| Athletics 400 metres | |
|---|---|
The closing stages of a men's 400 m race | |
| World records | |
| Men | |
| Women | |
| Short track world records | |
| Men | |
| Women | |
| Olympic records | |
| Men | |
| Women | |
| World Championship records | |
| Men | |
| Women | |
| World junior (U20) records | |
| Men | |
| Women | |
The400 metres, or400-meter dash, is a sprint event intrack and field competitions. It has been featured in theathletics programme at theSummer Olympics since 1896 for men and since 1964 for women. On a standard outdoorrunning 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 the440-yard dash (402.336 m)—which is a quarter of amile (1,760yards) 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'sworld record and Olympic record is held byWayde van Niekerk ofSouth 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 byMarita 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'sT43 Paralympic world record of 45.07 seconds is held byOscar Pistorius.[3]
An Olympic double of200 metres and 400 m was first achieved byValerie Brisco-Hooks in 1984, and later byMarie-José Pérec of France andMichael Johnson from the United States on the same evening in 1996.Alberto Juantorena of Cuba at the1976 Summer Olympics became the first and so far the only athlete to win both the 400 m and800 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).
Like other sprint disciplines, the 400 m involves the use ofstarting blocks. The runners take up position in the blocks on the "ready" command, adopt a more efficient starting posture whichisometrically preloads their muscles on the "set" command, and stride forwards from the blocks upon hearing thestarter'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 oflactic 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]
| Area | Men | Women | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Time (s) | Athlete | Nation | Time (s) | Athlete | Nation | ||
| Africa(records) | 43.03WR | Wayde van Niekerk | 49.10 | Falilat Ogunkoya | |||
| Asia(records) | 43.93 | Yousef Masrahi | 48.14 | Salwa Eid Naser | |||
| Europe(records) | 43.44 | Matthew Hudson-Smith | 47.60WR | Marita Koch | |||
| North, Central America and Caribbean(records) | 43.18 | Michael Johnson | 47.78 | Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone | |||
| Oceania(records) | 44.38 | Darren Clark | 48.63 | Cathy Freeman | |||
| South America(records) | 43.93 | Anthony Zambrano | 49.64 | Ximena Restrepo | |||
| Tables show data for two definitions of "Top 25" - the top 25400 m times and the top 25athletes: |
| - denotes top performance forathletes in the top 25400 m times |
| - denotes lesser performances, still in the top 25400 m times, by repeat athletes |
| - denotes top performance (only) for other top 25athletes who fall outside the top 25 400 m times |
| Ath.# | Perf.# | Time (s) | Reaction (s) | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 47.60 | Marita Koch | 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 | 18 September 2025 | Tokyo | [36] | |
| 4 | 4 | 47.99 | Jarmila Kratochvílová | 10 August 1983 | Helsinki | |||
| 5 | 5 | 48.14 | 0.186 | Salwa Eid Naser | 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 | 29 July 1996 | Atlanta | |||
| 12 | 48.26 | Koch #5 | 27 July 1984 | Dresden | ||||
| 7 | 13 | 48.27 | Olga Bryzgina | 6 October 1985 | Canberra | |||
| 14 | 48.29 | McLaughlin-Levrone #2 | 16 September 2025 | Tokyo | [39] | |||
| 8 | 15 | 48.36 | Shaunae Miller-Uibo | 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 | 20 July 2024 | London | [40] | ||
| 10 | 20 | 48.59 | Taťána Kocembová | 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 | 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 | 27 August 2003 | Saint-Denis | ||||
| 15 | 48.90 | Natalia Kaczmarek | 20 July 2024 | London | [40] | |||
| 16 | 49.05 | Chandra Cheeseborough | United States | 6 August 1984 | Los Angeles | |||
| 17 | 49.07 | Tonique Williams-Darling | 12 September 2004 | Berlin | ||||
| Rhasidat Adeleke | 10 June 2024 | Rome | [41] | |||||
| 19 | 49.09 | 0.200 | Aaliyah Butler | United States | 11 July 2025 | Monaco | [42] | |
| 20 | 49.10 | Falilat Ogunkoya | 29 July 1996 | Atlanta | ||||
| 21 | 49.11 | Olga Nazarova | 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 | 5 July 2012 | Cheboksary |
| Ath.# | Perf.# | Time (s) | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 44.49 | Christopher Morales Williams | 24 February 2024 | Fayetteville | [47] | |
| 2 | 2 | 44.52 | Michael Norman | 10 March 2018 | College Station | ||
| 3 | 3 | 44.57 | Kerron Clement | 12 March 2005 | Fayetteville | ||
| 4 | 4 | 44.62 | Randolph Ross | 12 March 2022 | Birmingham | [48] | |
| 5 | 5 | 44.63 | Michael Johnson | 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 | 13 March 2021 | Fayetteville | [49] | |
| 7 | 9 | 44.75 | Elija Godwin | 25 February 2023 | Fayetteville | [50] | |
| 10 | 44.75A | Godwin #2 | 11 March 2023 | Albuquerque | [51] | ||
| 8 | 11 | 44.80 | Kirani James | 27 February 2011 | Fayetteville | ||
| 9 | 12 | 44.82 | Tyrell Richard | 9 March 2019 | Birmingham | [52] | |
| 13 | 44.83 | Ross #2 | 11 February 2022 | Clemson | |||
| 10 | 14 | 44.85 | Fred Kerley | 11 March 2017 | College Station | ||
| 11 | 15 | 44.86 | Akeem Bloomfield | 10 March 2018 | College Station | ||
| 12 | 16 | 44.88 | Bralon Taplin | 3 February 2018 | College Station | ||
| 13 | 17 | 44.91 | Auhmad Robinson | 9 March 2024 | Boston | [53] | |
| 14 | 18 | 44.93 | LaShawn Merritt | 11 February 2005 | Fayetteville | ||
| 44.93A | Ryan Willie | 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 | 19 March 2022 | Belgrade | [55] | |
| 17 | 25 | 45.02 | Danny Everett | 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 | 3 February 2024 | Albuquerque | ||
| 19 | 45.03 | Torrin Lawrence | 12 February 2010 | Fayetteville | |||
| Deon Lendore | 1 March 2014 | College Station | |||||
| Kahmari Montgomery | 9 March 2019 | Birmingham | [52] | ||||
| 22 | 45.04 | Champion Allison | 26 February 2022 | College Station | [56] | ||
| 23 | 45.05 | Thomas Schönlebe | 5 February 1988 | Sindelfingen | |||
| Alvin Harrison | 28 February 1998 | Atlanta | |||||
| Karsten Warholm | 2 March 2019 | Glasgow | [57] | ||||
| Trevor Bassitt | 19 March 2022 | Belgrade | [55] | ||||
| Jacory Patterson | 25 February 2023 | Fayetteville |
| Ath.# | Perf.# | Time (s) | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 49.17 | Femke Bol | 2 March 2024 | Glasgow | [59] | |
| 2 | 49.24 | Bol #2 | 17 February 2024 | Apeldoorn | [60] | ||
| 2 | 2 | 49.24 | Isabella Whittaker | 15 March 2025 | Virginia Beach | [61] | |
| 4 | 49.26 | Bol #3 | 19 February 2023 | Apeldoorn | [62] | ||
| 3 | 5 | 49.48A | Britton Wilson | 11 March 2023 | Albuquerque | [51] | |
| 4 | 6 | 49.59 | Jarmila Kratochvílová | 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 | 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 | 2 February 1984 | Vienna | ||
| 7 | 13 | 49.78 | Aaliyah Butler | 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 | 2 February 1984 | Vienna | ||
| 9 | 22 | 50.02 | Nicola Sanders | 3 March 2007 | Birmingham | ||
| 10 | 23 | 50.04 | Olesya Krasnomovets | 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 | 18 February 2024 | Apeldoorn | [68] | ||
| 12 | 50.15 | Olga Zaytseva | 25 January 2006 | Moscow | |||
| Talitha Diggs | 25 February 2023 | Fayetteville | [69] | ||||
| 14 | 50.21 | Vania Stambolova | 12 March 2006 | Moscow | |||
| Shaunae Miller-Uibo | 13 February 2021 | New York City | [70] | ||||
| 16 | 50.23 | Irina Privalova | 12 March 1995 | Barcelona | |||
| 17 | 50.24 | Alexis Holmes | 2 March 2024 | Glasgow | [59] | ||
| 18 | 50.28 | Petra Müller | 6 March 1988 | Budapest | |||
| 19 | 50.33 | Rhasidat Adeleke | 25 February 2023 | Lubbock | [69] | ||
| 20 | 50.34 | Christine Amertil | 12 March 2006 | Moscow | |||
| Kendall Ellis | 10 March 2018 | College Station | |||||
| 22 | 50.36 | Sydney McLaughlin | 10 March 2018 | College Station | |||
| 23 | 50.37 | Natalya Antyukh | 18 February 2006 | Moscow | |||
| 24 | 50.40 | Dagmar Neubauer | 2 February 1984 | Vienna | |||
| 25 | 50.41 | Svetlana Pospelova | 5 March 2005 | Madrid |
Annulled marks
3 or more 400-metre victories at the Olympic Games and World Championships:
The Olympic champion has frequently won a second gold medal in the4 × 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 andLaShawn Merritt; and 4 times by women;Monika Zehrt,Valerie Brisco-Hooks,Olga Bryzgina andSanya 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 teammateAntonio Pettigrew admitted to doping.
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11 | 9 | 6 | 27 | |
| 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | |
| 3 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 5 | |
| 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | |
| 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | |
| 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| 8 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
| 9 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | ||
| 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | ||
| 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | ||
| 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | ||
| 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | ||
| 16 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | ||
| 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | ||
| 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | ||
| 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | ||
| 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
§ : awarded following doping disqualification.
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 12 | |
| 2 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 5 | |
| 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | |
| 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
| 6 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | |
| 7 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | |
| 8 |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | ||
| 10 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | |
| 11 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | ||
| 13 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 10 | |
| 14 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | |
| 15 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 17 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | |
| 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | ||
| 13 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |