800 metres Wheelchair, Women

Wheelchair racing was held as a demonstration event on the athletics program at the Olympics from 1984-2004. The women raced 800 metres on the track with eight competitors. The women’s event was won by Australian Louise Sauvage, who was born with spina bifida (technically, a myelomeningocele). She won a close race over Americans Jean Driscoll and Cheri Becerra. Sauvage would repeat her victory in this event in 2000. Competing at the Paralympics between 1992-2004, she won nine gold and four silver medals. Driscoll had also placed second in 1992. She would win five golds at the Paralympics, but was better known as a marathon racer, winning the Boston Marathon eight times, with seven consecutive from 1990-96.