The NZ Rowing Eight on their way to winning gold at the Munich Olympics. L-R: G.D. Robertson, T.I. Coker. A.J. Earl, L.E. Wilson, J.A. Hunter, R.J. Joyce, G.W. Veldman, A.J. Hurt and cox S.C. Dickie.
The rowing eight who won gold at the Munich Olympics are New Zealanders of the Year for 1972.
They dominated the race, beating the might of the United States and East Germany.
IOC president Avery Brundage presented the gold medal himself as a mark of respect for the Kiwis' genuine amateurism.
And, for the first time at an Olympics a Kiwi gold medal was celebrated with God Defend New Zealand rather than God Save the Queen.
From the Herald archives:
'20 NZ Olympic Moments: No. 8, National anthem moved crowd to tears', NZ Herald online, 19 July 2012
Further reading:
'New Zealand's rowing eight win gold in Munich', New Zealand History Online
Further viewing
'Pieces of Eight - A Quest for Gold', Documentary, NZ On Screen, 1984
Paul John Coleman was the sole occupant of the vehicle and died at the scene on April 22.