The Games of the XX Olympiad were held in Munich (FRG) from August 26 to September 10, 1972. Number of participating countries - 121, number of athletes - 7170.

195 sets of medals were contested in 23 sports.

At the Games of the XX Olympics, Soviet athletes took first place in the team standings, winning 99 medals, of which: 50 gold, 27 silver, 22 bronze. The record holder for the number of gold medals, in the entire history of the Olympics - was the American swimmer Mark Spitz. The XX Olympics left tragic memories in history - a terrorist act. But, despite attempts to disrupt the competition, at the IOC meeting it was decided to continue the Olympic Games. The continuation of the Games allowed us to see new sporting achievements, records and victories.

For the first time, a Belarusian athlete, USSR champion in backstroke swimming Natalia Ershova (Minsk), joined the Olympic team. . All Olympic swims were held on the 50-meter water lanes of the indoor pool, specially built in Munich for the Games of the XX Olympiad. There were five baths, two of which (located in front of the stands for 10 thousand spectators) were intended for swimming, water polo and diving competitions, and three for training and warm-ups.

The results of the Belarusian swimmers as part of the USSR national swimming team at the XX Olympic Games in 1972 in Munich: