Jarmila Kratochvílová

Jarmila Kratochvílová
Jarmila Kratochvílová in 2010
Personal information
NationalityCzechoslovakia
Born (1951-01-26) 26 January 1951
Golčův Jeníkov, Czechoslovakia
Sport
SportTrack and field
Event(s)
400 metres, 800 metres
ClubVŠ Praha
Coached byMiroslav Kváč
Retired1987
Achievements and titles
Personal bests
Medal record
Women's athletics
Representing  Czechoslovakia
Event 1st 2nd 3rd
Olympic Games 0 1 0
World Championships 2 1 0
European Championships 0 2 0
European Indoor Championships 4 1 0
Total 6 5 0
Event 1st 2nd 3rd
200 m 1 0 0
400 m 4 3 0
800 m 1 0 0
4 × 400 m relay 0 2 0
Total 6 5 0
Olympic Games
1980 Moscow 400 m
World Championships
1983 Helsinki 400 m
1983 Helsinki 800 m
1983 Helsinki 4 × 400 m relay
European Championships
1982 Athens 400 m
1982 Athens 4 × 400 m relay
European Indoor Championships
1981 Grenoble 400 m
1982 Milan 400 m
1983 Budapest 400 m
1984 Gothenburg 200 m
1979 Vienna 400 m

Jarmila Kratochvílová (Czech pronunciation: [ˈjarmɪla ˈkratoxviːlovaː] ; born 26 January 1951 in Golčův Jeníkov) is a Czechoslovak former track and field athlete. She was the 1980 Olympic silver medalist in the 400 metres. In 1983, she set the world record for the 800 metres, which still stands and is currently the longest-standing world record in athletics. Only two athletes, Pamela Jelimo of Kenya (2008), and Caster Semenya of South Africa (2018), have come within a second of Kratochvílová's mark since it was set.

A two-time World Champion, Kratochvílová won the 400 metres and 800 metres at the 1983 World Athletics Championships, setting a world record in the 400 m, which stood for two years. She also won a silver medal in the 4 × 400 metres relay at the same championships.

Kratochvílová also competed in indoor events. In 1982 she set the world indoor record in the 400 metres of 49.59 seconds; a record which stood until 2023.