Heptathlon, Women

Defending gold medalist Jackie Joyner-Kersee was back and was still the dominant athlete in event, but she was not at the level she had been in 1988, hampered somewhat by injuries. But she was still had the five best marks ever and besides JJK, only Larisa Nikitina had surpassed 7,000 points, but she was injured and did not compete in Barcelona. Sabine Braun had won the 1991 World Championships, when Joyner-Kersee was injured and did not compete, and also had won the 1990 Europeans. But in Barcelona, Joyner-Kersee won the first event, the 100 hurdles, and led after every event, gradually pulling ahead. Irina Belova moved ahead of Braun after the long jump and held on for the silver medal.