The 200 meter sprint for women has been a popular event among the viewers and the athletes. The event has produced great athletes like Irena Szewinska and Marlies Gohr.
Debut in Olympics
The 200 meter sprint event for women made its debut at the 1948 London Summer Games. Thereafter, the event has been held regularly at the Olympics.
Venue of the Race
The race is organized on a track with 400 meter length, beginning on the curve and ending on a straight lane. The event demands not only speed from the athletes but also attributes like flexibility, endurance and conditioning.
Rules
- The track is made using such substance, which allows the sprinters to run with spiked shoes.
- Only IAAF certified automatic time measurement devices should be used.
- Any sprinter who has failed to finish the race will not be given any credit.
- In case the competitors are more than ten, preliminary heat races have to be organized. Top ten of the preliminary heat round will compete in the next round.
- The length and width of every lane on the track should be as per the specification of International Association of Athletes Federation (IAAF).
- Sprinters are not allowed to run inside the inner curve of the track. If an athlete violates the curve, she will be disqualified.
- An athlete should not obstruct the path of her fellow athlete in any manner or she will be disqualified.
- If an athlete has more than one consecutive false starts, she will be disqualified from the entire event.
Great Athletes
Some great athletes in 200 meter race for women are Juliet Cuthbert, Grace Jackson, Heike Drechsler, Irena Szewinska, Silke Gladisch-Moller, Marlies Gohr, Marita Koch, Merlene Ottey, Marion Jones, Florence Griffith-Joyner, Marie-Jose Perec, Gwen Torrence and Edith McGuire. These athletes earned great name for themselves and their country in the Olympics.
