1981 MEN'S PRELIMINARY #1
In 1981, Preliminary rounds only had seven events with each athlete choosing 5 in which to compete. The events varied in each preliminary. The first preliminary of winter athletes saw the elimination of rowing, golf and bowling. This was also the first year that the Superstars were held in Key Biscayne, Florida. Peter Mueller won the preliminary which saw three of the SportsCentury's 50 greatest athletes compete: Wayne Gretzky, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Julius Erving.
Key Biscayne, Florida
January 25, 1981
Announcers: Frank Gifford, Arthur Ashe, Don Meredith.
| PLC. NAME, SPORT | SWIM | TEN |
WL |
100 |
HALF |
BIKE |
OC |
TOTAL |
MONEY |
| 1. Peter Mueller, Speed Skating |
10 |
|
4 |
10 |
4 |
28 |
$13,400 |
||
| 2. Kurt Thomas, Gymnastics |
7 |
2 |
4 |
|
4 |
10 |
27 |
$7,700 |
|
| 3. Andre Arnold, Gymnastics |
7 |
2 |
4 |
|
|
4 |
24 |
$3,550 |
|
| 3. Darrell Griffith, Basketball |
|
10 |
7 |
|
7 |
24 |
$3,550 |
||
| 5. Ron Duguay, Ice Hockey |
|
10 |
10 |
1 |
|
1 |
22 |
$2,200 |
|
| 6. Julius Erving, Basketball |
|
4 |
|
7 |
2 |
|
|
13 |
$1,300 |
| 7. Mike Eruzione, Ice Hockey |
|
7 |
|
|
1 |
|
8 |
$1,000 |
|
| 8. Wayne Gretzky, Ice Hockey |
|
|
|
4 |
1 |
|
2 |
7 |
$1,000 |
| 8. George Willig, Mountain Climber |
4 |
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
5 |
$1,000 |
| 10. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Basketball |
1 |
|
1 |
2 |
|
|
|
4 |
$1,000 |
| 11. Jim Craig, Ice Hockey |
|
1 |
|
|
|
2 |
|
3 |
$1,000 |
| 11. Mike Gminski, Basketball |
2 |
1 |
3 |
$1,000 |
INDIVIDUAL EVENT RESULTS
SWIMMING (50 Yards)
| 1. Peter Mueller |
28.20 |
| 2. Kurt Thomas |
28.37 |
| 3. George Willig |
N/A |
| 4. Mike Gminski |
N/A |
| 5. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar |
N/A |
TENNIS
| 1. Ron Duguay |
10 |
| 2. Andre Arnold |
7 |
| 3. Julius Erving |
4 |
| 4. Kurt Thomas |
2 |
| 5. Jim Craig |
1 |
| Duguay def. Arnold |
6-3 |
WEIGHT LIFTING
| 1. Ron Duguay |
N/A |
| 2. Mike Eruzione |
N/A |
| 3. Kurt Thomas |
N/A |
| 4. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar |
N/A |
| 4. Mike Gminski |
N/A |
| 4. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar |
N/A |
100 YARD DASH-final
| 1. Darrell Griffith |
N/A |
| 2. Julius Erving |
N/A |
| 3. Wayne Gretzky |
N/A |
| 4. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar |
N/A |
| 5. Ron Duguay |
N/A |
HALF MILE RUN
| 1. Andre Arnold |
2:09 |
| 2. Darrell Griffith |
N/A |
| 3. Peter Mueller |
2:11.95 |
| 4. Julius Erving |
N/A |
| 5. Wayne Gretzky |
N/A |
BIKE RACE-qualifying (Quarter Mile)
| 1. Peter Mueller |
33.99 |
| 2. Andre Arnold |
34.59 |
| 3. Kurt Thomas |
N/A |
| 4. Jim Craig |
N/A |
| 5. Mike Eruzione |
N/A |
BIKE RACE-final (Half Mile)
| 1. Peter Mueller |
1:11.83 |
| 2. Andre Arnold |
N/A |
| 3. Kurt Thomas |
N/A |
| 4. Jim Craig |
N/A |
| 5. Mike Eruzione |
N/A |
OBSTACLE COURSE
| 1. Kurt Thomas |
N/A |
|||
| 2. Darrell Griffith |
N/A |
|||
| 3. Peter Mueller |
N/A |
|||
| 4. Wayne Gretzky |
N/A |
|||
| 5. Ron Duguay |
N/A |
e = estimated time
r = Superstars record
N/A = result not available
dnf - did not finish