–
=8	Deanne Wilson	USA	1.70	0	0	3	o	o	o	xxx	–
10	Cindy Gilbert	USA	1.70	2	3	6	xo	o	xxo	xxx	–
=11	Michiyo Inaoka	JPN	1.65	0	0	2	o	o	xxx	–	–
=11	Doris Bisang	SUI	1.65	0	0	2	o	o	xxx	–	–
=13	Mihoko Yama	JPN	1.65	1	1	3	o	xo	xxx	–	–
=13	Roxana Vulescu	ROU	1.65	1	1	3	o	xo	xxx	–	–
15	Lára Sveinsdóttir	ISL	1.60	0	0	1	o	xxx	–	–	–
16	Sandi Goldsberry	USA	1.60	1	1	2	xo	xxx	–	–	–
NH	Nnenna Njoku	NGR	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
NH	Wu Yu-Chih	TPE	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
DNS	Kari Karlsen	NOR	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
DNS	Gladys Chai	MAS	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
DNS	María Luisa Vilca	PER	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–

Final Round (4 September 1972 — 15:00)

Pos	Athlete	NOC	Height	Misses	Total Misses	Total Attempts	1.60 m	1.66 m	1.71 m	1.76 m	1.79 m	1.82 m	1.85 m	1.88 m	1.90 m	1.92 m	1.94 m
1	Ulrike Meyfarth	FRG	1.92	0	1	9	-	-	o	o	o	o	o	o	xo	o	xxx	=WR
2	Yordanka Blagoeva	BUL	1.88	0	0	6	-	-	o	o	o	o	o	o	xxx	–	–
3	Ilona Gusenbauer	AUT	1.88	1	5	11	-	-	xo	xo	o	o	xxo	xo	xxx	–	–
4	Barbara Inkpen	GBR	1.85	0	0	6	-	o	o	o	o	o	o	xxx	–	–	–
5	Rita Schmidt	GDR	1.85	1	1	6	-	-	o	o	o	o	xo	xxx	–	–	–
6	Sara Simeoni	ITA	1.85	1	2	7	-	-	o	o	o	xo	xo	xxx	–	–	–
7	Rosie Witschas	GDR	1.85	2	2	8	-	o	o	o	o	o	xxo	xxx	–	–	–
8	Debbie Brill	CAN	1.82	0	0	4	-	-	o	o	o	o	xxx	–	–	–	–
9	Andrea Bruce	JAM	1.82	0	0	5	-	o	o	o	o	o	xxx	–	–	–	–
10	Ellen Mundinger	FRG	1.82	0	1	5	-	-	o	o	xo	o	xxx	–	–	–	–
11	Audrey Reid	JAM	1.82	0	2	6	-	-	o	xo	xo	o	xxx	–	–	–	–
=12	Grith Ejstrup	DEN	1.82	1	1	5	-	-	o	o	o	xo	xxx	–	–	–	–
=12	Rita Gildemeister	GDR	1.82	1	1	5	-	-	o	o	o	xo	xxx	–	–	–	–
14	Renate Gärtner	FRG	1.82	2	2	6	-	-	o	o	o	xxo	xxx	–	–	–	–
15	Miloslava Hübnerová	TCH	1.82	2	3	8	-	o	o	xo	o	xxo	xxx	–	–	–	–
=16	Erika Rudolf	HUN	1.79	0	0	4	-	o	o	o	o	xxx	–	–	–	–	–
=16	Ria Ahlers	NED	1.79	0	0	4	-	o	o	o	o	xxx	–	–	–	–	–
18	Alena Prosková	TCH	1.79	0	1	4	-	-	xo	o	o	xxx	–	–	–	–	–
19	Cornelia Popescu	ROU	1.76	0	0	3	-	o	o	o	xxx	–	–	–	–	–	–
20	Snežana Hrepevnik	YUG	1.76	0	0	5	o	o	o	o	o	–	–	–	–	–	–
21	Solveig Langkilde	DEN	1.76	1	1	2	-	-	-	xo	xxx	–	–	–	–	–	–
22	Milada Karbanová	TCH	1.76	2	3	6	-	o	xo	xxo	xxx	–	–	–	–	–	–
23	Magdolna Csábi-Komka	HUN	1.71	0	0	1	-	-	o	xxx	–	–	–	–	–	–	–