100 metres Backstroke, Women

This event was very wide open, with no clear favorite. The world record holder was South African Karen Muir, who could not compete because her country was banned from the Olympics, because of their apartheid policies. The 1970 European Championship had been won by Soviet Tinatin Lekveishvili, who was not in Munich, with Hungary’s Andrea Gyarmati placing second. Gyarmati had won the 200 back at the 1970 Europeans, and was highly considered for Munich. The early leader in the final was American Melissa Belote who reached the wall first. Off the turn, she continued to apply pressure and won the gold medal over Gyarmati by about half-a-second. Two days later Belote came back to win the 200 backstroke and added a third gold medal in Munich in the medley relay.