Tom Bender

Tom Bender was born in the United States but played basketball for Australia at the 1972 München Olympics. Bender played college hoops at the University of Tulsa. After graduation he had a tryout with the Dallas Chaparrals of the ABA but did not make the team. In 1968 he went to Australia, initially playing with the Sydney Paratels BC, but later joined Sydney YCMA and then St. Kilda Saints, all in the Victorian Basketball Association. A 7-footer, he was a back-up center (5) for the Australian team in München.

After the Olympics, Bender played basketball in Europe for six years, playing in the Netherlands, Sweden, France, and finally with Maccabi Ramat Gan in Israel. He retired in 1979 and settled in Australia with his family, living in Queensland and Western Australia.