1983 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 1500 metres

None 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. 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 GoldUSA Mary DeckerUnited States (USA)SilverURS Zamira ZaytsevaSoviet Union (URS)BronzeURS Yekaterina PodkopayevaSoviet Union (URS) Records Existing records at the start of the event. World recordTatyana Kazankina URS3:52.47Zürich, SwitzerlandAugust 13, 1980Championship recordNew event Final RANKFINALTIMEImage:Med 1.pngMary Decker USA4:00.90Image:Med 2.pngZamira Zaytseva URS4:01.19Image:Med 3.pngYekaterina Podkopayeva URS4:02.254.Ravilya Agletdinova URS4:02.675.Wendy Sly GBR4:04.146.Doina Melinte ROU 19654:04.427.Gabriella Dorio ITA4:04.738.Brit McRoberts CAN4:05.739.Christina Boxer GBR4:06.7410.Cornelia Bürki SUI4:11.6111.Ivana Kleinová TCH4:15.1212.Maria Radu ROU 19654:19.03 Qualifying heats Held on Friday 1983-08-12 RANKHEAT 1TIME1.Ravilya Agletdinova URS4:10.712.Ivana Kleinová TCH4:10.823.Brit McRoberts CAN4:10.884.Christiane Wartenberg GDR4:10.895.Totka Petrova BUL 19714:12.316.Cindy Bremser USA4:14.107.Kriscia García ESA4:40.218.Bigna Samuel VIN 19794:51.359.Kungu Bakombo ZAI4:54.12 RANKHEAT 2TIME1.Mary Decker USA4:07.472.Zamira Zaytseva URS4:07.643.Wendy Sly GBR4:08.164.Cornelia Bürki SUI4:08.615.Maria Radu ROU 19654:10.156.Marcianne Mukamurenzi RWA 19624:30.587.Vivian Pearson MAW 19645:03.70Aurora Cunha PORDNS RANKHEAT 3TIME1.Yekaterina Podkopayeva URS4:09.392.Gabriella Dorio ITA4:09.453.Doina Melinte ROU 19654:09.714.Christina Boxer GBR4:09.885.Betty Van Steenbroeck BEL4:12.936.Marjo-Riitta Lakka FIN4:22.337.Hala El Moughrabi SYR 19804:45.628.Khadija Al Matari JOR5:01.83Brigitte Kraus FRGDNS References Results (Archived 2009-09-04) Category:1500 metres at the World Athletics Championships