The 100 meters is one of the 5 original track and field events added to the Olympic track and field program for women in 1928. Since then, athletes representing Australia, Belarus, Federal Republic of Germany, German Democratic Republic, Jamaica, Netherlands, Poland, Soviet Union, and the United States have won the event. Americans have won the Olympic 100 meters final 9 times, the most by any nation. Americans Wyomia Tyus and Gail Devers won the event twice, the only performers to do so, in 1964 and 1968, and in 1992 and 1996, respectively.
Seven (7) athletes have won more than 1 medal in the history of the event. Gail Devers and Wyomia Tyus (United States) lead the individual medal count with 2 gold medals each, followed by Evelyn Ashford (United States) with 2 (1 gold, 1 silver), Renate Stecher (German Democratic Republic) with 2 (1 gold, 1 silver), Stanislawa Walasiewicz (Poland) with 2 (1 gold, 1 silver), Merlene Ottey (Jamaica) with 2 (1 silver, 1 bronze), and Shirley Strickland (Australia) with 2 bronze medals.
Seventeen (17) nations/teams have won medals in the 100 meters. The United States leads the medal count with 17 (9 gold, 6 silver, 2 bronze), followed by Jamaica with 8 (1 gold, 4 silver, 3 bronze), Australia with 6 (2 gold, 1 silver, 3 bronze), the German Democratic Republic with 5 (1 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze), Poland with 4 medals (1 gold, I silver, 2 bronze), Canada with 3 (2 silver, 1 bronze), the Federal Republic of Germany with 2 (1 gold, 1 bronze), Great Britain with 2 silver, Germany with 2 (1 silver, 1 bronze), Belarus with 1 gold, Netherlands with 1 gold, Soviet Union with 1 gold, Greece with 1 silver, South Africa with 1 silver, the Commonwealth of Independent States with 1 bronze, Cuba with 1 bronze, and Italy with 1 bronze medal.
Twenty-seven (27) nations/teams have scored points in the 100 meters. The United States leads scoring with 205 points, followed by Jamaica (90), Australia (67), the German Democratic Republic (43), Great Britain (38), Germany (36), Canada (35), Poland (32), Federal Republic of Germany (20), Soviet Union (18), Bahamas (15), Cuba (12), Belarus (10), Italy (10), Netherlands (10), Bulgaria (9), Greece (8), South Africa (8), Russia (7), the Commonwealth of Independent States (6), France (6), Sweden (5), Ukraine (5), Nigeria (4), Ghana (3), Taipei (2), and Czechoslovakia (1).
(Points for Place: 1st=10 points; 2nd=8 points; 3rd=6 points; 4th=5 points; 5th=4 points; 6th=3 points; 7th=2 points; 8th=1 point)
Olympic and world records noted are the records immediately before the final, including marks established in the qualifying rounds.
1928 Amsterdam (July 31)
World Record: 12.0 Myrtle Cook (Canada) July 2, 1928
Olympic Record: 12.4 Bobbie Rosenfeld (Canada); Elizabeth Robinson (United States) July 30, 1928
1, Elizabeth Robinson (United States) 12.2 OR
2, Fanny “Bobbie” Rosenfeld (Canada) 12.3
3, Ethel Smith (Canada) 12.3
4, Erna Steinberg (Germany) 12.4
DQ, Myrtle Cook (Canada) False Start
DQ, Helene “Leni” Schmidt (Germany) False Start
1932 Los Angeles (August 2)
World Record: 11.9 Tollien Schuurman (Netherlands) June 5, 1932, Stanislawa Walasiewicz (Poland) August 1, 1932 (2)
Olympic Record: 11.9 Stanislawa Walasiewicz (Poland) August 1, 1932 (2)
1, Stanislawa Walasiewicz (Poland) 11.9 =WR, OR
2, Hilda Strike (Canada) 11.9 =WR, OR
3, Wilhelmina “Billie” Von Bremen (United States) 12.0
4, Marie Dolliner (Germany) 12.2
5, Eileen Hiscock (Great Britain/England) 12.3
6, Elizabeth Wilde (United States) 12.3
1936 Berlin (August 4)
World Record: 11.6 Helen Stephens (United States) June 8, 1935
Olympic Record: 11.9 Stanislawa Walasiewicz (Poland) August 1, 1932 (2); 11.9 Stanislawa Walasiewicz (Poland) August 2, 1932; Hilda Strike (Canada) August 2, 1932
1, Helen Stephens (United States) 11.5w
2, Stanislawa Walasiewicz (Poland) 11.7w
3, Kathe Krauss (Germany) 11.9w
4, Marie Dolliner (Germany) 12.0w
5, Annette Rogers (United States) 12.2w
6, Emmy Albus (Germany) 12.3w
1948 London (August 2)
World Record: 11.5 Fanny Blankers-Koen (Netherlands) June 13, 1948
Olympic Record: 11.9 Stanislawa Walasiewicz (Poland) August 1, 1932 (2); 11.9 Stanislawa Walasiewicz (Poland) August 2, 1932; Hilda Strike (Canada) August 2, 1932
1, Francina “Fanny” Blankers-Koen (Netherlands) 11.9 =OR
2, Dorothy Manley (Great Britain/England) 12.2
3, Shirley Strickland (Australia) 12.2
4, Viola Myers (Canada) 12.3 (estimated)
5, Pat Jones (Canada) 12.3 (estimated)
6, Cynthia Thompson (Jamaica) 12.4 (estimated)
1952 Helsinki (July 22)
World Record: 11.5 Fanny Blankers-Koen (Netherlands) June 13, 1948
Olympic Record: 11.5 Marjorie Jackson (Australia) July 22, 1952
1, Marjorie Jackson (Australia) 11.5 =WR, OR
2, Daphne Hasenjager (South Africa) 11.8
3, Shirley Strickland (Australia) 11.9
4, Winsome Cripps (Australia) 11.9
5, Maria Sander (Germany) 12.0
6, Mae Faggs (United States) 12.1
1956 Melbourne (November 26)
World Record: 11.3 Shirley Strickland (Australia) August 4, 1955
Olympic Record: 11.4 Elizabeth Cuthbert (Australia) November 24, 1956
1, Elizabeth Cuthbert (Australia) 11.5
2, Christa Stubnick (Germany/German Democratic Republic) 11.7
3, Marlene Matthews (Australia) 11.7
4, Isabelle Daniels (United States) 11.8
5, Giuseppina Leone (Italy) 11.9
6, Heather Armitage (Great Britain/England) 12.0
1960 Rome (September 2)
World Record: 11.3 Shirley Strickland (Australia) August 4, 1955; Vera Krepkina (Soviet Union) September 13, 1958; Wilma Rudolph (United States) September 2, 1960
Olympic Record: 11.3 Wilma Rudolph (United States) September 2, 1960
1, Wilma Rudolph (United States) 11.0w
2, Dorothy Hyman (Great Britain/England) 11.3w
3, Giuseppina Leone (Italy) 11.3w
4, Maria Itkina (Soviet Union/Russia) 11.4w
5, Catherine Capdeville (France) 11.5w
6, Jennifer Smart (Great Britain/England) 12.0w
1964 Tokyo (October 16)
World Record: 11.2 Wilma Rudolph (United States) July 19, 1961, Wyomia Tyus (United States) October 15, 1964
Olympic Record: 11.2 Wyomia Tyus (United States) October 15, 1964
1, Wyomia Tyus (United States) 11.4 (11.49)
2, Edith McGuire (United States) 11.6 (11.62)
3, Ewa Klobukowska (Poland) 11.6 (11.64)
4, Marilyn White (United States) 11.6 (11.67)
5, Miguelina Cobain (Cuba) 11.7 (11.72)
6, Marilyn Black (Australia) 11.7 (11.73)
7, Halina Gorecka (Poland) 11.8 (11.83)
8, Dorothy Hyman (Great Britain/England) 11.9 (11.90)
1968 Mexico City (October 15)
World Record: 11.1 Barbara Ferrell (United States); Irena Szewinska (Poland) October 14, 1968
Olympic Record: 11.1 Barbara Ferrell (United States); Irena Szewinska (Poland) October 14, 1968
1, Wyomia Tyus (United States) 11.0 (11.08) (A) WR, OR
2, Barbara Ferrell (United States) 11.1 (11.15)
3, Irena Szewinska (Kirszenstein) (Poland) 11.1 (11.19)
4, Raelene Boyle (Australia) 11.1 (11.20)
5, Margaret Bailes (United States) 11.3 (11.37)
6, Dianne Burg (Australia) 11.4 (11.44)
7, Chi Cheng (Taipei) 11.5 (11.53)
8, Miguelina Cobain (Cuba) 11.6 (11.61)
1972 Munich (September 2)
World Record: 11.0 (11.22) Chi Cheng (Taipei) July 18, 1970; Renate Meissner (German Democratic Republic) August 2, 1970; Renate Stecher (Meissner) (German Democratic Republic) July 3, 1971; Renate Stecher (German Democratic Republic) June 3, 1972; Ellen Stropohl (German Democratic Republic) June 15, 1972; Eva Gleskova (Czechoslovakia) June 7, 1972
Olympic Record: 11.1 Barbara Ferrell (United States); Irena Szewinska (Poland) October 14, 1968
1, Renate Stecher (German Democratic Republic) 11.07 (WR, OR)
2, Raelene Boyle (Australia) 11.23
3, Silvia Chivas (Cuba) 11.24
4, Iris Davis (United States) 11.32
5, Annegret Richter (Federal Republic of Germany) 11.38
6, Alica Annum (Ghana) 11.41
7, Barbara Ferrell (United States) 11.45
8, Eva Gleskova (Czechoslovakia) 12.48
1976 Montreal (July 25)
World Record: 11.01 Annegret Richter (Federal Republic of Germany) July 25, 1976
Olympic Record: 11.01 Annegret Richter (Federal Republic of Germany) July 25, 1976
1, Annegret Richter (Federal Republic of Germany) 11.08
2, Renate Stecher (German Democratic Republic) 11.13
3, Inge Helten (Federal Republic of Germany) 11.17
4, Raelene Boyle (Australia) 11.23
5, Evelyn Ashford (United States) 11.24
6, Chandra Cheeseborough (United States) 11.31
7, Andrea Lynch (Great Britain/England) 11.32
8, Marlies Oelsner (German Democratic Republic) 11.34
1980 Moscow (July 26)
World Record: 10.88 Marlies Gohr (Oelsner) (German Democratic Republic) July 1, 1977
Olympic Record: 11.01 Annegret Richter (Federal Republic of Germany) July 25, 1976
1, Lyudmila Kondratyeva (Soviet Union/Russia) 11.06
2, Marlies Gohr (Oelsner) (German Democratic Republic) 11.07
3, Ingrid Auerswald (German Democratic Republic) 11.14
4, Linda Haglund (Sweden) 11.16
5, Romy Muller (German Democratic Republic) 11.16
6, Kathy Smallwood (Great Britain/England) 11.28
7, Chantal Rega (France) 11.32
8, Heather Hunte (Great Britain/England) 11.34
1984 Los Angeles (August 5)
World Record: 10.88 Marlies Gohr (Oelsner) (German Democratic Republic) July 1, 1977
Olympic Record: 11.01 Annegret Richter (Federal Republic of Germany) July 25, 1976
1, Evelyn Ashford (United States) 10.97 OR
2, Alice Brown (United States) 11.13
3, Merlene Ottey-Page (Jamaica) 11.16
4, Jeanette Boldon (United States) 11.25
5, Grace Jackson (Jamaica) 11.39
6, Angela Bailey (Canada) 11.40
7, Heather Oakes (Hunte) (Great Britain/England) 11.43
8, Angela Taylor (Canada) 11.62
1988 Seoul (September 25)
World Record: 10.49 Florence Griffith-Joyner (United States) July 16, 1988
Olympic Record: 10.62 Florence Griffith-Joyner (United States) September 24, 1988
1, Florence Griffith-Joyner (United States) 10.54w
2, Evelyn Ashford (United States) 10.83w
3, Heike Drechsler (Daute) (German Democratic Republic) 10.85w
4, Grace Jackson (Jamaica) 10.97w
5, Gwen Torrance (United States) 10.97w
6, Natalya Pomoschnikova (Soviet Union/Russia) 11.00w
7, Juliet Cuthbert (Jamaica) 11.26w
8, Anelia Vechernikova (Bulgaria) 11.49w
1992 Barcelona (August 1)
World Record: 10.49 Florence Griffith-Joyner (United States) July 16, 1988
Olympic Record: 10.62 Florence Griffith-Joyner (United States) September 24, 1988
1, Gail Devers (United States) 10.82
2, Juliet Cuthbert (Jamaica) 10.83
3, Irina Privalova (Commonwealth of Independent States) 10.84
4, Gwen Torrance (United States) 10.86
5, Merlene Ottey (Jamaica) 10.86
6, Anelia Nuneva (Vechernikova) (Bulgaria) 11.10
7, Mary Onyali (Nigeria) 11.15
8, Liliana Allen (Cuba) 11.19
1996 Atlanta (July 27)
World Record: 10.49 Florence Griffith-Joyner (United States) July 16, 1988
Olympic Record: 10.62 Florence Griffith-Joyner (United States) September 24, 1988
1, Gail Devers (United States) 10.94
2, Merlene Ottey (Jamaica) 10.94
3, Gwen Torrance (United States) 10.96
4, Chandra Sturrup (Bahamas) 11.00
5, Marina Trandenkova (Russia) 11.06
6, Natalya Voronova (Russia) 11.10
7, Mary Onyali (Nigeria) 11.13
8, Zhanna Pintusevych (Ukraine) 11.14
2000 Sydney (September 24)
World Record: 10.49 Florence Griffith-Joyner (United States) July 16, 1988
Olympic Record: 10.62 Florence Griffith-Joyner (United States) September 24, 1988
1, Vacant
2, Ekaterini Thanou (Greece) 11.12
2, Tanya Lawrence (Jamaica) 11.18
3, Merlene Ottey (Jamaica) 11.19
4, Zhanna Pintusevych (Ukraine) 11.20
5, Chandra Sturrup (Bahamas) 11.21
6, Sevatheda Fynes (Bahamas) 11.22
7, Debbie Ferguson (Bahamas) 11.29
DQ, Marion Jones (United States) (10.75) Doping
2004 Athens (August 21)
World Record: 10.49 Florence Griffith-Joyner (United States) July 16, 1988
Olympic Record: 10.62 Florence Griffith-Joyner (United States) September 24, 1988
1, Yuliya Nesterenko (Belarus) 10.93
2, Lauryn Williams (United States) 10.96
3, Veronica Campbell (Jamaica) 10.97
4, Ivet Lalova (Bulgaria) 11.00
5, Aleen Bailey (Jamaica) 11.05
6, Sherone Simpson (Jamaica) 11.07
7, Debbie Ferguson (Bahamas) 11.16
8, LaTasha Colander-Richardson (United States) 11.18
2008 Beijing (August 17)
World Record: 10.49 Florence Griffith-Joyner (United States) July 16, 1988
Olympic Record: 10.62 Florence Griffith-Joyner (United States) September 24, 1988
1, Shelly-Ann Fraser (Jamaica) 10.78
2, Kerron Stewart (Jamaica) 10.98
2, Sherone Simpson (Jamaica) 10.98
4, Lauryn Williams (United States) 11.03
5, Muna Lee (United States) 11.07
6, Jeanette Kwakle (Great Britain/England) 11.14
7, Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie (Bahamas) 11.19
8, Torri Edwards (United States) 11.20
References:
Athletics Women’s 100 Metres, Sports Reference/Olympic Sports
International Association of Athletic Federations, IAAF Statistics Handbook Daegu 2011, Part IV (IAAF Media & Public Relations Department, 2011)
Wallechchinsky, David, and Jaime Loucky, The Complete Book of the Olympics: 2012 Edition (London: Aurum Press, 2012)
