World Records - 800 m Women
The 800 m Women world record stands at 1:53.28, set by Jarmila Kratochvílová (TCH) in 1983. Explore its full progression through athletics history.
JK
800 mètresWomen
WR
1:53.28WR
TCHTCHJuly 26, 1983
Munich, West Germany
Record standing for: 43 years, 2 months
Record History
| Performance | Athlete | Country | Date | Competitions | Gap vs WR | Duration | Improvement |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1:53.28WR | Jarmila Kratochvílová | TCH | Jul 26, 1983 | Munich, West Germany | WR | 43y 2mo (Current) | -0.22s |
1:53.5 | Nadezhda Olizarenko |  URS | Jul 27, 1980 | Moscow, Soviet Union | +0.22s | 3y | -1.40s |
1:54.9 | Nadezhda Olizarenko | URS | Jun 12, 1980 | Moscow, Soviet Union | +1.62s | 1mo | - |
1:54.9 | Tatyana Kazankina | URS | Jul 26, 1976 | Montreal, Canada | +1.62s | 3y 11mo | -1.10s |
1:56.0 | Valentina Gerasimova | URS | Jun 12, 1976 | Kiev, Soviet Union | +2.72s | 1mo | -1.50s |
1:57.5 | Svetla Zlateva |  BUL | Aug 24, 1973 | Athens, Greece | +4.22s | 2y 10mo | -1.00s |
1:58.5 | Hildegard Falck |  FRG | Jul 11, 1971 | Stuttgart, Germany | +5.22s | 2y 1mo | -2.00s |
2:00.5 | Vera Nikolić |  YUG | Jul 20, 1968 | London, United Kingdom | +7.22s | 3y | -0.50s |
2:01.0 | Judy Pollock |  AUS | Jun 28, 1967 | Helsinki, Finland | +7.72s | 1y 1mo | -0.10s |
2:01.1 | Ann Packer |  GBR | Oct 20, 1964 | Tokyo, Japan | +7.82s | 2y 8mo | -3.20s |
2:04.3 | Natalya Shevtsova | RUS | Sep 7, 1960 | Rome, Italy | +11.02s | 4y 1mo | - |
2:04.3 | Natalya Shevtsova | RUS | Jul 3, 1960 | Moscow, Soviet Union | +11.02s | 2mo | -0.70s |
2:05.0 | Nina Otkalenko | URS | Sep 24, 1955 | Zagreb, Yugoslavia | +11.72s | 4y 10mo | -1.60s |
2:06.6 | Nina Otkalenko | URS | Sep 16, 1954 | Kiev, Soviet Union | +13.32s | 1y | -0.70s |
2:07.3 | Nina Otkalenko | URS | Aug 27, 1953 | Moscow, Soviet Union | +14.02s | 1y 1mo | -1.20s |
2:08.5 | Nina Otkalenko | URS | Jun 15, 1952 | Kiev, Soviet Union | +15.22s | 1y 2mo | -3.50s |
2:12.0 | Nina Otkalenko | URS | Aug 26, 1951 | Minsk, Soviet Union | +18.72s | 10mo | -0.20s |
2:12.2 | Valentina Pomogayeva | URS | Jul 26, 1951 | Moscow, Soviet Union | +18.92s | 1mo | -0.80s |
2:13.0 | Yuliya Vasilyeva | RUS | Jul 17, 1950 | Moscow, Soviet Union | +19.72s | 1y | -0.80s |
2:13.8 | Anna Larsson |  SWE | Aug 30, 1945 | Stockholm, Sweden | +20.52s | 4y 11mo | -1.00s |
2:14.8 | Anna Larsson | SWE | Aug 19, 1945 | Hälsingborg, Sweden | +21.52s | 11d | -1.10s |
2:15.9 | Anna Larsson | SWE | Aug 28, 1944 | Stockholm, Sweden | +22.62s | 1y | -0.90s |
2:16.8 | Lina Radke | GER | Aug 2, 1928 | Amsterdam, Netherlands | +23.52s | 16y | -2.80s |
2:19.6 | Lina Radke | GER | Jul 1, 1928 | Brieg, Germany | +26.32s | 1mo | -0.80s |
2:20.4 | Inga Gentzel | SWE | Jun 16, 1928 | Stockholm, Sweden | +27.12s | 1mo | -3.40s |
2:23.8 | Lina Radke | GER | Aug 7, 1927 | Breslau, Germany | +30.52s | 10mo | - |
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Who holds the 800 m Women world record?
Jarmila Kratochvílová (Czechia) holds the 800 m Women world record with 1:53.28, set on July 26, 1983 in Munich, West Germany.
Who held the 800 m Women world record before Jarmila Kratochvílová?
Nadezhda Olizarenko (Russia) held it with 1:53.5, from July 27, 1980 until July 26, 1983 (2 years).
How many times has the 800 m Women world record been improved?
Elite Trackr's progression lists 25 improvements since 1927, when Lina Radke set 2:23.8.