Just like 1987, Joyner-Kersee and Drechsler were the two favourites. Joyner-Kersee made the most of the fact that she was the first to jump in the final by leaping 7.32, her best for three years. Drechsler went into second place with 7.09 but slipped to third after Berezhnaya’s 7.11. In the second round, the American fouled before Drechsler improved to 7.16. Joyner-Kersee passed her next jump, then Drechsler closed right up with 7.29.
This prompted the defending champion to take her fourth jump. It ended disastrously. Instead of planting her foot on the take-off board, she stepped on the plasticine and twisted her right foot. She landed heavily in the sand and looked to be badly injured. She thought she had broken her leg, but was able to get up and eventually jump again, producing 7.11 in the sixth round.
In the meantime, Drechsler had produced leaps of 6.99 and 7.08. With her last attempt she spanned 6.94, meaning that gold had gone once again to JJK.
World Record: Heike Daute-Drechsler (GDR) 7.45m 21.06.86 Tallin, Soviet Union and 03.07.86 Dresden, East Germany.
World Record: Jackie Joyner-Kersee (USA) 7.45m (+0.6) 13.08.87 Dresden, East Germany.
Championship Record: Jackie Joyner-Kersee (USA) 7.36m W 04.09.87 Rome, Italy.