Athletics at the 1980 Summer Olympics – Men's 200 metres


These are the official results of the Men's 200 metres event at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow. The competition was held on July 27, 1980, and on July 28, 1980.
The odds on favourite was Pietro Mennea, the current world record holder. Other favourites in the field included Don Quarrie, Silvio Leonard, and Allan Wells. Random lane draw put the two semi-final winners on the outside, Leonard having the misfortune to draw lane 1, Mennea in lane 8. Wells was just inside of Mennea in 7 while Quarrie drew lane 4. Wells just eked into the final with a fourth place in his semi-final. Had timed qualification been involved, he only had the tenth-fastest time in the semis.
Wells, who disliked using starting blocks but used them, was out fast, making up the stagger on Mennea 40 metres into the race. Coming off the turn Mennea was two metres back, behind both Leonard and Quarrie. Mennea accelerated down the straight edging closer to Wells with every step. He caught Wells five metres before the finish and continued past him for the win, regarded as one of the great comebacks in Olympic sprinting. Quarrie was able to outlean Leonard for the bronze.

Records

These were the standing world and Olympic records prior to the 1980 Summer Olympics.
World record19.72 Pietro MenneaMexico City September 12, 1979
Olympic record19.83 Tommie SmithMexico City October 16, 1968

Final

RANKFINALTIME
20.19
20.21
20.29
4.20.30
5.20.50
6.20.68
7.20.81
8.21.19

Semifinals

RANKHEAT 1TIME
1.20.61
2.20.69
3.20.75
4.20.75
5.20.87
6.21.03
7.21.16
8.21.17

RANKHEAT 2TIME
1.20.70
2.20.76
3.20.82
4.20.93
5.21.00
6.21.05
7.21.17
8.21.24

Quarterfinals

RANKHEAT 1TIME
1.20.89
2.20.97
3.21.01
4.21.24
5.21.32
6.21.33
7.21.66
8.21.89

RANKHEAT 2TIME
1.20.59
2.20.83
3.20.89
4.20.89
5.21.02
6.21.04
7.21.22
8.21.35

RANKHEAT 3TIME
1.20.93
2.20.95
3.20.96
4.21.16
5.21.22
6.21.38
7.21.47
8.21.75

RANKHEAT 4TIME
1.20.60
2.20.83
3.20.87
4.20.94
5.20.96
6.21.01
7.21.10
8.21.19

Heats

RANKHEAT 1TIME
1.21.51
2.21.64
3.21.78
4.21.98
5.22.21
6.22.52
7.22.59

RANKHEAT 2TIME
1.21.26
2.21.34
3.21.35
4.21.43
5.22.14
6.22.88
-DNS

RANKHEAT 3TIME
1.20.87
2.21.24
3.21.42
4.21.49
5.21.89
6.21.96
7.22.70

RANKHEAT 4TIME
1.21.63
2.21.80
3.22.16
-DNF
-DNS
-DNS
-DNS

RANKHEAT 5TIME
1.21.17
2.21.30
3.21.59
4.21.76
5.22.09
6.22.27
7.23.12

RANKHEAT 6TIME
1.21.36
2.21.57
3.21.65
4.21.79
5.22.39
6.23.20
-DNS

RANKHEAT 7TIME
1.21.07
2.21.49
3.21.53
4.21.56
5.22.31
6.22.45
-DNS

RANKHEAT 8TIME
1.21.03
2.21.13
3.21.15
4.21.28
5.22.47
6.23.18
-DNS

RANKHEAT 9TIME
1.20.95
2.21.16
3.21.27
4.21.36
5.21.83
6.22.93
7.24.28