[1] The favorite coming into the Olympics was West German champion and world record holder Hildegard Falck.

She was the pre Olympic favorite to win the gold on home soil, the rest of the field was wide open to claim the other podium spots.

By the end of the first lap the field was tightly packed, Ileana Silai, Vera Nikolić and Svetla Zlateva and three abreast for the lead at 58.31.

At 500 metres, Falck decided to move and slightly accelerated away from Nijolė Sabaitė and Gunhild Hoffmeister but found herself blocked behind the wall.

Sabaitė made a late run at her from a huge deficit, as she came into view, Falck had to accelerate a little to hold her off for a narrow win.