1984 in the sport of athletics explained

1984 in athletics
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This article contains an overview of the year 1984 in the sport of athletics.

International Events

• African Championships in Rabat, Morocco
• Balkan Games in Athens, Greece
• European Indoor Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden
• World Cross Country Championships in New York, United States
• Olympic Games in Los Angeles, United States

World records

Men

Event	Athlete	Mark	Date	Venue
10,000 metres		27:13.81	2 July	Stockholm, Sweden
4 × 100 m Relay	• Sam Graddy • Ron Brown • Calvin Smith • Carl Lewis	37.83	August 11	Los Angeles
High Jump		2.39m	June 10	Eberstadt, West Germany
Pole Vault		5.85m	26 May	Bratislava, Czechoslovakia
		5.88m	2 June	Paris, France
		5.90m	13 July	London
		5.91m	31 August	Rome, Italy
		5.94m	31 August	Rome, Italy
Hammer		86.34m	3 July	Cork, Ireland
Javelin (old)		104.80m	20 July	Berlin, East Germany
Decathlon		8832	8-9 June	Mannheim, West Germany
	8847	8-9 August	Los Angeles, United States
Marathon		2:08:05	21 October	Chicago, United States

Women

EVENT	ATHLETE	MARK	DATE	VENUE
100 metres		10.76	22 August	Zürich
Mile		4:15.8	5 August	Leningrad
2000 metres		5:28.72	4 August	Moscow
3,000 metres		8:22.62	26 August	Leningrad
5,000 metres		15:01.83	5 January	Stellenbosch
	14:58.89	28 June	Oslo
10,000 metres		31:13.78	24 June	Kiev
400m Hurdles		53.58	22 June	Kiev
4 × 400 m Relay	• Gesine Walther • Sabine Busch • Dagmar Neubauer • Marita Koch	3:15.92	3 June	Erfurt
4 × 800 m Relay	• Nadiya Olizarenko • Lyubov Gurina • Lyudmila Borisova • Irina Podyalovskaya	7:50.17	5 August	Moscow
High Jump		2.05m	22 June	Kiev
	2.07m	20 July	Berlin
Shot Put		22.53	27 May	Sochi
Discus Throw		73.36	18 August	Prague
		74.56	26 August	Nitra
Heptathlon		6946	5-6 May	Potsdam
Half Marathon		1:08:34	16 September	Philadelphia

• Marita Koch (GDR) equals her own world record in the women's 200 metres held since 1979-06-10, clocking 21.71 seconds on 1984-07-21 at a meet in Potsdam.

Men's Best Year Performers

100 metres

Main race this year: Olympic Games 100 metres

RANK	ATHLETE	TIME	DATE	VENUE
1.		9.96	May 5	Athens, United States
2.		9.99	May 6	Houston, United States
3.		10.00	June 9	Warsaw, Poland
4.		10.09	May 12	Baton Rouge, United States
-		10.09	August 22	Zürich, Switzerland

200 metres

Main race this year: Olympic Games 200 metres

RANK	ATHLETE	TIME	DATE	VENUE
1.		19.80	August 8	Los Angeles, United States
2.		19.96	August 8	Los Angeles, United States
3.		20.07	May 5	Indianapolis, United States
4		20.07	October 3	Brindisi, Italy
5.		20.26	August 8	Los Angeles, United States

400 metres

Main race this year: Olympic Games 400 metres

RANK	ATHLETE	TIME	DATE	VENUE
1.		44.27	August 8	Los Angeles, United States
2.		44.54	August 8	Los Angeles, United States
3.		44.71	June 21	Los Angeles, United States
4.		44.75	August 8	Los Angeles, United States
-		44.75	August 8	Los Angeles, United States

800 metres

Main race this year: Olympic Games 800 metres

RANK	ATHLETE	TIME	DATE	VENUE
1.		1:41.77	August 26	Köln, West Germany
2.		1:42.28	August 26	Köln, West Germany
3.		1:42.96	August 29	Koblenz, West Germany
4.		1:43.63	August 29	Koblenz, West Germany
5.		1:43.64	August 6	Los Angeles, United States

1,500 metres

Main race this year: Olympic Games 1,500 metres

RANK	ATHLETE	TIME	DATE	VENUE
1.		3:31.54	July 6	Hengelo, Netherlands
2.		3:32.39	August 22	Zürich, Switzerland
3.		3:33.13	August 20	Budapest, Hungary
4.		3:33.46	August 22	Zürich, Switzerland
5.		3:33.64	August 22	Zürich, Switzerland

5,000 metres

Main race this year: Olympic Games 5,000 metres

RANK	ATHLETE	TIME	DATE	VENUE
1.		13:04.78	June 13	Florence, Italy
2.		13:07.54	August 11	Los Angeles, United States
3.		13:09.20	August 11	Los Angeles, United States
4.		13:10.08	June 13	Florence, Italy
5.		13:11.50	August 11	Los Angeles, United States

10,000 metres

Main race this year: Olympic Games 10,000 metres

RANK	ATHLETE	TIME	DATE	VENUE
1.		27:13.81	July 2	Stockholm, Sweden
2.		27:17.48	July 2	Stockholm, Sweden
3.		27:33.10	May 5	Potsdam, East Germany
4.		27:40.56	July 2	Stockholm, Sweden
5.		27:41.75	June 13	Florence, Italy

110m Hurdles

Main race this year: Olympic Games 110m Hurdles

RANK	ATHLETE	TIME	DATE	VENUE
1.		13.15	August 22	Zürich, Switzerland
2.		13.16	August 22	Zürich, Switzerland
3.		13.23	May 13	Westwood, United States
4.		13.27	July 25	Walnut, United States
5.		13.35	August 5	Los Angeles, United States

400m Hurdles

Main race this year: Olympic Games 400m Hurdles

RANK	ATHLETE	TIME	DATE	VENUE
1.		47.32	August 29	Koblenz, West Germany
2.		47.69	July 10	Lausanne, Switzerland
3.		48.02	June 17	Los Angeles, United States
4.		48.16	June 17	Los Angeles, United States
5.		48.28	June 18	Los Angeles, United States

3,000m Steeplechase

Main race this year: Olympic Games 3,000m Steeplechase

RANK	ATHLETE	TIME	DATE	VENUE
1.		8:07.62	August 24	Brussels, Belgium
2.		8:09.18	August 24	Brussels, Belgium
3.		8:11.80	August 10	Los Angeles, United States
4.		8:13.16	August 29	Koblenz, West Germany
5.		8:13.78	July 21	Oslo, Norway

High Jump

Main competition this year: Olympic Games High Jump

RANK	ATHLETE	HEIGHT	DATE	VENUE
1.		2.39	June 10	Eberstadt, West Germany
2.		2.37	February 24	West Berlin, West Germany
	September 2	Rieti, Italy
4.		2.36	February 1	Milan, Italy
	May 5	Tashkent, Soviet Union
	June 10	Eberstadt, West Germany

Long Jump

Main competition this year: Olympic Games Long Jump

RANK	ATHLETE	DISTANCE	DATE	VENUE
1.		8.79	January 27	New York, United States
2.		8.59	September 5	Rhede, United States
3.		8.50	July 27	Dresden, East Germany
4.		8.38	August 17	Moscow, Soviet Union
5.		8.37	August 17	Moscow, Soviet Union

Triple Jump

Main competition this year: Olympic Games Triple Jump

RANK	ATHLETE	DISTANCE	DATE	VENUE
1.		17.52	June 21	Kiev, Soviet Union
2.		17.50	June 10	Sochi, Soviet Union
	June 17	Los Angeles, United States
4.		17.47	July 19	Moscow, Soviet Union
5.		17.45	August 26	Cologne, West Germany

Discus

Main competition this year: Olympic Games Discus Throw

RANK	ATHLETE	DISTANCE	DATE	VENUE
1.		71.26	June 9	San José, United States
	November 15	Malmö, Sweden
3.		70.98	July 21	Eugene, United States
4.		70.44	June 9	San José, United States
5.		70.26	September 8	Cagliari, Italy

Hammer

See main article: article and 1984 Hammer Throw Year Ranking.

RANK	ATHLETE	DISTANCE	DATE	VENUE
1.		86.34	July 3	Cork City, Ireland
2.		85.20	July 3	Cork City, Ireland
3.		84.40	September 9	Banská Bystrica, Slovakia
4.		82.56	August 17	Moscow, Soviet Union
5.		81.52	June 11	Tampere, Finland

Shot Put

Main competition this year: Olympic Games Shot Put

RANK	ATHLETE	DISTANCE	DATE	VENUE
1.		22.19	May 26	San José, United States
2.		22.09	August 23	Stayki, Soviet Union
3.		22.04	June 11	Rehlingen, United States
4.		21.92	June 2	Eugene, United States
5.		21.76	June 2	Eugene, United States

Javelin

Main competition this year: Olympic Games Javelin Throw

RANK	ATHLETE	DISTANCE	DATE	VENUE
1.		104.80	July 20	East Berlin, East Germany
2.		93.68	June 2	Erfurt, East Germany
3.		93.44	June 18	Los Angeles, United States
4.		93.42	July 1	Pihtipudas, Finland
5.		92.42	April 6	Austin, United States

Pole Vault

Main competition this year: Olympic Games Pole Vault

RANK	ATHLETE	HEIGHT	DATE	VENUE
1.		5.94	August 31	Rome, Italy
2.		5.91	August 31	Rome, Italy
3.		5.85	June 22	Kiev, Soviet Union
4.		5.82	July 21	Eugene, United States
	August 20	Budapest, Hungary

Decathlon

Main competition this year: Olympic Games Decathlon

RANK	ATHLETE	POINTS	DATE	VENUE
1.		8798	June 9	Mannheim, West Germany
	August 9	Los Angeles, United States
3.		8704	July 21	Potsdam, East Germany
4.		8652	June 22	Moscow, Soviet Union
5.		8642	June 3	Neubrandenburg, DDR

Women's Best Year Performers

100 metres

Main race this year: Olympic Games 100 metres

RANK	1984 WORLD BEST PERFORMERS	TIME
1.		10.76
2.		10.84
3.		10.99
4.		11.01
5.		11.02

200 metres

Main race this year: Olympic Games 200 metres

RANK	1984 WORLD BEST PERFORMERS	TIME
1.		21.71
2.		21.74
3.		21.81
4.		21.85
5.		22.04

400 metres

Main race this year: Olympic Games 400 metres

RANK	1984 WORLD BEST PERFORMERS	TIME
1.		48.16
2.		48.73
3.		48.83
4.		48.98
5.		49.02

800 metres

Main race this year: Olympic Games 800 metres

RANK	1984 WORLD BEST PERFORMERS	TIME
1.		1:55.69
2.		1:56.09
3.		1:56.26
4.		1:56.53
5.		1:56.78

1,500 metres

Main race this year: Olympic Games 1,500 metres

RANK	1984 WORLD BEST PERFORMERS	TIME
1.		3:56.63
2.		3:56.65
3.		3:57.22
4.		3:57.70
5.		3:57.72

Mile

RANK	1984 WORLD BEST PERFORMERS	TIME
1.		4:15.8
2.		4:21.78
3.		4:22.64
4.		4:22.92
5.		4:24.57

3,000 metres

Main race this year: Olympic Games 3,000 metres

RANK	1984 WORLD BEST PERFORMERS	TIME
1.		8:22.62
2.		8:29.59
3.		8:32.0
4.		8:33.57
5.		8:34.91

5,000 metres

RANK	1984 WORLD BEST PERFORMERS	TIME
1.		14:58.89
2.		15:01.83
3.		15:09.07
4.		15:22.50
5.		15:22.76

10,000 metres

RANK	1984 WORLD BEST PERFORMERS	TIME
1.		31:13.78
2.		31:15.00
3.		31:53.53
4.		31:56.01
5.		31:56.02

100m Hurdles

Main race this year: Olympic Games 100m Hurdles

RANK	1984 WORLD BEST PERFORMERS	TIME
1.		12.43
2.		12.50
4.		12.53
5.		12.54

400m Hurdles

Main race this year: Olympic Games 400m Hurdles

RANK	1984 WORLD BEST PERFORMERS	TIME
1.		53.58
2.		53.67
3.		54.34
4.		54.43
5.		54.56

High Jump

Main competition this year: Olympic Games High Jump

RANK	1984 WORLD BEST PERFORMERS	HEIGHT
1.		2.07
2.		2.05
3.		2.02
4.		2.00

Long Jump

Main competition this year: Olympic Games Long Jump

RANK	1984 WORLD BEST PERFORMERS	DISTANCE
1.		7.40
2.		7.29
3.		7.27
4.		7.21
5.		7.12

Discus

Main competition this year: Olympic Games Discus Throw

RANK	1984 WORLD BEST PERFORMERS	DISTANCE
1.		74.56
2.		73.36
3.		73.28
4.		73.10
5.		72.32

Shot Put

Main competition this year: Olympic Games Shot Put

RANK	1984 WORLD BEST PERFORMERS	DISTANCE
1.		22.53
2.		21.85
3.		21.60
4.		21.53
5.		21.32

Javelin (old design)

Main competition this year: Olympic Games Javelin Throw

RANK	1984 WORLD BEST PERFORMERS	DISTANCE
1.		74.72
2.		74.24
3.		72.70
4.		72.16
5.		71.68

Heptathlon

Main competition this year: Olympic Games Heptathlon

RANK	1984 WORLD BEST PERFORMERS	POINTS
1.		6946
2.		6859
3.		6803
4.		6789
5.		6775

Marathon

Year Rankings

Men

RANK	ATHLETE	TIME	DATE	VENUE
1.		2:08:05 WR	October 21	Chicago, United States
2.		2:09:06	October 21	Chicago, United States
3.		2:09:09	October 21	Chicago, United States
4.		2:09:14	July 21	East Berlin, East Germany
5.		2:09:21	August 12	Los Angeles, United States
6.		2:09:30	July 21	East Berlin, East Germany
7.		2:09:41	March 31	Port Elizabeth, South Africa
8.		2:09:56	August 12	Los Angeles, United States
9.		2:09:57	May 13	London, United Kingdom
10.		2:09:58	August 12	Los Angeles, United States

Women

RANK	ATHLETE	TIME	DATE	VENUE
1.		2:24:26 WR	May 13	London, United Kingdom
2.		2:24:52	August 5	Los Angeles, United States
3.		2:26:01	October 21	Chicago, United States
4.		2:26:18	August 5	Los Angeles, United States
5.		2:26:52	July 21	East Berlin, East Germany
6.		2:26:57	August 5	Los Angeles, United States
7.		2:27:34	August 5	Los Angeles, United States
8.		2:27:40	October 21	Chicago, United States
9.		2:27:51	January 15	Houston, United States
10.		2:28:34	August 5	Los Angeles, United States

International Races

DATE	MARATHON	NATION	MEN'S WINNER	TIME	WOMEN'S WINNER	TIME
February 19	Los Angeles Marathon	United States	Gidamis Shahanga	2:10:19	Jacqueline Gareau	2:31:57
April 14	Rotterdam Marathon	Netherlands	Gidamis Shahanga	2:11:12	Carla Beurskens	2:34:56
April 16	Boston Marathon	United States	Geoff Smith	2:10:34	Lorraine Moller	2:29:28
May 12	Amsterdam Marathon	Netherlands	Gerard Nijboer	2:14:28	Eefje van Wissen	2:43:51
May 12	Paris Marathon	France	Hussein Ahmed Salah	2:11:58	Sylviane Geffray	2:38:20
May 13	London Marathon	United Kingdom	Charlie Spedding	2:09:57	Ingrid Kristiansen	2:24:26
August 5	Olympic Marathon	United States	-	-	Joan Benoit	2:24:52
August 12	Olympic Marathon	United States	Carlos Lopes	2:09:58	-	-
September 30	Berlin Marathon	West Germany	John Skovbjerg	2:13:35	Agnes Jakab	2:39:32
October 21	Chicago Marathon	United States	Stephen Jones	2:08:05	Rosa Mota	2:26:01
December 2	Fukuoka Marathon	Japan	Takeyuki Nakayama	2:10:00	-	-

Births

January

• January 9 - Firehiwot Dado, Ethiopian long-distance runner
• January 10 - Solomon Busendich, Kenyan long-distance runner
• January 14 - Teemu Wirkkala, Finnish javelin thrower
• January 16 - Yuki Yamazaki, Japanese race walker
• January 19 - Jarkko Kinnunen, Finnish race walker
• January 20 - Andriy Yurin, Ukrainian race walker

February

• February 13 - Eric Matthias, British Virgin Islands discus thrower
• February 20 - Zhu Xiaolin, Chinese long-distance runner
• February 22 - Yuki Yamaguchi, Japanese sprinter
• February 25 - Xing Huina, Chinese athlete

March

• March 24 - Lucy Kabuu, Kenyan long distance runner
• March 24 - Jacopo Marin, Italian sprinter
• March 27 - Roman Valiyev, Kazakhstani triple jumper
• March 31 - Anna Pierce, American middle distance runner

April

• April 2 - Germán Lauro, Argentine shot putter
• April 17 - Pavel Kryvitski, Belarusian hammer thrower
• April 19 - Martin Marić, Croatian discus thrower
• April 26 - Petrina Price, Australian high jumper
• April 30 - Yevhen Vynohradov, Ukrainian hammer thrower

May

• May 1 - Louis Tristán, Peruvian long jumper
• May 8 - Andreas Mokdasi, Swedish sprinter
• May 10 - Alana Boyd, Australian pole vaulter

June

• June 17 - Michael Mathieu, Bahamian sprinter
• June 30 - Gretchen Quintana, Cuban heptathlete

July

• July 7 - Inna Poluškina, Latvian long-distance runner
• July 8 - Mariem Alaoui Selsouli, Moroccan middle/long-distance runner
• July 9 - Olusoji Fasuba, Nigerian sprinter
• July 22 - He Dan, Chinese race walker
• July 25 - Javier Culson, Puerto Rican hurdler
• July 26 - Kyriakos Ioannou, Cypriot high jumper

August

• August 4 - Xing Shucai, Chinese race walker

September

• September 3 - David Fiegen, Luxembourgian middle distance runner
• September 9 - Andrey Silnov, Russian high jumper
• September 10 - Ismail Ahmed Ismail, Sudanese runner
• September 26 - Michael Letterlough, Caymanian hammer thrower

October

• October 6 - Adina Anton, Romanian long jumper
• October 14 - Svetlana Bolshakova, Russian-born Belgian triple jumper
• October 24 - Christian Reif, German long jumper.
• October 24 - Sultana Frizell, Canadian hammer thrower
• October 28 - Anyika Onuora, British sprinter

November

• November 10 - Andrej Poljanec, Slovenian pole vaulter
• November 12 - Siraj Gena, Ethiopian long-distance runner

December

• December 15 - Véronique Mang, Cameroon-born French athlete
• December 26 - Alex Schwazer, Italian race walker
• December 28 - Kimberley Mickle, Australian javelin thrower
• December 31 - Mohamed Faraj Al-Kaabi, Qatari hammer thrower

Deaths

• January 10 — Toivo Loukola (81), Finnish athlete (b. 1902)
• March 15 — Ken Carpenter (70), American discus thrower (b. 1913)
• June 1 - Sten Pettersson (81), Swedish hurdler (b. 1902)

References

• Association of Road Racing Statisticians
• Year Rankings