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Carter reflected on 1980 Olympic boycott: ‘A bad decision’

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Carter reflected on 1980 Olympic boycott: ‘A bad decision’
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Carter reflected on 1980 Olympic boycott: ‘A bad decision’

2025-01-02 13:20 Last Updated At:13:32

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — It was a decision that robbed hundreds of athletes of their once-in-a-lifetime chance at Olympic glory, and for more than four decades, it weighed heavily on the man who made it — Jimmy Carter.

Carter’s passing Sunday has unearthed memories from his 1977-1981 presidency. Somewhere between his greatest foreign-policy success (the Camp David Accords between Israel and Egypt) and his greatest failure (the Iran hostage crisis) sits the U.S. boycott of the 1980 Olympics in Moscow.

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FILE - Flag and sign bearers march around Moscow's Lenin Stadium during closing ceremonies of the XXII Summer Olympic Games in Moscow, on Aug. 3, 1980. (AP Photo/File)

FILE - Flag and sign bearers march around Moscow's Lenin Stadium during closing ceremonies of the XXII Summer Olympic Games in Moscow, on Aug. 3, 1980. (AP Photo/File)

FILE - Passersby examine the new Olympic billboard reading, "Sport Serves Peace," erected after the United States announced it was boycotting the games in Moscow on April 23, 1980. (AP Photo/Yurchenko, File)

FILE - Passersby examine the new Olympic billboard reading, "Sport Serves Peace," erected after the United States announced it was boycotting the games in Moscow on April 23, 1980. (AP Photo/Yurchenko, File)

FILE - Anita DeFrantz, spokeswoman for the U.S. Olympic Committee's Athletes Advisory Council, flanked by Larry Hough, left, and Fred Newhouse right, answers questions from reporters outside the White House in Washington on April 4, 1980, after White House officials rejected a proposal that would have allowed American athletes to compete at the summer Olympic Games in Moscow. (AP Photo, File)

FILE - Anita DeFrantz, spokeswoman for the U.S. Olympic Committee's Athletes Advisory Council, flanked by Larry Hough, left, and Fred Newhouse right, answers questions from reporters outside the White House in Washington on April 4, 1980, after White House officials rejected a proposal that would have allowed American athletes to compete at the summer Olympic Games in Moscow. (AP Photo, File)

FILE - F. Don Miller, executive director of the U.S. Olympic Committee, reads a resolution adopted by the U.S. Olympic Committee's House of Delegates to boycott the 1980 Summer Games in Moscow, in Colorado Springs, Colo., April 12, 1980. At left is Robert Kane, president of the U.S. Olympic Committee. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski, File)

FILE - F. Don Miller, executive director of the U.S. Olympic Committee, reads a resolution adopted by the U.S. Olympic Committee's House of Delegates to boycott the 1980 Summer Games in Moscow, in Colorado Springs, Colo., April 12, 1980. At left is Robert Kane, president of the U.S. Olympic Committee. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski, File)

FILE - From left, Belgian representative to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Prince Alexandre de Merode, President of the Belgian Olympic Committee Raoul Mollet, General Secretary of the U.S. Olympic Committee Col. F. Don Miller, and President of the West German Olympic Committee Willi Daume, are seen during a meeting of officials from 18 Western European Olympic committees to discuss a possible boycott of the MOscow Olympic games on March 22, 1980, in Brussels. (AP Photo/Pierre Thielemans, File)

FILE - From left, Belgian representative to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Prince Alexandre de Merode, President of the Belgian Olympic Committee Raoul Mollet, General Secretary of the U.S. Olympic Committee Col. F. Don Miller, and President of the West German Olympic Committee Willi Daume, are seen during a meeting of officials from 18 Western European Olympic committees to discuss a possible boycott of the MOscow Olympic games on March 22, 1980, in Brussels. (AP Photo/Pierre Thielemans, File)

FILE - A wide-angle lens captures the assembled members of Congress in the House Chamber for Carter's State of The Union address in Washington on Jan. 23, 1980. (AP Photo, File)

FILE - A wide-angle lens captures the assembled members of Congress in the House Chamber for Carter's State of The Union address in Washington on Jan. 23, 1980. (AP Photo, File)

FILE - President Jimmy Carter pauses during a speech to applaud the U.S. Olympic Committee's stand on the Moscow Olympics, Feb. 1, 1980, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Wilson, File)

FILE - President Jimmy Carter pauses during a speech to applaud the U.S. Olympic Committee's stand on the Moscow Olympics, Feb. 1, 1980, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Wilson, File)

It was Carter who called for that boycott — a Cold War power play intended to express America’s disdain for the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. In his 1980 State of the Union Address, Carter said the invasion “could pose the most serious threat to world peace since the second World War.”

The boycott garnered more than two-thirds support from the 2,400 members of the unwieldy U.S. Olympic Committee house of delegates, the governing body that made the official move to keep the athletes out of Moscow. In short time, that move came to be seen as the textbook example of the risks, confusion and low success rate of injecting politics into sports.

“We were not allowed to go for a not-so-clear reason,” said Edwin Moses, the hurdling great who won 122 straight races between 1977 and 1987, which included the Olympic gold-medal contests in 1976 and 1984.

For decades, members of the 1980 U.S. Olympic team — recognized as Olympians at home but not by the International Olympic Committee abroad — told stories about opportunities missed and dreams unfulfilled because of the trip to Moscow they never took. Of the 474 athletes who had qualified for the team in 1980, 227 would not get another chance to compete in the Olympic Games.

Many athletes told stories of meeting Carter at a White House visit in the summer of 1980 that served as a tepid substitute. In Washington, the athletes received the highest honor civilians can receive from Congress: the Congressional gold medal. But those medals were only gold-plated bronze, not pure gold, and they weren’t recorded in the Congressional record until a push was made nearly three decades later.

Swimmer Jesse Vassallo, a reigning world champion in multiple events at the time, told Swimming World Magazine about meeting Carter in the reception line.

Carter “reached out to shake my hand and he said ‘How would you have done in Moscow?’” Vassallo recalled. “And I said, ‘I would have won two golds and a silver.’ And he just gave me this (pained) look. He didn’t ask anybody else that question.” Wrestler Jeff Blatnick, a champion on the 1984 Olympic team, met Carter on an airplane years later. According to an essay written by the late USOC spokesman Mike Moran, Blatnick said: “He looks at me and says, ‘Were you on the 1980 hockey team?’ I say, ‘No sir, I’m a wrestler, on the summer team.’ He says, ‘Oh, that was a bad decision, I’m sorry.’”

In his 2021 biography on the 39th President, Kai Bird writes that the boycott was a byproduct of a hard line Carter decided to take against the Soviets at the urging of his national security advisor, Zbigniew Brzezinski, who had been in a long-running struggle with the less-hawkish Secretary of State, Cyrus Vance, to influence Carter’s thinking. "History would prove Vance correct; Brzezinski’s ‘Carter Doctrine’ never amounted to much more than a cover for wasteful arms exports,” Bird wrote.

And Carter’s boycott did nothing to deter the Soviets. They stayed in Afghanistan for another nine years, while further disrupting the Olympic movement and America’s own turn as an Olympic host four years later. The Soviets and 13 other countries, mostly from the Eastern Bloc, boycotted the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984 in retaliation for what the Americans had done to Moscow four years earlier.

Forty-four years after Carter’s fateful decision, the Olympics remain every bit as politicized and polarized as they were back then. And for the past several years, the world has grappled with Russia’s place in international sports in the wake of another invasion — this time, into neighboring Ukraine.

How that war is resolved will help define Russia's role when the Olympics come back to Los Angeles in 2028.

FILE - Flag and sign bearers march around Moscow's Lenin Stadium during closing ceremonies of the XXII Summer Olympic Games in Moscow, on Aug. 3, 1980. (AP Photo/File)

FILE - Flag and sign bearers march around Moscow's Lenin Stadium during closing ceremonies of the XXII Summer Olympic Games in Moscow, on Aug. 3, 1980. (AP Photo/File)

FILE - Passersby examine the new Olympic billboard reading, "Sport Serves Peace," erected after the United States announced it was boycotting the games in Moscow on April 23, 1980. (AP Photo/Yurchenko, File)

FILE - Passersby examine the new Olympic billboard reading, "Sport Serves Peace," erected after the United States announced it was boycotting the games in Moscow on April 23, 1980. (AP Photo/Yurchenko, File)

FILE - Anita DeFrantz, spokeswoman for the U.S. Olympic Committee's Athletes Advisory Council, flanked by Larry Hough, left, and Fred Newhouse right, answers questions from reporters outside the White House in Washington on April 4, 1980, after White House officials rejected a proposal that would have allowed American athletes to compete at the summer Olympic Games in Moscow. (AP Photo, File)

FILE - Anita DeFrantz, spokeswoman for the U.S. Olympic Committee's Athletes Advisory Council, flanked by Larry Hough, left, and Fred Newhouse right, answers questions from reporters outside the White House in Washington on April 4, 1980, after White House officials rejected a proposal that would have allowed American athletes to compete at the summer Olympic Games in Moscow. (AP Photo, File)

FILE - F. Don Miller, executive director of the U.S. Olympic Committee, reads a resolution adopted by the U.S. Olympic Committee's House of Delegates to boycott the 1980 Summer Games in Moscow, in Colorado Springs, Colo., April 12, 1980. At left is Robert Kane, president of the U.S. Olympic Committee. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski, File)

FILE - F. Don Miller, executive director of the U.S. Olympic Committee, reads a resolution adopted by the U.S. Olympic Committee's House of Delegates to boycott the 1980 Summer Games in Moscow, in Colorado Springs, Colo., April 12, 1980. At left is Robert Kane, president of the U.S. Olympic Committee. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski, File)

FILE - From left, Belgian representative to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Prince Alexandre de Merode, President of the Belgian Olympic Committee Raoul Mollet, General Secretary of the U.S. Olympic Committee Col. F. Don Miller, and President of the West German Olympic Committee Willi Daume, are seen during a meeting of officials from 18 Western European Olympic committees to discuss a possible boycott of the MOscow Olympic games on March 22, 1980, in Brussels. (AP Photo/Pierre Thielemans, File)

FILE - From left, Belgian representative to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Prince Alexandre de Merode, President of the Belgian Olympic Committee Raoul Mollet, General Secretary of the U.S. Olympic Committee Col. F. Don Miller, and President of the West German Olympic Committee Willi Daume, are seen during a meeting of officials from 18 Western European Olympic committees to discuss a possible boycott of the MOscow Olympic games on March 22, 1980, in Brussels. (AP Photo/Pierre Thielemans, File)

FILE - A wide-angle lens captures the assembled members of Congress in the House Chamber for Carter's State of The Union address in Washington on Jan. 23, 1980. (AP Photo, File)

FILE - A wide-angle lens captures the assembled members of Congress in the House Chamber for Carter's State of The Union address in Washington on Jan. 23, 1980. (AP Photo, File)

FILE - President Jimmy Carter pauses during a speech to applaud the U.S. Olympic Committee's stand on the Moscow Olympics, Feb. 1, 1980, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Wilson, File)

FILE - President Jimmy Carter pauses during a speech to applaud the U.S. Olympic Committee's stand on the Moscow Olympics, Feb. 1, 1980, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Wilson, File)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Cole Caufield and Patrik Laine scored in the second period to rally the Montreal Canadiens to a 2-1 victory over the Nashville Predators on Sunday night.

Jakub Dobes turned back 36 shots for the Canadiens, who extended their winning streak to five games after a five-game skid.

Steven Stamkos scored and Juuse Saros made 15 saves for Nashville, which was scoreless on four power plays and lost its sixth straight and for the seventh time in eight games.

Stamkos opened the scoring at 4:19 into the first off a feed from Filip Forsberg for his 25th of the season.

Caufield converted a pass from Nick Suzuki less than two minutes into the second period, tying the score at 1. It was Caufield's 36th goal of the season. Laine scored the go-ahead goal, his 20th of the season, just over four minutes later.

Nashville's Matthew Wood made his NHL debut. The 20-year-old winger, the 15th overall pick in the 2023 draft, finished with one shot in just over 13 minutes.

Canadiens: Montreal (38-30-9) holds the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, five points behind Ottawa (42-29-6, 90 points) and six points ahead of the New York Rangers (36-33-7) and Detroit Red Wings (36-33-7).

Predators: Saros lost his third straight decision and for the fourth time in his last six games.

Lane Hutson's assist on Laine's goal was his 58th of the season and gave the 21-year-old from Holland, Michigan, 64 points, tying Chris Chelios' franchise record for points by a rookie defenseman.

Nashville carried the play in the second period and had a 15-8 edge in shots on goal in the frame. But, Montreal scored two goals in the period to take a lead it never relinquished. The Predators outshot the Canadiens 37-17 overall.

The Canadiens host the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday. The Predators host the New York Islanders on Tuesday.

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Montreal Canadiens left wing Michael Pezzetta (55) fights with Nashville Predators defenseman Andreas Englund (8) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Montreal Canadiens left wing Michael Pezzetta (55) fights with Nashville Predators defenseman Andreas Englund (8) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Alexandre Carrier (45) and Nashville Predators right wing Matthew Wood (52) chase the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Alexandre Carrier (45) and Nashville Predators right wing Matthew Wood (52) chase the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Nashville Predators center Steven Stamkos (91) and Montreal Canadiens defenseman Alexandre Carrier (45) vie for the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Nashville Predators center Steven Stamkos (91) and Montreal Canadiens defenseman Alexandre Carrier (45) vie for the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Nashville Predators left wing Kieffer Bellows (26) falls over the stick of Montreal Canadiens left wing Juraj Slafkovský (20) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Nashville Predators left wing Kieffer Bellows (26) falls over the stick of Montreal Canadiens left wing Juraj Slafkovský (20) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Nashville Predators left wing Filip Forsberg (9) passes the puck backwards to Steven Stamkos (91) as Montreal Canadiens center Oliver Kapanen (91) follows during the second period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Nashville Predators left wing Filip Forsberg (9) passes the puck backwards to Steven Stamkos (91) as Montreal Canadiens center Oliver Kapanen (91) follows during the second period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes (75) makes a stop on a shot by Nashville Predators center Ryan O'Reilly (90) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes (75) makes a stop on a shot by Nashville Predators center Ryan O'Reilly (90) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Nashville Predators center Ryan O'Reilly (90) and Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson (48) chase the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Nashville Predators center Ryan O'Reilly (90) and Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson (48) chase the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Montreal Canadiens right wing Brendan Gallagher (11) chases the puck ahead of Nashville Predators defenseman Jordan Oesterie (82) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Montreal Canadiens right wing Brendan Gallagher (11) chases the puck ahead of Nashville Predators defenseman Jordan Oesterie (82) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Nashville Predators left wing Zachary L'Heureux (68) and Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes (75) follow the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Nashville Predators left wing Zachary L'Heureux (68) and Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jakub Dobes (75) follow the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

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