1983 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 1500 metres

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These are the official results of the Women's 1,500 metres event at the 1983 IAAF World Championships in Helsinki, Finland. There were a total number of 26 participating athletes, with three qualifying heats and the final held on Sunday 14th August 1983. The winning margin was 0.29 seconds.

Contents

The final was a microcosm of these championships. East vs West. The American Mary Decker vs a strong Soviet squad. Decker was so dominant in domestic competition, her races were won from the gun, so she was not well practiced in running elbow to elbow as the Soviets and other Europeans were highly skilled in the art. True to her form, Decker took the lead from the gun, with a large pack surrounding her. As the last lap approached Zamira Zaytseva moved onto Decker's shoulder, immediately to her outside. On the last lap, the pace quickened but Decker refused to let Zaytseva get all the way past. Finally with 200 metres to go, Zaytseva sprinted ahead and gained a couple of steps. Decker looked dejected, unable to keep up all the way through the turn but clearly ahead of Yekaterina Podkopayeva who was battling to stay ahead of Ravilya Agletdinova. On the final straight, Decker moved into lane 2 and started to make a run at Zaytseva, gaining slightly. About 50 metres out, Decker checked over her shoulder to see if any competition was approaching from the rear. Agletdinova-Kotovich was making a run at Podkopayeva several metres back but neither was gaining on Decker. Decker gritted her teeth and noticeably accelerated gaining on Zaytseva. As Decker moved past Zaytseva tried to accelerate. In the effort she started to lose her balance. Two awkward steps of flailing and reminiscent of Yevgeniy Arzhanov a decade earlier, Zaytseva dived for the finish line from four meters out. Clearly beaten by this point, Zaytseva executed a face plant a metre from the finish line and rolled across the line in second. Podkopayeva held off her teammate for bronze. The powerful Soviets all finished in the top four, but Decker was number one.

Medalists

Gold Flag of the United States.svg Mary Decker
United States (USA)
Silver Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Zamira Zaytseva
Soviet Union (URS)
Bronze Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Yekaterina Podkopayeva
Soviet Union (URS)

Records

Existing records at the start of the event.

World recordFlag of the Soviet Union.svg  Tatyana Kazankina  (URS)3:52.47 Zürich, Switzerland August 13, 1980
Championship recordNew event

Final

RANKFINALTIME
Med 1.png Flag of the United States.svg  Mary Decker  (USA)4:00.90
Med 2.png Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Zamira Zaytseva  (URS)4:01.19
Med 3.png Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Yekaterina Podkopayeva  (URS)4:02.25
4.Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Ravilya Agletdinova  (URS)4:02.67
5.Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Wendy Sly  (GBR)4:04.14
6.Flag of Romania (1965-1989).svg  Doina Melinte  (ROU)4:04.42
7.Flag of Italy.svg  Gabriella Dorio  (ITA)4:04.73
8.Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Brit McRoberts  (CAN)4:05.73
9.Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Christina Boxer  (GBR)4:06.74
10.Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Cornelia Bürki  (SUI)4:11.61
11.Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Ivana Kleinová  (TCH)4:15.12
12.Flag of Romania (1965-1989).svg  Maria Radu  (ROU)4:19.03

Qualifying heats

RANKHEAT 1TIME
1.Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Ravilya Agletdinova  (URS)4:10.71
2.Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Ivana Kleinová  (TCH)4:10.82
3.Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Brit McRoberts  (CAN)4:10.88
4.Flag of East Germany.svg  Christiane Wartenberg  (GDR)4:10.89
5.Flag of Bulgaria (1971-1990).svg  Totka Petrova  (BUL)4:12.31
6.Flag of the United States.svg  Cindy Bremser  (USA)4:14.10
7.Flag of El Salvador.svg  Kriscia García  (ESA)4:40.21
8.Flag of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (1979-1985).svg  Bigna Samuel  (VIN)4:51.35
9.Flag of Zaire (1971-1997).svg  Kungu Bakombo  (ZAI)4:54.12


RANKHEAT 2TIME
1.Flag of the United States.svg  Mary Decker  (USA)4:07.47
2.Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Zamira Zaytseva  (URS)4:07.64
3.Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Wendy Sly  (GBR)4:08.16
4.Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Cornelia Bürki  (SUI)4:08.61
5.Flag of Romania (1965-1989).svg  Maria Radu  (ROU)4:10.15
6.Flag of Rwanda (1961-2001).svg  Marcianne Mukamurenzi  (RWA)4:30.58
7.Flag of Malawi.svg  Vivian Pearson  (MAW)5:03.70
Flag of Portugal (official).svg  Aurora Cunha  (POR)DNS


RANKHEAT 3TIME
1.Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Yekaterina Podkopayeva  (URS)4:09.39
2.Flag of Italy.svg  Gabriella Dorio  (ITA)4:09.45
3.Flag of Romania (1965-1989).svg  Doina Melinte  (ROU)4:09.71
4.Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Christina Boxer  (GBR)4:09.88
5.Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Betty Van Steenbroeck  (BEL)4:12.93
6.Flag of Finland.svg  Marjo-Riitta Lakka  (FIN)4:22.33
7.Flag of Syria (2025-).svg  Hala El Moughrabi  (SYR)4:45.62
8.Flag of Jordan.svg  Khadija Al Matari  (JOR)5:01.83
Flag of Germany.svg  Brigitte Kraus  (FRG)DNS

References