Athletics at the 1988 Seoul Summer Games:

The co-world record holders were Heike Drechsler-Daute (GDR) and Jackie Joyner-Kersee (USA), who had both jumped 7.45 (24-5½) – twice for Drechsler. Joyner-Kersee was 1987 World Champion while Drechsler had won that event in 1983 and was 1986 European Champion. They were solid co-favorites at the beginning of 1988. But then in June, Galina Chistyakova broke the world record twice at the Znamenskiy Memorial meet in Leningrad. Chistyakova led round one with 7.11 (23-4), but would never better that mark. Drechsler took the lead in the third round with 7.18 (23-6¾), Joyner-Kersee moving into second with 7.16 (23-6). Drechsler extended her lead in the fourth round with 7.22 (23-8¼), only to see Joyner-Kersee win the gold medal with 7.40 (24-3½) in round five.