Athletics at the 1988 Seoul Summer Games:

Fatima Whitbread (GBR) had won the two biggest meets since the 1984 Olympics – the 1986 Europeans and the 1987 Worlds, and set a world record in winning the 1986 European title. But the best thrower in the world for the past four years had been Petra Felke (GDR) who had won 69 of 76 meets in that time, although with three losses coming to Whitbread. Felke had set four world records, culminating with a precise 80 metres (262-5¾) a few weeks before the Seoul Olympics. The competition was expected to be close between the two, and Whitbread led the qualifiers with 68.04 (223-2¾) with Felke second with 67.06 (220-0¼). But Felke settled the gold medal in round one by throwing 72.62 (238-3¼). She bettered that with 74.68 (245-0¼) in the second round but Whitbread could not approach those marks, finishing with 70.32 (230-8½) in the final round to secure second place.