The United States women defeated Senegal today in basketball, 121-56, a 65 point margin. Is that the largest margin in Olympic history? Not quite – its the third largest, after two 66-point margins for women, one by the former Soviet Union, and one by host nation Brazil, although back in 2004. Here are the largest margins ever in Olympic women’s basketball.
[table]
Margin,Teams,Score,Year/Round
66,Soviet Union d. Italy,119 – 53,1980 Round-Robin
66,Brazil d. Japan,128 – 62,2004 Group A
65,United States d. Senegal, 121-56,2012 Group B
64,Soviet Union d. Canada,115 – 51,1976 Round-Robin
60,United States d. DPR Congo (Kinshasa),107 – 47,1996 Group B
58,Soviet Union d. Hungary,120 – 62,1980 Round-Robin
57,Australia d. Senegal,96 – 39,2000 Group A
56,United States d. Czechoslovakia,111 – 55,1992 Group B
56,United States d. Mali,97 – 41,2008 Group B
55,United States d. Spain,114 – 59,1992 Group B
52,United States d. New Zealand,99 – 47,2004 Group B
52,United States d. Angola,90 – 38,2012 Group A
[/table]
And here are the largest margins in men’s Olympic basketball.
[table]
Margin,Teams,Score,Year/Round
100,Korea (South) d. Iraq,120 – 20,1948 Group B
100,China d. Iraq,125 – 25,1948 Group B
83,United States d. Nigeria,156 – 73,2012 Group A
82,Chile d. Iraq,100 – 18,1948 Group B
78,Belgium d. Iraq,98 – 20,1948 Group B
73,Brazil d. India,137 – 64,1980 Group A
72,The Philippines d. Iraq,102 – 30,1948 Group B
72,United States d. Thailand,101 – 29,1956 Group A
72,Soviet Union d. Morocco,123 – 51,1968 Group B
68,United States d. The Philippines,121 – 53,1956 Group A
68,Czechoslovakia d. India,133 – 65,1980 Group A
68,United States d. Angola,116 – 48,1992 Group A
[/table]
As you can see those two 1948 margins are quite a bit larger than any women’s game, and even 17 points more than the margin by which the USA men defeated Nigeria in 2012. The 1992 USA Dream Team’s largest margin of 68 only comes in =10th on this list.