University of North Carolina Athletics
Cedars History Report: Swimming Political Seas
August 9, 2002 | General
June 5, 2002
Welcome to the CEDARS of CHAPEL HILL History Report
Tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union sizzled in 1980, during one of the few periods in which the Cold War ever became "hot."
Citing the aggression of the Soviet military, the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) ruled that it was unsafe to send American athletes to Moscow for the Summer Olympics and officially boycotted the games.
One of the Americans who stayed home that year was Carolina's most accomplished swimmer, Sue Walsh.
While the decision echoed throughout the world -- 61 other countries refused to send representatives to Moscow -- it was hard to stomach for the athletes that had trained for so long.
"I had a lot of frustration, not understanding the situation or the role of politics in athletics, especially amateur athletics," Walsh said. "Being a new kid on the block, I wasn't really concerned because I would have another chance to compete, so it gave me more motivation.
"The situation was tougher for the swimmers that had been around a long time and it was their last chance. Obviously the Olympics came only four years and even if they made the team, they didn't have the ability to shine at the Olympics themselves.
"It's hard to understand as a teenager why the decision had to be made, but you have to remember what this country stands for and rally behind our leaders."
ecause he was president, many people look to Jimmy Carter as the force behind the U.S. boycott. In statements released before the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Carter reiterated that the decision wasn't his, even though he was a strong supporter of the USOC's ruling.
The USOC has the privilege of operating independently of the U.S. government, and in 1980 had sole authority over the fate of American Olympians.
Carter was, however, instrumental in initiating the anti-Moscow Olympics sentiment felt throughout the world. He pushed for a relocation of the Olympics from the communist nation, listing Greece as the most attractive alternative.
When the International Olympic Committee denied his request, the USOC made its decision.
Lake Placid, N.Y., saw many memorable moments that year, but none carried the significance of the "Miracle on Ice," in which a U.S. hockey team of college and amateur players defeated the heavily favored Russians and Fins to win the gold medal.
The victories captivated the nation and would have inspired Walsh, a native of Hamburg, N.Y., and the other potential summer Olympians if they were able to compete in Moscow or another location.
"I was at a swim meet when the hockey team was playing, and I remember that we got excited, especially when we saw how crazy everyone was going," Walsh said.
"It was bittersweet, though, because we knew we weren't going (to the Olympics) that year."
If Walsh and the U.S. women's swimmers had competed that year, their main opponent wouldn't have been the Russians. The Germans gained an upper hand on the United States women's aquatics in the 1976 Summer Olympics, and the 1980 games were the Americans' chance to compete again.
Instead, they had to wait until the Pan-Am Games in 1983.
"There was some added pressure (on the 1983 Pan-Am Games) because we didn't participate in 1980, and the Olympics were coming back to U.S. soil in 1984," said Walsh. "The women's team took a beating from the Germans in '76, and we didn't have chance for revenge in 1980.
"We just had that much more to prove."
Walsh did her part to assert an American presence in the Pan-Am games, setting a record in the 100-meter backstroke.
Walsh didn't qualify for the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Other than the Pan-Am Games, she never got the chance to make much of a splash in international competition, but her college career was a different story.
Walsh took the ACC by storm, earning conference swimmer-of-the-year honors three times, while propelling the Tar Heels to Atlantic Coast Conference championships in each of her four years.
The dominance didn't stop there. Walsh won a total of 11 national titles and compiled an astounding record of 36-2 in dual meets.
Walsh took the 100-yard backstroke all four of her Carolina years, as well as three 50- and 200-yard backstroke titles, and was a huge part of the 200-yard medley relay championship in 1981.
"My last NCAA championship meet was one of the most memorable," said Walsh. "I was a senior and had not been defeated in backstroke competitions, so there was considerable pressure. Plus, Olympic trials were right around the corner.
"It wasn't my best performance, but I managed to squeak out two wins."
Walsh earned Academic All-America honors twice and graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a 3.77 GPA and a degree in business administration.
After her final season Walsh became the first woman to be awarded the Patterson medal, given yearly to the top senior athlete.
On June 27th, Walsh will add another accomplishment to the list when she is inducted into the Academic All-America Hall of Fame along with NBA great John Stockton, who played his college ball at Gonzaga, and three other former Academic All-Americans.
The ceremony will take place in Walsh's home state of New York, in the city that bears the same name.
When her moment in the spotlight is over, it's back to work for Walsh, who is the vice president for endowment for the UNC Educational Foundation.
And she's got her work cut out for her.
"The state's budget crisis and the potential for increasing tuition put the heat on us because we raise money for scholarships," Walsh said. "We're already struggling to keep pace with what it costs to feed, house and educate our student athletes, but now we have donors with difficult situations. ...
"We're doing everything we can to give kids the opportunity to come to school at Carolina and compete at the highest level."
Walsh said that her experience with collegiate athletics motivates her to help provide young athletes that same chance at North Carolina.
"I'm forever grateful that I received a college education for four and a half years at UNC," Walsh said. "It was a huge help for parents who had five kids in college. I want to make sure that other people can have that opportunity."
