100 metres Backstroke, Women

The East Germans had been dominant in this event since the 1973 World Championships, with the world record still the mark set by Rica Reinisch to win the 1980 Olympics, 1:00.86. Since Moscow, the best American swimmer had been Sue Walsh of the University of North Carolina, the 1983 Pan American champion, but her best years were behind her and she missed the American team at the Trials. The two Americans in the race were Betsy Mitchell, who won the Trials, and Theresa Andrews, who had not been expected to make the team. The Olympic final was led out by Dutchwoman Jolanda de Rover, who was caught at the turn by Romanian Carmen Bunaciu. At 75 metres, Bunaciu had fallen back as the two Americans gained on de Rover. The three touched almost together with Andrews winning gold in 1:02.55, followed by Mitchell in 1:02.63, and de Rover for the bronze in 1:02.91. At the Friendship Games, 24 days later, East German Ina Kleber finally broke Reinisch’s world record, finishing in 1:00.59, a mark that would stand until 1991.