High Jump, Women

The Soviet boycott cost the field Tamara Bykova (URS), who had set two world records in 1983 and one in 1984, and had won the inaugural World Championships in 1983, and Bulgaria’s Lyudmila Andonova, who was the current world record holder with 2.07 (6-9½), set earlier in July 1984. Sara Simeoni was back to defend her title, but was not the dominant jumper she had been in 1980. Also back was the 1972 gold medalist, Ulrike Meyfarth of West Germany. Meyfarth had won that gold medal when only 16-years-old but the ensuing years had been difficult for her. She had finally returned to form, however, in 1982, when she won the European Championships over Bykova. In Los Angeles the competition came down to Meyfarth and Simeoni, both clearing 2.00 (6-6¾) metres on their first attempt. But Meyfarth succeeded at 2.02 (6-7½), while Simeoni could not. Meyfarth thus became both the youngest and second-oldest woman to win the Olympic high jump (at the time), and also became the first track & field athlete to regain an Olympic gold medal after 12 years.