No US Gymnastics Team at the 1980 Moscow Olympics—Boycott

There was no USA gymnastics team at the 1980 Summer Olympics. The United States led a 65-nation boycott of the Moscow Games to protest the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan (Dec 1979).

The Boycott

• Announced by President Carter, Jan 20, 1980.
• USOC voted to comply (Apr 1980) under political pressure.
• Athletes sued (unsuccessfully). Some competed in alternative "Liberty Bell Classic" (Philadelphia, 1980).

Gymnastics Specifics

• USGF (now USA Gymnastics) had selected teams (men/women) after Olympic Trials (June 1980, Jacksonville).
• Women's team: Tracee Talavera, Julianne McNamara, Kathy Johnson, Amy Koopman, Luci Collins, Tami Elliot (alternates: Mary Ayotte, Kelly Garrison).
• Men's team: Bart Conner, Peter Vidmar, Tim Daggett, Mitch Gaylord, Scott Johnson, Jim Hartung (alternates: Brian Babcock, Kevin Davis).
• These athletes never competed in Moscow. Many returned in 1984 (LA) — Conner, Vidmar, Daggett, Gaylord, Johnson, Hartung, McNamara, Johnson won 1984 medals.

Legacy

The 1980 team is honored retrospectively (USOC "Team of 1980" recognition, 2007). The boycott remains the only time the US didn't send gymnasts to a Summer Games.

No team in Moscow. The team existed — but stayed home.