Athletics at the 1976 Montréal Summer Games:

By the time of the 1976 Olympics, Soviet 800 runners led the world. In June Valentina Gerasimova broke the world record with 1:56.0, but in Montréal she would not get out of the semi-finals. The final was opened by Anita Weiß (GDR) taking the lead, but she was passed just before the bell by several runners. The pace was very fast with 400 passed in 55.05. At 600 metres, Tatyana Kazankina was in sixth place but moved outside and started passing runners. Leading into the homestretch, she switched gears and won easily in a world record 1:54.94. The first four runners also surpassed Gerasimova's world record in the fastest women's 800 race ever run to that date. Four days later Kazankina returned to add the 1,500 and win the 800/1,500 double.