# Athletics at the 1972 Summer Olympics – Women's pentathlon

The women's pentathlon combined event at the 1972 Olympic Games took place on September 2 & 3. The favorites going into the Olympics were Heide Rosendahl and Burglinde Pollak. With Rosendahl narrowly defeating Pollack, by 24 points at the 1971 European Athletics Championships. The second event saw Mary Peters release a tremendous throw in the shot put catapulting her into lead, which she never relinquished.

## Results
### 100m hurdles

| Rank | Name | Nationality | Heat | Time | Points |
| 1 | Christine Bodner | East Germany | 2 | 13.25 | 966 OR |
| 2 | Mary Peters | Great Britain | 2 | 13.29 | 960 |
| 3 | Heide Rosendahl | West Germany | 1 | 13.34 | 953 |
| 4 | Burglinde Pollak | East Germany | 1 | 13.53 | 927 |
| 5 | Ann Wilson | Great Britain | 1 | 13.61 | 916 |
| 6 | Ilona Bruzsenyák | Hungary | 5 | 13.65 | 911 |
| 7 | Valentina Tikhomirova | Soviet Union | 1 | 13.77 | 895 |
| 8 | Nadiya Tkachenko | Soviet Union | 2 | 13.81 | 890 |
| 9 | Nedyalka Angelova | Bulgaria | 1 | 13.84 | 886 |
| 10T | Modupe Oshikoya | Nigeria | 3 | 13.96 | 871 |
| 10T | Đurđa Fočić | Yugoslavia | 5 | 13.96 | 871 |
| 12 | Marie-Christine Debourse | France | 1 | 14.03 | 862 |
| 13 | Elena Vintilă | Romania | 5 | 14.06 | 858 |
| 14 | Liese Prokop | Austria | 2 | 14.11 | 852 |
| 15 | Margot Eppinger | West Germany | 3 | 14.12 | 851 |
| 16 | Monika Peikert | East Germany | 3 | 14.23 | 837 |
| 17 | Edith Noeding | Peru | 3 | 14.24 | 836 |
| 18 | Lyn Tillett | Australia | 3 | 14.26 | 834 |
| 19 | Debbie Van Kiekebelt | Canada | 2 | 14.39 | 818 |
| 20 | Karen Mack | West Germany | 2 | 14.45 | 811 |
| 21 | Gale Fitzgerald | United States | 3 | 14.47 | 809 |
| 22 | Lucía Vaamonde | Venezuela | 5 | 14.53 | 801 |
| 23 | Odette Ducas | France | 5 | 14.55 | 799 |
| 24 | Jane Frederick | United States | 2 | 14.60 | 793 |
| 25 | Kathrin Lardi | Switzerland | 3 | 14.63 | 790 |
| 26 | Diane Jones | Canada | 4 | 14.79 | 772 |
| 27 | Margit Papp | Hungary | 1 | 14.91 | 758 |
| 28 | Lin Chun-Yu | Republic of China | 4 | 14.98 | 750 |
| 29 | Margaret Murphy | Ireland | 5 | 15.18 | 729 |
| 30 | Gladys Chai | Malaysia | 4 | 18.46 | 440 |

### Shot put

| Rank | Name | Nationality | Throw 1 | Throw 2 | Throw 3 | Mark | Points |
| 1 | Mary Peters | Great Britain | 15.03 | 16.20 | 14.41 | 16.20 | 960 |
| 2 | Burglinde Pollak | East Germany | 15.56 | 16.04 | 15.31 | 16.04 | 952 |
| 3 | Liese Prokop | Austria | 15.14 | x | 13.93 | 15.14 | 903 |
| 4 | Diane Jones | Canada | 14.82 | 15.05 | 13.78 | 15.05 | 898 |
| 5 | Valentina Tikhomirova | Soviet Union | x | 14.56 | 14.64 | 14.64 | 875 |
| 6 | Monika Peikert | East Germany | 14.14 | 13.51 | 13.95 | 14.14 | 846 |
| 7 | Karen Mack | West Germany | 14.10 | 13.11 | 13.08 | 14.10 | 844 |
| 8 | Nedyalka Angelova | Bulgaria | 13.96 | 13.54 | 13.85 | 13.96 | 836 |
| 9 | Heide Rosendahl | West Germany | 13.62 | 13.86 | 13.56 | 13.86 | 830 |
| 10 | Nadiya Tkachenko | Soviet Union | 13.67 | 13.64 | 13.69 | 13.69 | 820 |
| 11T | Debbie Van Kiekebelt | Canada | x | 13.16 | 12.63 | 13.16 | 789 |
| 11T | Margit Papp | Hungary | 13.11 | 13.16 | 13.12 | 13.16 | 789 |
| 13 | Jane Frederick | United States | 12.92 | 12.63 | 12.69 | 12.92 | 775 |
| 14 | Margot Eppinger | West Germany | 12.70 | 11.78 | 12.65 | 12.70 | 762 |
| 15 | Đurđa Fočić | Yugoslavia | 12.01 | 12.36 | 12.58 | 12.58 | 755 |
| 16 | Christine Bodner | East Germany | 12.31 | 12.51 | 12.46 | 12.51 | 750 |
| 17 | Ilona Bruzsenyák | Hungary | 12.48 | x | 12.23 | 12.48 | 749 |
| 18 | Marie-Christine Debourse | France | 11.86 | 12.05 | 12.10 | 12.10 | 725 |
| 19 | Lyn Tillett | Australia | 11.46 | 10.51 | 11.15 | 11.46 | 685 |
| 20 | Odette Ducas | France | x | 10.47 | 11.32 | 11.32 | 676 |
| 21 | Lin Chun-Yu | Republic of China | 10.48 | 11.31 | 10.11 | 11.31 | 676 |
| 22 | Gale Fitzgerald | United States | x | 11.25 | 9.63 | 11.25 | 672 |
| 23 | Ann Wilson | Great Britain | 10.55 | 10.55 | 10.86 | 10.86 | 647 |
| 24 | Elena Vintilă | Romania | 8.62 | 10.64 | x | 10.64 | 632 |
| 25 | Margaret Murphy | Ireland | 9.95 | 10.06 | 10.57 | 10.57 | 627 |
| 26T | Edith Noeding | Peru | 10.38 | 9.98 | 10.43 | 10.43 | 618 |
| 26T | Lucía Vaamonde | Venezuela | 9.94 | 10.43 | 10.28 | 10.43 | 618 |
| 28 | Kathrin Lardi | Switzerland | x | 10.18 | 9.73 | 10.18 | 601 |
| 29 | Modupe Oshikoya | Nigeria | 9.66 | 10.00 | 9.72 | 10.00 | 589 |
| 30 | Gladys Chai | Malaysia | x | 6.95 | 6.89 | 6.95 | 363 |

### High jump

All heights in metres.
| Rank | Name | Nationality | Mark | Points | 1.35 | 1.40 | 1.45 | 1.50 | 1.55 | 1.60 | 1.65 | 1.68 | 1.71 | 1.74 | 1.76 | 1.78 | 1.80 | 1.82 | 1.84 |
| 1 | Mary Peters | Great Britain | 1.82 | 1049 | p | p | p | p | o | o | o | o | xxo | o | xxo | o | o | o | xxx |
| 2T | Burglinde Pollak | East Germany | 1.76 | 993 | p | p | p | p | o | xo | o | xxo | o | xo | o | xxx |
| 2T | Christine Bodner | East Germany | 1.76 | 993 | p | p | p | p | o | o | o | xo | xo | o | o | xxx |
| 2T | Karen Mack | West Germany | 1.76 | 993 | p | p | p | p | p | o | o | o | o | xxo | o | xxx |
| 2T | Margit Papp | Hungary | 1.76 | 993 | p | p | p | p | p | o | o | o | o | o | xo | xxx |
| 6T | Diane Jones | Canada | 1.74 | 974 | p | p | p | p | p | o | xo | xo | xo | xxo | xxx |
| 6T | Jane Frederick | United States | 1.74 | 974 | p | p | p | p | o | o | o | o | xo | xo | xxx |
| 6T | Valentina Tikhomirova | Soviet Union | 1.74 | 974 | p | p | p | p | o | o | o | o | o | o | xxx |
| 9 | Đurđa Fočić | Yugoslavia | 1.71 | 945 | p | p | p | o | o | o | xxo | xo | xo | xxx |
| 10T | Debbie Van Kiekebelt | Canada | 1.68 | 915 | p | p | p | p | o | o | o | o | xxx |
| 10T | Elena Vintilă | Romania | 1.68 | 915 | p | p | p | p | o | o | o | xo | xxx |
| 10T | Modupe Oshikoya | Nigeria | 1.68 | 915 | p | p | p | p | p | o | o | xxo | xxx |
| 10T | Nedyalka Angelova | Bulgaria | 1.68 | 915 | p | p | p | p | o | o | o | o | xxx |
| 14T | Ann Wilson | Great Britain | 1.65 | 885 | p | p | p | p | o | o | o | xxx |
| 14T | Gale Fitzgerald | United States | 1.65 | 885 | p | o | o | o | o | o | o | xxx |
| 14T | Heide Rosendahl | West Germany | 1.65 | 885 | p | p | p | o | o | o | o | xxx |
| 14T | Ilona Bruzsenyák | Hungary | 1.65 | 885 | p | p | p | p | p | xxo | o | xxx |
| 14T | Liese Prokop | Austria | 1.65 | 885 | p | p | p | p | o | o | o | xxx |
| 14T | Marie-Christine Debourse | France | 1.65 | 885 | p | p | p | p | p | o | xo | xxx |
| 14T | Nadiya Tkachenko | Soviet Union | 1.65 | 885 | p | p | p | o | o | o | o | xxx |
| 21T | Gladys Chai | Malaysia | 1.60 | 834 | p | p | o | o | xo | o | xxx |
| 21T | Kathrin Lardi | Switzerland | 1.60 | 834 | p | p | p | p | o | o | xxx |
| 21T | Lyn Tillett | Australia | 1.60 | 834 | p | p | o | o | o | xxo | xxx |
| 21T | Margot Eppinger | West Germany | 1.60 | 834 | p | p | p | o | o | o | xxx |
| 21T | Monika Peikert | East Germany | 1.60 | 834 | p | p | p | p | p | o | xxx |
| 26T | Edith Noeding | Peru | 1.55 | 781 | p | o | o | o | o | xxx |
| 26T | Odette Ducas | France | 1.55 | 781 | p | p | o | o | xxo | xxx |
| 28T | Lin Chun-Yu | Republic of China | 1.50 | 726 | p | p | o | o | xxx |
| 28T | Lucía Vaamonde | Venezuela | 1.50 | 726 | o | o | o | o | xxx |
| 28T | Margaret Murphy | Ireland | 1.50 | 726 | p | p | o | o | xxx |

### Long jump

| Rank | Name | Nationality | Jump 1 | Jump 2 | Jump 3 | Mark | Points |
| 1 | Heide Rosendahl | West Germany | 6.83 | x | 6.68 | 6.83 | 1082 |
| 2 | Lyn Tillett | Australia | 6.44 | 5.96 | x | 6.44 | 1001 |
| 3 | Christine Bodner | East Germany | 6.21 | 6.40 | 6.35 | 6.40 | 992 |
| 4 | Nedyalka Angelova | Bulgaria | x | 6.32 | x | 6.32 | 975 |
| 5 | Ann Wilson | Great Britain | 5.92 | 6.19 | 6.31 | 6.31 | 973 |
| 6 | Ilona Bruzsenyák | Hungary | 6.06 | 6.29 | 6.26 | 6.29 | 969 |
| 7T | Elena Vintilă | Romania | 6.26 | 6.15 | 6.27 | 6.27 | 965 |
| 7T | Modupe Oshikoya | Nigeria | x | 5.86 | 6.27 | 6.27 | 965 |
| 9 | Burglinde Pollak | East Germany | 5.96 | 6.21 | 6.19 | 6.21 | 952 |
| 10 | Odette Ducas | France | 6.19 | x | 5.97 | 6.19 | 947 |
| 11T | Nadiya Tkachenko | Soviet Union | 6.08 | 6.18 | 5.97 | 6.18 | 945 |
| 11T | Margot Eppinger | West Germany | x | x | 6.18 | 6.18 | 945 |
| 13 | Valentina Tikhomirova | Soviet Union | x | 6.10 | 6.15 | 6.15 | 939 |
| 14 | Monika Peikert | East Germany | 6.11 | 5.80 | 6.12 | 6.12 | 932 |
| 15 | Karen Mack | West Germany | 5.99 | 6.11 | x | 6.11 | 930 |
| 16 | Marie-Christine Debourse | France | x | 6.02 | 5.98 | 6.02 | 910 |
| 17T | Debbie Van Kiekebelt | Canada | 5.71 | 5.98 | 5.90 | 5.98 | 902 |
| 17T | Mary Peters | Great Britain | x | 5.90 | 5.98 | 5.98 | 902 |
| 19 | Gale Fitzgerald | United States | x | 5.51 | 5.97 | 5.97 | 900 |
| 20 | Diane Jones | Canada | 5.70 | 5.88 | 5.93 | 5.93 | 891 |
| 21 | Đurđa Fočić | Hungary | 5.92 | x | | 5.92 | 888 |
| 22 | Margaret Murphy | Ireland | 5.65 | 5.41 | 5.62 | 5.65 | 828 |
| 23 | Lucía Vaamonde | Venezuela | 5.61 | 5.58 | x | 5.61 | 819 |
| 24T | Jane Frederick | United States | 5.60 | x | 5.54 | 5.60 | 817 |
| 24T | Margit Papp | Hungary | 5.41 | 5.60 | 4.08 | 5.60 | 817 |
| 26 | Kathrin Lardi | Switzerland | 4.11 | 5.36 | 3.12 | 5.36 | 762 |
| 27 | Lin Chun-Yu | Republic of China | 5.31 | 5.13 | 5.01 | 5.31 | 750 |
| 28 | Edith Noeding | Peru | 5.06 | 5.06 | 5.25 | 5.25 | 736 |

### 200m

| Rank | Name | Nationality | Heat | Time | Points |
| 1 | Heide Rosendahl | West Germany | 4 | 22.96 | 1041 |
| 2 | Christine Bodner | East Germany | 4 | 23.66 | 970 |
| 3 | Burglinde Pollak | East Germany | 4 | 23.93 | 944 |
| 4 | Gale Fitzgerald | United States | 3 | 23.97 | 940 |
| 5 | Modupe Oshikoya | Nigeria | 3 | 23.98 | 939 |
| 6 | Mary Peters | Great Britain | 4 | 24.08 | 930 |
| 7 | Margot Eppinger | West Germany | 3 | 24.18 | 921 |
| 8 | Valentina Tikhomirova | Soviet Union | 4 | 24.25 | 914 |
| 9 | Ilona Bruzsenyák | Hungary | 1 | 24.35 | 905 |
| 10 | Lyn Tillett | Australia | 2 | 24.36 | 904 |
| 11 | Edith Noeding | Peru | 2 | 24.41 | 899 |
| 12 | Odette Ducas | France | 3 | 24.42 | 898 |
| 13 | Nedyalka Angelova | Bulgaria | 4 | 24.58 | 884 |
| 14 | Đurđa Fočić | Yugoslavia | 1 | 24.70 | 873 |
| 15 | Karen Mack | West Germany | 4 | 24.72 | 871 |
| 16 | Margaret Murphy | Ireland | 2 | 24.84 | 860 |
| 17 | Ann Wilson | Great Britain | 2 | 24.87 | 858 |
| 18 | Marie-Christine Debourse | France | 1 | 24.88 | 857 |
| 19 | Debbie Van Kiekebelt | Canada | 1 | 24.98 | 848 |
| 20T | Nadiya Tkachenko | Soviet Union | 2 | 25.19 | 830 |
| 20T | Lucía Vaamonde | Venezuela | 2 | 25.19 | 830 |
| 22 | Elena Vintilă | Romania | 3 | 25.20 | 829 |
| 23 | Diane Jones | Canada | 2 | 25.37 | 814 |
| 24 | Jane Fredricks | United States | 1 | 25.45 | 808 |
| 25 | Kathrin Lardi | Switzerland | 1 | 25.53 | 801 |
| 26 | Monika Peikert | East Germany | 3 | 25.74 | 783 |
| 27 | Lin Chun-Yu | Republic of China | 1 | 25.86 | 774 |
| 28 | Margit Papp | Hungary | 3 | 26.57 | 717 |

### Final standings

Standings after Event 5 3 September 1972 Legend:M = Mark, P = Points The best scores for each event are highlighted.
| Pos | Athlete | Country | Total Points | Notes | 100m Hurdles | Shot Put | High Jump | Long Jump | 200m |
| | Mary Peters | Great Britain | 4801 WR | P M | 960 13.29 | 960 16.20 | 1049 1.82 | 902 5.98 | 930 24.08 |
| | Heide Rosendahl | West Germany | 4791 | P M | 953 13.34 | 830 13.86 | 885 1.65 | 1082 6.83 | 1041 22.96 |
| | Burglinde Pollak | East Germany | 4768 | P M | 927 13.53 | 952 16.04 | 993 1.76 | 952 6.21 | 944 23.93 |
| 4 | Christine Bodner | East Germany | 4671 | P M | 966 13.25 | 750 12.51 | 993 1.76 | 992 6.40 | 970 23.66 |
| 5 | Valentina Tikhomirova | Soviet Union | 4597 | P M | 895 13.77 | 875 14.64 | 974 1.74 | 939 6.15 | 914 25.25 |
| 6 | Nedyalka Angelova | Bulgaria | 4496 | P M | 886 13.84 | 836 13.96 | 915 1.68 | 975 6.32 | 884 24.58 |
| 7 | Karen Mack | West Germany | 4449 | P M | 811 14.45 | 844 14.10 | 993 1.76 | 930 611 | 871 24.72 |
| 8 | Ilona Bruzsenyák | Hungary | 4419 | P M | 911 13.65 | 749 12.48 | 885 1.65 | 969 6.29 | 905 24.35 |
| 9 | Nadiya Tkachenko | Soviet Union | 4370 | P M | 890 13.81 | 820 13.69 | 885 1.65 | 945 6.18 | 830 25.19 |
| 10 | Diane Jones | Canada | 4349 | P M | 772 14.79 | 898 15.05 | 974 1.74 | 891 5.93 | 814 25.37 |
| 11 | Đurđa Fočić | Yugoslavia | 4332 | P M | 871 13.96 | 755 12.58 | 945 1.71 | 888 5.92 | 873 24.70 |
| 12 | Margot Eppinger | West Germany | 4313 | P M | 851 14.12 | 762 12.70 | 834 1.60 | 945 6.18 | 921 24.18 |
| 13 | Ann Wilson | Great Britain | 4279 | P M | 916 13.61 | 647 10.86 | 885 1.65 | 973 6.31 | 858 24.87 |
| 14 | Modupe Oshikoya | Nigeria | 4279 | P M | 871 13.96 | 589 10.00 | 915 1.68 | 965 6.27 | 939 23.98 |
| 15 | Debbie Van Kiekebelt | Canada | 4272 | P M | 818 14.39 | 789 13.16 | 915 1.68 | 902 5.98 | 848 24.98 |
| 16 | Lyn Tillett | Australia | 4258 | P M | 834 14.26 | 685 11.46 | 834 1.60 | 1001 6.44 | 904 24.36 |
| 17 | Marie-Christine Debourse | France | 4239 | P M | 862 14.03 | 725 12.10 | 885 1.65 | 910 6.02 | 857 24.88 |
| 18 | Monika Peikert | East Germany | 4232 | P M | 837 14.23 | 846 14.14 | 834 1.60 | 932 6.12 | 783 25.74 |
| 19 | Gale Fitzgerald | United States | 4206 | P M | 809 14.47 | 672 11.25 | 885 1.65 | 900 5.97 | 940 23.97 |
| 20 | Elena Vintilă | Romania | 4199 | P M | 858 14.06 | 632 10.64 | 915 1.68 | 965 6.27 | 829 25.20 |
| 21 | Jane Frederick | United States | 4167 | P M | 793 14.60 | 775 12.92 | 974 1.74 | 817 5.60 | 808 25.45 |
| 22 | Odette Ducas | France | 4101 | P M | 799 14.55 | 676 11.32 | 781 1.55 | 947 6.19 | 898 24.42 |
| 23 | Margit Papp | Hungary | 4074 | P M | 758 14.91 | 789 13.16 | 993 1.76 | 817 5.60 | 717 26.57 |
| 24 | Edith Noeding | Peru | 3870 | P M | 836 14.24 | 618 10.43 | 781 1.55 | 736 5.25 | 899 24.21 |
| 25 | Lucía Vaamonde | Venezuela | 3794 | P M | 801 14.53 | 618 10.43 | 726 1.50 | 819 5.61 | 830 25.19 |
| 26 | Kathrin Lardi | Switzerland | 3788 | P M | 790 14.63 | 601 10.18 | 834 1.60 | 762 5.36 | 801 25.53 |
| 27 | Margaret Murphy | Ireland | 3770 | P M | 729 15.18 | 627 10.57 | 726 1.50 | 828 5.65 | 860 24.84 |
| 28 | Lin Chun-Yu | Republic of China | 3676 | P M | 750 14.98 | 676 11.31 | 726 1.50 | 750 5.31 | 774 25.86 |
| - | Liese Prokop | Austria | DNF | P M | 852 14.11 | 903 15.14 | 885 1.6 | | |
| - | Gladys Chai | Malaysia | DNF | P M | 440 18.46 | 363 6.95 | 834 1.60 | | |
| - | Ruth Martin-Jones | Great Britain | DNS | P M | | | | | |
| - | Eva Šuranová | Czechoslovakia | DNS | P M | | | | | |
| - | Marilyn King | United States | DNS | P M | | | | | |
Key: WR = world record; OR = Olympic record; p = pass; x = fault; o = cleared; NM = no mark; DNF = did not finish; DNS = did not start; DQ = disqualified; T = tied