- When Col. Potter decides the 4077th personnel are out of shape, he orders them to exercise. To motivate them, he comes up with the idea for a series of competitions like the Olympics, with the prize being a 3-day pass.
- The 1952 Olympics in Helsinki, Finland, is big news at the 4077. Donald calls to tell Margaret he will pick her up on the way to their R&R in Manila. BJ and Hawkeye are helping Sgt. Ames, career Army, get into shape and lose weight so he does not lose his job and pension. This gives Klinger the idea to eat his way to Section 8. When an ambulance truck overturns, it takes 4 MPs to set it upright. Potter is disgusted how weak and out-of-shape are his people so he devises the 4077 Olympics. Hawkeye leads the Yellow Blackbirds and BJ leads the Pink Elephants; each member of the winning team gets a 3-day pass. At the Helsinki Olympics, the 26+ mile marathon is won by Chech, Emil Zatopek, in less than 2 1/2 hours, a new world record. In Korea, Mashletes race on crutches and Margaret is the winner for the Pinks. In Helsinki, a Reverend wins the pole vault for the U.S.; in Korea, the Yellows are 2 games ahead. U.S. Horace Ashenfelter of the FBI creates a new world record on the steeplechase at 8:45 and 4/10 seconds. In Korea, the Yellows are 1 game ahead as Donald drives up to camp. The next event is nurse carrying, but the salami backs up on Margaret's horse. Donald ably goads Hawkeye into letting him sub for Klinger; he and Margaret win easily. In Helsinki, 4 U.S. female runners set yet another world record for a team track event. In Korea, the score is tied and the tie-breaker is the obstacle course. It is a "Meatballs" ending for the meatball surgeons and staff as 2 random runners are chosen out of a hat by Father Mulcahy; Rudy the Wabbit emerges victorious! Will the activity be enough for Col. Ames to drop the weight he needs to stay in the Army? It is truly a banner year for the U.S.A.... at least, in Helsinki.—LA-Lawyer
- The 1952 Olympics being held in Helsinki, Finland, becomes a major topic of discussion at the 4077. Donald reached out to Margaret, informing her that he would pick her up on their way to their much-awaited rest and relaxation in Manila. Meanwhile, Hunnicutt places a bet on the marathon runner Zatopek, confident in his ability to secure a victory. Father Mulcahy provided Hunnicutt with favorable odds. Hunnicutt and Hawkeye engaged in a friendly debate, each showcasing their own athletic prowess.
Hunnicutt and Hawkeye dedicate their efforts to assist Sgt. Ames (Michael McManus), a long-serving career Army member, in getting into shape and shedding weight to safeguard his job and pension. With only ten days until his re-enlistment orders arrived, Ames was determined to do whatever it took to remain in the army. However, he faced the challenge of being twenty pounds overweight. This predicament sparked an idea in Klinger's mind-to eat excessively and potentially obtain a Section 8 discharge.
An incident occurred when an ambulance truck overturned, requiring the intervention of four MPs to set it upright. Colonel Potter expressed his disappointment at the overall weakness and poor physical condition of his unit. The entire MASH team failed to manage the ambulance on their own, necessitating the involvement of the MPs. Learning that the 4077 needed assistance, the resting MPs at Rosie's bar promptly responded. Potter entrusts Hawkeye and Hunnicutt with the responsibility of conducting morning calisthenics. Nonetheless, the staff did not take the exercises seriously, prompting Potter to devise the 4077 Olympics to instill discipline and foster a competitive spirit. Hawkeye leads the Yellow Blackbirds, and Hunnicutt leads the Pink Elephants, with each member of the winning team earning a three-day pass. Furthermore, Hunnicutt and Hawkeye make a personal wager where the loser would push the winner around in a wheelchair for a week.
In a comical moment, Klinger ingeniously ignites the Olympic flame using a lighter and a bedpan after the original flame went out. At the Helsinki Olympics, Czechoslovakian athlete Emil Zatopek emerged victorious in the 26+ mile marathon, setting a new world record by completing it in under two and a half hours. In Korea, the MASH athletes competed in crutch races, and Margaret triumphed as the winner for the Pink Elephants. On the other side, at the Helsinki Olympics, a Reverend secured the pole vault victory for the United States, while the Yellow Blackbirds held a two-game advantage in Korea. Hunnicutt delivered an inspiring speech to motivate his Pink Elephants team, while Houlihan resorted to shouting, solely focused on securing the coveted three-day pass.
In another notable feat, U.S. athlete Horace Ashenfelter, a member of the FBI, achieved a new world record in the 3000m steeplechase with a time of 8 minutes, 45 and 4/10 seconds. In Korea, the Yellow Blackbirds maintained a one-game lead as Donald made his way to the 4077.
The subsequent event featured a nurse carrying race, but Margaret's race partner, Klinger, faltered due to consuming an excessive amount of salami to gain weight. Consequently, Donald skilfully taunts Hawkeye and proposes that if he joined the Olympics to play for the Pink Elephants, the Yellow Blackbirds would stand no chance. Agreeing to the arrangement, Hawkeye allowed Donald to substitute for Klinger, resulting in a resounding victory for him and Margaret.
Meanwhile, in Helsinki, four female U.S. runners set yet another world record for a team track event. In Korea, the score remained tied, leading to the obstacle course being designated as the tiebreaker. The outcome surprised the meatball surgeons and the staff. Father Mulcahy randomly drew two runners from a hat: Donald and Ames. Donald initially dominated the race with a significant lead but succumbed to showboating, becoming trapped inside a camouflaged tent cover. This mishap allowed Ames to secure the victory.
Ultimately, the Yellow Blackbirds emerged as the winners, concluding the eventful series of events.
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