[1] The world record holder and defending gold medalist Florence Griffith-Joyner had retired.

The returning silver medalist, 35 year old Evelyn Ashford ran fast in the quarterfinals but was eliminated in the semis.

As the world championship silver medalist in the 100 metres hurdles, Gail Devers was known as a hurdler and didn't carry a strong reputation as a sprinter, though she had finished a distant second in Griffith-Joyner's world record race.

Less noticed in lane 2, Devers also got a slight edge on the two Jamaicans and Torrence in the middle of the track.

Four years later, it would be Devers again by inches ahead of Ottey and Torrence to become only the second woman to win the 100 twice in a row.