Lanny Bassham
Biographical information
| Roles | Competed in Olympic Games |
|---|---|
| Sex | Male |
| Full name | Lanny Robert•Bassham |
| Used name | Lanny•Bassham |
| Born | 2 January 1947 in Comanche, Texas (USA) |
| Measurements | 175 cm / 73 kg |
| Affiliations | US Army, (USA) |
| NOC |  United States |
| Medals | OG |
| Gold | 1 |
| Silver | 1 |
| Bronze | 0 |
| Total | 2 |
Biography
Lanny Bassham served his apprenticeship at the 1972 Olympics when he took the silver medal behind fellow American, John Writer. But at Montreal in 1976 he won his gold medal only after he tied for first place with the United State’s Margaret Murdock. Bassham graciously asked the Union Internationale de Tir that two gold medals be awarded but the rules stated that an examination of the targets was in order and it gave Bassham sole possession of the gold medal. At the awards ceremony, he refused to stand on the top step by himself and had Mrs. Murdock accompany him there while the U.S. flag was raised and our national anthem played in the background. Bassham was not an undeserving champion. He was a world champion in both 1974 and 1978, won three gold medals at the Pan-American Games, won 22 national championships and set over 35 national or world shooting records. Lanny Bassham was later briefly director of shooting for the U.S. Olympic shooting team. He later started his own company teaching courses in mental management for businessman and athletes, notably several professional golfers. As a hobby, he also raises registered quarter horses.
Results
| Games | Discipline (Sport) / Event | NOC / Team | Pos | Medal | As | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 Summer Olympics | Shooting | USA |
Lanny Bassham | |||
| Free Rifle, Three Positions, 300 metres, Open (Olympic) | 7 | |||||
| Small-Bore Rifle, Three Positions, 50 metres, Open (Olympic) | 2 | Silver | ||||
| 1976 Summer Olympics | Shooting | USA |
Lanny Bassham | |||
| Small-Bore Rifle, Three Positions, 50 metres, Open (Olympic) | 1 | Gold |
Special Notes
- Listed in Olympians Who Won a Medal at the Summer Pan American Games (3–1–0 1971 Cali SHO gold: small-bore rifle 3 positions team; 1975 Ciudad de México SHO gold: 10 m air rifle team and small-bore rifle 3 positions team, silver: 10 m air rifle)
- Listed in Olympians Who Won a Medal at the World Shooting Championships (12–9–4 1970 Phoenix silver: 300 m standard rifle 3 positions team, 10 m air rifle team, and 50 m standard rifle 3 positions team; 1974 Bern/Thun gold: 300 m free rifle 3 positions, 300 m free rifle standing, 300 m free rifle prone, 300 m free rifle 3 positions team, 300 m free rifle standing team, 300 m free rifle prone team, 50 m small-bore rifle 3 positions team, and 50 m small-bore rifle standing team, silver: 10 m air rifle, 300 m free rifle kneeling team, 10 m air rifle team, 50 m small-bore rifle kneeling team, and 50 m standard rifle 3 positions team, bronze: 50 m small-bore rifle 3 positions and 50 m small-bore rifle standing; 1978 Seoul gold: 50 m small-bore rifle 3 positions, 50 m small-bore rifle 3 positions team, 50 m small-bore rifle standing team, and 50 m small-bore prone team, silver: 10 m air rifle team, bronze: 50 m small-bore rifle standing and 50 m small-bore prone)