Timeline Monday 26 September 1988

Events on Monday 26 September 1988 3

• 1988 Olympic gold -- Seoul, 26 September 1988 At the Seoul Olympics on 26 September 1988, Bubka wins the Olympic gold medal with a vault of 5.90m -- the only Olympic title of his career. The performance is emotionally significant: denied at Los Angeles by politics, he finally has his Olympic gold. He is 24. In the context of his career it is almost an afterthought -- he has broken the world record 16 times by this point -- but the Olympic title is the one honour the 1984 boycott took from him, and Seoul restores it.
• 1988 Salman Rushdie publishes The Satanic Verses Novel later sparks international controversy British-Indian author Salman Rushdie published his fourth novel, The Satanic Verses, which drew accusations of blasphemy from some Muslims for its depiction of the Prophet Muhammad. The book was banned in several countries within months of publication. It led to Ayatollah Khomeini's fatwa calling for Rushdie's death the following year.
• 1988 Star Trek: The Next Generation — Season 2 The second season introduces Guinan (Whoopi Goldberg) and the recurring Borg threat. Diana Muldaur replaces Gates McFadden as the ship's doctor due to a behind-the-scenes dispute. The season ends strongly with the first appearance of the Borg Queen.