HistoryData
sports1984

Basketball at the 1984 Summer Olympics — international basketball tournament

January 1, 1984

The 1984 Olympic basketball tournament saw the United States win gold in both men's and women's events, with the women claiming their first-ever Olympic gold medal.

Quick Facts

Year
1984
Category
sports

Key Facts

Venue
The Forum, Inglewood, California
Dates
July 29 – August 10, 1984
Olympic appearance
11th time basketball was an official Olympic event
Gold medalist (both events)
United States
Women's gold significance
First-ever Olympic gold for U.S. women's basketball
Notable absentees
Soviet Union and Hungary withdrew due to boycott

Location

Map of Inglewood, California, United StatesMap of Inglewood, California, United StatesInglewood, California, United States

Cause → Event → Consequence

Cause

The 1984 Los Angeles Olympics were affected by a Soviet-led boycott, mirroring the U.S.-led boycott of the 1980 Moscow Games. The Soviet Union and Hungary, both of whom had qualified for the basketball tournament, withdrew from competition, creating vacancies in the draw.

Event

Basketball at the 1984 Summer Olympics was held at The Forum in Inglewood from July 29 to August 10. West Germany replaced the Soviet Union in the men's draw, while Australia and South Korea replaced the Soviet and Hungarian women's teams. The United States dominated both tournaments, winning gold medals in the men's and women's competitions.

Consequence

The U.S. women's team claimed their first-ever Olympic basketball gold medal, a landmark achievement in the sport's history. The absence of the Soviet Union, a perennial powerhouse, diminished the competitive field but did not overshadow the significance of the American victories on home soil.

Result

United States (Men & Women)

at The Forum, Inglewood, California

First Olympic gold medal for the U.S. women's basketball team

Timeline Context

Timeline around 198419841981198219831985198619871984 Winter Olympics — 14th edition of Winter Olympics, in Sarajevo, YugoslaviaAthletics at the 1984 Summer Olympics — 1988 edition of track and field athletics at the Olympic Summer GamesEurovision Song Contest 1984 — 29th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest1984 Formula One World Championship — sports season1984 European Competition for Women's Football — 1984 edition of the European Competition for Women's FootballHandball at the 1984 Summer Olympics — overview of handball practiced at the 1984 Olympic Summer Games1984 AFC Asian Cup — international football competition1984 African Cup of Nations — football tournamentbasketball-at-the-1984-summer-olympics-international-baske-1984