What happened in August 1984?
The top front-page story of each day in August 1984, as it was reported at the time. Click a date to see that day’s full front page and the matching birthday books.
- Aug 1🏅 U.S. Team Wins Gold – The United States men's gymnastics team won the gold medal, upsetting the reigning world champions from China at the Olympics.
- Aug 2🏅 First U.S. Gold – Steven Fraser won the gold medal in Greco-Roman wrestling, marking the first Olympic medal for the U.S. in this category.
- Aug 3🏅 Malaria Vaccine Near – U.S. health officials announced that scientists have cleared the last major hurdle to developing a malaria vaccine, a significant health breakthrough.
- Aug 4🏅 Gold for Retton – Mary Lou Retton won the all-around gold medal in women's gymnastics at the Los Angeles Olympics, thrilling fans with her performance.
- Aug 5🏅 Lewis Wins Gold Medal – Carl Lewis won the 100-meter dash, marking the start of his quest for four gold medals at the Los Angeles Olympics.
- Aug 6🏃♀️ Historic Women's Marathon – Joan Benoit won the first Olympic marathon for women, marking a significant milestone in sports history.
- Aug 7🐜 Insect Discovered on Glacier – A Japanese zoologist found a unique midge species thriving on a glacier between Annapurna and Everest, living its entire life cycle in ice.
- Aug 8🏅 Olympics Medal Wins – The United States women's basketball team won its first gold medal, defeating South Korea 85-55 at the Los Angeles Olympics.
- Aug 9🏅 U.S. Olympic Golds – American yachtsmen secured two gold medals and four silvers in Olympic yachting, marking a strong performance in the games.
- Aug 10🏅 Thompson Wins Decathlon – Daley Thompson won the gold medal in the decathlon at the 1984 Olympics, repeating his victory from 1980.
- Aug 11🏅 Yugoslavia Wins Bronze – Yugoslavia's soccer team defeated Italy 2-1 to secure the bronze medal in the Olympic soccer tournament.
- Aug 12🏅 U.S. Beats Brazil – The U.S. men's volleyball team defeated Brazil 15-6, 15-6, 15-7 to win its first Olympic gold medal in the sport.
- Aug 13🏅 Lopes Wins Marathon – Carlos Lopes of Portugal wins the men's marathon at the 1984 Olympics, setting an Olympic record of 2:09:21.
- Aug 14🏅 Olympic Games Success – The 1984 Olympics showcased remarkable athletic achievements, inspiring many despite the absence of some nations due to boycotts.
- Aug 15🗽 Statue Unveiled – Over 100 Filipinos gathered at the UN to unveil a statue of slain opposition leader Benigno S. Aquino Jr.
- Aug 16🎭 Edinburgh Festival Opens – The Edinburgh International Festival opened with a record number of American participants, receiving enthusiastic responses from audiences.
- Aug 17🚀 NASA Satellite Retrieval – NASA plans to conduct its first space salvage mission in November to retrieve a communications satellite stranded in orbit.
- Aug 18🔬 Genetics Breakthrough Reported – A biotechnology company announces the production of the first commercial levels of human monoclonal antibodies for disease treatment.
- Aug 19🏅 1984 Olympics Success – The 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles showcased 7,575 athletes from 140 nations, marking a successful and well-organized event.
- Aug 20🏆 Lauda Takes Lead – Niki Lauda won the Austrian Grand Prix, gaining the lead in the Formula One season point race with four races remaining.
- Aug 21🔬 New Burn Treatment Discovered – A significant discovery of a new treatment for severe burns highlights the serendipity of scientific research.
- Aug 22🏛️ Aquino Anniversary Protests – Hundreds of thousands demonstrated in Manila to mark the first anniversary of opposition leader Benigno Aquino Jr.'s assassination.
- Aug 23🦍 Fossils Link Humans, Apes – Scientists in Kenya discovered 18-million-year-old fossils believed to be common ancestors of apes and humans.
- Aug 24💊 Asthma Drug Approved – Key Pharmaceuticals received FDA approval for Aerobid, a 12-hour steroid aerosol for bronchial asthma treatment, to be marketed in the U.S.
- Aug 25🐟 Giant 'Sea Monster' Captured – Fishermen caught a giant white sturgeon, once thought a lake monster, in California. The fish is over 50 years old and will be displayed at an aquarium.
- Aug 26📸 Paris Celebrates Freedom – Thousands of Parisians commemorated the 40th anniversary of their city's liberation from German occupation.
- Aug 27🚀 New Shuttle Launch – The space shuttle Discovery began its countdown for a third launch attempt after previous cancellations due to mechanical failures.
- Aug 28🚀 First Teacher in Space – President Reagan announced that an elementary or secondary schoolteacher will be the first citizen passenger to fly into space aboard the space shuttle.
- Aug 29🔥 Forest Fires Rage – Scores of wind-whipped fires in Montana charred 100,000 acres, forcing hundreds to evacuate as firefighters arrived from other states.
- Aug 30🚀 Shuttle Discovery Launch – The trouble-plagued space shuttle Discovery is set to begin its inaugural voyage, carrying three satellites and a crew of six.
- Aug 31🚀 Shuttle Discovery Launch – The space shuttle Discovery successfully launched on its maiden flight, deploying three communication satellites.
Happy Birthday! 1984 – The Year in Headlines
The whole of 1984 in real headlines. See the 1984 book →
Born in August? Pick the day
Every birthday in August has its own On This Day in Headlines book: