The women's 1500 metres at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea had an entry list of 28 competitors, with two qualifying heats (28) before the final (12) took place on Saturday October 1, 1988.

This was world record pace, rare for a championship race that usually breaks down into a strategic battle.

The second lap was completed in 1:03.26, a ten-metre gap had opened, with Tetyana Samolenko edging past Melinte in chase.

The battle was for the medals behind Ivan, Andrea Hahmann passing Samolenko, who had Christina Cahill on her shoulder with Lynn Williams in chase.

Ivan was unable to find a 60-second lap, but 61.5 was enough to set the Olympic record out of sight with a dominant gold medal performance.