100 metres Backstroke, Women

East German Kristin Otto was trying to win six gold medals in Seoul, and she had already won the 100 freestyle. She was expected to be challenged in the 100 back by Costa Rican Silvia Poll, who led the world lists in 1987, but Otto qualified first with Poll only sixth. In the final Otto was in command for the entire race and was unchallenged in winning her second gold. About an hour later she returned to the pool with the GDR 4 x 100 free relay team and won her third gold, and she would succeed with her goal to win six gold medals in Seoul.

The silver went to surprising Hungarian Krisztina Egerszegi, who would later win gold in the 200 backstroke and then become the world’s best backstroker. Bronze was won by Otto’s teammate Cornelia Sirch, as Poll placed only sixth.

In qualifying Australian Karen Lord and Italian Manuela Carosi both swam 1:04.69 to tie for 16th place and the last spot in the B final. They swam off the tie, again finishing in the same time, 1:05.05. They continued on, enduring another swim-off, this one won by Carosi in 1:04.62, but narrowly over Lord, who finished in 1:04.75. In the B final, Carosi, swimming her fourth 100 backstroke in the same day, was able to place third, for 11th overall in the event.