[1] Favorites for the title were 1991 Tokyo World Championships gold medallist Liliya Nurutdinova for the Unified Team, Ana Quirot (Cuba), and Africa's hopeful, 19-year old Maria Mutola (Mozambique).

Dutch runner Ellen van Langen had set the fastest time of the season prior to the Games.

[2][3][4] Pressured by Mutola, Quirot and Ella Kovacs (Romania), Nurutdinova led the final from the start.

Entering the final stretch she had a slight lead, but Van Langen, only fifth at 600 meters, moved through on the inside.

If the Olympic race would have been run by each athlete individual and the fastest time was the winner I would not have won,” she added.