Olympic Dream-Wrecker: President Carter Declares 1980 Olympic Boycott

Lickety Split wrote:

https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/carter-announces-olympic-boycott

- A Salute!

- Where are they now?

800M: Don Paige, James Robinson, Randy Wilson

1500 meters: Steve Scott, Steve Lacy, Mike Durkin

3000M Steeplechase: Henry Marsh, Doug Brown, John Gregorek

5000 meters: Matt Centrowitz, Dick Buerkle, Bill McChesney

10,000 meters: Craig Virgin, Greg Fredericks, Alberto Salazar

Marathon: Tony Sandoval, Benji Durden, Kyle Heffner

you forgot to list Quenton Cassidy

OLD SMTC SOB wrote:

Jimmy Carters Publicist wrote:

Jimmy is on record acknowledging this boycott as a mistake in his presidency

His entire presidency was a mistake.

Ain't that the truth.

Carter ruined two Olympiads as far as I'm concerned as I'm sure the boycott of the '80 Games generated a retaliatory boycott of the '84 Games.

The boycotting chain began in 1976 with the African countries boycotting because of NZ allowing their rugby team to compete against the South African team. It denied us a showdown between Bayi and Walker, which would have been an all-timer, as well as a Boit-Juantorena matchup.

chainsaw wrote:

OLD SMTC SOB wrote:

His entire presidency was a mistake.

Ain't that the truth.

Carter ruined two Olympiads as far as I'm concerned as I'm sure the boycott of the '80 Games generated a retaliatory boycott of the '84 Games.

From some perspectives the 1984 Games were amazing. Does Mary Lou Retton become a star if all the Soviet bloc countries show? Romania came and was a power house and she beat all of them.

A friend of mine likely would not have a silver medal without the boycott so I am pretty happy for him.

But then another friend did not get to compete in 1980 so I am bummed for him.

No, it wasn't.

https://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/25/opinion/jimmy-carters-unheralded-legacy.html

Add to this the development of AWACS planes and advancing development of other planes that helped prompt the Soviet Union to bankrupt itself in trying to win an arms race.

Also, note that many of the above accomplishments are in the nature of deregulation and removal of price controls, which Republicans should like. The environmental advances we took a long time to really see the fruits of because of subsequent Reagan-Bush budget cuts on renewal energy. Most today see the wisdom of those decisions.

Shortage of cities that have the resources and desire to host...

and bribery. Lots ands lots of bribery.

Fast Jogger wrote:

Lickety Split wrote:

https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/carter-announces-olympic-boycott

- A Salute!

- Where are they now?

800M: Don Paige, James Robinson, Randy Wilson

1500 meters: Steve Scott, Steve Lacy, Mike Durkin

3000M Steeplechase: Henry Marsh, Doug Brown, John Gregorek

5000 meters: Matt Centrowitz, Dick Buerkle, Bill McChesney

10,000 meters: Craig Virgin, Greg Fredericks, Alberto Salazar

Marathon: Tony Sandoval, Benji Durden, Kyle Heffner

you forgot to list Quenton Cassidy

Quenton Cassidy was never an Olympian. Neither was Don Paige, Randy Wilson, Steve Lacy, John Gregorek, Dick Buerkle, Billy McChesney, Greg Fredericks, or any of the Marathoners.

Henry Rono was never an Olympian.

Those are the facts.

YMMV wrote:

The boycotting chain began in 1976 with the African countries boycotting because of NZ allowing their rugby team to compete against the South African team. It denied us a showdown between Bayi and Walker, which would have been an all-timer, as well as a Boit-Juantorena matchup.

It denied us Yifter-Viren more to the point.

[

- A Salute!

- Where are they now?

800M: Don Paige, James Robinson, Randy Wilson

1500 meters: Steve Scott, Steve Lacy, Mike Durkin

3000M Steeplechase: Henry Marsh, Doug Brown, John Gregorek

5000 meters: Matt Centrowitz, Dick Buerkle, Bill McChesney

10,000 meters: Craig Virgin, Greg Fredericks, Alberto Salazar

Marathon: Tony Sandoval, Benji Durden, Kyle Heffner[/quote]

you forgot to list Quenton Cassidy[/quote]

Quenton Cassidy was never an Olympian. Neither was Don Paige, Randy Wilson, Steve Lacy, John Gregorek, Dick Buerkle, Billy McChesney, Greg Fredericks, or any of the Marathoners.

Henry Rono was never an Olympian.

Those are the facts.[/quote]

Quenton Cassidy was too an Olympian, he qualified in the marathon, but because of the boycott didn't get to go. Still and Olympian. Go read a book

YMMV wrote:

The boycotting chain began in 1976 with the African countries boycotting because of NZ allowing their rugby team to compete against the South African team. It denied us a showdown between Bayi and Walker, which would have been an all-timer, as well as a Boit-Juantorena matchup.

- Choice! Doesn't seem like we have similar show-downs in contemporary times.

notfromhere wrote:

Fast Jogger wrote:

you forgot to list Quenton Cassidy

Quenton Cassidy was never an Olympian. Neither was Don Paige, Randy Wilson, Steve Lacy, John Gregorek, Dick Buerkle, Billy McChesney, Greg Fredericks, or any of the Marathoners.

Henry Rono was never an Olympian.

Those are the facts.

This is one of those interesting questions: what makes one an Olympian?

I think if you compete it is pretty clear cut, but what about a person who is an alternate? Or makes the team but never plays?

An Olympic historian (a woman whom I respect immensely) told me the IOC only counts you as an Olympian if you compete. So if you were on the soccer team, but never got on the pitch during a match the IOC will not recognize you. However, your country might.

I would say that none of the people who were named to the 1980 team from the US and this includes a friend of mine were Olympians. He never has called himself an Olympian either. However Craig Virgin, I think, refers to himself as a 3x Olympian (including 1980).

Jimmy Carters Publicist wrote:

Jimmy is on record acknowledging this boycott as a mistake in his presidency

Actually, I don't think he ever did. Walter Mondale, however, vice-president at the time, is on record as apologizing for the boycott.

Had the 1980 boycott not happened:

Marathon team would have been Rodgers, Bjorklund/Sandoval.

Rodgers would have been silver at worst.

Salazar would have collapsed in the 10K, and not run NYC in the fall. Rodgers may have won NYC, but most likely the race would have gone to Gomez, who would go on to win in 81 and 82 as well (but Lopes might have stuck around to win 82). Salazar may have begun marathoning, but would have had his hands full with Seko at Boston in 81, then focused even more on the track and roads than he did. He may have had a longer career this way. And though it would have upset the entire dynamic, Salazar may have run NYC 83, which would have been something.

Pretty fun to spin the possibilities here.

Honestly, Virgin would have medalled at the very least. Sad to see such a great runner not receive the opportunity he had been training for so long. I can imagine it. Craig Virgin, 2x World XC Champ, 1980 Olympic 10000m Champion.

YMMV wrote:

The boycotting chain began in 1976 with the African countries boycotting because of NZ allowing their rugby team to compete against the South African team. It denied us a showdown between Bayi and Walker, which would have been an all-timer, as well as a Boit-Juantorena matchup.

Bayi was sick with malaria in 1976 and would not have been in Montreal anyhow. He was a non-factor after 1974. However, we did miss out on Boit (and maybe Kipkurgat) taking on Juantorena.

Shout out to Steve Lacy of the small town of McFarland, WI. McFarland class of 78, Wisconsin Class of 78. I think to kickstart the 1980 pro indoor season he opened in 3:54.

Lacy was the first real rockstar of our state (sorry Glenn!). Class C two mile friday night at state, kid runs 8:56 for the full two. Crowd was going wild in Madison. Finished out the season with about a 4:06-07 mile. He had the hair, the stride and the local fame. All started the summer of 73 when he made the jump to a 4:12. He was good beforehand but suddenly becoming great.

He was notorious for his witty remarks with the media. I believe as a consolation to the boycott the president invited the track team to the white house in 1980 to recieve a special gold medal and he jokingly said they could just mail it to him. He once told the media that his pre-race meal the night before was beer and pizza which was apparently true. He held his composure but that boycott broke him inside. After trying to move out to California in the early 80s he moved back. His wife had a miscarriage. He went through major ups and downs but made the 5000 team in 1984. I will always credit him most with the mental toughness aspect to stick with it and to make the games again. The other part I like about him is he is not a braggart.

Years later in his adult dad body he came into the running shop. Says he used to run in new balance back in the day and needs stability pointing to a couple of shoes. Not once did I ever think he was an Olympian while waiting on him but a dad I wished I had. Then we get to the register and he writes out a check - Steve Lacy at the top. As a running nerd a chill went up my spine. "Run *in* new balance or run *for* new balance?" I asked that out loud and geeked out. He just smiled.

Steve Lacy is a real class act and a hero in Wisconsin!

Subway Surfers Addiction wrote:

YMMV wrote:

The boycotting chain began in 1976 with the African countries boycotting because of NZ allowing their rugby team to compete against the South African team. It denied us a showdown between Bayi and Walker, which would have been an all-timer, as well as a Boit-Juantorena matchup.

Bayi was sick with malaria in 1976 and would not have been in Montreal anyhow. He was a non-factor after 1974. However, we did miss out on Boit (and maybe Kipkurgat) taking on Juantorena.

I didn't realize that was before Montreal. Joins Wilson Kipketer in having a career sidetracked by malaria. Kipketer was never really 100% afterwards.

Don't you have to be issued credentials to be an Olympian? Technically, Sydney Maree was a 1984 Olympian, even though he did not actually compete. He was issued credentials.

Please explain why Kenya boycotted Moscow particularly since they had already boycotted Montreal and that UK, Ireland, Australia, Italy, France, etc did not boycott. Were Kenyan Govt. officials bought off?

$$$$ wrote:

time for another boycott wrote:

The boycott showed that Russia couldn't get away with interfering in other countries. The US should also boycott the World Cup in Russia this year.

Why do Russia and China even get to host these events to begin with?

Agreed. Countries use the Olympics (and other International events) as propaganda tools. By not boycotting, other countries add legitimacy to the host country.

For example, Nazi Germany was emboldened when countries did not boycott the 1936 Olympics. There were serious discussions about the USA boycotting those Olympics -- you can look it up.