Initially, we were told that the Israelis escaped and the terrorists were captured. We didn't learn about the disaster at the helicopters (where the hostages were killed) until much later.

There was such a camaraderie. We gave each other Olympic 1972 pins from our countries. It made you feel really good, like it was the whole point of (the Olympics), not just what you see on TV.

It would be easy to be bitter about the experience, but in life that was only a breath.