Heptathlon, Women

Ramona Neubert (GDR) had won the 1982 European and the 1983 World Championships. At the 1983 World Championships, East German women had swept the medals. But with the Soviet-led boycott in 1984, the top heptathletes from the GDR and the USSR could not compete and this competition was wide open. The next best mult-eventer was America’s Jane Frederick , but she was injured at the Olympic Trials and did not make the team. The first day leader was Britain’s Judy Simpson, with 3,759 points, with Jackie Joyner, Glynis Nunn and Sabine Everts within 38 points of her. Joyner was a world-class long jumper, but she failed her first two efforts in that event, and had to settle for a safe 6.11 (20-0½) on her third attempt. That ended up being the margin of victory as Nunn moved up with 6.66 (21-10¼), but Everts led her after five events by one point. Among the leaders, Joyner had the best javelin throw with 44.52 (146-0¾), but she was outrun by Nunn in the 800 and lost the gold medal by five points.