How women's 800m race overcame a 32-year ban

Audrey Werro recently missed breaking the long-standing women's 800m record by just 0.42 seconds. Today, the race ranks as one of the most exciting events on the track, but it faced a very different reality in the past. For 32 years, officials banned the women's 800m from the Olympic Games because they claimed female runners were too frail. This history began at the 1928 Olympic Games in Amsterdam, which marked a temporary step forward for women in sports. The Amsterdam Games allowed women to compete in track and field events for the very first time. Organizers added five women's events to the official programme, including the 100m, high jump, discus, 400m hurdles, and the 800m.