1983 World Championships in Athletics – Women's 3000 metres
These are the official results of the Women's 3,000 metres event at the 1983 IAAF World Championships in Helsinki, Finland. There were a total number of 26 participating athletes, with two qualifying heats and the final held on Wednesday 1983-08-10. The final was led from start to finish by Mary Decker-Slaney, a common tactic for her in the USA, but untested at the world level. Marking her every move throughout the race was the Soviet pair of 1500 metres world record holder Tatyana Kazankina and 3000 metres world record holder Svetlana Ulmasova who expected to use their superior finishing speed. As Decker gradually increased the pace, the field stretched out to a lead pack of five, with Wendy Smith-Sly and Agnese Possamai. As the final lap approached, Sly, who ran in the USA frequently, moved to join Decker on her shoulder, while Brigitte Kraus covered the gap to join the lead pack. The Decker/Sly wall kept the Soviet runners boxed in for half a lap, but when Kraus moved on the rail, Kazankina popped free and the race was on to the finish. Coming off the final turn Kazankina looked ready to pass Decker, but she never got there as Decker found an extra gear to hold her off. Kazankina eventually slowed before the finish to be passed by a fast closing Kraus two steps before the line.
Medalists
| Gold | United States Mary Decker United States (USA) |
| Silver | West Germany Brigitte Kraus West Germany (FRG) |
| Bronze | Soviet Union Tatyana Kazankina Soviet Union (URS) |
Records
Existing records at the start of the event.
| World record | File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Svetlana Ulmasova (URS) | 8:26.78 | Kiev, USSR | July 25, 1982 |
| Championship record | New event | |||
Final
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Qualifying heats
- Held on Monday 1983-08-08
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| RANK | HEAT 2 | TIME |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Tatyana Kazankina (URS) | 8:44.72 |
| 2. | File:Flag of the United States.svg Mary Decker (USA) | 8:44.72 |
| 3. | File:Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Cornelia Bürki (SUI) | 8:46.94 |
| 4. | File:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jane Furniss (GBR) | 8:48.59 |
| 5. | File:Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Alison Wiley (CAN) | 8:51.27 |
| 6. | File:Flag of New Zealand.svg Lorraine Moller (NZL) | 8:51.78 |
| 7. | File:Flag of Sweden.svg Eva Ernström (SWE) | 8:51.91 |
| 8. | File:Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Ivana Kleinová (TCH) | 8:55.54 |
| 9. | File:Flag of the United States.svg Maggie Keyes-Kraft (USA) | 9:01.97 |
| 10. | File:Flag of Germany.svg Vera Michallek (FRG) | 9:04.51 |
| 11. | File:Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg Marica Mršić (YUG) | 9:05.59 |
| 12. | File:Flag of Spain.svg Pilar Fernández (ESP) | 9:10.86 |
| 13. | File:Flag of Romania (1965-1989).svg Maria Radu (ROU) | 9:30.37 |
| 14. | File:Flag of Chile.svg Mónica Regonessi (CHI) | 9:31.95 |
| 15. | File:Flag of El Salvador.svg Kriscia García (ESA) | 10:06.14 |
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