This article contains an overview of the year 1984 in the sport of athletics.

International Events African Championships in Rabat, Morocco Balkan Games in Athens, Greece European Indoor Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden World Cross Country Championships in New York, United States Olympic Games in Los Angeles, United States

World records

Men EventAthleteMarkDateVenue10,000 metres27:13.812 JulyStockholm, Sweden4 × 100 m Relay• Sam Graddy• Ron Brown• Calvin Smith• Carl Lewis37.83August 11Los AngelesHigh Jump2.39mJune 10Eberstadt, West GermanyPole vault5.85m26 MayBratislava, Czechoslovakia5.88m2 JuneParis, France5.90m13 JulyLondon5.91m31 AugustRome, Italy5.94m31 AugustRome, ItalyHammer86.34m3 JulyCork, IrelandJavelin (old)104.80m20 JulyBerlin, East GermanyDecathlon88328-9 JuneMannheim, West Germany88478-9 AugustLos Angeles, United StatesMarathon2:08:0521 OctoberChicago, United States

Women EVENTATHLETEMARKDATEVENUE100 metres10.7622 AugustZürichMile4:15.85 AugustLeningrad2000 metres5:28.724 AugustMoscow3,000 metres8:22.6226 AugustLeningrad5,000 metres15:01.835 JanuaryStellenbosch14:58.8928 JuneOslo10,000 metres31:13.7824 JuneKiev400m Hurdles53.5822 JuneKiev4 × 400 m Relay• Gesine Walther• Sabine Busch• Dagmar Neubauer• Marita Koch3:15.923 JuneErfurt4 × 800 m Relay• Nadiya Olizarenko• Lyubov Gurina• Lyudmila Borisova• Irina Podyalovskaya7:50.175 AugustMoscowHigh Jump2.05m22 JuneKiev2.07m20 JulyBerlinShot Put22.5327 MaySochiDiscus Throw73.3618 AugustPrague74.5626 AugustNitraHeptathlon69465-6 MayPotsdamHalf Marathon1:08:3416 SeptemberPhiladelphia

Marita Koch (GDR) equals her own world record in the women's 200 metres held since 1979-06-10, clocking 21.71 seconds on 1984-07-21 at a meet in Potsdam.

Men's Best Year Performers

100 metres Main race this year: Olympic Games 100 metres RANKATHLETETIMEDATEVENUE1.9.96May 5Athens, United States2.9.99May 6Houston, United States3.10.00June 9Warsaw, Poland4.10.09May 12Baton Rouge, United States—10.09August 22Zürich, Switzerland

200 metres Main race this year: Olympic Games 200 metres RANKATHLETETIMEDATEVENUE1.19.80August 8Los Angeles, United States2.19.96August 8Los Angeles, United States3.20.07May 5Indianapolis, United States420.07October 3Brindisi, Italy5.20.26August 8Los Angeles, United States

400 metres Main race this year: Olympic Games 400 metres RANKATHLETETIMEDATEVENUE1.44.27August 8Los Angeles, United States2.44.54August 8Los Angeles, United States3.44.71June 21Los Angeles, United States4.44.75August 8Los Angeles, United States—44.75August 8Los Angeles, United States

800 metres Main race this year: Olympic Games 800 metres RANKATHLETETIMEDATEVENUE1.1:41.77August 26Köln, West Germany2.1:42.28August 26Köln, West Germany3.1:42.96August 29Koblenz, West Germany4.1:43.63August 29Koblenz, West Germany5.1:43.64August 6Los Angeles, United States

1,500 metres Main race this year: Olympic Games 1,500 metres RANKATHLETETIMEDATEVENUE1.3:31.54July 6Hengelo, Netherlands2.3:32.39August 22Zürich, Switzerland3.3:33.13August 20Budapest, Hungary4.3:33.46August 22Zürich, Switzerland5.3:33.64August 22Zürich, Switzerland

5,000 metres Main race this year: Olympic Games 5,000 metres RANKATHLETETIMEDATEVENUE1.13:04.78June 13Florence, Italy2.13:07.54August 11Los Angeles, United States3.13:09.20August 11Los Angeles, United States4.13:10.08June 13Florence, Italy5.13:11.50August 11Los Angeles, United States

10,000 metres Main race this year: Olympic Games 10,000 metres RANKATHLETETIMEDATEVENUE1.27:13.81July 2Stockholm, Sweden2.27:17.48July 2Stockholm, Sweden3.27:33.10May 5Potsdam, East Germany4.27:40.56July 2Stockholm, Sweden5.27:41.75June 13Florence, Italy

Half Marathon RANKATHLETETIMEDATEVENUE1.1:01:52May 6Milan, Italy

110m Hurdles Main race this year: Olympic Games 110m Hurdles RANKATHLETETIMEDATEVENUE1.13.15August 22Zürich, Switzerland2.13.16August 22Zürich, Switzerland3.13.23May 13Westwood, United States4.13.27July 25Walnut, United States5.13.35August 5Los Angeles, United States

400m Hurdles Main race this year: Olympic Games 400m Hurdles RANKATHLETETIMEDATEVENUE1.47.32August 29Koblenz, West Germany2.47.69July 10Lausanne, Switzerland3.48.02June 17Los Angeles, United States4.48.16June 17Los Angeles, United States5.48.28June 18Los Angeles, United States

3,000m Steeplechase Main race this year: Olympic Games 3,000m Steeplechase RANKATHLETETIMEDATEVENUE1.8:07.62August 24Brussels, Belgium2.8:09.18August 24Brussels, Belgium3.8:11.80August 10Los Angeles, United States4.8:13.16August 29Koblenz, West Germany5.8:13.78July 21Oslo, Norway

High Jump Main competition this year: Olympic Games High Jump RANKATHLETEHEIGHTDATEVENUE1.2.39June 10Eberstadt, West Germany2.2.37February 24West Berlin, West GermanySeptember 2Rieti, Italy4.2.36February 1Milan, ItalyMay 5Tashkent, Soviet UnionJune 10Eberstadt, West Germany

Long Jump Main competition this year: Olympic Games Long Jump RANKATHLETEDISTANCEDATEVENUE1.8.79January 27New York, United States2.8.59September 5Rhede, United States3.8.50July 27Dresden, East Germany4.8.38August 17Moscow, Soviet Union5.8.37August 17Moscow, Soviet Union

Triple Jump Main competition this year: Olympic Games Triple Jump RANKATHLETEDISTANCEDATEVENUE1.17.52June 21Kiev, Soviet Union2.17.50June 10Sochi, Soviet UnionJune 17Los Angeles, United States4.17.47July 19Moscow, Soviet Union5.17.45August 26Cologne, West Germany

Discus Main competition this year: Olympic Games Discus Throw RANKATHLETEDISTANCEDATEVENUE1.71.26June 9San José, United StatesNovember 15Malmö, Sweden3.70.98July 21Eugene, United States4.70.44June 9San José, United States5.70.26September 8Cagliari, Italy

Hammer RANKATHLETEDISTANCEDATEVENUE1.86.34July 3Cork City, Ireland2.85.20July 3Cork City, Ireland3.84.40September 9Banská Bystrica, Slovakia4.82.56August 17Moscow, Soviet Union5.81.52June 11Tampere, Finland

Shot Put Main competition this year: Olympic Games Shot Put RANKATHLETEDISTANCEDATEVENUE1.22.19May 26San José, United States2.22.09August 23Stayki, Soviet Union3.22.04June 11Rehlingen, United States4.21.92June 2Eugene, United States5.21.76June 2Eugene, United States

Javelin Main competition this year: Olympic Games Javelin Throw RANKATHLETEDISTANCEDATEVENUE1.104.80July 20East Berlin, East Germany2.93.68June 2Erfurt, East Germany3.93.44June 18Los Angeles, United States4.93.42July 1Pihtipudas, Finland5.92.42April 6Austin, United States

Pole Vault Main competition this year: Olympic Games Pole Vault RANKATHLETEHEIGHTDATEVENUE1.5.94August 31Rome, Italy2.5.91August 31Rome, Italy3.5.85June 22Kiev, Soviet Union4.5.82July 21Eugene, United StatesAugust 20Budapest, Hungary

Decathlon Main competition this year: Olympic Games Decathlon RANKATHLETEPOINTSDATEVENUE1.8798June 9Mannheim, West GermanyAugust 9Los Angeles, United States3.8704July 21Potsdam, East Germany4.8652June 22Moscow, Soviet Union5.8642June 3Neubrandenburg, DDR

Women's Best Year Performers

100 metres Main race this year: Olympic Games 100 metres RANK1984 WORLD BEST PERFORMERSTIME1.10.762.10.843.10.994.11.015.11.02

200 metres Main race this year: Olympic Games 200 metres RANK1984 WORLD BEST PERFORMERSTIME1.21.712.21.743.21.814.21.855.22.04

400 metres Main race this year: Olympic Games 400 metres RANK1984 WORLD BEST PERFORMERSTIME1.48.162.48.733.48.834.48.985.49.02

800 metres Main race this year: Olympic Games 800 metres RANK1984 WORLD BEST PERFORMERSTIME1.1:55.692.1:56.093.1:56.264.1:56.535.1:56.78

1,500 metres Main race this year: Olympic Games 1,500 metres RANK1984 WORLD BEST PERFORMERSTIME1.3:56.632.3:56.653.3:57.224.3:57.705.3:57.72

Mile RANK1984 WORLD BEST PERFORMERSTIME1.4:15.82.4:21.783.4:22.644.4:22.925.4:24.57

3,000 metres Main race this year: Olympic Games 3,000 metres RANK1984 WORLD BEST PERFORMERSTIME1.8:22.622.8:29.593.8:32.04.8:33.575.8:34.91

5,000 metres RANK1984 WORLD BEST PERFORMERSTIME1.14:58.892.15:01.833.15:09.074.15:22.505.15:22.76

10,000 metres RANK1984 WORLD BEST PERFORMERSTIME1.31:13.782.31:15.003.31:53.534.31:56.015.31:56.02

Half Marathon RANK1984 WORLD BEST PERFORMERSTIME1.1:08:34

100m Hurdles Main race this year: Olympic Games 100m Hurdles RANK1984 WORLD BEST PERFORMERSTIME1.12.432.12.504.12.535.12.54

400m Hurdles Main race this year: Olympic Games 400m Hurdles RANK1984 WORLD BEST PERFORMERSTIME1.53.582.53.673.54.344.54.435.54.56

High Jump Main competition this year: Olympic Games High Jump RANK1984 WORLD BEST PERFORMERSHEIGHT1.2.072.2.053.2.024.2.00

Long Jump Main competition this year: Olympic Games Long Jump RANK1984 WORLD BEST PERFORMERSDISTANCE1.7.402.7.293.7.274.7.215.7.12

Discus Main competition this year: Olympic Games Discus Throw RANK1984 WORLD BEST PERFORMERSDISTANCE1.74.562.73.363.73.284.73.105.72.32

Shot Put Main competition this year: Olympic Games Shot Put RANK1984 WORLD BEST PERFORMERSDISTANCE1.22.532.21.853.21.604.21.535.21.32

Javelin (old design) Main competition this year: Olympic Games Javelin Throw RANK1984 WORLD BEST PERFORMERSDISTANCE1.74.722.74.243.72.704.72.165.71.68

Heptathlon Main competition this year: Olympic Games Heptathlon RANK1984 WORLD BEST PERFORMERSPOINTS1.69462.68593.68034.67895.6775

Marathon

Year Rankings

Men RANKATHLETETIMEDATEVENUE1.2:08:05 WROctober 21Chicago, United States2.2:09:06October 21Chicago, United States3.2:09:09October 21Chicago, United States4.2:09:14July 21East Berlin, East Germany5.2:09:21August 12Los Angeles, United States6.2:09:30July 21East Berlin, East Germany7.2:09:41March 31Port Elizabeth, South Africa8.2:09:56August 12Los Angeles, United States9.2:09:57May 13London, United Kingdom10.2:09:58August 12Los Angeles, United States

Women RANKATHLETETIMEDATEVENUE1.2:24:26 WRMay 13London, United Kingdom2.2:24:52August 5Los Angeles, United States3.2:26:01October 21Chicago, United States4.2:26:18August 5Los Angeles, United States5.2:26:52July 21East Berlin, East Germany6.2:26:57August 5Los Angeles, United States7.2:27:34August 5Los Angeles, United States8.2:27:40October 21Chicago, United States9.2:27:51January 15Houston, United States10.2:28:34August 5Los Angeles, United States

International Races DATEMARATHONNATIONMEN'S WINNERTIMEWOMEN'S WINNERTIMEFebruary 19Los Angeles Marathon United States Gidamis Shahanga2:10:19 Jacqueline Gareau2:31:57April 14Rotterdam Marathon Netherlands Gidamis Shahanga2:11:12 Carla Beurskens2:34:56April 16Boston Marathon United States Geoff Smith2:10:34 Lorraine Moller2:29:28May 12Amsterdam Marathon Netherlands Gerard Nijboer2:14:28 Eefje van Wissen2:43:51May 12Paris Marathon France Hussein Ahmed Salah2:11:58 Sylviane Geffray2:38:20May 13London Marathon United Kingdom Charlie Spedding2:09:57 Ingrid Kristiansen2:24:26August 5Olympic Marathon United States—— Joan Benoit2:24:52August 12Olympic Marathon United States Carlos Lopes2:09:58——September 30Berlin Marathon West Germany John Skovbjerg2:13:35 Agnes Jakab2:39:32October 21Chicago Marathon United States Stephen Jones2:08:05 Rosa Mota2:26:01December 2Fukuoka Marathon Japan Takeyuki Nakayama2:10:00——

Births

January January 9 — Firehiwot Dado, Ethiopian long-distance runner January 10 — Solomon Busendich, Kenyan long-distance runner January 14 — Teemu Wirkkala, Finnish javelin thrower January 16 — Yuki Yamazaki, Japanese race walker January 19 — Jarkko Kinnunen, Finnish race walker January 20 — Andriy Yurin, Ukrainian race walker

February February 13 — Eric Matthias, British Virgin Islands discus thrower February 20 — Zhu Xiaolin, Chinese long-distance runner February 22 — Yuki Yamaguchi, Japanese sprinter February 25 — Xing Huina, Chinese athlete

March March 24 — Lucy Kabuu, Kenyan long distance runner March 24 — Jacopo Marin, Italian sprinter March 27 — Roman Valiyev, Kazakhstani triple jumper March 31 — Anna Pierce, American middle distance runner

April April 2 — Germán Lauro, Argentine shot putter April 17 — Pavel Kryvitski, Belarusian hammer thrower April 19 — Martin Marić, Croatian discus thrower April 26 — Petrina Price, Australian high jumper April 30 — Yevhen Vynohradov, Ukrainian hammer thrower

May