Packer was hoping to win the 400 metres, but was beaten into second place by Betty Cuthbert of Australia, despite setting a new European record at 52.20 seconds. Disappointed, Packer planned to skip the 800m event and had a shopping trip instead, until her fiancé, Robbie Brightwell persuaded her to compete. Before the Olympics, Packer only had five domestic 800m races;[1] she had taken up a longer distance to improve her stamina, and earned the third British spot at the last minute.[2]