Goodwill Games

In 1986, the Games showcased more than 3,000 of the world's premier athletes from 79 countries, competing in 182 gold-medal events in 18 sports. In the process, six world, eight continental and 91 national records were broken. With an elite, invitational format, the Goodwill Games provided a fresh, exciting, new atmosphere for sports competition. For the first time in 11 years, athletes from the United States and the Soviet Union competed on the same playing field at a major summer international multi-sport event.

U.S. television audiences had access to more than 129 hours of television coverage via TBS and syndicated stations. Viewed in 66 countries, almost 200 hours of competition and ceremonies programming were made available to world broadcasters.

From the moment the spectacular opening ceremony began, the stage was set for a memorable sporting event. The first day of competition validated that anticipation when Soviet Vladimir Salnikov set a world mark of 7:50.64 in swimming's 800m freestyle.

Sergei Bubka set a pole vault world record of 19'8-3/4".
A predominantly Soviet crowd cheered enthusiastically as the USA's Jackie Joyner-Kersee became the first to score over 7,000 points in the heptathlon; she compiled a world record 7,148 points to win.
World records were set in both the men's and women's 200m flying start cycling race: Michael Hubner of the German Democratic Republic (GDR) at 10.244 and Erika Salumae of the Soviet Union at 11.489.
Two-time Olympic gold-medalist Edwin Moses extended his personal winning streak to 111 consecutive races by capturing the gold in the 400m hurdles.
U.S. world record-holder Evelyn Ashford defeated the GDR's Heike Drechsler in the 100m.
U.S. high jumper Doug Nordquist recorded a personal best of 7'8" to post his first win over Soviet world record-holder Igor Paklin.
Brothers Domingos and Dionisio Castro captured the 10,000m gold and bronze medals for Portugal.
In the women's basketball finals, the United States broke a 152-game, 28-year Soviet winning streak against international competition by trouncing the world champions, 83-60. Brazil placed third.
The Soviet Union won 11 of 12 gold medals in the boxing competition. The USA's Arthur Johnson was the only non-Soviet to claim a gold.
The Soviet Union, led by Yuri Korolev and Yelena Shushunova, swept the gold medals in the individual and team gymnastics competitions. Only in rhythmic gymnastics was the Soviet's medal sweep broken; the GDR's Bianka Dittrich performed flawlessly to share top honors with Soviets Tatyana Druchinina and Marina Lobach in the rope event.