Swimming at the 1972 Summer Olympics – Women's 800 metre freestyle
Encyclopedia
The women's 800 metre freestyle event at the 1972 Olympic Games
took place between September 2 and 3. This swimming
event used freestyle swimming
, which means that the method of the stroke is not regulated (unlike backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly events). Nearly all swimmers use the front crawl
or a variant of that stroke. Because an Olympic size swimming pool is 50 metres long, this race consisted of sixteen lengths of the pool.
Key: WR = World record
1972 Summer Olympics
The 1972 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from August 26 to September 11, 1972....
took place between September 2 and 3. This swimming
Swimming (sport)
Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...
event used freestyle swimming
Freestyle swimming
Freestyle is an unregulated swimming style used in swimming competitions according to the rules of FINA. The front crawl stroke is almost universally used during a freestyle race, as this style is generally the fastest...
, which means that the method of the stroke is not regulated (unlike backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly events). Nearly all swimmers use the front crawl
Front crawl
The front crawl, forward crawl, or freestyle is a swimming stroke usually regarded as the fastest of the four front primary strokes. As such, the front crawl stroke is nearly universally used during a freestyle swimming competition, hence the synonymously used term "freestyle". It is one of two...
or a variant of that stroke. Because an Olympic size swimming pool is 50 metres long, this race consisted of sixteen lengths of the pool.
Medalists
Final
| Rank | Athlete | Country | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Keena Rothhammer Keena Rothhammer Keena Rothhammer is a former freestyle swimmer from the United States. She is Jewish.... |
8:53.68 | WR | |
 |
Shane Gould Shane Gould Shane Elizabeth Gould, MBE is an Australian former swimmer who won three gold medals, a silver and bronze in 1972 Summer Olympics. It was the greatest performance by an Australian at a single Olympics.-Biography:... |
8:56.39 | ||
 |
Novella Calligaris Novella Calligaris Novella Calligaris is an Italian retired swimmer, and the first Italian swimmer to win an Olympic medal in swimming.... |
8:57.46 | ||
| 4 | Ann Simmons | 8:57.62 | ||
| 5 | Gudrun Wegner | 8:58.89 | ||
| 6 | Jo Harshbarger Jo Harshbarger Jo Ann Harshbarger is a former American swimmer. Harshbarger competed at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich and is a former world record holder in the 800 and 1500 m freestyle.-References:... |
9:01.21 | ||
| 7 | Hansje Bunschoten Hansje Bunschoten Hansje Bunschoten is a former freestyle swimmer from the Netherlands, who competed for her native country at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, West Germany... |
9:16.69 | ||
| 8 | Narelle Moras | 9:19.06 |
Key: WR = World record