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| Event type

Discus Throw, Women

Date18 October 1968 — 15:30
StatusOlympic
LocationEstadio Olímpico Universitario, Ciudad de México
Participants16 from 9 countries
FormatFinal only.

In 1967-68, Liesel Westermann (FRG) and Christa Spielberg (GDR) had taken turns bettering the world record with Westermann holding it at 62.54 (205-2¼) prior to México. Westermann’s first world record of 61.26 (201-0) in November 1967 in São Paulo was the first throw over 200 feet. Spielberg had won the 1966 European Championships, with Westermann second. However, both were expecting a challenge from 1960-64 bronze medalist Lia Manoliu. This was her fifth Olympics and she opened with 58.28 (191-2½) which would win the gold medal. Manoliu had only one other fair throw. Rain set in shortly after her best toss, and hampered the other throwers, which helped her mark standup. She would compete again in 1972, her sixth Olympics, the first athlete, male or female, to compete in six Olympics in track & field athletics. She later became President of the Romanian Olympic Committee.

PosNumberCompetitorNOCDistance
1212Lia ManoliuROU58.28GoldOR
215Liesel WestermannFRG57.76Silver
3161Jolán Kleiber-KontsekHUN54.90Bronze
424Anita OttoGDR54.40
5240Antonina PopovaURS53.42
689Olga Fikotová-ConnollyUSA52.96
727Christa SpielbergGDR52.86
82Brigitte BerendonkFRG52.80
9236Lyudmila MuravyovaURS52.26
1021Karin IllgenGDR52.18
11168Judit StugnerHUN52.08
12191Dashzevgiin NamjilmaaMGL50.76
13211Olimpia CataramăROU50.20
1499Carol MosekeUSA48.28
15110Josephine de la ViñaPHI46.56
1639Jean RobertsAUS46.26
DNS179Mary McNeilJAM
DNS162Judit BognárHUN