Women Heptathlon Athletics XXV Olympic Games Barcelona, Spain, 1992 - Saturday 1st August - Sunday, 2nd August - Gold Medal: Jackie Joyner-Kersee, United States
World and Olympic Record: 7291 Jackie Joyner-Kersee, United States Seoul, South Korea, September 24, 1988
Recovering from an ankle injury Joyner-Kersee was not quite the ath-
lete she had been in 1988. Nevertheless, she led after the first event
with a fine 12.85 in the hurdles (worth 1147). She was just one ahead
of Năstase’s 12.86, but 60 clear of Braun and Belova, her principal
rivals. Braun gained on the American in the next two events, most
notably with her fine high jump of 1.94, but Joyner-Kersee was more
than a second quicker than Braun, with 23.12, and Belova moved to
within striking distance of the German, with 23.34. The long jump saw
Joyner-Kersee leap beyond her individual bronze medal distance with
7.10, to take a 239-point lead over Belova, whose 6.82 would have
been good enough for fourth in the long jump final. Braun, meanwhile,
slumped to 6.02. JJK was clearly safe for the gold medal and she scored
her first 7000+ effort since the Seoul event; it was also the final such
effort of her career. Belova was a clear winner of the silver medal, with
Braun just holding off Năstase for the bronze.
United States
Unified Team
Germany
Romania
Bulgaria
Poland
Lithuania
France
China
Estonia
Finland
Great Britain
Canada
Norway
Liechtenstein
Syria
Sierra Leone
Chinese Taipei
Hungary
Albania
New Zealand
Australia
Algeria
