400 metres
Athletics 400 metres | |
---|---|
![]() The closing stages of a men's 400 m race | |
World records | |
Men | ![]() |
Women | ![]() |
Olympic records | |
Men | ![]() |
Women | ![]() |
The 400 metres, or 400 metre dash, is a sprinting event in track and field competitions. It has been featured in the athletics programme at the Summer Olympics since 1896 for men and since 1964 for women. On a standard outdoor running track, it is one lap around the track. Runners start in staggered positions and race in separate lanes for the entire course. In many countries, athletes previously competed in the 440 yard dash (402.336 m)—which is a quarter of a mile and was referred to as the 'quarter-mile'—instead of the 400 m (437.445 yards), though this distance is now obsolete.
Maximum sprint speed capability is a significant contributing factor to success in the event, but athletes also require substantial speed endurance and the ability to cope well with high amounts of lactic acid to sustain a fast speed over a whole lap. While considered to be predominantly an anaerobic event, there is some aerobic involvement and the degree of aerobic training required for 400 metre athletes is open to debate.[1]
The current men's world record is held by Wayde van Niekerk of South Africa, with a time of 43.03 seconds; van Niekerk is also the reigning world and Olympic champion. The world indoor record holder is Michael Norman, in 44.52 seconds. The current women's world record is held by Marita Koch, with a time of 47.60 seconds. Phyllis Francis is the reigning women's world champion, while Shaunae Miller holds the women's Olympic title. The men's T43 Paralympic world record of 45.07 seconds is held by Oscar Pistorius.[2]
An Olympic double of 200 metres and 400 m was first achieved by Valerie Brisco-Hooks in 1984, and later by Marie-José Pérec of France and Michael Johnson from the United States on the same evening in 1996. Alberto Juantorena of Cuba at the 1976 Summer Olympics became the first and so far the only athlete to win both the 400 m and 800 m Olympic titles. Pérec became the first to defend the Olympic title in 1996, Johnson became the first and only man to do so in 2000.
The Olympic champion has frequently won a second gold medal in the 4 × 400 metres relay. This has been accomplished 14 times by men; Charles Reidpath, Ray Barbuti, Bill Carr, George Rhoden, Charles Jenkins, Otis Davis, Mike Larrabee, Lee Evans, Viktor Markin, Alonzo Babers, Steve Lewis, Quincy Watts, Jeremy Wariner and LaShawn Merritt; and 4 times by women; Monika Zehrt, Valerie Brisco-Hooks, Olga Bryzgina and Sanya Richards-Ross. All but Rhoden, Markin, Zehrt and Bryzgina ran on American relay teams. Injured after his double in 1996, Johnson also accomplished the feat in 2000 only to have it disqualified when his teammate Antonio Pettigrew admitted to doping.
From 31 appearances in the Olympic Games, the men's gold medallist came from the USA 19 times.
Continental records
Area | Men | Women | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Time (s) | Athlete | Nation | Time (s) | Athlete | Nation | ||
Africa (records) | 43.03 WR | Wayde van Niekerk | ![]() |
49.10 | Falilat Ogunkoya | ![]() | |
Asia (records) | 43.93 | Yousef Ahmed Masrahi | ![]() |
49.08 | Salwa Eid Nasser | ![]() | |
Europe (records) | 44.33 | Thomas Schönlebe | ![]() |
47.60 WR | Marita Koch | ![]() | |
North, Central America and Caribbean (records) |
43.18 | Michael Johnson | ![]() |
48.70 | Sanya Richards | ![]() | |
Oceania (records) | 44.38 | Darren Clark | ![]() |
48.63 | Cathy Freeman | ![]() | |
South America (records) | 44.29 | Sanderlei Parrela | ![]() |
49.64 | Ximena Restrepo | ![]() |
All-time top 25
- A = affected by altitude
Men
- Correct as of July 2018.[3]
Rank | Time | Athlete | Nation | Date | Location | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 43.03 | Wayde van Niekerk | ![]() |
14 August 2016 | Rio de Janeiro | [4] |
2 | 43.18 | Michael Johnson | ![]() |
26 August 1999 | Seville | |
3 | 43.29 | Harry 'Butch' Reynolds | ![]() |
17 August 1988 | Zürich | |
4 | 43.45 | Jeremy Wariner | ![]() |
31 August 2007 | Osaka | |
5 | 43.50 | Quincy Watts | ![]() |
5 August 1992 | Barcelona | |
6 | 43.61 | Michael Norman | ![]() |
8 June 2018 | Eugene | [5] |
7 | 43.65 | LaShawn Merritt | ![]() |
26 August 2015 | Beijing | [6] |
8 | 43.70 | Fred Kerley | ![]() |
26 May 2017 | Austin | [7] |
9 | 43.72 | Isaac Makwala | ![]() |
5 July 2015 | La Chaux-de-Fonds | [8] |
10 | 43.74 | Kirani James | ![]() |
3 July 2014 | Lausanne | [9] |
11 | 43.81 | Danny Everett | ![]() |
26 June 1992 | New Orleans | |
12 | 43.86 A | Lee Evans | ![]() |
18 October 1968 | Mexico City | |
13 | 43.87 | Steve Lewis | ![]() |
28 September 1988 | Seoul | |
Steven Gardiner | ![]() |
4 May 2018 | Doha | [10] | ||
15 | 43.93 | Yousef Ahmed Masrahi | ![]() |
23 August 2015 | Beijing | [11] |
Rusheen McDonald | ![]() | |||||
17 | 43.94 | Akeem Bloomfield | ![]() |
8 June 2018 | Eugene | [12] |
18 | 43.97 A | Larry James | ![]() |
18 October 1968 | Mexico City | |
19 | 44.01 | Machel Cedenio | ![]() |
14 August 2016 | Rio de Janeiro | [13] |
20 | 44.02 | Baboloki Thebe | ![]() |
6 July 2017 | Lausanne | [14] |
21 | 44.05 | Angelo Taylor | ![]() |
23 June 2007 | Indianapolis | |
22 | 44.07 | Abdalleleh Haroun | ![]() |
21 July 2018 | London | [15] |
23 | 44.09 | Alvin Harrison | ![]() |
19 June 1996 | Atlanta | |
Jerome Young | ![]() |
21 June 1998 | New Orleans | |||
25 | 44.10 | Gary Kikaya | ![]() |
9 September 2006 | Stuttgart |
Notes
Below is a list of all other times equal or superior to 43.84:
- Michael Johnson also ran 43.39 (1995), 43.44 (1996), 43.49 (1996), 43.65 (1993) 43.66 (1995), 43.66 (1996), 43.68 (1998), 43.68 (2000), 43.74 (1993), 43.75 (1997), 43.84 (2000).
- Wayde van Niekerk also ran 43.48 (2015), 43.62 (2017), 43.73 (2017).
- Jeremy Wariner also ran 43.50 (2007), 43.62 (2006), 43.82 (2008).
- Quincy Watts also ran 43.71 (1992), 43.83 (1992).
- LaShawn Merritt also ran 43.74 (2013), 43.75 (2008).
- Kirani James also ran 43.76 (2016).
- Isaac Makwala also ran 43.84 (2017).
Women
- Correct as of July 2018.[16]
Notes
Below is a list of all other times superior to 48.80:
- Marita Koch also ran 48.16 (1982), 48.16 (1984), 48.22 (1986), 48.26 (1984), 48.60 (1979), 48.77 (1982).
- Jarmila Kratochvílová also ran 48.45 (1983), 48.61 (1981).
- Olga Vladykina / Bryzgina also ran 48.60 (1985), 48.65 (1988).
- Taťána Kocembová also ran 48.73 (1984).
Indoor Top 10
Men indoor
Rank | Time | Athlete | Nation | Date | Location | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 44.52 | Michael Norman | ![]() |
10 March 2018 | College Station | |
2 | 44.57 | Kerron Clement | ![]() |
12 March 2005 | Fayetteville | |
3 | 44.63 | Michael Johnson | ![]() |
4 March 1995 | Atlanta | |
4 | 44.80 | Kirani James | ![]() |
27 February 2011 | Fayetteville | |
5 | 44.85 | Fred Kerley | ![]() |
11 March 2017 | College Station | |
6 | 44.86 | Akeem Bloomfield | ![]() |
10 March 2018 | College Station | |
7 | 44.88 | Bralon Taplin | ![]() |
3 February 2018 | College Station | |
8 | 44.93 | LaShawn Merritt | ![]() |
11 February 2005 | Fayetteville | |
9 | 45.02 | Danny Everett | ![]() |
2 February 1992 | Stuttgart | |
10 | 45.03 | Torrin Lawrence | ![]() |
27 February 2011 | Fayetteville | |
Deon Lendore | ![]() |
1 March 2014 | College Station |
Women indoor
Rank | Time | Athlete | Nation | Date | Location | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 49.59 | Jarmila Kratochvílová | ![]() |
7 March 1982 | Milan | |
2 | 49.68 | Natalya Nazarova | ![]() |
18 February 2004 | Moscow | |
3 | 49.76 | Taťána Kocembová | ![]() |
2 February 1984 | Vienna | |
4 | 50.01 | Sabine Busch | ![]() |
2 February 1984 | Vienna | |
5 | 50.02 | Nicola Sanders | ![]() |
3 March 2007 | Birmingham | |
6 | 50.04 | Olesya Krasnomovets | ![]() |
19 February 2006 12 March 2006 |
Moscow | |
7 | 50.15 | Olga Zaytseva | ![]() |
25 January 2006 | Moscow | |
8 | 50.21 | Vania Stambolova | ![]() |
12 March 2006 | Moscow | |
9 | 50.23 | Irina Privalova | ![]() |
12 March 1995 | Barcelona | |
10 | 50.28 | Petra Müller | ![]() |
6 March 1988 | Budapest |
Fastest relay splits
Men
|
Women
|
Most successful athletes
3 or more 400 metres victories at the Olympic Games and World Championships:
- 6 wins: Michael Johnson (USA) - Olympic Champion in 1996 and 2000, World Champion in 1993, 1995, 1997 and 1999.
- 4 wins: Marie-Jose Perec (FRA) - Olympic Champion in 1992 and 1996, World Champion in 1991 and 1995.
- 3 wins: Cathy Freeman (AUS) - Olympic Champion in 2000, World Champion in 1997 and 1999
- 3 wins: Jeremy Wariner (USA) - Olympic Champion in 2004, World Champion in 2005 and 2007.
- 3 wins: Christine Ohuruogu (GBR) - Olympic Champion in 2008, World Champion in 2007 and 2013.
- 3 wins: LaShawn Merritt (USA) - Olympic Champion in 2008, World Champion in 2009 and 2013.
- 3 wins: Wayde van Niekerk (RSA) - Olympic Champion in 2016, World Champion in 2015 and 2017.
Olympic medalists
Men
Women
World Championships medalists
Men
Medalists by country
Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
11 | 8 | 6 | 27 |
2 | ![]() |
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
3 | ![]() |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
4 | ![]() |
2 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
5 | ![]() |
2 | 0 | 3 | 5 |
6 | ![]() |
1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
7 | ![]() |
0 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
8 | ![]() |
0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
![]() |
0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
![]() |
0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
![]() |
0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
![]() |
0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
13 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
![]() |
0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
![]() |
0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
![]() |
0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
![]() |
0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
![]() |
0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Women
§ : awarded following doping disqualification.
Medalists by country
Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() |
4 | 3 | 4 | 11 |
2 | ![]() |
2 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
3 | ![]() |
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
![]() |
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
5 | ![]() |
1 | 3 | 0 | 4 |
6 | ![]() |
1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
![]() |
1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | |
![]() |
1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | |
![]() |
1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | |
10 | ![]() |
1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
11 | ![]() |
1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
![]() |
1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | |
13 | ![]() |
0 | 4 | 6 | 10 |
14 | ![]() |
0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
15 | ![]() |
0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
16 | ![]() |
0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
17 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
![]() |
0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | |
13 | ![]() |
0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
World Indoor Championships medalists
Men
Women
- A Known as the World Indoor Games
Season's bests
Notes and references
- ^ Canadian Journal of Applied Sport Sciences, "Aerobic versus anaerobic training for success in various athletic events" by Shepard, R. J., 1978
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 17 August 2012. Retrieved 2 September 2012.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|dead-url=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "All-time men's best 400m". alltime-athletics.com. 8 January 2017. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
- ^ "Men's 400m Results" (PDF). Rio 2016 official website. 14 August 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 September 2016. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Roy Jordan (9 June 2018). "Benjamin and Norman break collegiate records at NCAA Championships". IAAF. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
- ^ "400m Results". IAAF. 26 August 2015. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
- ^ Jon Mulkeen (27 May 2017). "Kerley cruises to 43.70 clocking for 400m at NCAA West Preliminaries". IAAF. Retrieved 27 May 2017.
- ^ "400m Results" (PDF). www.sep-olympic.ch. 5 July 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 July 2015. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 8 July 2014. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "400m Results" (PDF). sportresult.com. 4 May 2018. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
- ^ "400m Men - Heats Results". IAAF. 23 August 2015. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
- ^ Roy Jordan (9 June 2018). "Benjamin and Norman break collegiate records at NCAA Championships". IAAF. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
- ^ "Men's 400m Results" (PDF). Rio 2016 official website. 14 August 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 September 2016. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "400m Results" (PDF). sportresult.com. 6 July 2017. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
- ^ "400m Results" (PDF). sportresult.com. 21 July 2018. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
- ^ "All-time women's best 400m". alltime-athletics.com. 26 November 2016. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
- ^ "400m Results" (PDF). sportresult.com. 20 July 2018. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
- ^ "400m Results" (PDF). sportresult.com. 20 July 2018. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
- ^ "400m Results". IAAF. 27 August 2015. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
- ^ "4x400 Metres Relay Icons". Retrieved 10 June 2018.
Jeremy Wariner: The two-time world 400m champion was a key member of the USA 4x400m squad in the 2000s, picking up two Olympic relay golds and three world titles. He also boasts the second-fastest relay split in history with his 42.93 from the 2007 World Championships.
- ^ "Men's 4×400m Relay Results". ncaa.com. 27 May 2018. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
- ^ https://smsprio2016-a.akamaihd.net/_odf-documents/A/T/ATM404101_Results_2016_08_20_3f946dd6_c984_4e33_bf39_31afec5beb68.pdf
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- IAAF list of 400-metres records in XML
- All-time Masters men's 400 m list
- All-time Masters women's 400 m list