Of the 29 competitions at 2.04 or better prior to Seoul, Kostadinova
owned 25; she was a prohibitive favourite, and looked the best jumper
at all heights up to 2.03. All finalists had cleared 1.92 to qualify, but
just seven made 1.93 in the final and three of these would miss at 1.96.
Kostadinova cleared 1.99 and 2.01 cleanly, heights which Ritter also
made, though hitting the bar each time. Bykova beat Turchak for
bronze by getting over 1.99 though clipping the bar with her heels. The
1983 World Champion failed at 2.01, and just two were left. Both
missed at 2.03, though the Bulgarian was closer. With no misses a
jump-off was required. Kostadinova missed, and Ritter again hit the
bar, but it stayed on to give the American a shock win. Less important-
ly, it equalled her North American record.
United States
Bulgaria
Soviet Union
Romania
Australia
Great Britain
South Korea
France
Japan
West Germany
China
Mexico
Yugoslavia
Ivory Coast
Chinese Taipei
