The 1988 Summer Olympics were held in Seoul and marked an important moment in Olympic history. It was the first Summer Olympics since the 1976 Summer Olympics where both the United States and the Soviet Union competed together, following the boycotts of the 1980 and 1984 Games. It was also the final Olympic appearance for the Soviet Union before its dissolution in 1991.
A total of 160 National Olympic Committees participated, bringing nearly 8,500 athletes who competed in 237 events across 23 sports and 31 disciplines. The Seoul Games were only the second time an Asian nation had hosted the Summer Olympics, following the 1964 Summer Olympics. Several nations made their Olympic debut, including Aruba, American Samoa, Brunei, Cook Islands, Maldives, Vanuatu, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Guam, and South Yemen.
Prior to the Games, North Korea demanded to co-host the Olympics, proposing that 11 of the 23 sports be held in its territory along with separate opening and closing ceremonies. Negotiations failed, and North Korea announced a boycott. Cuba, Nicaragua, Ethiopia, and Madagascar also stayed away from the Games.
In the final medal table, the Soviet Union led with 132 medals (55 gold, 31 silver, 46 bronze), followed by East Germany with 102 medals (37 gold, 35 silver, 30 bronze). The United States finished third with 94 medals (36 gold, 31 silver, 27 bronze), while host nation South Korea placed fourth with 33 medals (12 gold, 10 silver, 11 bronze). Canada finished 19th with 10 medals (3 gold, 2 silver, 5 bronze).
For Canadians, the Games are often remembered for the dramatic 100-metre final between Ben Johnson and Carl Lewis. Johnson crossed the line first in a world-record time of 9.79 seconds. However, three days later it was revealed that he had tested positive for the banned steroid Stanozolol. Johnson was stripped of his gold medal and world record, and the victory was awarded to Lewis.
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