Tatyana Kazankina 800m

Montreal, Olympic Games, Olympic Stadium, 27 July 1976, 18.20 Hr:
800m women final
1. Tatyana Kazankina (URS) 1:54.94
2. Nikolina Shtereva (BUL) 1:55.42
3. Elfi Zinn (GDR) 1:55.60
4. Anita Weiss (GDR) 1:55.74
5. Svetlana Styrkina (URS) 1:56.44
6. Svetla Zlateva (BUL) 1:57.21
7. Doris Gluth (GDR) 1:58.99
8. Mariana Suman (ROM) 2:02.21.
Kazankina’s intermediate times [per PJV analysis] 100m: 14.1, 200m: 27.0, 300m: 41.2, 400m: 55.6, 500m: 1:10.4, 600m: 1:24.8, 700m: 1:40.0, Halves 55.6/59.3.
Her interview in 2016, 40 years after the race:
"The first is 800 m. The fact is that I was not supposed to compete in this type of program, since 1500 m was considered my signature event. However, before the Games, to test my speed, I ran 800 m in a friendly match between the USSR and France and showed the second result in the world. Imagine my surprise when in Montreal I saw my name on the application form for this particular discipline.
The tragedy was that my friend on the national team, also from Leningrad, Tanya Providokhina, was preparing to run this distance. She earned it with great effort, she studied specially, but her name was not on the lists. This was a big blow for her... At first we thought that there was a mistake, we called the coach, but we were told: “The team management decided that Kazankina would run the 800m. No substitutions will be accepted." Both began to become hysterical, but the tears quickly dried up. It was necessary to fight - for myself and Tatyana. The most curious thing is that the coaches did not set me the task of finishing first. It was thought: it would be good if I got into the top three. Therefore, when I reached the finish line and saw a high result on the scoreboard (1 minute 54.94 seconds - ed.), I didn’t even think that it was mine. And only when everyone rushed to hug me did I realize that I had won. This was the first gold in athletics for our team, but for me this medal is one for two."
(Translated from spb.aif.ru/amp... )

[@jesusdiaz9340]

At the begining of 1976, Svetla Zlateva was the world record holder with a time of 1,57,48. One month before the Olympic Games, Valentina Gerasimova improved the WR with a time of1,56,0. It is curious that Valentina was eliminated in semi-finals, and the first four athletes in the final were able to run in less than 1m56s. 48 years later, the best 4th and 5th place ever made in a race are Anita Weiss (1,55,74), and Svetlana Styrkina (1,56,44), I was a really crazy race!

[@APBCTechnique]

I believe Anita Weiss was tired going into this final after running a ridiculously unnecessarily fast semi-final. Her first 600m was the fastest ever 600m split to this day.

[@david2804me]

Amazing what is achievable with a little state-sponsored drug-cheating.

[@APBCTechnique]

I believe Anita Weiss was tired going into this final after running a ridiculously unnecessarily fast semi-final. Her first 600m was the fastest ever 600m split to this day. I believe she sabotaged herself by running fast in the semi final - she threw the gold away

[@jesusdiaz9340]

I agree, It is a pity!, She, by finishing 4th., still was able to improve the previos WR.

[@david2804me]

As much testosterone in that race as in the men's final.

[@kevinsibley5693]

Drugs....