# 2012 European Athletics Championships – Women's 800 metres

The women's 800 metres at the 2012 European Athletics Championships was held at the Helsinki Olympic Stadium on 28 and 29 June.
On 30 April 2013, it was announced that the original winner of the gold medal, Elena Arzhakova had been suspended for two years from January 2013 for a doping violation, and was to be stripped of all results gained since July 11, 2011. When ratified, this would mean Arzhakova being stripped of her gold medal, which would then be awarded to Lynsey Sharp. Irina Maracheva and Maryna Arzamasava would also each be awarded an upgraded medal.
On 4 June 2013, this reallocation of medals was confirmed, and Lynsey Sharp declared European champion.
On 25 January 2016, it was announced that the new silver medalist, Irina Maracheva had also been found guilty of doping changes as a result of her blood passport. As a result, in due course Maracheva will be stripped of her result, Arzamasava promoted again, this time into silver and Lilyia Lobanova, original placed fifth, will be awarded the bronze medal.

## Medalists

| Gold | Lynsey Sharp Great Britain |
| Silver | Maryna Arzamasava Belarus |
| Bronze | Liliya Lobanova Ukraine |
These are the revised medal standings following the adverse drugs finding against original winner Elena Arzhakova.

## Records

Standing records prior to the 2012 European Athletics Championships :
| World record | Jarmila Kratochvílová (TCH) | 1:53.28 | Munich, West Germany | 26 July 1983 |
| European record | Jarmila Kratochvílová (TCH) | 1:53.28 | Munich, West Germany | 26 July 1983 |
| Championship record | Olga Mineyeva (URS) | 1:55.41 | Athens, Greece | 8 September 1982 |
| World Leading | Pamela Jelimo (KEN) | 1:56.94 | Doha, Qatar | 11 May 2012 |
| European Leading | Irina Maracheva (RUS) | 1:57.82 | Sochi, Russia | 27 May 2012 |

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Round |
| 28 June 2012 | 19:05 | Round 1 |
| 29 June 2012 | 21:45 | Final |

## Results
### Round 1

First 2 in each heat (Q) and 2 best performers (q) advance to the Final.
| Rank | Heat | Lane | Name | Nationality | Time | Note |
| 1 | 2 | 6 | Maryna Arzamasava | Belarus | 2:00.54 | Q |
| DQ | 1 | 7 | Elena Arzhakova | Russia | 2:01.28 | Q, Doping |
| 3 | 2 | 3 | Liliya Lobanova | Ukraine | 2:01.60 | Q |
| 4 | 2 | 7 | Jemma Simpson | Great Britain | 2:01.64 | q |
| 5 | 1 | 4 | Lynsey Sharp | Great Britain | 2:01.88 | Q |
| 6 | 1 | 6 | Natalija Piliušina | Lithuania | 2:02.12 | q, PB |
| 7 | 2 | 4 | Eléni Filándra | Greece | 2:02.37 | |
| 8 | 1 | 3 | Teodora Kolarova | Bulgaria | 2:02.45 | |
| DQ | 3 | 4 | Irina Maracheva | Russia | 2:02.48 | Q, Doping |
| 10 | 3 | 5 | Lucia Klocová | Slovakia | 2:02.55 | Q |
| 11 | 3 | 8 | Merve Aydın | Turkey | 2:02.81 | |
| DQ | 1 | 2 | Tetiana Petlyuk | Ukraine | 2:04.09 | Doping |
| 12 | 3 | 6 | Ewelina Sętowska-Dryk | Poland | 2:04.30 | |
| 13 | 2 | 2 | Eglė Balčiūnaitė | Lithuania | 2:05.21 | |
| 14 | 2 | 5 | Viktoria Tegenfeldt | Sweden | 2:05.74 | |
| 15 | 3 | 7 | Lenka Masná | Czech Republic | 2:05.75 | |
| 16 | 3 | 3 | Suvi Selvenius | Finland | 2:06.39 | SB |
| 17 | 1 | 5 | Elena Mirela Lavric | Romania | 2:11.61 | |
| | 3 | 2 | Jenny Meadows | Great Britain | DNS | |
* Elena Arzhakova originally ranked second, prior to disqualification. Irina Maracheva originally ranked ninth, prior to disqualification

### Final

| Rank | Lane | Name | Nationality | Time | Note |
| DQ | 2 | Elena Arzhakova | Russia | 1:58.51 | Doping |
| | 5 | Lynsey Sharp | Great Britain | 2:00.52 | PB |
| DQ | 1 | Irina Maracheva | Russia | 2:00.66 | Doping |
| | 3 | Maryna Arzamasava | Belarus | 2:01.02 | |
| | 4 | Liliya Lobanova | Ukraine | 2:01.29 | |
| 4 | 6 | Lucia Klocová | Slovakia | 2:01.38 | |
| 5 | 8 | Jemma Simpson | Great Britain | 2:02.14 | |
| 6 | 7 | Natalija Piliušina | Lithuania | 2:06.59 | |