Press releases

MINSK, 19 August (BelTA) – Marina Arzamasova of Belarus has qualified for the women’s 800m final in Rio, BelTA has learned.

Marina Arzamasova is the reigning world champion in the discipline. The Belarusian took an early lead in her semifinal heat and kept it until the last lap where she was overtaken by three rivals, including South Africa's Caster Semenya. Arzamasova finished fourth in one minute 58.87 seconds, missing direct qualification to the final. The Belarusian had no problems in her third semifinal heat to qualify in one minute 58.44 seconds. Caster Semenya clocked one minute 58.17 seconds to win her semifinal.

The Olympic women’s 800m final is due on 21 August.