Surprisingly enough, the sporting event to cause the most hype in this Olympic year was a chess contest. The world watched with bated breath as American Bobby Fisher dethroned Soviet chess champ Boris Spassky. In diplomatic news, American President Richard Nixon made history when he visited communist China in 1972. Furthermore, the long war in Vietnam was finally coming to a close. 1972 was a big year for footwear fashion. High heeled shoes sales skyrocketed for women. Nike, the shoe brand that redefined the sport-fashion connection made its debut during this Olympic year.