Olympics - Part 7

 Olympics 1980-1984

The 1980 Olympics were held in Moscow.

However, this was just after the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan, and 66 countries boycotted the Moscow Olympics, led by the United States.  Above, a boycott poster.

Athletes from the Soviet Union and other Communist countries such as Cuba won most of the medals, since they were almost the only ones competing.  Above, Soviet swimmers Aleksandr Sidorenko, left, and Sergei Fesenko kiss each other after they finished first and second in the mens 400-meter.

The 1984 Olympics were held in Los Angeles.  Above, a 1984 Olympics poster.

Another 1984 Olympics poster.

The Olympic Gateway was built in 1984 to greet visitors to the Los Angeles Coliseum.  It was surmounted by headless male and female statues by Robert Graham.  The male statue, above, was modeled after Olympic athlete Terry Shroeder who played in the 1984 Olympics.

German decathlete Siegfried Wentz won a bronze medal.  Above, he gets a massage in 2009.

American runner Carl Lewis won 4 gold medals in 1984 and continued winning Olympic gold medals in 1988, 1992 and 1996.

This is a statue by Arno Breker of German decathlete Jürgen Hingsen who won a silver medal.

Brazilian runner Robson da Silva competed in the 1984, 1988, 1992 and 1996 Olympics.  He also posed for a very uninhibited set of photos, one of which is above.

American volleyball player Karch Kiraly, known as "Special K", won gold in 1984 and also in 1988 and 1996.  We see him above in a photo by Bruce Weber.

We end with Austrian tennis player Thomas Muster, who competed in the 1984 and 1992 Olympics.  In 1996 he was ranked the #1 tennis player in the world.  After an exhibition match in 1996, he auctioned off his tennis racquet to support a children's charity; then he auctioned off his clothes (above).

Next time: Olympic Games 1988 and 1992.