Athletics at the 1988 Seoul Summer Games

After three straight Olympic track & field competitions affected by boycotts, Seoul presented virtually full fields for the 1988 Olympics, with only Cuba boycotting among top athletics nations. The biggest headline of the athletics, unfortunately, related to the doping disqualification of Canadian Ben Johnson in the 100 metres. This allowed Carl Lewis to defend his 100 title, and he also defended in the long jump. But the big star in Seoul was Florence Griffith Joyner, who dominated the 100 and 200, winning the latter in a stunning world record of 21.34, and also led the US team to victory in the 4x100. Finally, Griffith Joyner ran the US anchor leg on the 4x400 relay. Certainly the best single race of the Olympics, and one of the greatest ever, the Soviet Union held off the United States in world record time of 3:15.18. The anchor was contested by Griffith Joyner and 400 metre champion Olga Bryzgina. With the USSR leading by about two strides at the start of the anchor, Bryzgina held off Flo-Jo, who pulled to her shoulder on the final turn but could never get past her in the homestretch.