Australian athlete Marjorie Jackson, who had already won the final in the 100 metres event, earned a second gold medal while setting two world records along the way.

[1] Stanisława Walasiewicz (Stella Walsh)'s world record had stood through the war for almost 17 years.

The defending champion Fanny Blankers-Koen was in Helsinki, but was suffering from skin boils.

In the next race on the track, Marjorie Jackson equalled the world record of 23.6, with experimental fully automatic timing giving her a 23.73.

Five steps after the gun, she had already made up the stagger on Bertha "Puck" Brouwer in lane 3.