1980 Moscow Olympics: Lindsay Gaze, Phil Smyth reflect on Boomers’ campaign
Lindsay Gaze and basketball powerbrokers defied the Australian Government to take the Boomers to the Moscow Olympics — and ultimately, their brave call inspired one of our greatest hoops careers.
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If the Australian government had its way the Boomers wouldn’t have marched in the opening ceremony at the 1980 Moscow Olympics.
Amid the backdrop of global boycotts of the Moscow Games following the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan, the Aussie men’s basketball team were strongly told not to partake in the opening ceremony.
The Australian government wanted to make a stand to support its greatest ally in America, so the less athletes marching the better.
Fortunately for the Boomers, coach Lindsay Gaze wasn’t going to let politics intervene with his team’s once-in-a-lifetime moment.
Years of hard toil were put in to reach the Moscow Olympics, while the team had left Australia three weeks early to prepare for the Games after threats of passports being taken away were made.
“So, there was no way Lindsay was not going to let us march and lap up the special occasion,” Boomers guard Phil Smyth recalls ahead of the government’s official welcome home to all athletes who competed in the 1980 Moscow Games next Wednesday.
“Lindsay told the AOC who then told the government that if the boys want to march they can and Bob Staunton — the team manager and executive boss at BA at the time — stood up for the group at a meeting and we all marched.
“Lindsay was in the crowd taking photos and he and Bob are good men for standing up to the officials.
“Bob in particular knew it was a risk standing up because the government could cut any grants for basketball.”
Gaze turns 89 next month and the seven-time Olympian — three as a player and four as a coach — still has vivid memories of sitting in the stands at the Olympic stadium in Moscow for the opening ceremony.
He recalls the decision that “athletes shouldn’t go to Moscow”, but his Australian basketball team were determined to play at the Olympics.
He says the Boomers made the call to depart Australian soil earlier in a bid to prepare for the Games.
“We had meetings with the Victorian Olympic council, where the subject was discussed and ultimately it was decided that we would go to the Games,” he said.
“Our team manager made a plane booking earlier than anticipated. We were some of the first Australian athletes to leave for Moscow.”
Australia finished eighth at the Moscow Games following five wins and two losses, but the campaign will be forever remembered for the Boomers upset win over European powerhouse Italy.
The men in green and gold defied the odds to claim a thrilling 84-77 victory against the Italians, who went on to win the silver medal.
Boomers forward Ian Davies — who finished as the tournament’s leading scorer — dropped a game-high 33 points in the win over Italy.
Lindsay will never forget the victory against the Italians, but he also has recollections of dodging an authoritarian Russian guard post-game.
“We had a big win over Italy and I was keen to get to the media, who were assembled just outside a side door,” he reflected.
“I tried to go through the exit door, but a Russian guard wouldn’t let me out.’
“I thought — ‘you bugger’, so I just climbed the stairs to the seating area and along a back row just to get to the media and talk to them about beating Italy, which was a major coup at the time.”
Australia’s shock win against Italy also harbours special memories for Andrew Gaze, who credits the Moscow Games for inspiring him to follow in his dad’s footsteps and become an Olympian.
Andrew remembers watching the Moscow Olympics from his Melbourne home on the family’s black and white television.
He tuned it to watch the final stages of Australia’s upset win over the Italians and walked away feeling motivated to one day join the Olympic ranks.
“That (Moscow) was my most pivotal memorable moment, in terms of seeing the emotion of the Aussies beating Italy against all odds and wanting to also feel that same joy,” recalled Andrew, who went on to become a five-time Olympian and Australia’s flag bearer at the Sydney 2000 Games.
“Italy was a very powerful nation. There was no three point line in those days, but Ian Davies was throwing down shots from the car park.
“I can still remember the last dying seconds of the game and Phil Smyth running the clock down because the game had been secured.
“To see the excitement, jubilation and euphoria in my dad and I recall Gordon McLeod coming out and jumping on my dad with a big hug.
“I knew then at that young age watching on from the other side of the world that I wanted to become an Olympian like my dad.”
Originally published as 1980 Moscow Olympics: Lindsay Gaze, Phil Smyth reflect on Boomers’ campaign
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