Eddie Hart Didn’t Have a Lock on Gold Medal
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Jim Murray’s claim (Feb. 15) that Eddie Hart was a shoo-in for the 100-meter dash gold medal at the 1972 Olympics was hardly based on facts.
Murray dismisses Valery Borzov of the Soviet Union as though he were a second-rate sprinter, “with fast times at questionable places.”
Borzov was ranked fifth in the world in 100 meters in 1969, second in 1970 and first in 1971.
Eddie Hart was a fast but inconsistent sprinter. In 1972, he won two out of seven races at 100 meters.
Borzov’s Olympic victory over Robert Taylor marked the third year in a row he defeated the U.S. champion. The experts had no trouble ranking him No. 1 in the world for the second year in a row.
KEN MURRAY, West Covina
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