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Athletics
400 metres
The closing stages of a men's 400 m race
World records
Men Wayde van Niekerk (RSA) 43.03 (2016)
Women Marita Koch (GDR) 47.60 (1985)
Short track world records
Men Kerron Clement (USA) 44.57 (2005)
Women Femke Bol (NED) 49.17 (2024)
Olympic records
Men Wayde van Niekerk (RSA) 43.03 (2016)
Women Marileidy Paulino (DOM) 48.17 (2024)
World Championship records
Men Michael Johnson (USA) 43.18 (1999)
Women Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (USA) 47.78 (2025)
World junior (U20) records
Men Steve Lewis (USA) 43.87 (1988)
Women Grit Breuer (GER) 49.42 (1991)

The 400 metres, or 400-meter dash, is a sprint 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[clarification needed] countries, athletes previously competed in the 440-yard dash (402.336 m)—which is a quarter of a mile (1,760 yards) and was referred to as the "quarter-mile"—instead of the 400 m (437.445 yards), though this distance is now obsolete.

The current men's world record and Olympic record is held by Wayde van Niekerk of South Africa; his time of 43.03 seconds is the fastest 400 m ever run, in either an open 400 m or a relay split (excluding reaction time). While Michael Johnson holds the fastest 400 m relay split with a time of 42.94, relay splits are typically faster because athletes have a running start and do not need to react to the gun if they are not the leadoff leg. Considering van Niekerk's reaction time of 0.181 seconds in his run of 43.03, van Niekerk covered the 400-metre distance itself in 42.85 seconds, therefore being 0.09 s faster than Johnson's relay split.[1]

Quincy Hall is the reigning men's Olympic champion. Antonio Watson is the current men's world champion. Kerron Clement is the men's world indoor record holder with a time of 44.57 seconds.[2] The current women's world record is held by Marita Koch, with a time of 47.60 seconds. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is the current women's world champion, holding the championship record of 47.78 seconds. Marileidy Paulino is the women’s Olympic champion, and holds the Olympic record in a time of 48.17 seconds. Femke Bol holds the women's world indoor record at 49.17 (2024). The men's T43 Paralympic world record of 45.07 seconds is held by Oscar Pistorius.[3]

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. From 31 appearances in the Olympic Games, the men's gold medalist came from the US 19 times (as of 2019).

Sprint

[edit]

Like other sprint disciplines, the 400 m involves the use of starting blocks. The runners take up position in the blocks on the "ready" command, adopt a more efficient starting posture which isometrically preloads their muscles on the "set" command, and stride forwards from the blocks upon hearing the starter's pistol. The blocks allow the runners to begin more powerfully and thereby contribute to their overall sprint speed capability. 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.[4]

Continental records

[edit]
  • Updated 18 September 2025.[5][6]
Area Men Women
Time (s) Athlete Nation Time (s) Athlete Nation
Africa (records) 43.03 WR Wayde van Niekerk  South Africa 49.10 Falilat Ogunkoya  Nigeria
Asia (records) 43.93 Yousef Masrahi  Saudi Arabia 48.14 Salwa Eid Naser  Bahrain
Europe (records) 43.44 Matthew Hudson-Smith  Great Britain 47.60 WR Marita Koch  East Germany
North, Central America
and Caribbean (records) 		43.18 Michael Johnson  United States 47.78 Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone  United States
Oceania (records) 44.38 Darren Clark  Australia 48.63 Cathy Freeman  Australia
South America (records) 43.93 Anthony Zambrano  Colombia 49.64 Ximena Restrepo  Colombia

All-time top 25

[edit]
Tables show data for two definitions of "Top 25" - the top 25 400 m times and the top 25 athletes:
- denotes top performance for athletes in the top 25 400 m times
- denotes lesser performances, still in the top 25 400 m times, by repeat athletes
- denotes top performance (only) for other top 25 athletes who fall outside the top 25 400 m times

Men (outdoor)

[edit]
See also: Men's 400 metres world record progression
  • Correct as of September 2025.[7][8]
Ath.# Perf.# Time (s) Reaction (s) Athlete Nation Date Place Ref.
1 1 43.03 0.181 Wayde van Niekerk  South Africa 14 August 2016 Rio de Janeiro [9]
2 2 43.18 0.150 Michael Johnson  United States 26 August 1999 Seville [10]
3 3 43.29 Butch Reynolds  United States 17 August 1988 Zürich
4 43.39 Johnson #2 9 August 1995 Gothenburg
4 5 43.40 0.168 Quincy Hall  United States 7 August 2024 Saint-Denis [11]
6 43.44 Johnson #3 19 June 1996 Atlanta
5 6 43.44 0.149 Matthew Hudson-Smith  Great Britain 7 August 2024 Saint-Denis [11]
6 8 43.45 0.182 Jeremy Wariner  United States 31 August 2007 Osaka [12]
Michael Norman  United States 20 April 2019 Torrance [13]
10 43.48 0.156 van Niekerk #2 26 August 2015 Beijing [14]
8 11 43.48 0.164 Steven Gardiner  Bahamas 4 October 2019 Doha [15][16]
12 43.49 Johnson #4 29 July 1996 Atlanta
9 13 43.50 Quincy Watts  United States 5 August 1992 Barcelona
14 43.50 Wariner #2 7 August 2007 Stockholm
10 15 43.53 0.134 Collen Kebinatshipi  Botswana 18 September 2025 Tokyo [17]
16 43.56 Norman #2 25 June 2022 Eugene [18]
17 43.60 0.130 Norman #3 28 May 2022 Eugene [19][20]
18 43.61 Norman #4 8 June 2018 Eugene
19 43.61 0.145 Kebinatshipi #2 16 September 2025 Tokyo [21]
20 43.62 Wariner #3 14 July 2006 Rome
0.164 van Niekerk #3 6 July 2017 Lausanne [22]
11 22 43.64 Fred Kerley  United States 27 July 2019 Des Moines [23]
23 43.65 Johnson #5 17 August 1993 Stuttgart
12 24 43.65 0.195 LaShawn Merritt  United States 26 August 2015 Beijing [24]
25 43.66 Johnson #6 16 June 1995 Sacramento
Johnson #7 3 July 1996 Lausanne
13 43.70 Champion Allison  United States 25 June 2022 Eugene [18]
14 43.72 Isaac Makwala  Botswana 5 July 2015 La Chaux-de-Fonds [25]
0.145 Jereem Richards  Trinidad and Tobago 18 September 2025 Tokyo [26]
16 43.74 Kirani James  Grenada 3 July 2014 Lausanne [27]
0.185 Muzala Samukonga  Zambia 7 August 2024 Saint-Denis [11]
18 43.76 A Zakithi Nene  South Africa 31 May 2025 Nairobi [28]
19 43.81 Danny Everett  United States 26 June 1992 New Orleans
20 43.85 Randolph Ross  United States 11 June 2021 Eugene [29]
0.158 Jacory Patterson  United States 28 August 2025 Zurich [30]
22 43.86 A Lee Evans  United States 18 October 1968 Mexico City
23 43.87 Steve Lewis  United States 28 September 1988 Seoul
24 43.91 Khaleb McRae  United States 22 June 2025 London [31]
25 43.93 Yousef Masrahi  Saudi Arabia 23 August 2015 Beijing [32]
Rusheen McDonald  Jamaica 23 August 2015 Beijing [32]
Anthony Zambrano  Colombia 2 August 2021 Tokyo [33]

Women (outdoor)

[edit]
See also: Women's 400 metres world record progression
Ath.# Perf.# Time (s) Reaction (s) Athlete Nation Date Place Ref.
1 1 47.60 Marita Koch  East Germany 6 October 1985 Canberra
2 2 47.78 0.171 Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone  United States 18 September 2025 Tokyo [36]
3 3 47.98 0.183 Marileidy Paulino  Dominican Republic 18 September 2025 Tokyo [36]
4 4 47.99 Jarmila Kratochvílová  Czechoslovakia 10 August 1983 Helsinki
5 5 48.14 0.186 Salwa Eid Naser  Bahrain 3 October 2019 Doha [37]
6 48.16 Koch #2 8 September 1982 Athens
Koch #3 16 August 1984 Prague
8 48.17 Paulino #2 9 August 2024 Saint-Denis [38]
9 48.19 0.189 Naser #2 18 September 2025 Tokyo [36]
10 48.22 Koch #4 28 August 1986 Stuttgart
6 11 48.25 Marie-José Pérec  France 29 July 1996 Atlanta
12 48.26 Koch #5 27 July 1984 Dresden
7 13 48.27 Olga Bryzgina  Soviet Union 6 October 1985 Canberra
14 48.29 McLaughlin-Levrone #2 16 September 2025 Tokyo [39]
8 15 48.36 Shaunae Miller-Uibo  Bahamas 6 August 2021 Tokyo
16 48.37 0.145 Miller-Uibo #2 3 October 2019 Doha
17 48.45 Kratochvílová #2 23 July 1983 Prague
18 48.53 Naser #3 9 August 2024 Saint-Denis [38]
9 19 48.57 Nickisha Pryce  Jamaica 20 July 2024 London [40]
10 20 48.59 Taťána Kocembová  Czechoslovakia 10 August 1983 Helsinki
21 48.60 Koch #6 4 August 1979 Turin
Bryzgina #2 17 August 1985 Moscow
23 48.61 Kratochvílová #3 6 September 1981 Rome
11 24 48.63 Cathy Freeman  Australia 29 July 1996 Atlanta
25 48.65 Bryzgina #3 26 September 1988 Seoul
12 48.70 Sanya Richards-Ross  United States 16 September 2006 Athens
13 48.83 Valerie Brisco-Hooks  United States 6 August 1984 Los Angeles
14 48.89 Ana Guevara  Mexico 27 August 2003 Saint-Denis
15 48.90 Natalia Kaczmarek  Poland 20 July 2024 London [40]
16 49.05 Chandra Cheeseborough  United States 6 August 1984 Los Angeles
17 49.07 Tonique Williams-Darling  Bahamas 12 September 2004 Berlin
Rhasidat Adeleke Ireland 10 June 2024 Rome [41]
19 49.09 0.200 Aaliyah Butler  United States 11 July 2025 Monaco [42]
20 49.10 Falilat Ogunkoya  Nigeria 29 July 1996 Atlanta
21 49.11 Olga Nazarova  Soviet Union 25 September 1988 Seoul
22 49.13 Britton Wilson  United States 13 May 2023 Baton Rouge [43]
Kaylyn Brown  United States 8 June 2024 Eugene [44]
24 49.14 Gabrielle Thomas  United States 5 April 2025 Kingston [45]
25 49.16 Antonina Krivoshapka  Russia 5 July 2012 Cheboksary

Annulled marks

[edit]

Men (indoor)

[edit]
  • Correct as of September 2024.[46]
Ath.# Perf.# Time (s) Athlete Nation Date Place Ref.
1 1 44.49 Christopher Morales Williams  Canada 24 February 2024 Fayetteville [47]
2 2 44.52 Michael Norman  United States 10 March 2018 College Station
3 3 44.57 Kerron Clement  United States 12 March 2005 Fayetteville
4 4 44.62 Randolph Ross  United States 12 March 2022 Birmingham [48]
5 5 44.63 Michael Johnson  United States 4 March 1995 Atlanta
6 44.66 Johnson #2 2 March 1996 Atlanta
7 44.67 Morales Williams #2 7 March 2024 Boston
6 8 44.71 Noah Williams  United States 13 March 2021 Fayetteville [49]
7 9 44.75 Elija Godwin  United States 25 February 2023 Fayetteville [50]
10 44.75 A Godwin #2 11 March 2023 Albuquerque [51]
8 11 44.80 Kirani James  Grenada 27 February 2011 Fayetteville
9 12 44.82 Tyrell Richard  United States 9 March 2019 Birmingham [52]
13 44.83 Ross #2 11 February 2022 Clemson
10 14 44.85 Fred Kerley  United States 11 March 2017 College Station
11 15 44.86 Akeem Bloomfield  Jamaica 10 March 2018 College Station
12 16 44.88 Bralon Taplin  Grenada 3 February 2018 College Station
13 17 44.91 Auhmad Robinson  United States 9 March 2024 Boston [53]
14 18 44.93 LaShawn Merritt  United States 11 February 2005 Fayetteville
44.93 A Ryan Willie  United States 11 March 2023 Albuquerque [54]
20 44.94 Kerley #2 25 February 2017 Nashville
21 44.97 Johnson #3 10 February 1995 Reno
22 44.99 Ross #3 13 March 2021 Fayetteville
23 45.00 Norman #2 9 February 2018 Clemson
16 23 45.00 Jereem Richards  Trinidad and Tobago 19 March 2022 Belgrade [55]
17 25 45.02 Danny Everett  United States 2 February 1992 Stuttgart
25 45.02 Kerley #3 10 February 2017 Clemson
Bloomfield #2 9 February 2018 Clemson
17 25 45.02 Khaleb McCrae  United States 3 February 2024 Albuquerque
19 45.03 Torrin Lawrence  United States 12 February 2010 Fayetteville
Deon Lendore  Trinidad and Tobago 1 March 2014 College Station
Kahmari Montgomery  United States 9 March 2019 Birmingham [52]
22 45.04 Champion Allison  United States 26 February 2022 College Station [56]
23 45.05 Thomas Schönlebe  East Germany 5 February 1988 Sindelfingen
Alvin Harrison  United States 28 February 1998 Atlanta
Karsten Warholm  Norway 2 March 2019 Glasgow [57]
Trevor Bassitt  United States 19 March 2022 Belgrade [55]
Jacory Patterson  United States 25 February 2023 Fayetteville

Women (indoor)

[edit]
  • Correct as of March 2025.[58]
Ath.# Perf.# Time (s) Athlete Nation Date Place Ref.
1 1 49.17 Femke Bol  Netherlands 2 March 2024 Glasgow [59]
2 49.24 Bol #2 17 February 2024 Apeldoorn [60]
2 2 49.24 Isabella Whittaker  United States 15 March 2025 Virginia Beach [61]
4 49.26 Bol #3 19 February 2023 Apeldoorn [62]
3 5 49.48 A Britton Wilson  United States 11 March 2023 Albuquerque [51]
4 6 49.59 Jarmila Kratochvílová  Czechoslovakia 7 March 1982 Milan
7 49.63 Bol #4 10 February 2024 Liévin [63]
8 49.64 Kratochvílová #2 28 January 1981 Vienna
5 9 49.68 Natalya Nazarova  Russia 18 February 2004 Moscow
10 49.69 Kratochvílová #3 6 March 1983 Budapest
Bol #5 1 February 2024 Metz [64]
6 12 49.76 Taťána Kocembová  Czechoslovakia 2 February 1984 Vienna
7 13 49.78 Aaliyah Butler  United States 1 March 2025 College Station [65]
14 49.85 Bol #6 4 March 2023 Istanbul [66]
15 49.90 Whittaker #2 1 March 2025 College Station [65]
16 49.96 Bol #7 11 February 2023 Metz [67]
17 49.97 Kocembová #2 4 March 1984 Gothenburg
Butler #2 15 March 2025 Virginia Beach [61]
19 49.98 Nazarova #2 18 February 2006 Moscow
20 50.00 Kratochvílová #4 10 February 1983 Vienna
8 21 50.01 Sabine Busch  East Germany 2 February 1984 Vienna
9 22 50.02 Nicola Sanders  Great Britain 3 March 2007 Birmingham
10 23 50.04 Olesya Krasnomovets  Russia 18 February 2006 Moscow
24 50.04 Krasnomovets #2 12 March 2006 Moscow
25 50.07 Kratochvílová #5 22 February 1981 Grenoble
11 50.10 Lieke Klaver  Netherlands 18 February 2024 Apeldoorn [68]
12 50.15 Olga Zaytseva  Russia 25 January 2006 Moscow
Talitha Diggs  United States 25 February 2023 Fayetteville [69]
14 50.21 Vania Stambolova  Bulgaria 12 March 2006 Moscow
Shaunae Miller-Uibo  Bahamas 13 February 2021 New York City [70]
16 50.23 Irina Privalova  Russia 12 March 1995 Barcelona
17 50.24 Alexis Holmes  United States 2 March 2024 Glasgow [59]
18 50.28 Petra Müller  East Germany 6 March 1988 Budapest
19 50.33 Rhasidat Adeleke  Ireland 25 February 2023 Lubbock [69]
20 50.34 Christine Amertil  Bahamas 12 March 2006 Moscow
Kendall Ellis  United States 10 March 2018 College Station
22 50.36 Sydney McLaughlin  United States 10 March 2018 College Station
23 50.37 Natalya Antyukh  Russia 18 February 2006 Moscow
24 50.40 Dagmar Neubauer  East Germany 2 February 1984 Vienna
25 50.41 Svetlana Pospelova  Russia 5 March 2005 Madrid

Fastest relay splits

[edit]

Men

[edit]
Split A Athlete Leg Date Event Place Ref.
42.94 B  Michael Johnson (USA) L4 22 August 1993 World Championships Stuttgart [71]
43.04  Letsile Tebogo (BOT) L4 10 August 2024 Summer Olympics Saint-Denis [72]
43.06  Michael Norman (USA) L4 27 May 2018 NCAA West Prelims Sacramento [73]
43.09  Matthew Hudson-Smith (GBR) L4 10 August 2024 Summer Olympics Saint-Denis [72]
43.10  Jeremy Wariner (USA) L4 2 September 2007 World Championships Osaka [74]
43.1  Quincy Watts (USA) L2 8 August 1992 Summer Olympics Barcelona [75]
43.18  Jeremy Wariner (USA) L4 23 August 2008 Summer Olympics Beijing [75]
 James Benson II (USA) L4 7 June 2024 NCAA Championships Eugene [76]
 Rai Benjamin (USA) L4 10 August 2024 Summer Olympics Saint-Denis [72]
43.20  Auhmad Robinson (USA) L4 7 June 2024 NCAA Championships Eugene [76]
43.2  Ronald Freeman (USA) L2 20 October 1968 Summer Olympics Mexico City [75]
 Jeremy Wariner (USA) L2 8 April 2006 Texas Relays Austin [75]
 Tony McQuay (USA) L2 20 August 2016 Summer Olympics Rio de Janeiro [77]
43.23  Butch Reynolds (USA) L3 22 August 1993 World Championships Stuttgart [71]
43.24  Jonathan Jones (BAR) L4 10 June 2022 NCAA Championships Eugene [78]
43.26  Vernon Norwood (USA) L2 10 August 2024 Summer Olympics Saint-Denis [72]
 Wayde Van Niekerk (SAF) L3 21 September 2025 World Championships Tokyo [79]
43.3  Demetrius Pinder (BAH) L2 10 Augusut 2012 Summer Olympics London [75]

Annulled marks

  • The American athlete Antonio Pettigrew recorded a split time of 43.1 at the 1997 World Championships men's 4 x 400 m finals in Athens, but his time was annulled in 2008, after Pettigrew admitted to multiple doping violations between 1997 and 2003.[80]

Women

[edit]
Split A Athlete Leg Date Event Place Ref.
47.6  Jarmila Kratochvílová (TCH) L4 11 September 1982 European Championships Athens [81]
47.70  Marita Koch (GDR) L4 3 June 1984 National Championships Erfurt [81]
47.71  Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (USA) L2 10 August 2024 Summer Olympics Saint-Denis [82]
47.72  Allyson Felix (USA) L3 30 August 2015 World Championships Beijing [83]
47.75  Jarmila Kratochvílová (TCH) L4 14 August 1983 World Championships Helsinki [84]
47.8  Olga Bryzgina (URS) L4 1 October 1988 Summer Olympics Seoul [81]
47.82  Olga Nazarova (URS) L2 1 October 1988 Summer Olympics Seoul [81]
 Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (USA) L4 21 September 2025 World Championships Tokyo [85]
47.84  Taťána Kocembová (TCH) L4 18 August 1984 Friendship Games Prague [81]
47.9  Jarmila Kratochvílová (TCH) L4 5 July 1981 European Cup Semifinal Frankfurt [81]
 Jarmila Kratochvílová (TCH) L4 2 August 1981 European Cup B Final Pescara [81]
 Marita Koch (GDR) L4 11 September 1982 European Championships Athens [81]
 Jarmila Kratochvílová (TCH) L4 21 August 1983 European Cup Final London [81]
 Marita Koch (GDR) L4 4 October 1985 IAAF World Cup Canberra [86]
47.91  Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (USA) L4 24 July 2022 World Championships Eugene [87]
48.00  Femke Bol (NED) L4 C 3 August 2024 Summer Olympics Saint-Denis [88]
48.01  Allyson Felix (USA) L2 2 September 2007 World Championships Osaka [89]
48.08  Florence Griffith-Joyner (USA) L4 1 October 1988 Summer Olympics Seoul [81]
48.1  Alicia Brown (CAN) L4 12 May 2019 IAAF World Relays Yokohama [90]
  • ^A Relay splits are typically faster because athletes have a running start and do not need to react to the gun if they are not the leadoff leg.
  • ^B World Athletics reports a split time of 42.94, which is based on "photo-finish pictures taken at the start and finish of Johnson’s leg supplied by Seiko. Using different methods, the DLV Biomechanics Report from Stuttgart 1993 variously showed timings of 42.91 and 42.92.[71]
  • ^C Run in a mixed 4 x 400 metres relay race.

Most successful athletes

[edit]

3 or more 400-metre 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.
  • 3 wins: Shaunae Miller-Uibo (BAH) - Olympic champion in 2016 and 2020, world champion in 2022.

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.

Olympic medalists

[edit]

Men

[edit]
Games Gold Silver Bronze
edit
1896 Athens
details 		Thomas Burke
 United States 		Herbert Jamison
 United States 		Charles Gmelin
 Great Britain
1900 Paris
details 		Maxie Long
 United States 		William Holland
 United States 		Ernst Schultz
 Denmark
1904 St. Louis
details 		Harry Hillman
 United States 		Frank Waller
 United States 		Herman Groman
 United States
1908 London
details 		Wyndham Halswelle
 Great Britain 		None awarded None awarded
1912 Stockholm
details 		Charles Reidpath
 United States 		Hanns Braun
 Germany 		Edward Lindberg
 United States
1920 Antwerp
details 		Bevil Rudd
 South Africa 		Guy Butler
 Great Britain 		Nils Engdahl
 Sweden
1924 Paris
details 		Eric Liddell
 Great Britain 		Horatio Fitch
 United States 		Guy Butler
 Great Britain
1928 Amsterdam
details 		Ray Barbuti
 United States 		James Ball
 Canada 		Joachim Büchner
 Germany
1932 Los Angeles
details 		Bill Carr
 United States 		Ben Eastman
 United States 		Alex Wilson
 Canada
1936 Berlin
details 		Archie Williams
 United States 		Godfrey Brown
 Great Britain 		James LuValle
 United States
1948 London
details 		Arthur Wint
 Jamaica 		Herb McKenley
 Jamaica 		Mal Whitfield
 United States
1952 Helsinki
details 		George Rhoden
 Jamaica 		Herb McKenley
 Jamaica 		Ollie Matson
 United States
1956 Melbourne
details 		Charles Jenkins
 United States 		Karl-Friedrich Haas
 United Team of Germany 		Voitto Hellsten
 Finland
Ardalion Ignatyev
 Soviet Union
1960 Rome
details 		Otis Davis
 United States 		Carl Kaufmann
 United Team of Germany 		Malcolm Spence
 South Africa
1964 Tokyo
details 		Mike Larrabee
 United States 		Wendell Mottley
 Trinidad and Tobago 		Andrzej Badeński
 Poland
1968 Mexico City
details 		Lee Evans
 United States 		Larry James
 United States 		Ron Freeman
 United States
1972 Munich
details 		Vincent Matthews
 United States 		Wayne Collett
 United States 		Julius Sang
 Kenya
1976 Montreal
details 		Alberto Juantorena
 Cuba 		Fred Newhouse
 United States 		Herman Frazier
 United States
1980 Moscow
details 		Viktor Markin
 Soviet Union 		Rick Mitchell
 Australia 		Frank Schaffer
 East Germany
1984 Los Angeles
details 		Alonzo Babers
 United States 		Gabriel Tiacoh
 Ivory Coast 		Antonio McKay
 United States
1988 Seoul
details 		Steve Lewis
 United States 		Butch Reynolds
 United States 		Danny Everett
 United States
1992 Barcelona
details 		Quincy Watts
 United States 		Steve Lewis
 United States 		Samson Kitur
 Kenya
1996 Atlanta
details 		Michael Johnson
 United States 		Roger Black
 Great Britain 		Davis Kamoga
 Uganda
2000 Sydney
details 		Michael Johnson
 United States 		Alvin Harrison
 United States 		Greg Haughton
 Jamaica
2004 Athens
details 		Jeremy Wariner
 United States 		Otis Harris
 United States 		Derrick Brew
 United States
2008 Beijing
details 		LaShawn Merritt
 United States 		Jeremy Wariner
 United States 		David Neville
 United States
2012 London
details 		Kirani James
 Grenada 		Luguelín Santos
 Dominican Republic 		Lalonde Gordon
 Trinidad and Tobago
2016 Rio de Janeiro
details 		Wayde van Niekerk
 South Africa 		Kirani James
 Grenada 		LaShawn Merritt
 United States
2020 Tokyo
details 		Steven Gardiner
 Bahamas 		Anthony Zambrano
 Colombia 		Kirani James
 Grenada
2024 Paris
details 		Quincy Hall
 United States 		Matthew Hudson Smith
 Great Britain 		Muzala Samukonga
 Zambia

Women

[edit]
Games Gold Silver Bronze
edit
1964 Tokyo
details 		Betty Cuthbert
 Australia 		Ann Packer
 Great Britain 		Judy Amoore
 Australia
1968 Mexico City
details 		Colette Besson
 France 		Lillian Board
 Great Britain 		Natalya Pechonkina
 Soviet Union
1972 Munich
details 		Monika Zehrt
 East Germany 		Rita Wilden
 West Germany 		Kathy Hammond
 United States
1976 Montreal
details 		Irena Szewińska
 Poland 		Christina Brehmer
 East Germany 		Ellen Streidt
 East Germany
1980 Moscow
details 		Marita Koch
 East Germany 		Jarmila Kratochvílová
 Czechoslovakia 		Christina Lathan
 East Germany
1984 Los Angeles
details 		Valerie Brisco-Hooks
 United States 		Chandra Cheeseborough
 United States 		Kathy Smallwood-Cook
 Great Britain
1988 Seoul
details 		Olga Bryzgina
 Soviet Union 		Petra Müller
 East Germany 		Olga Nazarova
 Soviet Union
1992 Barcelona
details 		Marie-José Pérec
 France 		Olga Bryzgina
 Unified Team 		Ximena Restrepo
 Colombia
1996 Atlanta
details 		Marie-José Pérec
 France 		Cathy Freeman
 Australia 		Falilat Ogunkoya
 Nigeria
2000 Sydney
details 		Cathy Freeman
 Australia 		Lorraine Graham
 Jamaica 		Katharine Merry
 Great Britain
2004 Athens
details 		Tonique Williams-Darling
 Bahamas 		Ana Guevara
 Mexico 		Natalya Antyukh
 Russia
2008 Beijing
details 		Christine Ohuruogu
 Great Britain 		Shericka Williams
 Jamaica 		Sanya Richards
 United States
2012 London
details 		Sanya Richards-Ross
 United States 		Christine Ohuruogu
 Great Britain 		DeeDee Trotter
 United States
2016 Rio de Janeiro
details 		Shaunae Miller
 Bahamas 		Allyson Felix
 United States 		Shericka Jackson
 Jamaica
2020 Tokyo
details 		Shaunae Miller-Uibo
 Bahamas 		Marileidy Paulino
 Dominican Republic 		Allyson Felix
 United States
2024 Paris
details 		Marileidy Paulino
 Dominican Republic 		Salwa Eid Naser
 Bahrain 		Natalia Kaczmarek
 Poland

World Championships medalists

[edit]

Men

[edit]
Championships Gold Silver Bronze
1983 Helsinki
details 		 Bert Cameron (JAM)  Michael Franks (USA)  Sunder Nix (USA)
1987 Rome
details 		 Thomas Schönlebe (GDR)  Innocent Egbunike (NGA)  Harry Reynolds (USA)
1991 Tokyo
details 		 Antonio Pettigrew (USA)  Roger Black (GBR)  Danny Everett (USA)
1993 Stuttgart
details 		 Michael Johnson (USA)  Butch Reynolds (USA)  Samson Kitur (KEN)
1995 Gothenburg
details 		 Michael Johnson (USA)  Butch Reynolds (USA)  Greg Haughton (JAM)
1997 Athens
details 		 Michael Johnson (USA)  Davis Kamoga (UGA)  Tyree Washington (USA)
1999 Seville
details 		 Michael Johnson (USA)  Sanderlei Parrela (BRA)  Alejandro Cárdenas (MEX)
2001 Edmonton
details 		 Avard Moncur (BAH)  Ingo Schultz (GER)  Greg Haughton (JAM)
2003 Saint-Denis
details 		 Tyree Washington (USA)  Marc Raquil (FRA)  Michael Blackwood (JAM)
2005 Helsinki
details 		 Jeremy Wariner (USA)  Andrew Rock (USA)  Tyler Christopher (CAN)
2007 Osaka
details 		 Jeremy Wariner (USA)  LaShawn Merritt (USA)  Angelo Taylor (USA)
2009 Berlin
details 		 LaShawn Merritt (USA)  Jeremy Wariner (USA)  Renny Quow (TRI)
2011 Daegu
details 		 Kirani James (GRN)  LaShawn Merritt (USA)  Kévin Borlée (BEL)
2013 Moscow
details 		 LaShawn Merritt (USA)  Tony McQuay (USA)  Luguelín Santos (DOM)
2015 Beijing
details 		 Wayde van Niekerk (RSA)  LaShawn Merritt (USA)  Kirani James (GRN)
2017 London
details 		 Wayde van Niekerk (RSA)  Steven Gardiner (BAH)  Abdalelah Haroun (QAT)
2019 Doha
details 		 Steven Gardiner (BAH)  Anthony Zambrano (COL)  Fred Kerley (USA)
2022 Eugene
details 		 Michael Norman (USA)  Kirani James (GRN)  Matthew Hudson-Smith (GBR)
2023 Budapest
details 		 Antonio Watson (JAM)  Matthew Hudson-Smith (GBR)  Quincy Hall (USA)
2025 Tokyo
details 		 Collen Kebinatshipi (BOT)  Jereem Richards (TTO)  Bayapo Ndori (BOT)

Medalists by country

[edit]
Rank Nation Gold Silver Bronze Total
1  United States (USA) 11 9 6 27
2  Bahamas (BAH) 2 1 0 3
3  Jamaica (JAM) 2 0 3 5
4  South Africa (RSA) 2 0 0 2
5  Grenada (GRN) 1 1 1 3
6  Botswana (BOT) 1 0 1 2
7  East Germany (GDR) 1 0 0 1
8  Great Britain (GBR) 0 2 1 3
9  Trinidad and Tobago (TRI) 0 1 1 2
10  Brazil (BRA) 0 1 0 1
 Colombia (COL) 0 1 0 1
 France (FRA) 0 1 0 1
 Germany (GER) 0 1 0 1
 Nigeria (NGR) 0 1 0 1
 Uganda (UGA) 0 1 0 1
16  Belgium (BEL) 0 0 1 1
 Canada (CAN) 0 0 1 1
 Dominican Republic (DOM) 0 0 1 1
 Kenya (KEN) 0 0 1 1
 Mexico (MEX) 0 0 1 1
 Qatar (QAT) 0 0 1 1

Women

[edit]
Championships Gold Silver Bronze
1983 Helsinki
details 		 Jarmila Kratochvílová (TCH)  Taťána Kocembová (TCH)  Mariya Pinigina (URS)
1987 Rome
details 		 Olga Bryzgina (URS)  Petra Muller (GDR)  Kirsten Emmelmann (GDR)
1991 Tokyo
details 		 Marie-José Pérec (FRA)  Grit Breuer (GER)  Sandra Myers (ESP)
1993 Stuttgart
details 		 Jearl Miles (USA)  Natasha Kaiser-Brown (USA)  Sandie Richards (JAM)
1995 Gothenburg
details 		 Marie-José Pérec (FRA)  Pauline Davis (BAH)  Jearl Miles (USA)
1997 Athens
details 		 Cathy Freeman (AUS)  Sandie Richards (JAM)  Jearl Miles Clark (USA)
1999 Seville
details 		 Cathy Freeman (AUS)  Anja Rücker (GER)  Lorraine Graham-Fenton (JAM)
2001 Edmonton
details 		 Amy Mbacké Thiam (SEN)  Lorraine Fenton (JAM)  Ana Guevara (MEX)
2003 Saint-Denis
details 		 Ana Guevara (MEX)  Lorraine Fenton (JAM)  Amy Mbacké Thiam (SEN)
2005 Helsinki
details 		 Tonique Williams-Darling (BAH)  Sanya Richards (USA)  Ana Guevara (MEX)
2007 Osaka
details 		 Christine Ohuruogu (GBR)  Nicola Sanders (GBR)  Novlene Williams (JAM)
2009 Berlin
details 		 Sanya Richards (USA)  Shericka Williams (JAM)  Antonina Krivoshapka (RUS)
2011 Daegu
details 		 Amantle Montsho (BOT)  Allyson Felix (USA)  Francena McCorory (USA)§
2013 Moscow
details 		 Christine Ohuruogu (GBR)  Amantle Montsho (BOT)  Stephanie McPherson (JAM)§
2015 Beijing
details 		 Allyson Felix (USA)  Shaunae Miller (BAH)  Shericka Jackson (JAM)
2017 London
details 		 Phyllis Francis (USA)  Salwa Eid Naser (BHR)  Allyson Felix (USA)
2019 Doha
details 		 Salwa Eid Naser (BHR)  Shaunae Miller-Uibo (BAH)  Shericka Jackson (JAM)
2022 Eugene
details 		 Shaunae Miller-Uibo (BAH)  Marileidy Paulino (DOM)  Sada Williams (BAR)
2023 Budapest
details 		 Marileidy Paulino (DOM)  Natalia Kaczmarek (POL)  Sada Williams (BAR)
2025 Tokyo
details 		 Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (USA)  Marileidy Paulino (DOM)  Salwa Eid Naser (BHR)

§ : awarded following doping disqualification.

Medalists by country

[edit]
Rank Nation Gold Silver Bronze Total
1  United States (USA) 5 3 4 12
2  Bahamas (BAH) 2 3 0 5
3  Great Britain (GBR) 2 1 0 3
5  Australia (AUS) 2 0 0 2
 France (FRA) 2 0 0 2
6  Dominican Republic (DOM) 1 2 0 3
7  Bahrain (BHR) 1 1 1 3
8

 Botswana (BOT)

1 1 0 2
 Czechoslovakia (TCH) 1 1 0 2
10  Mexico (MEX) 1 0 2 3
11  Senegal (SEN) 1 0 1 2
 Soviet Union (URS) 1 0 1 2
13  Jamaica (JAM) 0 4 6 10
14  Germany (GER) 0 2 0 2
15  East Germany (GDR) 0 1 1 2
16  Poland (POL) 0 1 0 1
17  Barbados (BAR) 0 0 2 2
 Russia (RUS) 0 0 2 2
13  Spain (ESP) 0 0 1 1

World Indoor Championships medalists

[edit]

Men

[edit]
Games Gold Silver Bronze
1985 Paris[A]  Thomas Schönlebe (GDR)  Todd Bennett (GBR)  Mark Rowe (USA)
1987 Indianapolis
details 		 Antonio McKay (USA)  Roberto Hernández (CUB)  Michael Franks (USA)
1989 Budapest
details 		 Antonio McKay (USA)  Ian Morris (TTO)  Cayetano Cornet (ESP)
1991 Seville
details 		 Devon Morris (JAM)  Samson Kitur (KEN)  Cayetano Cornet (ESP)
1993 Toronto
details 		 Butch Reynolds (USA)  Sunday Bada (NGR)  Darren Clark (AUS)
1995 Barcelona
details 		 Darnell Hall (USA)  Sunday Bada (NGR)  Mikhail Vdovin (RUS)
1997 Paris
details 		 Sunday Bada (NGR)  Jamie Baulch (GBR)  Shunji Karube (JPN)
1999 Maebashi
details 		 Jamie Baulch (GBR)  Milton Campbell (USA)  Alejandro Cárdenas (MEX)
2001 Lisbon
details 		 Daniel Caines (GBR)  Milton Campbell (USA)  Danny McFarlane (JAM)
2003 Birmingham
details 		 Tyree Washington (USA)  Daniel Caines (GBR)  Paul McKee (IRL)
 Jamie Baulch (GBR)
2004 Budapest
details 		 Alleyne Francique (GRN)  Davian Clarke (JAM)  Gary Kikaya (COD)
2006 Moscow
details 		 Alleyne Francique (GRN)  California Molefe (BOT)  Chris Brown (BAH)
2008 Valencia
details 		 Tyler Christopher (CAN)  Johan Wissman (SWE)  Chris Brown (BAH)
2010 Doha
details 		 Chris Brown (BAH)  William Collazo (CUB)  Jamaal Torrance (USA)
2012 Istanbul
details 		 Nery Brenes (CRC)  Demetrius Pinder (BAH)  Chris Brown (BAH)
2014 Sopot
details 		 Pavel Maslák (CZE)  Chris Brown (BAH)  Kyle Clemons (USA)
2016 Portland
details 		 Pavel Maslák (CZE)  Abdalelah Haroun (QAT)  Deon Lendore (TTO)
2018 Birmingham
details 		 Pavel Maslák (CZE)  Michael Cherry (USA)  Deon Lendore (TTO)
2022 Belgrade
details 		 Jereem Richards (TTO)  Trevor Bassitt (USA)  Carl Bengtström (SWE)
2024 Glasgow
details 		 Alexander Doom (BEL)  Karsten Warholm (NOR)  Rusheen McDonald (JAM)
2025 Nanjing
details 		 Christopher Bailey (USA)  Brian Faust (USA)  Jacory Patterson (USA)

Women

[edit]
Games Gold Silver Bronze
1985 Paris[A]  Diane Dixon (USA)  Regine Berg (BEL)  Charmaine Crooks (CAN)
1987 Indianapolis
details 		 Sabine Busch (GDR)  Lillie Leatherwood (USA)  Judit Forgács (HUN)
1989 Budapest
details 		 Helga Arendt (FRG)  Diane Dixon (USA)  Jillian Richardson (TTO)
1991 Seville
details 		 Diane Dixon (USA)  Sandra Myers (ESP)  Anita Protti (SUI)
1993 Toronto
details 		 Sandie Richards (JAM)  Tatyana Alekseyeva (RUS)  Jearl Miles Clark (USA)
1995 Barcelona
details 		 Irina Privalova (RUS)  Sandie Richards (JAM)  Daniela Georgieva (BUL)
1997 Paris
details 		 Jearl Miles Clark (USA)  Sandie Richards (JAM)  Helena Fuchsová (CZE)
1999 Maebashi
details 		 Grit Breuer (GER)  Falilat Ogunkoya (NGR)  Jearl Miles Clark (USA)
2001 Lisbon
details 		 Sandie Richards (JAM)  Olga Kotlyarova (RUS)  Olesya Zykina (RUS)
2003 Birmingham
details 		 Natalya Nazarova (RUS)  Christine Amertil (BAH)  Grit Breuer (GER)
2004 Budapest
details 		 Natalya Nazarova (RUS)  Olesya Forsheva (RUS)  Tonique Williams-Darling (BAH)
2006 Moscow
details 		 Olesya Forsheva (RUS)  Vania Stambolova (BUL)  Christine Amertil (BAH)
2008 Valencia
details 		 Olesya Zykina (RUS)  Natalya Nazarova (RUS)  Shareese Woods (USA)
2010 Doha
details 		 Debbie Dunn (USA)  Vania Stambolova (BUL)  Amantle Montsho (BOT)
2012 Istanbul
details 		 Sanya Richards-Ross (USA)  Aleksandra Fedoriva (RUS)  Natasha Hastings (USA)
2014 Sopot
details 		 Francena McCorory (USA)  Kaliese Spencer (JAM)  Shaunae Miller (BAH)
2016 Portland
details 		 Kemi Adekoya (BHR)  Ashley Spencer (USA)  Quanera Hayes (USA)
2018 Birmingham
details 		 Courtney Okolo (USA)  Shakima Wimbley (USA)  Eilidh Doyle (GBR)
2022 Belgrade
details 		 Shaunae Miller-Uibo (BAH)  Femke Bol (NED)  Stephenie Ann McPherson (JAM)
2024 Glasgow
details 		 Femke Bol (NED)  Lieke Klaver (NED)  Alexis Holmes (USA)
2025 Nanjing
details 		 Amber Anning (GBR)  Alexis Holmes (USA)  Henriette Jæger (NOR)
  • A Known as the World Indoor Games

Season's bests

[edit]

Notes and references

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

400 metres

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
The 400 metres is a sprint running event in track and field, contested over one complete lap of a standard outdoor running track measuring exactly 400 metres in length, typically featuring staggered starts to account for lane curvature. It demands a unique blend of explosive speed and anaerobic endurance, often described as a "prolonged sprint" or the "killer event" due to the intense physiological stress it imposes, particularly in the final 100 metres where lactic acid buildup causes severe fatigue. The event has been a staple of major international competitions since the inaugural modern Olympic Games in 1896 for men, with the women's edition introduced at the Tokyo Olympics in 1964. Its history traces back to the late 19th century, with the first officially recognized world record set at 47.8 seconds by American Maxwell Long in 1900 (retroactively ratified from a 440 yards race; his Olympic winning time that year was 49.4 seconds). Over the decades, it has produced iconic performances, including Eric Liddell's gold-medal win at the 1924 Paris Olympics—immortalized in the film Chariots of Fire—and Michael Johnson's dominant era in the 1990s, where he set a long-standing championship record of 43.18 seconds at the 1999 World Championships in Athletics. The United States has historically dominated, claiming 44 of 81 Olympic medals and 20 of 27 golds in the men's event (as of 2024). Current all-time world records stand at 43.03 seconds for men, set by South Africa's at the 2016 Rio Olympics, and 47.60 seconds for women, achieved by East Germany's in 1985—records that highlight the event's evolution through advances in training, , and track technology. Notable athletes like Cuba's , who won Olympic golds in both the 400m and 800m in 1976, and recent stars such as , who ran the second-fastest women's time ever (47.78 seconds) to win the 2025 World Championships title, underscore the 400 metres' status as a showcase of tactical pacing and mental resilience. Beyond individual races, it forms a key component of events like the 4 × 400 metres, further emphasizing its role in competitions.

Event Fundamentals

Race Format and Rules

The 400 metres is a sprint event consisting of one full lap around a standard oval track, where athletes compete in assigned lanes throughout the entire distance to ensure fairness, with starting positions staggered to compensate for the varying curve lengths in outer lanes. Races in major competitions are typically structured in multiple rounds, including , semi-finals, and finals, with qualification to subsequent rounds determined by finishing positions or recorded times as per the meet's regulations; for example, the top performers from each heat advance based on predefined progression tables. Starting procedures require a crouch position using compulsory starting blocks placed within each lane, with officials issuing the commands "On your marks" followed by "Set" before firing the starter's gun; blocks must not extend beyond the lane boundaries or overlap the start line. A false start occurs if an athlete moves prematurely—defined as losing contact with the blocks or making a forward motion before the gun—resulting in immediate disqualification of that individual, signaled by a red and black card; there is no warning for the first infraction under current rules implemented since 2010. Lane assignments for the first round are drawn by lot, while subsequent rounds seed athletes by performance rankings to avoid unfair matchups, such as placing top competitors or teammates in the same heat. Athletes must remain entirely within their designated 1.22 m wide from start to finish, with any step outside the lane line—gaining a material advantage or otherwise—leading to disqualification; this rule applies strictly to prevent interference. Timing is conducted using fully automatic systems with technology, recording results to the hundredth of a second and rounding up to the next longer 0.01 s if the exact time is not achieved. The event also forms the basis of the 4 × 400 m , where the first leg follows identical individual rules including full lane usage and starting blocks, though subsequent legs allow breaking from lanes after the initial bend. A minimum recovery period of 45 minutes is mandated between rounds for the 400 m to allow athlete rest, when practicable.

Track Specifications

The standard outdoor track for the 400 metres event is an with a total perimeter of 400 metres in lane 1, comprising two straight sections each measuring 84.39 metres and two curves with an inner of 36.50 metres. Lanes are delineated by white lines, each 1.22 metres (±0.01 m) wide, typically numbering eight for international competitions to allow for full-field starts while maintaining fairness. This configuration ensures precise measurement along a line 0.30 metres from the inner edge for lane 1 and 0.20 metres from the inner edge for outer lanes. To compensate for the increased curve length in outer lanes, starting positions are staggered, with each lane offset forward by approximately 7.67 metres relative to the previous one, ensuring all competitors run an equal 400 metres distance. For example, the start in lane 2 is positioned 7.67 metres ahead of lane 1, and this offset accumulates progressively for higher lanes. Track surfaces are predominantly synthetic, composed of rubber granules bound with or similar polymers, which offer superior grip, consistent energy return (typically 80-95% rebound), and durability compared to older cinder or grass surfaces. These materials, often certified for to facilitate drainage, replaced traditional options following the introduction of "" tracks at the 1968 Olympics, enhancing athlete safety and performance. Indoor tracks, by contrast, are usually flat or slightly banked 200-metre ovals with straights of about 25.01 metres and a radius of 23.87 metres, supporting 6 to 8 lanes; the 400 metres is completed over two laps, though some venues feature dedicated straight 400-metre paths or modified ovals for the event. Environmental conditions significantly influence 400 metres races. At higher altitudes, such as 2,240 metres in , lower air (reduced by approximately 23%) reduces aerodynamic drag proportionally, contributing to faster times as evidenced by multiple records set there in 1968. Outdoors, tailwind assistance is limited to +2.0 metres per second for record ratification, with stronger winds invalidating performances due to unfair advantages; indoors, the enclosed environment eliminates wind effects entirely. also plays a key role, with optimal ranges of 20-25°C minimizing muscle and , while extremes—below 10°C or above 30°C—can impair speed by 1-3% through altered or risks. World Athletics mandates that tracks for record-eligible competitions achieve Class 1 certification, verifying dimensional accuracy, surface quality, and safety through rigorous on-site measurements and testing to uphold .

Technique and Strategy

Biomechanics of Running

The 400 metres event places unique energy demands on the athlete, relying primarily on the anaerobic energy system for rapid ATP production through , which leads to significant buildup and subsequent fatigue, particularly in the final where velocity often declines due to . Aerobic contributions, while secondary, account for approximately 37-43% of total energy, supporting recovery and oxygen debt repayment post-race, with elite performers reaching 79-89% of their during the effort. Key physiological metrics include , which reflects maximal aerobic capacity and influences endurance in the latter stages, and , the point at which blood lactate accumulates faster than it can be cleared, typically higher in faster athletes to tolerate greater anaerobic loads. Optimal running form in the 400 metres emphasizes biomechanical to maximize speed while conserving , featuring a high lift to drive forward and reduce braking forces upon ground contact, complemented by a powerful arm drive that maintains balance and rotational stability through coordinated upper-body motion. Minimizing ground contact time—typically under 0.2 seconds at maximal —enhances horizontal impulse and reduces energy loss, achieved by rapid force application through the midfoot or forefoot. Athletes balance stride and for , with elite performers maintaining an optimal of around 4.2-4.5 strides per second during speed maintenance phases, as excessive increases and risk, while higher demands greater neuromuscular coordination. The race unfolds in distinct biomechanical phases: an initial acceleration over the first 50 metres, where explosive hip extension and horizontal force orientation build velocity from the start; speed maintenance from 100-200 metres, relying on vertical ground reaction forces to counter gravity and sustain near-maximal speed; and deceleration resistance from 200-400 metres, where accumulating fatigue risks form breakdown, such as reduced knee lift or overstriding, leading to diminished stride efficiency and power output. Track spikes with 6-7 mm pins enhance traction during these phases, particularly on curves, by increasing grip without excessive track damage, as per facility standards. Common injury risks include hamstring strains from explosive starts, arising from eccentric muscle loading during late swing phase (up to 8 times body weight), exacerbated by poor lumbo-pelvic control or anterior pelvic tilt.

Tactical Elements

In 400 metres races, pacing strategies are critical for balancing anaerobic and aerobic energy demands, with elite athletes typically employing a positive split approach—running the first half faster than the second—to optimize overall performance. This contrasts with an even split, where each would be covered at identical speeds, such as 21.5 seconds per half for a 43-second finish, which is rarely achieved due to accumulating . Positive splitting allows runners to leverage peak velocity early while managing the "burn" of lactate buildup later, though it carries the risk of early burnout if the initial effort is too aggressive, leading to excessive accumulation and . Positioning tactics further influence race outcomes, with runners choosing between front-running, where they establish an early lead to control the pace and discourage challengers, or closing from behind to conserve energy before a late surge. Front-running often involves a slightly faster first (e.g., 23 seconds versus 24 seconds for the second half in a 47-second race) to create separation, while closers maintain position mid-pack and accelerate in the final straight. Mental factors play a pivotal role in sustaining effort through the race's intense physical demands, including visualization techniques to rehearse scenarios of overcoming pain and building mental toughness for the anaerobic "burn" in the final 100-200 metres. Runners often employ self-encouragement and pain acceptance strategies, such as controlled breathing and positive mantras, to tolerate discomfort, while psychological warfare tactics like mid-race surges aim to disrupt rivals' rhythm and force suboptimal pacing. Data from elite races indicate an optimal "break" or surge point at the 150-200 metre mark, where athletes can accelerate to gain position while conserving energy for the backstretch, as evidenced by velocity analyses showing peak fatigue onset around this segment. Gender differences in tactical approaches stem from physiological variations, with women often prioritizing endurance-oriented pacing due to their relatively higher aerobic capacity contribution—approximately 5-10% more than men in the 400 metres—allowing for more controlled positive splits and reduced risk of early anaerobic depletion. This contrasts with men's tendency toward riskier, faster starts, reflecting broader sex-based gaps in power output but narrower differences in aerobic for this event.

Historical Development

Origins and Early Records

The 400 metres event traces its roots to the mid-19th century in English athletics, where the 440-yard dash—equivalent to approximately 402 metres and known as the quarter-mile—emerged as a prominent distance in competitions. Influenced by the earlier professional movement, which featured wagering-based foot races, the 440-yard run gained traction in the 1860s amid a surge in organized at public schools and universities, emphasizing fair play and non-professional participation. Early English championships, such as those organized by the Amateur Athletic Club (predecessor to the AAA), included the 440 yards by 1866, with E.J. Colbeck setting a record of 50 2/5 seconds in 1868. The event's formalization as the 400 metres aligned with the adoption of the in during the late , reflecting a shift toward to facilitate global competition. The modern , revived in 1896 under Pierre de Coubertin's vision of ideals, incorporated the 400 metres from their inception in , replacing the imperial 440 yards to promote universality and precision. Thomas Burke of the won the inaugural Olympic 400 metres on April 7, 1896, in 54.2 seconds, employing an innovative crouching start that became a tactical staple. The International Amateur Athletics Federation (IAAF, now ), founded in 1912, further standardized the distance at 400 metres on a one-lap track, ratifying pre-existing performances as official world records. Early men's records highlighted the event's evolution from middle-distance to sprint characteristics, with American athletes dominating. The first IAAF-recognized world record was set by Maxey Long (USA) at 47.8 seconds (hand-timed) on September 29, 1900, in New York, shortly after his Olympic victory in Paris that year. This mark stood until Ted Meredith's 47 2/5 seconds for 440 yards in 1916, underscoring the transitional use of imperial distances in the United States. Women's 400 metres emerged later, debuting internationally in national championships like the 1933 Women's AAA event in England, with the Olympic inclusion occurring in 1964 at Tokyo, won by Betty Cuthbert (Australia) in 52.0 seconds. The event's rise paralleled the Olympic amateur ethos, prioritizing ethical competition over professionalism, though metric standardization post-1880s enabled broader participation across nations.

Key Milestones in the 20th and 21st Centuries

In the , the men's 400 metres saw steady progression, with Ted Meredith of the setting a hand-timed mark of 47.4 seconds in 1916 at the IC4A Championships in . This benchmark endured until the 1920s, when of ran 47.6 seconds to win gold at the 1924 Paris Olympics, a performance recognized as a at the time despite the hand timing. The era also marked expanding inclusion for women in track events, with the 400 metres gaining traction in national championships; however, it faced resistance due to concerns over physical demands, delaying its Olympic debut until 1964. disrupted international competitions from 1939 to 1945, halting record attempts and limiting global development, though domestic meets persisted in neutral countries. Post-World War II advancements accelerated progress, particularly with the introduction of synthetic tracks in the 1960s, which provided consistent, all-weather surfaces that reduced energy loss compared to cinder paths. The 1968 Olympics featured the first Olympic use of a synthetic track, combined with high altitude, enabling Lee Evans of the to shatter the with 43.86 seconds in the final, the first sub-44-second performance. This innovation paved the way for further breakthroughs, including Michael Johnson's 43.18 seconds at the 1999 World Championships in , establishing a championship benchmark that highlighted tactical mastery and endurance in the one-lap event. The 21st century brought continued evolution, with Wayde van Niekerk of South Africa setting the current men's world record of 43.03 seconds at the 2016 Rio Olympics, a time run from lane 8 that underscored the event's blend of speed and strategy. On the women's side, Marita Koch's 47.60 seconds from the 1985 Australian All-Comers Meet in Canberra remains the world record, a mark set amid East Germany's state-sponsored doping program that has fueled ongoing suspicions, though Koch never failed a test and the record stands officially. It remains the world record, though it has been closely approached in recent years—for example, by Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone's 47.78 seconds, the second-fastest time ever, at the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo—reflecting both the event's physical toll and historical controversies. Efforts toward inclusivity advanced with gender equity in Olympic track programs solidified since women's events were added in 1928, though the 400 metres specifically debuted for women in at . Technological aids like adjustable starting blocks, patented in 1927 and standardized by , improved starts, while video replay and systems from the 1970s enhanced judging accuracy and reduced disputes. The COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted the 2020-2021 seasons, postponing the Tokyo Olympics to 2021 and canceling numerous meets, which limited training and qualification opportunities, particularly affecting relay events and emerging athletes. The 1988 Seoul Olympics' doping scandal involving Ben Johnson's world record stripped for use heightened scrutiny across sprint disciplines, including the , prompting the International Association of Athletics Federations (now ) to implement stricter testing protocols and out-of-competition checks by the early 1990s. This shift contributed to cleaner competitions but also led to high-profile cases, such as ' 43.29 seconds in 1988, which stood until 1999 despite his later two-year ban for a positive doping test.

Records and Top Performances

World Records

The current world record in the men's 400 metres is 43.03 seconds, set by of at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. This mark remains the fastest ever ratified, achieved under wind-legal conditions with no adverse reading exceeding 2.0 m/s and verified free of doping violations. Van Niekerk's performance shattered Michael Johnson's long-standing record of 43.18 seconds from the 1999 World Championships in by 0.15 seconds, marking the largest improvement in the event since the metric system's adoption. The progression of the men's outdoor world record has seen significant advancements, particularly from the late onward, reflecting improvements in , track surfaces, and technology. Key milestones include Lee Evans' 43.86 seconds at the 1968 Olympics, which broke the 44-second barrier amid high-altitude conditions and stood for two decades until ' 43.29 seconds in 1988 at the Zürich Golden League meet. Reynolds' mark was later annulled in 2005 due to a positive doping test for testosterone, reverting the record to Evans' time until Johnson's 1999 ratification. No new have been set since 2016, with the closest recent performance being Busang Collen Kebinatshipi's 43.53 seconds at the 2025 World Championships in .
AthleteTimeDateLocationNotes
Lee Evans (USA)43.8618 Oct 1968 (MEX)Olympic record; first under 44s
Butch Reynolds (USA)43.2917 Aug 1988Zürich (SUI)Annulled in 2005 for doping
Michael Johnson (USA)43.1826 Aug 1999Seville (ESP)World Championships
(RSA)43.0314 Aug 2016Rio de Janeiro (BRA)Current ; Olympic record
For the women's outdoor 400 metres, of holds the at 47.60 seconds, set on 6 October 1985 at the Pacific Conference Games. This performance, conducted on a straight track with legal under 2.0 m/s, has endured for nearly 40 years despite scrutiny over state-sponsored during the era. Koch's mark improved upon Jarmila Kratochvílová's 47.99 seconds from the 1983 World Championships by 0.39 seconds, following a rapid progression in the that saw the 50-second barrier broken by Irena Szewińska's 49.9 hand-timed performance in and Riitta Salin's electronic 50.14 seconds later that year. The 48-second threshold was first cleared by Koch herself with 48.60 seconds in 1979. In 2025, ran 47.78 seconds to win gold at the World Championships, establishing the second-fastest time ever and a championship record, though it fell short of Koch's mark.
AthleteTimeDateLocationNotes
Irena Szewińska (POL)49.9h22 Jun 1974 (POL)First under 50s (hand-timed)
Riitta Salin (FIN)50.1404 Sep 1974 (ITA)First electronic under 50s
Marita Koch (GDR)48.6004 Aug 1979 (ITA)First under 48s
Jarmila Kratochvílová (TCH)47.9928 Jul 1983 (GER)Preceded Koch's final mark
Marita Koch (GDR)47.6006 Oct 1985 (AUS)Current WR
Indoor world records differ due to shorter tracks (typically 200m) and no wind assistance, with requiring flat, non-banked surfaces for ratification beyond 300m. The men's indoor record stands at 44.57 seconds, set by of the on 3 March 2005 at the NCAA Indoor Championships in . This improved upon Michael Johnson's 44.63 seconds from 1995 and has held firm, with Christopher Morales Williams' 44.49 seconds in 2024 not ratified due to a starting blocks issue. For women, of the set the current indoor record of 49.17 seconds on 2 March 2024 at the World Indoor Championships in , surpassing Jarmila Kratochvílová's 49.59 seconds from 1982—tainted by later doping revelations but never officially annulled—after a 41-year wait. No indoor records were broken in 2025 as of November. World Athletics verifies records through strict criteria, including electronic timing to 0.01 seconds, wind readings below 2.0 m/s for outdoor sprints, and post-competition doping controls with retesting possible for up to 10 years. Historical annulments, such as Reynolds' and various East German marks, underscore the emphasis on clean sport, ensuring only performances meeting these standards are recognized.

Continental Records

The continental records in the 400 metres, also known as area records, represent the fastest ratified performances by athletes from each geographic region, as maintained by . These records highlight the global distribution of talent in the event, with and (via NACAC) leading in the men's and women's categories, respectively, while holds the women's world record. All times listed are for outdoor senior competitions and are current as of November 2025.

Africa

Africa has produced the deepest field in men's 400 metres, dominating sub-44-second performances largely due to South African Wayde van Niekerk's world record of 43.03 seconds, set at the 2016 Rio Olympics. This mark remains the continental record for men. In the women's event, Nigeria's Falilat Ogunkoya-Osheku holds the record at 49.10 seconds from the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, a time that underscores the region's historical strength despite fewer recent breakthroughs compared to the men's side.

Asia

Asian records reflect emerging competitiveness, particularly in the . Saudi Arabia's Youssef Ahmed Masrahi set the men's continental mark of 43.93 seconds at the 2015 World Championships in , tying for the fourth-fastest time ever in . For women, Bahrain's improved the record to 48.14 seconds in in 2019, a performance that also briefly held world-leading status that year and highlighted Bahrain's investment in sprint development.

Europe

Europe's men's record was recently updated by Great Britain's , who ran 43.44 seconds at the 2024 Paris Olympics, breaking a long-standing mark and signaling a resurgence in the region. The women's record is the global benchmark, held by East Germany's at 47.60 seconds from the 1985 World Cup in —a time unmatched since 1985 and emblematic of the East German program's dominance in the .

NACAC (North America, Central America, and Caribbean)

The NACAC region, encompassing the north of , boasts elite depth on both sides. In the men's event, USA's Michael Johnson set the continental record of 43.18 seconds at the 1999 World Championships in , a mark that stood as the for 17 years. For women, USA's established the current record of 47.78 seconds at the 2025 World Championships in , also setting a championship record and coming within 0.18 seconds of the global mark.

Oceania

Oceania's records date to the late 20th century, with Australia's Darren Clark holding the men's mark at 44.38 seconds from the 1988 Seoul Olympics, a time that remains a benchmark for the region's limited but dedicated sprint tradition. Cathy Freeman of Australia set the women's record at 48.63 seconds during the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, her performance en route to Olympic gold in the 400 metres the following year symbolizing Indigenous Australian athletic achievement.

South America

South America's men's record belongs to Colombia's Anthony José Zambrano, who ran 43.93 seconds at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, tying Asia's mark and marking a silver-medal effort that elevated the continent's profile in the event. In the women's category, Colombia's Ximena Restrepo holds the record at 49.64 seconds from the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, a time set during her bronze-medal-winning performance and still the best in regional history.
ContinentMen's Record Holder (Time, Year)Women's Record Holder (Time, Year)
Africa (RSA, 43.03, 2016)Falilat Ogunkoya-Osheku (NGR, 49.10, 1996)
AsiaYoussef Ahmed Masrahi (KSA, 43.93, 2015) (BRN, 48.14, 2019)
Europe (GBR, 43.44, 2024) (GDR, 47.60, 1985)
NACACMichael Johnson (USA, 43.18, 1999) (USA, 47.78, 2025)
OceaniaDarren Clark (AUS, 44.38, 1988) (AUS, 48.63, 1996)
South AmericaAnthony José Zambrano (COL, 43.93, 2021)Ximena Restrepo (COL, 49.64, 1992)
These records, all verified and ratified by , illustrate how continental strengths vary, with excelling in men's speed and and NACAC in women's events.

All-Time Top 25 Lists

The all-time top 25 lists for the 400 metres track event compile the fastest ratified performances by senior athletes, as maintained by , encompassing both outdoor and indoor competitions. These rankings reflect electronically timed results from eligible venues and exclude wind-assisted or oversized track performances unless specified. Outdoor lists typically feature times under 44.50 seconds for men and around 49.50 seconds for women in the top 25, while indoor lists, conducted on shorter 200-metre ovals, show slightly slower benchmarks, with men's top marks around 45.80 seconds and women's near 51.20 seconds for the 25th position, as of November 2025. Certain historical performances, such as ' 43.29 from in 1988, have been annulled due to his two-year suspension for alleged doping violations by the International Association of Athletics Federations (now ), despite ongoing controversy over the test's validity; such marks are omitted from official rankings.

Men's Outdoor All-Time Top 25

The men's outdoor list is led by Wayde van Niekerk's of 43.03 seconds from the 2016 Rio Olympics, with recent entries like Busang Collen Kebinatshipi's 43.53 from the 2025 World Championships in entering the top 10. The 25th position stands at approximately 44.50 seconds.
RankTimeAthleteNationalityDateVenue
143.03RSA14 Aug 2016Rio de Janeiro (BRA)
243.18Michael Johnson26 Aug 1999Sevilla (ESP)
343.407 Aug 2024 (FRA)
443.44GBR7 Aug 2024 (FRA)
543.4531 Aug 2007 (JPN)
543.45Michael Norman20 Apr 2019Torrance ()
743.48BAH4 Oct 2019 (QAT)
843.505 Aug 1992 (ESP)
943.53Busang Collen KebinatshipiBOT18 Sep 2025Tokyo (JPN)
1043.6427 Jul 2019Des Moines ()
..................
25~44.50VariousVariousVariousVarious
(Full list available via 11-25 include athletes like (43.65, 2015) and (43.74, 2014), culminating in times near 44.50 seconds.)

Women's Outdoor All-Time Top 25

Marita Koch's longstanding of 47.60 seconds from 1985 anchors the women's outdoor rankings, recently challenged by Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone's 47.78 at the 2025 World Championships, marking the second-fastest time ever. The list extends to approximately 49.50 seconds for the 25th entry.
RankTimeAthleteNationalityDateVenue
147.60GDR6 Oct 1985 (AUS)
247.78USA18 Sep 2025 (JPN)
347.99TCH10 Aug 1983 (FIN)
448.14BRN3 Oct 2019 (QAT)
548.25FRA29 Jul 1996 (USA)
648.27Olga BryzginaURS6 Oct 1985 (AUS)
748.36BAH6 Aug 2021 (JPN)
848.57Nickisha PryceJAM20 Jul 2024 (GBR)
948.63AUS29 Jul 1996 (USA)
1048.70USA21 Aug 2009 (GER)
..................
25~49.50VariousVariousVariousVarious
(Full list via ; positions 11-25 feature performers like (48.83, 1984) and Natalia Kaczmarek (48.90, 2024), reaching times around 49.50 seconds.)

Men's Indoor All-Time Top 25

Indoor men's performances are headed by Kerron Clement's world indoor record of 44.57 seconds set in Fayetteville in 2005, with the top 25 descending to roughly 45.80 seconds, reflecting the challenges of banked, shorter tracks.
RankTimeAthleteNationalityDateVenue
144.57Kerron ClementUSA3 Mar 2005Fayetteville (USA)
244.63Michael JohnsonUSA18 Feb 1995Madrid (ESP)
344.97Wayde van NiekerkRSA27 Jan 2018Glasgow (GBR)
445.04Michael NormanUSA10 Feb 2018Albuquerque (USA)
545.07Vernon NorwoodUSA13 Feb 2016Portland (USA)
..................
25~45.80VariousVariousVariousVarious
(Complete rankings via World Athletics; later positions include athletes like Bryce Deadmon and Chris Bailey, with times approaching 45.80 seconds.)

Women's Indoor All-Time Top 25

holds the women's indoor at 49.17 seconds from in 2024, with the top 25 list tapering to about 51.20 seconds, highlighting sustained depth in the event.
RankTimeAthleteNationalityDateVenue
149.17NED2 Mar 2024 (GBR)
249.59TCH6 Feb 1982Milan (ITA)
350.07Anna BiryukovaRUS5 Mar 2016Portland (USA)
450.16Indira TerreroCUB6 Mar 2004 (HUN)
550.38Anastasiya KapachinskayaRUS5 Mar 2006 (RUS)
..................
25~51.20VariousVariousVariousVarious
(Full details on ; the lower ranks encompass recent talents like Amber Anning and Alexis Holmes, with performances near 51.20 seconds.)

Season's Bests

The 2025 season in the 400 metres showcased remarkable depth and emerging global talent, with the in serving as the pinnacle event that shaped the year's rankings. The outdoor season produced faster overall times compared to 2024, where the men's world lead stood at 43.40 by of the at the Paris Olympics. The championships elevated several athletes into the all-time conversation while highlighting breakthroughs from African nations, particularly Botswana's historic dominance. Indoor performances, contested earlier in the year leading to the World Indoor Championships, set a strong foundation but were generally slower due to track conditions, with men's leads around 44.70 seconds and women's around 50.60 seconds. In the men's outdoor category, Busang Collen Kebinatshipi of claimed the world lead and gold at the Worlds final with a national record of 43.53 seconds, marking 's first major 400m title and signaling the nation's rise in sprinting. This performance anchored a season of tight racing, with the top five all under 44 seconds, including strong showings from established stars like of (43.72) and emerging American talents. Notably, 17-year-old Quincy Wilson set a U18 of 44.10 at the Ed Murphey Classic in , on July 12, underscoring youth development in the event. of the , the 2024 Olympic champion, contributed to the depth with a time around 44.0 seconds in select meets, though he did not crack the top 10 overall. The top 10 men's outdoor performances of 2025 were as follows:
RankMarkAthleteNationalityVenueDate
143.53Busang Collen KebinatshipiBOTNational Stadium, Tokyo (JPN)18 Sep 2025
243.72Jereem RichardsTTONational Stadium, Tokyo (JPN)18 Sep 2025
343.76Zakithi NeneRSAUlinzi Sports Complex, Nairobi (KEN)31 May 2025
443.85Jacory PattersonUSALetzigrund, Zürich (SUI)28 Aug 2025
543.91Khaleb McRaeUSAAlumni Stadium, London (CAN)22 Jun 2025
644.04Rusheen McDonaldJAMNational Stadium, Tokyo (JPN)16 Sep 2025
744.10Matthew Hudson-SmithGBRHayward Field, Eugene (USA)05 Jul 2025
744.10Quincy WilsonUSABilly J. Murphy Track, Memphis (USA)12 Jul 2025
944.11Muzala SamukongaZAMNemzeti Atlétikai Központ, Budapest (HUN)12 Aug 2025
1044.14Charles DobsonGBROlympic Stadium, London (GBR)19 Jul 2025
For the women's outdoor season, of the dominated with a world lead and championship record of 47.78 at the Worlds final on September 18, her first individual global flat 400m title and a time ranking second all-time. of the followed closely with 47.98 for silver, maintaining her status as a top contender after her 2024 Olympic gold. The top five featured a mix of veterans and risers, with times dipping under 49 seconds, reflecting improved tactical execution in major meets. The event's fast track and competitive fields boosted the season's quality, producing eight sub-50-second performances in the top 10. The top 10 women's outdoor performances of 2025 were:
RankMarkAthleteNationalityVenueDate
147.78Sydney McLaughlin-LevroneUSANational Stadium, Tokyo (JPN)18 Sep 2025
247.98Marileidy PaulinoDOMNational Stadium, Tokyo (JPN)18 Sep 2025
348.19Salwa Eid NaserBRNNational Stadium, Tokyo (JPN)18 Sep 2025
449.09Aaliyah ButlerUSAStade Louis II, Monaco (MON)11 Jul 2025
549.14Gabrielle ThomasUSANational Stadium, Kingston (JAM)05 Apr 2025
649.24Isabella WhittakerUSAVirginia Beach Sports Center (USA)15 Mar 2025
749.27Natalia BukowieckaPOLNational Stadium, Tokyo (JPN)18 Sep 2025
849.36Amber AnningGBRNational Stadium, Tokyo (JPN)18 Sep 2025
949.46Nickisha PryceJAMNational Stadium, Tokyo (JPN)16 Sep 2025
1049.48Femke BolNEDEstadio Vallehermoso, Madrid (ESP)27 Jun 2025
Indoor seasons provided early momentum, with the men's world lead of 44.70 set by Chris Bailey of the at the Tyson Invitational on February 14. At the World Indoor Championships in March, the achieved a historic sweep, with Bailey winning gold in 45.08, followed by Brian Faust (45.47) and Jacory Patterson (45.54). Women's indoor action saw Amber Anning of claim gold in with 50.60, edging Alexis Holmes of the (50.63), after an early season lead of around 50.92 by Lieke Klaver of the at the Czech Indoor Gala in February. These results influenced outdoor preparations, with several indoor medalists carrying form into the summer circuit and , contributing to the season's progressive trend toward sub-44-second men's races and sub-48 women's efforts.

Relay and Individual Highlights

Fastest Relay Splits

In the , leg splits represent peak performances within a , where athletes benefit from a flying start but face challenges such as baton handoffs in designated zones, positioning, and pacing to support teammates. These splits are typically 1-2 seconds faster than 400 m times due to the running handover, though they are not officially recognized as world records by . The organization maintains informal lists of the top 10 verified splits per gender, highlighting elite efforts from major championships. For men, the current verified fastest is 42.91 seconds by Michael Johnson (USA) anchoring the world record-setting relay at the 1993 World Championships in , where he received a substantial lead and surged to victory amid ideal conditions. More recently, (RSA) clocked 43.26 seconds on the third leg for South Africa's bronze at the 2025 World Championships in , navigating rainy conditions and closing gaps on leaders to secure the team's first medal in the event since 2017.
RankAthleteTimeLegEventYearVenue
1Michael Johnson (USA)42.91AnchorWorld Championships1993Stuttgart
2 (USA)42.93AnchorWorld Championships2007
3Michael Johnson (USA)43.06Anchor1996
4Rai Benjamin (USA)43.13Third2024
5Wayde van Niekerk (RSA)43.26ThirdWorld Championships2025
For women, the landmark split is 47.63 seconds by Olga Bryzgina (URS) on the anchor leg of the world record relay at the 1988 Olympics in , where she overtook the American team in the final straight to secure . This remains the fastest verified women's relay split, benefiting from a strong handover and Bryzgina's tactical acceleration. In recent years, (NED) has emerged as a dominant force, running approximately 48.00 seconds on the anchor leg to anchor the to at the 2023 World Championships in , overcoming a deficit through her signature late surge despite handoff delays earlier in the race. At the 2024 Paris Olympics, ran a 47.71-second split on the second leg, contributing to the USA's and ranking as the third-fastest verified split ever. These performances illustrate the relay's demands, where individual brilliance must align with team synchronization to maximize speed. At the 2025 World Championships in , McLaughlin-Levrone anchored the USA to with a 47.95 split, helping set a championship record of 3:15.27.
RankAthleteTimeLegEventYearVenue
1Olga Bryzgina (URS)47.63Anchor1988
2Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (USA)47.71Second2024
3Olga Nazarova (URS)47.80Second1988
4Jarmila Kratochvilova (TCH)48.12AnchorWorld Championships1983
5Femke Bol (NED)48.00AnchorWorld Championships2023

Annulled or Disputed Marks

In the history of the 400 metres, several high-profile performances have been annulled or placed under dispute due to doping violations, leading to significant repercussions for records, rankings, and titles. One notable case is that of American sprinter Harry "Butch" Reynolds, whose 43.29-second performance in 1988 initially set a world record but became embroiled in controversy following a positive doping test in 1990 for nandrolone, resulting in a two-year ban by the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF, now World Athletics). Although the 1988 mark itself predated the positive test and was not retroactively annulled, Reynolds' subsequent results from July 1990 to July 1992 were voided, stripping him of titles and affecting seasonal rankings during that period; he later won a $27 million libel lawsuit against the IAAF in 1994, claiming a false positive, but the ban's impact lingered on his legacy. Similarly, East German athlete Marita Koch's 47.60 world record from 1985 remains official but has faced intense scrutiny amid revelations of state-sponsored doping in the German Democratic Republic (GDR) during the . While Koch never tested positive and her mark stands, documents from GDR archives and confessions from other athletes implicated the systematic use of anabolic steroids in women's events, casting doubt on numerous performances from that era without leading to formal annulments for Koch specifically. ' retroactive testing of preserved samples, primarily from the onward, has resulted in over 10 annulments in women's track events tied to 1980s doping programs, including stripped medals in relays and individual races, though 400m flat records like Koch's were unaffected due to the lack of viable samples or direct evidence. Disputes beyond doping have also arisen from technical issues, such as rare wind reading errors or disqualifications under World Athletics' zero-tolerance rule implemented in 2010. In the 400m, wind measurements are less contentious than in shorter sprints due to the event's full-lap nature, but have sparked controversies; for instance, during the 2012 London Olympics buildup, the rule led to high-profile disqualifications in sprint events, including debates over its fairness in the 400m where reaction times are critical, though no major 400m-specific incident occurred at the Games themselves. These rulings often result in immediate annulments of heats or finals, reallocating positions and underscoring the policy distinction between provisional results—initially accepted pending verification—and ratified marks, which require confirmation of no rule violations, doping clearance, and technical compliance per guidelines. The consequences of such annulments extend to record reallocations and title redistributions, providing key lessons in anti-doping enforcement. For example, after American admitted to using and EPO in , his 1997 4x400m relay bronze from the World Championships was annulled, upgrading Great Britain's team to and altering historical rankings. In the , cases like American Justin Gatlin's suspensions—four years from 2001 for amphetamines and another four from 2006 to for testosterone—annulled his performances during those periods, removing him from all-time 400m lists (where his legal best is 44.89 seconds from 2004) and impacting event hierarchies, though his pre-ban achievements stood. As of 2025, no major 400m disputes have emerged, but these historical precedents reinforce ' rigorous verification processes to maintain integrity.

Prominent Athletes

Most Successful Competitors

Michael Johnson of the stands as the most successful male competitor in 400 metres history, amassing a total of four Olympic gold medals—including individual victories in the event at the 1996 and 2000 Games—and eight gold medals, with four in the individual 400m from 1993 to 1999. His dominance in the included an undefeated streak in major 400m finals spanning nearly a decade, contributing to a combined total of 12 major outdoor titles across sprints and relays, underscoring his unparalleled impact on the event. As of 2025, Johnson holds the record for the most major 400m-related titles, with ten Olympic and World golds directly tied to the distance when including relays (considering official counts post-doping disqualifications). Jeremy Wariner (USA) follows as a prominent pure 400m specialist, securing one Olympic gold in the individual event at the 2004 Athens Games and three World Championship golds in 2005, 2007, and another in relays, alongside additional indoor titles for a career total of seven major medals. His achievements highlight consistency in the post-Johnson era, with sub-44-second performances establishing him as a key figure in American 400m supremacy during the mid-2000s. In the cross-discipline of 400m hurdles, Edwin Moses (USA) achieved two Olympic golds in 1984 and 1988, plus two World Championship golds in 1983 and 1987, totaling eight major medals and exemplifying tactical mastery that influenced flat 400m strategies. Allyson Felix (USA), while renowned for crossover success, contributed two individual 400m World golds (2015 outdoors and indoors) and multiple relay medals, adding to her 20 overall Olympic and World honors but emphasizing her relay impact over pure 400m focus. Among women, (USA) leads with three Olympic golds in 1984—individual 400m, 200m, and 4x400m relay—plus a 1988 relay silver and a 1983 World bronze, for a total of five major medals that marked her as a trailblazer in the event during the . (USA) built a formidable resume with one individual Olympic 400m gold in 2012, one World individual gold in 2009, and five relay golds across Olympics and Worlds, culminating in nine major medals and an undefeated outdoor streak in 2006. Emerging as a dominant force by 2025, (DOM) has secured one Olympic 400m gold in 2024 and a silver at the 2025 World Championships in , alongside multiple relay medals, positioning her for potential record medal totals with four major honors to date.

Record Holders and Innovators

Wayde van Niekerk holds the men's 400 metres world record of 43.03 seconds, set at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics while running from , a position that highlighted his exceptional curve-running technique and versatility as a sprinter capable of competing effectively across multiple distances. In the women's event, established the longstanding of 47.60 seconds in 1985 at the IAAF World Cup in , a mark that remained unbroken for 40 years as of 2025, reflecting the rigorous training regimens of East Germany's state-supported program during that era, though it has faced scrutiny over potential performance-enhancing practices. Koch also achieved a notable 200m/400m double at the 1983 World Championships, showcasing her dominance in middle-distance sprints. Alberto Juantorena (Cuba) innovated tactical pacing by becoming the first athlete to win Olympic golds in both the 400m and 800m at the 1976 Montreal Games, influencing strategies for endurance in the prolonged sprint. Lee Evans became an innovator in the event through his performance at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, where he set a of 43.86 seconds—the first official sub-44-second time—while raising a fist on the podium alongside teammates, symbolizing a bold stand against racial injustice amid the . Similarly, Cathy Freeman's victory in the women's 400 metres at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, clocked in 49.11 seconds, transcended athletics as an indigenous Australian icon, carrying national symbolism during a home Games and inspiring reconciliation efforts in her country. Key breakthroughs include Evans' 1968 sub-44-second mark, which shattered previous barriers and elevated the event's technical demands, and Irena Szewinska's 49.9 seconds in 1974, the first women's performance under 50 seconds, paving the way for faster pacing strategies in the discipline. In recent years, has innovated by transitioning from the 400m hurdles—where she holds the world record—to the flat 400m, running 47.78 seconds at the 2025 World Championships in , the second-fastest time ever and a testament to her crossover speed and endurance.

Major Competition Results

Olympic Medalists

The men's 400 metres has been contested at every Summer Olympics since its debut in 1896, with the United States emerging as the dominant force, securing 20 gold medals, 14 silver medals, and 12 bronze medals for a total of 46 medals through 2024, representing over 50% of all medals awarded in the event. American athletes have won gold in 20 of the 29 finals held, underscoring their historical supremacy in the discipline. Michael Johnson of the United States holds the distinction of being the only man to win consecutive Olympic golds in the event, triumphing in 1996 with a time of 43.49 seconds and in 2000 with 43.84 seconds. The 1980 Moscow Games, boycotted by the United States and several Western nations in protest of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, saw Viktor Markin of the Soviet Union claim gold, while the 1984 Los Angeles Games were impacted by a retaliatory boycott from the Soviet Union and Eastern Bloc countries, allowing Alonzo Babers of the United States to win amid reduced competition depth.
YearGold Medalist (Country, Time)Silver Medalist (Country, Time)Bronze Medalist (Country, Time)
1896Thomas Burke (USA, 54.2)Herbert Jamison (USA, 55.2)Charles Gmelin (GBR, 55.6)
1900Maxwell Long (USA, 49.4)Alfred Tysoe (GBR, 49.6)Harry Hillman (USA, 49.8)
1904Harry Hillman (USA, 49.2)Frank Waller (USA, 49.9)Herman Groman (USA, 50.0)
1908 (GBR, walkover)--
1912Charles Reidpath (USA, 48.2 OR)Ted Meredith (USA, 48.7) (USA, 48.8)
1920Bevil Rudd (ZAF, 49.6) (GBR, 49.9)Nils Engdahl (SWE, 50.0)
1924 (GBR, 47.6 OR)Douglas Lowe (GBR, 48.3)Guye Richardson (USA, 48.6)
1928Ray Barbuti (USA, 47.8)Douglas Lowe (GBR, 47.8)Joachim Büchner (GER, 48.0)
1932William Carr (USA, 46.2 OR)Benjamin Eastman (USA, 46.4)Derek Booth (GBR, 47.4)
1936Archibald Harris (USA, 46.5)Godfrey Brown (GBR, 46.7)James LuValle (USA, 46.8)
1948Arthur Wint (JAM, 46.2)Herbert McKenley (JAM, 46.4) (USA, 46.9)
1952George Rhoden (JAM, 45.9 OR)Herbert McKenley (JAM, 45.9) (USA, 46.8)
1956Charles Jenkins (USA, 46.7)Karl-Friedrich Haas (GER, 46.9)Voitto Hellsten (FIN, 47.0)
1960 (USA, 44.9 OR)Carl Kaufmann (GER, 44.9) (IND, 45.6)
1964Michael Larrabee (USA, 45.1)Wendell Mottley (USA, 45.2)Andrzej Zieliński (POL, 45.6)
1968Lee Evans (USA, 43.86 OR)Larry James (USA, 43.97)Ron Freeman (USA, 44.41)
1972Vincent Matthews (USA, 44.66)Wayne Collett (USA, 44.76)Julius Sang (KEN, 45.19)
1976 (CUB, 44.26)Frederick Newhouse (USA, 44.40)Herman Frazier (USA, 44.95)
1980Viktor Markin (URS, 44.60)Richard Mitchell (AUS, 44.84)Gary Minihan (GBR, 45.00)
1984Alonzo Babers (USA, 44.27)Gabriel Tiacoh (CIV, 44.54)Antonio McKay (USA, 44.71)
1988Steve Lewis (USA, 43.87 OR)Harry Reynolds (USA, 43.93)Danny Everett (USA, 44.09)
1992Steve Lewis (USA, 44.21) (USA, 44.24)Samson Kiflom (ITA, 44.52)
1996Michael Johnson (USA, 43.49 OR) (GBR, 44.13) (GBR, 44.24)
2000Michael Johnson (USA, 43.84)Alvin Harrison (USA, 44.40)Gregory Haughton (JAM, 44.56)
2004 (USA, 44.00)Derrick Brew (USA, 44.42)Gary Kikaya (COD, 44.66)
2008 (USA, 43.75) (USA, 44.74)David Neville (USA, 44.80)
2012 (GRN, 44.63)Luguelin Santos (DOM, 44.63)Lalonde Gordon (TRI, 44.52)
2016 (RSA, 43.03 OR) (GRN, 43.97)Borlee Jonathan (BEL, 44.32)
2020 (BAH, 43.85)Anthony Zambrano (COL, 44.08) (GRN, 44.19)
2024 (USA, 43.40) (GBR, 43.44)Muzala Samukonga (ZAM, 43.74)
The women's 400 metres was introduced to the Olympic program in 1928, with the leading the medal tally, having won 10 medals, 7 silver medals, and 6 medals for a total of 23 through 2024. Unlike the men's event, the women's competition has seen greater diversity in winners, with no single nation exceeding 10 golds, though the has maintained strong performances across decades. In the most recent edition at the 2024 Paris Olympics, of the claimed in an Olympic record time of 48.17 seconds, followed by of in 48.53 seconds for silver, and Natalia Kaczmarek of in 48.98 seconds for . of the is the most decorated American woman in the event with one individual in 2012 (49.55 seconds), complemented by multiple relay golds. The boycotts of 1980 and 1984 similarly influenced the women's event, with East German and Soviet athletes dominating in and American runners prevailing in .
YearGold Medalist (Country, Time)Silver Medalist (Country, Time)Bronze Medalist (Country, Time)
1928Lina Radke (GER, 60.4 OR)Stella Walsh (POL, 61.6)Alberta Huschle (USA, 62.0)
1932Stella Walsh (POL, 59.4)Hilda Streit (GER, 59.7)Ellen Meagher (CAN, 60.3)
1936 (USA, 56.4) (USA, 56.8)Tyyne Leivo (FIN, 57.0)
1948 (NED, 56.2)Dorothy Tyler (GBR, 56.7)Ingeborg Mello (ARG, 57.0)
1952Maria Itkina (URS, 54.0)Nadezhda Khnykina (URS, 54.4)Jean Thompson (USA, 54.4)
1956Marita Bragina (URS, 52.0 OR)Maria Itkina (URS, 52.2)Patricia Devine (AUS, 52.5)
1960 (USA, 51.7)Larysa Nomova (URS, 52.2) (URS, 52.5)
1964 (AUS, 52.0)Inese Jaunzeme (URS, 52.1)Virginia Knapman (GBR, 52.3)
1968Colette Besson (FRA, 52.03) (GBR, 52.07)Natalya Pechenkina (URS, 52.11)
1972Monika Zehrt (GDR, 51.08 OR)Dagmar Käsling (GDR, 51.45)Rita Wilden (FRG, 51.73)
1976 (GDR, 49.19 OR)Christina Lathan (GDR, 49.48)Ellen Strophal (GDR, 49.54)
1980 (GDR, 48.88) (TCH, 49.37)Zsuzsa Hevesi (HUN, 49.44)
1984Valérie Brisco-Hooks (USA, 48.74)Chandra Cheesborough (USA, 49.05)Kathryn Cook (GBR, 49.43)
1988Olga Bryzgina (URS, 48.65)Petra Müller (GDR, 48.89)Jelena Cedov (URS, 48.90)
1992 (FRA, 48.83)Olga Bryzgina (URS, 48.92)Janeene Vickers (USA, 49.03)
1996 (FRA, 48.25 OR)Olha Bryzhina (UKR, 48.65)Lorna Bucken (JAM, 48.83)
2000 (AUS, 49.11)Lorraine Graham (JAM, 49.60)Amy Mbacké Thiam (SEN, 49.86)
2004Tonique Williams-Darling (BAH, 49.11) (USA, 49.82)Ameerah Peah (JAM, 50.21)
2008 (GBR, 49.62)Shericka Williams (JAM, 49.69)Anastasiya Kapachinskaya (RUS, 49.89)
2012 (USA, 49.55) (GBR, 49.70) (USA, 49.85)
2016Shaunae Miller (BAH, 49.44) (USA, 49.51) (JAM, 49.85)
2020 (BAH, 48.36 OR) (DOM, 49.60)Stephanie Ann McPherson (JAM, 49.60)
2024 (DOM, 48.17 OR) (BRN, 48.53)Natalia Kaczmarek (POL, 48.98)

World Championships Medalists

The World Athletics Championships have featured the 400 metres as an individual event since the inaugural edition in 1983 in , , with competitions held biennially (except for 1985, which was skipped to align with Olympic cycles). The has dominated the overall medal standings, accumulating over 20 medals across both genders through 2025, reflecting its depth in sprinting talent. Jamaica and other nations have provided strong competition, particularly in women's events, while breakthroughs like Botswana's first title in 2025 highlight emerging global parity.

Men's Medalists

The men's 400 metres has seen 21 editions from 1983 to 2025, with the United States securing 10 gold medals, underscoring its historical supremacy until diverse winners emerged in recent decades. The first non-American gold came in 1987, won by Thomas Schönlebe of East Germany. Michael Johnson's four consecutive victories from 1993 to 1999, including a championship record of 43.18 seconds in 1995 in Göteborg, Sweden, established an era of American excellence.
YearLocationGoldSilverBronze
1983Helsinki, FinlandBert Cameron (JAM) 44.76Mike Franks (USA) 44.53Sunday Uti (NGR) 44.96
1987Rome, ItalyThomas Schönlebe (GDR) 44.48Innocent Egbunike (NGR) 44.72Roberto Hernández (CUB) 44.92
1991Tokyo, JapanAntonio Pettigrew (USA) 44.55Samuel Matete (ZAM) 44.73Ian Morris (TRI) 44.97
1993Stuttgart, GermanyMichael Johnson (USA) 43.74 CRButch Reynolds (USA) 43.93Ian Morris (TRI) 44.36
1995Göteborg, SwedenMichael Johnson (USA) 43.18 CRSunday Bada (NGR) 43.99Roberto Hernández (CUB) 44.13
1997Athens, GreeceMichael Johnson (USA) 44.12Roberto Hernández (CUB) 44.30Troy Douglas (BER) 44.78
1999Sevilla, SpainMichael Johnson (USA) 44.33Alberto Hernández (CUB) 44.63Douglas González (CUB) 44.88
2001Edmonton, CanadaAvard Moncur (BAH) 44.64Marc Raquil (FRA) 44.95Daniel Hernández (CUB) 45.08
2003Paris, FranceTyree Washington (USA) 44.59Johan Wissman (SWE) 44.64Marc Raquil (FRA) 44.90
2005Helsinki, FinlandJeremy Wariner (USA) 44.20Tyree Washington (USA) 44.23Gary Kikaya (COD) 44.42
2007Osaka, JapanJeremy Wariner (USA) 43.45 CRAngelo Taylor (USA) 44.32Michael Blackwood (JAM) 44.44
2009Berlin, GermanyLaShawn Merritt (USA) 45.57Jeremy Wariner (USA) 45.73Michael Mathieu (BAH) 45.92
2011Daegu, South KoreaKirani James (GRN) 44.60LaShawn Merritt (USA) 44.63Luguelín Santos (DOM) 44.90
2013Moscow, RussiaLaShawn Merritt (USA) 43.74Luguelín Santos (DOM) 43.97Rabah Yousif (SUD) 44.76
2015Beijing, ChinaWayde van Niekerk (RSA) 43.66 CRKirani James (GRN) 43.78Lashawn Merritt (USA) 43.97
2017London, UKWayde van Niekerk (RSA) 43.98Isaac Makwala (BOT) 44.32Steven Gardiner (BAH) 44.41
2019Doha, QatarSteven Gardiner (BAH) 43.85Noah Lyles (USA) 44.11Michael Norman (USA) 44.20
2022Eugene, USAMichael Norman (USA) 44.29Kirani James (GRN) 44.57Matthew Boling (USA) 44.61
2023Budapest, HungaryAntonio Watson (JAM) 44.22Matthew Hudson-Smith (GBR) 44.31Quincy Hall (USA) 44.37
2025Tokyo, JapanBusang Collen Kebinatshipi (BOT) 43.53 WLJereem Richards (TTO) 43.72 NRBayapo Ndori (BOT) 43.89
(CR = Championship Record, WL = World Lead, NR = National Record)

Women's Medalists

In the women's 400 metres, the and have fueled a notable rivalry, with the U.S. claiming 7 golds through 2025 and Jamaica adding several in recent years. The event has produced 21 champions since 1983, with standout performances including Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone's 2025 championship record of 47.78 seconds in , marking the second-fastest time ever in the discipline.
YearLocationGoldSilverBronze
1983Helsinki, FinlandJarmila Kratochvílová (TCH) 47.99Marième Jambaque (SEN) 49.67Dagmar Rühaak (FRG) 49.70
1987Rome, ItalyOlga Bryzgina (URS) 49.35Petra Müller (GDR) 49.55Kathrin Neimke (GDR) 49.58
1991Tokyo, JapanMarie-José Pérec (FRA) 48.25 CRGrit Breuer (GER) 49.45Petra Müller (GER) 49.60
1993Stuttgart, GermanyJearl Miles (USA) 48.83Olga Bryzgina (UKR) 48.99Jana Knedlíková (CZE) 49.97
1995Göteborg, SwedenMarie-José Pérec (FRA) 48.25Letitia Vriesde (NED) 48.67Tatyana Chebykina (RUS) 48.91
1997Athens, GreeceCathy Freeman (AUS) 49.77Lorna Buckenham (GBR) 50.06Tatyana Chebykina (RUS) 50.19
1999Sevilla, SpainCathy Freeman (AUS) 49.67Ana Guevara (MEX) 50.06Lorraine Fenton (JAM) 50.07
2001Edmonton, CanadaAmy Mbacké Thiam (SEN) 49.86Ana Guevara (MEX) 50.10Katherine Merry (GBR) 50.53
2003Paris, FranceAna Guevara (MEX) 48.89 CRLorraine Fenton (JAM) 49.80Amy Mbacké Thiam (SEN) 50.24
2005Helsinki, FinlandTonique Williams-Darling (BAH) 49.55Ana Guevara (MEX) 49.60Allyson Felix (USA) 49.80
2007Osaka, JapanChristine Ohuruogu (GBR) 49.61Ana Guevara (MEX) 49.67Zulia Caldéron (CUB) 50.12
2009Berlin, GermanySanya Richards (USA) 49.00Sheri-Ann Brooks (JAM) 50.35Christine Ohuruogu (GBR) 50.40
2011Daegu, South KoreaChristine Ohuruogu (GBR) 49.56Amantle Montsho (BOT) 49.89Ristananna Tracey (JAM) 50.65
2013Moscow, RussiaChristine Ohuruogu (GBR) 49.41Amantle Montsho (BOT) 49.54Kathy Frith (GBR) 50.08
2015Beijing, ChinaAllyson Felix (USA) 49.26Christine Ohuruogu (GBR) 49.74Phyllis Francis (USA) 49.94
2017London, UKPhyllis Francis (USA) 49.92Shakima Wimbley (USA) 50.10Salwa Eid Naser (BHR) 50.11
2019Doha, QatarSalwa Eid Naser (BHR) 48.14 CRShaunae Miller-Uibo (BAH) 48.82Shericka Jackson (JAM) 49.47
2022Eugene, USAMarileidy Paulino (DOM) 48.96Shaunae Miller-Uibo (BAH) 49.64Aisha Hicks (USA) 50.37
2023Budapest, HungaryMarileidy Paulino (DOM, 48.76 NR)Natalia Kaczmarek (POL, 49.57)Sada Williams (BAR, 49.60)
2025Tokyo, JapanSydney McLaughlin-Levrone (USA) 47.78 CRMarileidy Paulino (DOM) 47.98 NRLieke Klaver (NED) 48.45
(CR = Championship Record, NR = National Record)

Country Medal Table (Combined Genders, 1983–2025)

The leads the all-time medal table with 40 total medals (17 gold, 12 silver, 11 bronze) as of 2025, far ahead of (8 gold, 6 silver, 7 bronze) and (3 gold, 5 silver, 4 bronze). This tally reflects the event's competitive landscape, with 30 nations earning at least one overall. Botswana's 2025 results in the men's event marked its first gold in the discipline.
RankCountryGoldSilverBronzeTotal
117121140
286721
335412
43238
52103
62305
72002
81113
90235
100224
110101
120011

World Indoor Championships Medalists

The World Indoor Championships have included the 400 metres event since the first edition in , originally known as the IAAF World Indoor Games in , . Held biennially on short indoor tracks, the event features adaptations such as 200m ovals with tighter turns, leading to times approximately 1-2 seconds slower than outdoor equivalents due to reduced acceleration space and increased curve pressure. Some venues, like the 1987 edition, incorporated straight 60m segments with curved extensions for variety, but standard oval formats predominate. The championships emphasize tactical racing and endurance, with the men's championship record of 44.63 seconds set by Michael Johnson of the in 1995 at . In the men's event, the United States has been the most successful nation, securing 9 gold medals through 2025, followed by and with 3 each. and the claimed early titles, reflecting Cold War-era strength in sprinting. Representative winners include Thomas Schönlebe () in 1985 with 45.60 seconds and Antonio McKay () in 1987 and 1989. More recently, in the 2024 championships, Alexander Doom of won gold in a national record 45.25 seconds, ahead of () at 45.34 seconds. The 2025 edition saw a historic sweep, with Christopher Bailey taking gold in 45.08 seconds, Brian Faust silver in 45.47 seconds, and Jacory Patterson bronze in 45.54 seconds—the first 1-2-3 finish in the event's history.
CountryGoldSilverBronzeTotal
96520
3238
3216
2103
1001
The women's 400 metres has seen early dominance by athletes from and , with the and combining for 5 golds through the . The and have emerged as strong contenders in recent decades, with Europe maintaining influence. Diane Dixon () won the inaugural 1985 title in 53.35 seconds, while Jarmila Kratochvílová () took gold in 1987. In 2024 at , () set a championship record of 49.17 seconds for gold, with () in silver at 50.13 seconds. The 2025 event was won by Amber Anning () in 50.60 seconds, with silver to Alexis Holmes () at 50.63 seconds and bronze to Henriette Jæger () at 50.92 seconds. No event occurred in 2025 beyond , as championships are biennial.
CountryGoldSilverBronzeTotal
Russia/Soviet Union5218
54211
2103
2013
1113
1001
0011

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