Poland's Irina Szewinska set a world record of 49.28 in winning the 400m, and became the first women in history to break the 50.00 second barrier. She is still widely regarded as the greatest 100/200/400 runner in history.
Tatyana Kazankina (USSR) set the 800m world record of 1:54.94.
Lasse Viren (Finland) completed his epic "double-double" by once again winning the 5,000m and 10,000 meter runs, as he had in 1972.
Speaking of doubles, Alberto Juantorena (Cuba) won the 400m and 800m, the latter in a world record 1:43.50. He is the first and only man to complete this historic double.
Edwin Moses won the 400m in a world record 47.64, with a delerious Mike Shine (US) behind him in 2nd. It's possibly the greatest celebration of a silver of those entire Olympics.
Caitlyn (Bruce at the time) Jenner won the men's decathlon in a WR 8617 (which was later adjusted to 8718).
Sweden's Anders Garderud took down the 3,000m steeplechase WR, lowering it to 8:08.02.
Hungary's Miklos Nemeth shattered the javelin world record with his prodigious 94.58m (310-4) first-round throw. He threw the WR just as spectators were settling in, and it had such a disheartening effect on his other competitors that he won by almost 22'! Second place was 87.92 (288-5).