The Women's Long Jump at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea had an entry list of 32 competitors, with two qualifying groups (32 jumpers) before the final (12) took place on Thursday September 29, 1988.

Galina Chistyakova had set the still standing world record just a few months earlier, breaking up a log jam.

Chistyakova's Soviet teammates Yelena Belevskaya and Inessa Kravets were the #5 and #7 jumpers of all time.

On advice from her coach and husband Bob Kersee, Joyner-Kersee moved her marks back and went for broke in the fifth round, the result was the 7.40 m (24 ft 3+1⁄4 in) winner and new Olympic record.

Later that same afternoon, she raced to a bronze medal in the 200 metres, behind Joyner-Kersee's sister in law, Florence Griffith Joyner's still standing world record.