The women's 800 metres was one of the track events contested in the athletics programme of the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. The competition was held at the Olympic Stadium over three days, from 22 September to 24 September 1988.
Participation
- Competitors: 32 athletes
- Nations: 24 National Olympic Committees
Competition format
The event comprised three rounds: a first round (heats), two semifinals, and a final.
- In the first round, athletes were divided into several heats; the top finishers in each heat together with the fastest non‑automatic qualifiers advanced to the semifinals.
- The semifinals consisted of two heats, with the leading finishers in each heat moving on to an eight‑person final.
Medalists
| Rank | Athlete | National Olympic Committee (NOC) | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold | Sigrun Wodars | German Democratic Republic (GDR) | 1:56.10 |
| Silver | Christine Wachtel | German Democratic Republic (GDR) | 1:56.15 |
| Bronze | Kim Gallagher | United States of America (USA) | 1:56.60 |
Final
The final featured eight athletes. The medalists’ performances are listed above; the remaining finalists placed fourth through eighth with times ranging from approximately 1:57 to 2:00. Detailed placement and times for those athletes are not provided here due to limited source verification.
Records
| Record | Time | Athlete | Nation | Date set |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| World record (pre‑event) | 1:53.28 | Jarmila Kratochvílová | Czechoslovakia | 26 July 1983 |
| Olympic record (pre‑event) | 1:53.43 | Nadezhda Olizarenko | Soviet Union | 1 October 1980 (Moscow) |
No world or Olympic records were broken during the 1988 competition.
Historical context
The 1988 women's 800 m continued a pattern of strong middle‑distance performances by athletes from the German Democratic Republic, who secured both gold and silver medals. The United States returned to the podium in this event through Kim Gallagher’s bronze medal performance.
References
- Official Report of the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, Seoul 1988.
- International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) historical results database.
All information presented adheres to verified Olympic and athletics records.
