Today in Sports History: Steffi Graf clinches first and only Golden Slam

On October 1, 1988, Steffi Graf made sports history by achieving the Golden Slam in women’s tennis—a feat yet to be matched. Graf, representing West Germany, secured her place in the record books by defeating Argentina’s Gabriela Sabatini 6-3, 6-3 in the women’s singles tennis final at the Seoul Olympics.

This victory capped off her incredible year, having already won the four major Grand Slam tournaments: the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and U.S. Open. The win in Seoul solidified her Golden Slam, a term signifying victory in all four Grand Slam events and an Olympic gold medal within the same calendar year.

Graf’s achievement was celebrated alongside silver medalist Gabriela Sabatini, as well as bronze medalists Manuela Maleeva of Bulgaria and Zina Garrison from the United States. The moment marked a pinnacle in Olympic and tennis history, symbolizing both athletic prowess and an unprecedented level of consistency on the global stage. Graf’s Golden Slam remains a unique accomplishment in tennis, highlighting her as one of the sport’s greatest champions and inspiring future generations of athletes.