1983 World Championships in Athletics - Men's 4 x 100 metres relay
Encyclopedia
The 4 x 100 metres relay
at the 1983 World Championships in Athletics
was held at the Helsinki Olympic Stadium
on August 9 and August 10.
} DNS
} (Wang Shaoming, He Baodang, Cai Jianming, Yan Guoqiang) DQ
} (Ben Johnson, Atlee Mahorn
, Desai Williams
, Tony Sharpe
) DQ
} (Alfred NyambaneJohnson, Peter Wekesa, John Anzrah, Moja Shivanda) DQ
} (Ferenc Kiss, István Nagy, László Babály, István Tatár) DNF
} (Paul Narracott, Gerrard Keating, Bruce Frayne, Gary Minihan) DNF
4 x 100 metres relay
The 4 × 100 metres relay or sprint relay is an athletics track event run in lanes over one lap of the track with four runners completing 100 metres each. The first runners begin in the same stagger as for the individual 400 m race...
at the 1983 World Championships in Athletics
1983 World Championships in Athletics
The inaugural World Championships in Athletics were run under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations and were held at the Olympic Stadium in Helsinki, Finland between August 7 and August 14, 1983....
was held at the Helsinki Olympic Stadium
Helsinki Olympic Stadium
The Helsinki Olympic Stadium , located in the Töölö district about from the center of the Finnish capital Helsinki, is the largest stadium in the country, nowadays mainly used for hosting sports events and big concerts. The stadium is best known for being the center of activities in the 1952...
on August 9 and August 10.
Medals
| Gold: | Silver: | Bronze: |
 United StatesEmmit King Emmit King Emmit King is a retired track and field sprinter from the United States, who twice was a member of the American Relay Team for the Summer Olympics but he didn't compete. He is best known for winning the bronze medal at the inaugural 1983 World Championships in the men's 100 metres... Willie Gault Willie Gault Willie James Gault is a former American football wide receiver and Olympic athlete. Gault played in the National Football League for 11 seasons for the Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Raiders. He was a member of the Bears team that won Super Bowl XX, and was also a member of the U.S. Olympic team... Calvin Smith Calvin Smith Calvin Smith is a former sprint track and field athlete from the United States. He is a former World Record holder in the 100 metre sprint, and was twice World Champion over 200 metres... Carl Lewis Carl Lewis Frederick Carlton "Carl" Lewis is an American former track and field athlete, who won 10 Olympic medals including 9 gold, and 10 World Championships medals, of which 8 were gold. His career spanned from 1979 when he first achieved a world ranking to 1996 when he last won an Olympic title and... |
 ItalyStefano Tilli Stefano Tilli Stefano Tilli is a retired Italian sprinter who specialized in the 100 and 200 metres.His personal best 100 metres time is 10.16 seconds, achieved in August 1984 in Zurich. His personal best 200 metres time is 20.40 seconds, achieved in September 1984 in Cagliari.-Achievements:-References:... Carlo Simionato Carlo Simionato Carlo Simionato is a retired Italian sprinter who specialised in the 100 and 200 metres.At the World Championships in Helsinki in 1983 he finished seventh in the 200 metres final and won a silver medal with the relay team... Pierfrancesco Pavoni Pierfrancesco Pavoni Pierfrancesco Pavoni is a retired sprinter from Italy. His greatest achievements were the 1982 European Championships silver medal as well as two World Indoor bronze medals. His personal times were both achieved in 1987: 10.22 seconds over 100 metres and 20.38 seconds over 200 metres... Pietro Mennea Pietro Mennea Pietro Paolo Mennea is an Italian former sprinter and politician, who was the 1980 Moscow Olympic 200 meter Champion, and also held the 200 m world record for 17 years.-Biography:... |
 Soviet UnionAndrey Prokofyev Andrey Prokofyev Andrey Vassilyevich Prokofyev is a former Soviet athlete, winner of a gold medal in the 4x100 m relay at the 1980 Summer Olympics.At the Moscow Olympics, Prokofyev was fourth in the 110 m hurdles and won the gold medal running the anchoring leg of the Soviet 4x100 m relay team... Nikolay Sidorov Nikolay Sidorov Nikolay Aleksandrovich Sidorov is a former Soviet track and field athlete where he won the soviet 100 metre championships on 2 occasions, he was then the winner of the gold medal in the 4x100 m relay at the 1980 Summer Olympics.... Vladimir Muravyov Viktor Bryzgin Viktor Bryzgin Viktor Arkadyevich Bryzhin is a former Soviet athlete, winner of gold medal in 4x100 m relay at the 1988 Summer Olympics.Viktor Bryzhin trained at Dynamo in Voroshilovgrad. He made his debut in the international championships at the first World Championships, where he reached to the quarterfinal... |
Records
Existing records at the start of the event.| World Record | 38.03 | Düsseldorf Düsseldorf Düsseldorf is the capital city of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and centre of the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region.Düsseldorf is an important international business and financial centre and renowned for its fashion and trade fairs. Located centrally within the European Megalopolis, the... , West Germany West Germany West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990.... |
September 3, 1977 | |
| Championship Record | New event | |||
Heats
All times shown are in seconds.Heat 1
German Democratic Republic (Andreas KnebelAndreas KnebelAndreas Knebel was an East German athlete who competed mainly in the 400 metres.He competed for East Germany in the 1980 Summer Olympics held in Moscow, Soviet Union in the 4 x 400 metre relay where he won the silver medal with his team mates Klaus Thiele, Frank Schaffer and Volker Beck.-References:...
, Thomas SchröderThomas SchröderThomas Schröder is a retired East German sprinter who specialized in the 100 and 200 metres.He won the 100 m at the 1979 European Junior Championships, and at the following European Junior Championships in 1981 he won gold medals in both 100 m, 200 m and 4 x 100 metres relay.He competed at the...
, Jens HüblerJens HüblerJens Hübler is a retired East German sprinter who specialized in the 100 and 200 metres.He finished fourth in the 4 x 100 metres relay at the 1983 World Championships, along with teammates Andreas Knebel, Thomas Schröder and Frank Emmelmann...
, Frank EmmelmannFrank EmmelmannFrank Emmelmann is a retired East German sprinter who specialized in the 100 and 200 metres....
) 39.22 Q
Bulgaria (Krasimir Sarbakov, Yordan Vandov, Bogomil Karadimov, Valentin AtanasovValentin AtanasovValentin Atanasov is a retired Bulgarian sprinter who specialized in the 100 metres. He won three medals at the European Indoor Championships....
) 39.55 Q
United Kingdom (Ainsley BennettAinsley BennettAinsley Bennett is a British former Olympic and World Championship sprinter from Birmingham, UK.-Early life:Brought up in Birmingham, West Midlands, in the UK, Bennett attended Naseby Secondary Modern School , in the area known as Alum Rock, Birmingham...
, Donovan Reid, Mike McFarlane, Drew McMaster) 39.56 Q
Nigeria (Innocent EgbunikeInnocent EgbunikeInnocent Egbunike is a former sprinter from Nigeria who won an Olympic bronze medal in 4 x 400 metres relay in Los Angeles 1984...
, Ikpoto Eseme, Samson Oyeledun, Chidi ImohChidi ImohChidi Imoh is a former sprinter from Nigeria who won an Olympic silver medal in the 4 x 100 metres relay at the 1992 Summer Olympics...
) 39.62 Q
Finland (Jouko Lehtinen, Jouko HassiJouko HassiJouko Hassi is a former Finnish sprinter. His club team was Oulun Pyrintö.He competed in 100 metres and 4 x 100 metres relay at the 1983 World Championships, but was eliminated in the heats on both occasions....
, Jukka Sihvonen, Kimmo Saaristo) 39.65 q
The Bahamas (Fabian Whymns, Austin Albury, Joey WellsJoey WellsJoseph Wells is a retired male long jumper from the Bahamas, best known for finishing sixth at the 1984 Olympic Games.-Achievements:-References:*...
, David Charlton) 39.91 q
Ghana (Ernest ObengErnest ObengErnest Obeng is a retired Ghanaian sprinter who specialized in the 100 metres. His personal best time was 10.21 seconds, achieved in August 1980 in Budapest. Ghana boycotted the Olympic Games that year....
, Sam Aidoo, Edward Pappoe, Awudu Nuhu) 41.92
} DNS
Heat 2
- United States (Emmit KingEmmit KingEmmit King is a retired track and field sprinter from the United States, who twice was a member of the American Relay Team for the Summer Olympics but he didn't compete. He is best known for winning the bronze medal at the inaugural 1983 World Championships in the men's 100 metres...
, Willie GaultWillie GaultWillie James Gault is a former American football wide receiver and Olympic athlete. Gault played in the National Football League for 11 seasons for the Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Raiders. He was a member of the Bears team that won Super Bowl XX, and was also a member of the U.S. Olympic team...
, Calvin SmithCalvin SmithCalvin Smith is a former sprint track and field athlete from the United States. He is a former World Record holder in the 100 metre sprint, and was twice World Champion over 200 metres...
, Carl LewisCarl LewisFrederick Carlton "Carl" Lewis is an American former track and field athlete, who won 10 Olympic medals including 9 gold, and 10 World Championships medals, of which 8 were gold. His career spanned from 1979 when he first achieved a world ranking to 1996 when he last won an Olympic title and...
) 38.75 Q - Italy (Stefano TilliStefano TilliStefano Tilli is a retired Italian sprinter who specialized in the 100 and 200 metres.His personal best 100 metres time is 10.16 seconds, achieved in August 1984 in Zurich. His personal best 200 metres time is 20.40 seconds, achieved in September 1984 in Cagliari.-Achievements:-References:...
, Carlo SimionatoCarlo SimionatoCarlo Simionato is a retired Italian sprinter who specialised in the 100 and 200 metres.At the World Championships in Helsinki in 1983 he finished seventh in the 200 metres final and won a silver medal with the relay team...
, Pierfrancesco PavoniPierfrancesco PavoniPierfrancesco Pavoni is a retired sprinter from Italy. His greatest achievements were the 1982 European Championships silver medal as well as two World Indoor bronze medals. His personal times were both achieved in 1987: 10.22 seconds over 100 metres and 20.38 seconds over 200 metres...
, Pietro MenneaPietro MenneaPietro Paolo Mennea is an Italian former sprinter and politician, who was the 1980 Moscow Olympic 200 meter Champion, and also held the 200 m world record for 17 years.-Biography:...
) 39.40 Q 
Hungary (Ferenc KissFerenc KissFerenc Kiss is a former Hungarian sprinter who competed in the 100/200 metres.In 1980 he was the Hungarian 100 metres champion...
, István Nagy, László Babály, István Tatár) 39.58 Q
Australia (Paul NarracottPaul NarracottPaul Narracott is a retired Australian sprinter, who was Australian Junior 100/200 metres champion. In 1977 he won his first of six Australian senior 100 metres championships, and was also 2nd in the 200 metres championships on four occasions.- Career :In 1977 he won gold at the 100 metres at the...
, Gerrard Keating, Bruce FrayneBruce FrayneBruce Frayne is a retired Australian sprinter who specialized in the 200 and 400 metres. He was Australian Champion in the 200 metres 1980, 81, and 1983...
, Gary MinihanGary MinihanGary Minihan is a retired Australian sprinter who specialized in the 400 metres.At the 1982 Commonwealth Games he won a bronze medal in 400 metres and a silver medal in 4 x 400 metres relay....
) 40.02 Q
Côte d'Ivoire (Otokpa Kouadio, Avognan Nogboum, Georges Kablan Degnan, Gabriel TiacohGabriel TiacohGabriel Tiacoh was a sprinter from Côte d'Ivoire who specialised in the 400 metres. He is best known for winning his nation's sole Olympic medal thus far, in the 400 meters in 1984....
) 40.70
} (Wang Shaoming, He Baodang, Cai Jianming, Yan Guoqiang) DQ
} (Ben Johnson, Atlee Mahorn
Atlee Mahorn
Atlee Anthony Mahorn is a three-time Canadian Olympic sprinter. He is a graduate of University of California, Berkeley and holds an MBA in International Business....
, Desai Williams
Desai Williams
Desai Williams is a former sprinter from Canada, who won an Olympic bronze medal in 4 x 100 metres relay in Los Angeles 1984....
, Tony Sharpe
Tony Sharpe
Tony Sharpe is a former sprinter from Canada who won an Olympic bronze medal in 4 x 100 metres relay in Los Angeles 1984...
) DQ
} (Alfred NyambaneJohnson, Peter Wekesa, John Anzrah, Moja Shivanda) DQ
Heat 3
- Soviet Union (Andrey ProkofyevAndrey ProkofyevAndrey Vassilyevich Prokofyev is a former Soviet athlete, winner of a gold medal in the 4x100 m relay at the 1980 Summer Olympics.At the Moscow Olympics, Prokofyev was fourth in the 110 m hurdles and won the gold medal running the anchoring leg of the Soviet 4x100 m relay team...
, Nikolay SidorovNikolay SidorovNikolay Aleksandrovich Sidorov is a former Soviet track and field athlete where he won the soviet 100 metre championships on 2 occasions, he was then the winner of the gold medal in the 4x100 m relay at the 1980 Summer Olympics....
, Vladimir Muravyov, Viktor BryzginViktor BryzginViktor Arkadyevich Bryzhin is a former Soviet athlete, winner of gold medal in 4x100 m relay at the 1988 Summer Olympics.Viktor Bryzhin trained at Dynamo in Voroshilovgrad. He made his debut in the international championships at the first World Championships, where he reached to the quarterfinal...
) 38.77 Q 
Early Modern France (Thierry Francois, Marc Gasparoni, Antoine RichardAntoine RichardAntoine Richard is a former athlete from France who mainly competed in the 100 metres. He was French 100 metre champion on 5 Occasions, and also 200 metre winner in 1985.He also won the French 60 metres title 5 times as well....
, Jean-Jacques Boussemart) 39.17 Q
West Germany (Werner Bastians, Christian HaasChristian HaasChristian Haas is a retired West German sprinter who specialized in the 100 metres.He was West Germany 100 metre Champion in 1980, 81, 82, 83, 85, 86, and 1987. He added the West German 200 titles also in 1980, and 87...
, Jürgen EversJürgen EversJürgen Evers is a retired West German sprinter who specialized in the 200 metres.He won the silver medal in 200 m at the 1986 European Championships....
, Andreas Rizzi) 39.35 Q
Poland (Krzysztof ZwolińskiKrzysztof ZwolinskiKrzysztof Zwoliński was a Polish athlete who competed mainly in the 100 metres. He was a Polish 60 metre indoor champion in 1986....
, Zenon LicznerskiZenon LicznerskiZenon Licznerski was a Polish athlete who competed mainly in the 100 metres.He was Polish 100/200 metre champion in 1976, 77.He was a member of the Polish sprint relay team that won Gold in the European championship....
, Czesław Prądzyński, Marian WoroninMarian WoroninMarian Jerzy Woronin is a retired Polish athlete who competed mainly in the 100 metres. He is a four-time European Indoor Champion in the 60 metres...
) 39.41 Q
Jamaica (George Walcott, Ray StewartRay Stewart (athlete)Raymond Douglas Stewart is a former Jamaican athlete who specialised in the 100 metres event. As a junior athlete Stewart found much success at the CARIFTA Games, winning five gold medals within a four year period. In 1984 he reached the 100 m Olympic final and won an Olympic silver medal...
, Leroy Reid, Colin BradfordColin BradfordColin Bradford is a former Jamaican track and field athlete who specialised in sprinting events. He represented Jamaica at the Olympic Games in 1976 and 1980....
) 39.49 q
Greece (Angelos Angelidis, Theodoros Gatzios, Nikos Hadjinicolaou, Kosmas Stratos) 39.85 q
Thailand (Somsak Boontad, Suchart Chairsuvaparb, Prasit Boomprasert, Sumet Promna) 40.17
Chinese Taipei (Wu Jing-Yee, Lee Kuo-Sheng, Hwang Chian-Shin, Hwang Sheng-Tai) 40.49
Heat 1
- Soviet Union (Andrey Prokofyev, Nikolay Sidorov, Vladimir Muravyov, Viktor Bryzgin) 38.62 Q
- Italy (Stefano Tilli, Carlo Simionato, Pierfrancesco Pavoni, Pietro Mennea) 38.74 Q
- Poland (Krzysztof Zwoliński, Zenon Licznerski, Czesław Prądzyński, Marian Woronin) 39.01 Q
- Early Modern France (Thierry Francois, Marc Gasparoni, Antoine Richard, Jean-Jacques Boussemart) 39.14 Q
- Nigeria (Innocent Egbunike, Ikpoto Eseme, Samson Oyeledun, Chidi Imoh) 39.44
- Greece (Angelos Angelidis, Theodoros Gatzios, Nikos Hadjinicolaou, Kosmas Stratos) 39.71
- Finland (Jouko Lehtinen, Jouko Hassi, Jukka Sihvonen, Kimmo Saaristo) 40.02
} (Ferenc Kiss, István Nagy, László Babály, István Tatár) DNF
Heat 2
- United States (Emmit King, Willie Gault, Calvin Smith, Carl Lewis) 38.50 Q
- German Democratic Republic (Andreas Knebel, Thomas Schröder, Jens Hübler, Frank Emmelmann) 38.95 Q
- West Germany (Werner Bastians, Christian Haas, Jürgen Evers, Andreas Rizzi) 39.13 Q
- Jamaica (George Walcott, Ray Stewart, Leroy Reid, Colin Bradford) 39.18 Q
- United Kingdom (Ainsley Bennett, Donovan Reid, Mike McFarlane, Drew McMaster) 39.39
- Bulgaria (Krasimir Sarbakov, Yordan Vandov, Bogomil Karadimov, Valentin Atanasov) 39.59
- The Bahamas (Fabian Whymns, Austin Albury, Joey Wells, David Charlton) 40.52
} (Paul Narracott, Gerrard Keating, Bruce Frayne, Gary Minihan) DNF
Final
- United States (Emmit King, Willie Gault, Calvin Smith, Carl Lewis) 37.86 (WR)
- Italy (Stefano Tilli, Carlo Simionato, Pierfrancesco Pavoni, Pietro Mennea) 38.37 (NR)
- Soviet Union (Andrey Prokofyev, Nikolay Sidorov, Vladimir Muravyov, Viktor Bryzgin) 38.41
- German Democratic Republic (Andreas Knebel, Thomas Schröder, Jens Hübler, Frank Emmelmann) 38.51
- West Germany (Werner Bastians, Christian Haas, Jürgen Evers, Andreas Rizzi) 39.13
- Poland (Krzysztof Zwoliński, Zenon Licznerski, Czesław Prądzyński, Marian Woronin) 38.72
- Jamaica (George Walcott, Ray Stewart, Leroy Reid, Colin Bradford) 38.75
- Early Modern France (Thierry Francois, Marc Gasparoni, Antoine Richard, Jean-Jacques Boussemart) 38.98