Eddie Hart Didn’t Have a Lock on Gold Medal

Jim Murray’s claim (Feb. 15) that Eddie Hart was a shoo-in for the 100-meter dash gold medal at the 1972 Olympics was hardly based on facts.

Murray dismisses Valery Borzov of the Soviet Union as though he were a second-rate sprinter, “with fast times at questionable places.”

Borzov was ranked fifth in the world in 100 meters in 1969, second in 1970 and first in 1971.

Eddie Hart was a fast but inconsistent sprinter. In 1972, he won two out of seven races at 100 meters.

Borzov’s Olympic victory over Robert Taylor marked the third year in a row he defeated the U.S. champion. The experts had no trouble ranking him No. 1 in the world for the second year in a row.

KEN MURRAY, West Covina