In Photos: Historic moments of the Olympic Games -- Munich 1972

1972 Munich Olympics -- The Japanese delegation marches during the opening ceremony, in which a total of 121 nations and regions participated. Japan won 13 gold medals in the global event.

1972 Munich Olympics -- Japan's Masayuki Minami hits a powerful spike against East Germany in the final of the men's volleyball.

1972 Munich Olympics -- The Japanese men's volleyball team competes against East Germany in the final.

1972 Munich Olympics -- The Japanese men's volleyball team celebrates after defeating East Germany 3-1 in the final. The Japanese, led by head coach Yasutaka Matsudaira, won the gold medal in the event for the first time.

1972 Munich Olympics -- The Japanese men's volleyball team celebrates after winning the gold medal for the first time.

1972 Munich Olympics -- Japan's Mitsuo Tsukahara won the gold medal in the horizontal bar in the men's gymnastics. He finished his performance with a display of his new "Moon Somersault" technique, a full-twisting double flip in the tuck position.

1972 Munich Olympics -- Japan's Mitsuo Tsukahara won the gold medal in the horizontal bar in the men's gymnastics by performing his new "Moon Somersault" technique, a full-twisting double flip in the tuck position.

1972 Munich Olympics -- The Japanese men's gymnastics team was admired as the strongest team in the competition. The team won four consecutive gold medals in the event. From left, Yukio Endo, Akinori Nakayama, Teruichi Okamura, Eizo Kenmotsu, Sawao Kato, Mitsuo Tsukahara and Shigeru Kasamatsu are seen.

1972 Munich Olympics -- Japan impressively captured the gold, silver and bronze medals in the individual all-around event in the men's gymnastics. The gold went to Sawao Kato, the silver to Eizo Kenmotsu and the bronze to Akinori Nakayama.

1972 Munich Olympics -- Nobutaka Taguchi, of Japan, won the gold medal in the men's 100-meter breaststroke in a new world record. He also earned the bronze medal in the 200-meter breaststroke.

1972 Munich Olympics -- Mark Spitz, of the United States, won gold medals in seven swimming events. He earned nine Olympic gold medals in his career.