1,500 metres, Women

The pre-Olympic favorites were defending champion Hassiba Boulmerka, who had also won the 1995 World Championships, and Ireland’s Sonia O’Sullivan. Not highly considered was Russia Svetlana Masterkova, who had not raced in 1994-95, but she had earlier won the 800 gold medal in Atlanta. She had also posted some fast times in pre-Olympic meets. O’Sullivan ran the 5,000 earlier in the Games but came down with an intestinal disorder and was not herself, and did not qualify for the 1,500 final. In the semis, Boulmerka stumbled in heavy traffic, sprained an ankle, and finished last, also not qualifying. That left the final open for Masterkova, who took the lead at 1,200 metres. Though Gabriela Szabo (ROM) and Theresia Kiesl (AUT) moved to her shoulder on the final curve, she powered away to an easy victory. She was the first women to win the 800/1,500 double since Soviet Tatyana Kazankina in 1976.