400 metres, Women

This was the first Olympic 400 metres for women. The world record was held by Dan Shin-Geum of North Korea, but she was ineligible to compete. North Korea had participated at the 1963 Games of the New Emerging Forces (GANEFO), and athletes who had competed there were banned by the IAAF from competing at Tokyo. The favorite was likely Soviet Mariya Itkina who had won the 1958 and 1962 European Championships. Britain’s Ann Packer was also highly regarded. She had extra incentive as her fiancé, Robbie Brightwell, had hoped to medal in the men’s 400 but placed fourth. Australia’s Betty Cuthbert had won gold in the 100, 200, and 4×100 relay at the 1956 Olympic Games, when she was heralded as the “Golden Girl”. She was back, now in the 400 metres and her speed had to make the field respect her. In the final Cuthbert bolted to an early lead and was two metres ahead at the halfway point. Packer closed on her over the final straight but Cuthbert held on to win her fourth Olympic gold medal.