Women's 800 Metres World Record on the Brink of Being Broken
Athletes are approaching a long-standing world record in the women's 800 metres event, with several performers setting up for potential record-breaking performances.
The women's 800 metres world record is on the verge of being broken, with several top athletes approaching the current mark set by Jarmila Kratochvilova in 1983.
The world record has stood at 1:53.28 since 26 July 1983, when Kratochvilova achieved it. However, a swag of performers is setting up to potentially break this record.
Athletes Chasing the Record
Several athletes are currently in hot pursuit of Kratochvilova's record, including Audrey Werro, who has become the first woman with two sub-1:54s with 1:53.80 and 1:53.98. Femke Broeders-Bol, a three-time world champion in the 400 metres hurdles, has also improved her personal best progressively from 1:59.07 to 1:57.41, to 1:54.60 and 1:54.54.
Other notable athletes include Georgia Hunter Bell and Keely Hodgkinson, who have both run times under 1:55 in recent competitions. Athing Mu, the 2022 world champion, still ranks in this discussion with her personal best 1:54.97.
Recent Examples of Unbroken Records
The women's 800 metres world record is not the only example of an unbroken record in athletics. Javier Sotomayor's world high jump record, set in 1993, has stood for over 30 years, despite several attempts to break it. Similarly, David Rudisha's 1:40.91 world record in the men's 800 metres has survived several close attempts, including a 1:41.11 run by Emmanuel Wanyonyi in 2024.
Upcoming Competitions
The Diamond League is set to resume, and several top athletes will be competing in events that could potentially break the women's 800 metres world record. The Ultimate Championships in Budapest will also feature several top athletes, and the impact of large prizemoney may dictate more cautious racing.
Relay Gold Medals and First-Round Times
In a separate issue, the writer of this column has expressed a view that relay gold medals should not carry as much weight as individual gold medals. This is particularly relevant in the case of Amy Hunt, who won four gold medals at the European championships, including individual victories in the 100 and 200 metres, as well as relay victories in the women's and mixed 4x100s.
Additionally, the writer has noted that first-round times in the sprint events at the Glasgow and Birmingham Commonwealth Games were hailed as "the fastest ever run in a first round", but this was without the rider that no-one previously has ever had to advance from the heats solely by time.
The first time is always a precedent.
