Story perspectives

IOC Removed Women’s 800m After 1928, Returns Now

By Drooid · Sep 18, 2026, 3:24 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

The International Olympic Committee removed the women’s 800m from the Olympic programme after 1928.
Reports falsely claimed competitors suffered extreme exhaustion, prompting the IOC’s decision.
The women’s 800m remained absent from the Olympics for 32 years.
The race returned and now pits Britain’s Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson against Swiss European champion Audrey Werro.

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Story summary

The International Olympic Committee removed the women’s 800m from the Olympic programme after 1928.
Reports falsely claimed competitors suffered extreme exhaustion, prompting the IOC’s decision.
The women’s 800m remained absent from the Olympics for 32 years.
The race returned and now pits Britain’s Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson against Swiss European champion Audrey Werro.