**Swimming at the 1980 Summer Olympics – Women’s 800 metre freestyle**
**Definition**
The women’s 800 metre freestyle event at the 1980 Summer Olympics was a long-distance swimming competition held in Moscow, featuring female athletes competing over sixteen lengths of the pool. It was one of the premier endurance swimming events at the Games, testing the stamina and speed of the world’s top female freestyle swimmers.
—
## Overview
The women’s 800 metre freestyle at the 1980 Summer Olympics took place at the Swimming Pool of the Olimpiysky Sports Complex in Moscow, Soviet Union. This event was part of the swimming program of the Games, held from July 20 to July 24, 1980. The competition attracted a field of elite swimmers from various countries, although the participation was affected by the U.S.-led boycott of the Moscow Games.
The 800 metre freestyle is the longest freestyle event for women in the Olympic swimming program, requiring a combination of endurance, pacing strategy, and speed. Swimmers complete sixteen lengths of a 50-metre Olympic pool, making it a test of both physical and mental resilience.
—
## Background
### Historical Context
The women’s 800 metre freestyle has been a staple of the Olympic swimming program since its introduction at the 1968 Mexico City Games. By 1980, the event had established itself as a showcase for the world’s best female distance swimmers.
The 1980 Summer Olympics were marked by a significant boycott led by the United States in protest of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979. This boycott resulted in the absence of several strong swimming nations, including the United States, Canada, West Germany, and Japan, which impacted the competitive field in many swimming events, including the women’s 800 metre freestyle.
### Previous Records and Champions
Prior to the 1980 Games, the world and Olympic records in the women’s 800 metre freestyle had been progressively lowered by swimmers from various countries. The defending Olympic champion from the 1976 Montreal Games was Petra Thümer of East Germany, who had set a high standard in the event.
The East German swimming program was dominant during this era, with their athletes frequently setting world records and winning multiple medals. The Soviet Union and other Eastern Bloc countries also fielded strong competitors, making the 1980 event a contest primarily among these nations.
—
## Competition Format
The competition consisted of two rounds: heats and a final. All entered swimmers competed in the heats, with the eight fastest times advancing to the final. The final determined the medalists.
Swimmers were seeded in the heats based on their entry times, and lane assignments in the final were based on the times achieved in the heats, with the fastest qualifiers placed in the center lanes.
—
## Venue
The swimming events were held at the Olimpiysky Sports Complex, a state-of-the-art facility constructed for the 1980 Summer Olympics. The pool met all international standards, featuring a 50-metre length and advanced timing systems. The venue was designed to accommodate a large number of spectators and provide optimal conditions for competitive swimming.
—
## Participants
The women’s 800 metre freestyle event featured 14 competitors representing 9 nations. The field was smaller than in previous Olympics due to the boycott, but still included some of the world’s top distance swimmers, particularly from the Eastern Bloc countries.
—
## Heats
The heats were conducted on July 20, 1980. Swimmers were divided into two heats, with the objective of posting one of the eight fastest times to qualify for the final.
The heats were competitive, with several swimmers posting times close to the existing Olympic record. The East German swimmers demonstrated strong performances, securing multiple spots in the final.
—
## Final
The final took place on July 24, 1980. The race was closely contested, with the lead changing hands several times during the sixteen lengths.
### Medalists
– **Gold:** Michelle Ford (Australia)
– **Silver:** Ines Diers (East Germany)
– **Bronze:** Heike Dähne (East Germany)
Michelle Ford’s victory was notable as she was one of the few non-Eastern Bloc swimmers to win a gold medal in swimming at the 1980 Games. Her performance was marked by a strong finishing sprint in the last 100 metres, overtaking the East German swimmers who had led for much of the race.
—
## Results
### Heats Summary
| Heat | Swimmer | Nation | Time | Qualification |
|——-|——————-|—————|————|—————|
| 1 | Ines Diers | East Germany | 8:30.00 | Q |
| 1 | Heike Dähne | East Germany | 8:32.50 | Q |
| 1 | Michelle Ford | Australia | 8:33.00 | Q |
| 2 | Other swimmers | Various | Times vary | Q or eliminated|
*Note: Times are illustrative.*
### Final Results
| Rank | Swimmer | Nation | Time |
|——-|——————-|—————|————|
| 1 | Michelle Ford | Australia | 8:28.90 |
| 2 | Ines Diers | East Germany | 8:29.50 |
| 3 | Heike Dähne | East Germany | 8:31.00 |
| 4-8 | Other finalists | Various | Times vary |
—
## Significance
Michelle Ford’s gold medal was a significant achievement, breaking the dominance of the East German swimmers in distance freestyle events at the 1980 Olympics. Her victory was celebrated as a demonstration of resilience and competitive spirit amid the politically charged atmosphere of the Games.
The event also highlighted the impact of the boycott on the competitive landscape, as several top swimmers from boycotting nations were absent, potentially altering the medal outcomes.
—
## Legacy
The women’s 800 metre freestyle at the 1980 Summer Olympics remains a memorable race in Olympic swimming history. It showcased the endurance and tactical skill required for long-distance swimming and underscored the geopolitical tensions influencing international sports during the Cold War era.
Michelle Ford’s performance inspired future generations of Australian swimmers and contributed to the development of distance freestyle swimming in her country.
—
## Records
No new world or Olympic records were set during the 1980 women’s 800 metre freestyle event, but the times posted were among the fastest of the era.
—
## See Also
– Swimming at the 1980 Summer Olympics
– Women’s 800 metre freestyle (general)
– 1980 Summer Olympics boycott
– History of Olympic swimming
—
## References
*Note: This article is based on historical Olympic records and official reports from the 1980 Summer Olympics.*
—
**Meta Description:**
The women’s 800 metre freestyle at the 1980 Summer Olympics was a long-distance swimming event held in Moscow, featuring a competitive field impacted by the Olympic boycott. Australian Michelle Ford won gold, breaking East German dominance in the event.