This was the eighteenth time that the women's 800 metres is contested at the Summer Olympics.

Most of the remaining players apart from Mu had made it to Paris, but a number, notable Hodgkinson's Great Britain teammate Jemma Reekie, failed to make the final.

As the other competitors merged, Hodgkinson joined the lead on the outside, with Duguma hugging the rail.

Coming onto the home stretch the first time, Hodgkinson took the lead, running on the outside of lane 1, Duguma on the inside and Moraa on the outside forming an arrowhead on the front.

The three stayed largely in formation at the front until they went down the backstretch when Moraa moved ahead of Duguma and around the turn, up to Hodgkinson's shoulder looking to out-sprint her.