4 × 100 metres Relay, Women

The USA and West Germany were not present because of the American inspired boycott. But the best team in the world was still probably the East Germans, which had twice broken the world record within the past month. They were led by Marlies Göhr, silver medalist in the 100, and Bärbel Wöckel, who won the 200 metres in Moskva, as she had in Montréal. The next best team in 1980 was the hometown Soviets, to be led by 100 champion Lyudmila Kondratyeva, but she had pulled a hamstring and could not run the relay. Because of the boycott only eight teams were present and only a final was conducted. The GDR team won easily despite poor baton passes, and lowered their own world record with 41.60.