The 400 metres, or 400-meter dash, is a sprint event in

track and field Track and field is a sport that includes athletic contests based on running, jumping, and throwing skills. The name is derived from where the sport takes place, a running track and a grass field for the throwing and some of the jumping events ...

competitions. It has been featured in the

athletics Athletics may refer to: Sports * Sport of athletics, a collection of sporting events that involve competitive running, jumping, throwing, and walking ** Track and field, a sub-category of the above sport * Athletics (physical culture), competiti ...

programme at the

Summer Olympics The Summer Olympic Games (french: link=no, Jeux olympiques d'été), also known as the Games of the Olympiad, and often referred to as the Summer Olympics, is a major international multi-sport event normally held once every four years. The inau ...

since 1896 for men and since 1964 for women. On a standard outdoor

running track An all-weather running track is a rubberized, artificial running surface for track and field athletics. It provides a consistent surface for competitors to test their athletic ability unencumbered by adverse weather conditions. Historically, v ...

, it is one lap around the track. Runners start in staggered positions and race in separate lanes for the entire course. In many countries, athletes previously competed in the

440-yard dash The 440-yard dash, or quarter-mile race, is a sprint race in track and field competitions. In many countries, athletes compete in the 440 yard dash (402.336 m) – which corresponds to a quarter mile. Many athletic tracks are 440 yards ...

(402.336 m)—which is a quarter of a

mile The mile, sometimes the international mile or statute mile to distinguish it from other miles, is a British imperial unit and United States customary unit of distance; both are based on the older English unit of length equal to 5,280 English ...

and was referred to as the "quarter-mile"—instead of the 400 m (437.445 yards), though this distance is now obsolete. Like other sprint disciplines, the 400 m involves the use of

starting blocks Starting blocks are a device used in the sport of track and field by sprint athletes to brace their feet against at the start of a race so they do not slip as they stride forward at the sound of the starter's pistol. The blocks also enable the sp ...

. 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 A starting pistol or starter pistol is a blank handgun that is fired to start track and field races, as well as competitive swimming races at some meets. Starter guns cannot fire real ammunition without first being extensively modified: Blank ...

. 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 Lactic acid is an organic acid. It has a molecular formula . It is white in the solid state and it is miscible with water. When in the dissolved state, it forms a colorless solution. Production includes both artificial synthesis as well as natu ...

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. The current men's

world record A world record is usually the best global and most important performance that is ever recorded and officially verified in a specific skill, sport, or other kind of activity. The book ''Guinness World Records'' and other world records organization ...

is held by

Wayde van Niekerk Wayde van Niekerk (South African English: , ; born 15 July 1992) is a South African track and field sprinter who competes in the 200 and 400 metres. In the 400 metres, he is the current world and Olympic record holder, having set the reco ...

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...

, with a time of 43.03 seconds. Van Niekerk is also the Olympic record holder.

Steven Gardiner Steven Gardiner (born 12 September 1995) is a Bahamian track and field sprinter competing in the 400 metres and 200 metres. He is the current Olympic and world champion in the 400 m, and also won the silver medal at the 2017 World Champio ...

is the reigning Olympic Champion.

Antonio Watson Antonio Watson (born 11 September 2001) is a Jamaican sprinter. He won the gold medal in the boys' 400 metres event at the 2017 World Youth Championships in Athletics held in Nairobi, Kenya. In 2018, he won the silver medal in the boys' 200 met ...

is the current world champion. Christopher Morales Williams is the world indoor record holder with a time of 44.49 seconds. The current women's world record is held by

Marita Koch Marita Koch (later Meier-Koch; born 18 February 1957) is a German former sprint track and field athlete. During her career she collected 16 world records in outdoor sprints as well as 14 world records in indoor events. Her record of 47.60 in th ...

, with a time of 47.60 seconds.

Shaunae Miller-Uibo Shaunae Miller-Uibo (born 15 April 1994) is a Bahamian track and field sprinter who competes in the 200 and 400 metres. She is a two-time Olympic champion after winning the women's 400 metres at the 2016 Rio Olympics and again at the 2020 Tok ...

is the reigning women's Olympic champion. Marileidy Paulino is the current world champion.

Femke Bol Femke Bol (; born 23 February 2000) is a Dutch track and field athlete who specialises in the 400 metres hurdles and 400 metres. In the 400 metres hurdles, Bol's personal best is 51.45 seconds, which is a European record and ma ...

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 Oscar Leonard Carl Pistorius (; ; born 22 November 1986) is a South African convicted murderer and former professional sprinter. Both of his feet were amputated when he was 11 months old owing to a congenital defect; he was born missing the o ...

. An Olympic double of

200 metres The 200 metres, or 200-meter dash, is a sprint running event. On an outdoor 400 metre racetrack, the race begins on the curve and ends on the home straight, so a combination of techniques is needed to successfully run the race. A slightl ...

and 400 m was first achieved by

Valerie Brisco-Hooks Valerie Ann Brisco-Hooks (born July 6, 1960, in Greenwood, Mississippi) is an Olympian who won three gold medals as an Olympic track and field athlete at the 1984 Olympics at Los Angeles, California, making her the first Olympian to win gold me ...

in 1984, and later by

Marie-José Pérec Marie-José Pérec (born 9 May 1968) is a retired French track and field sprinter who specialised in the 200 and 400 metres and is a three-time Olympic gold medalist. Athletics career Pérec won the 1991 World Championships 400 metres title ...

of France and Michael Johnson from the United States on the same evening in 1996.

Alberto Juantorena Alberto Juantorena (born 3 December 1950) is a Cuban former runner. He is the only athlete to win both the 400 and 800 m Olympic titles, which he achieved in 1976. He was ranked as world's best runner in the 400 m in 1974 and 1976–1978, a ...

of Cuba at the

1976 Summer Olympics Events January * January 3 – The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights enters into force. * January 5 – The Pol Pot regime proclaims a new constitution for Democratic Kampuchea. * January 11 – The 1976 Phi ...

became the first and so far the only athlete to win both the 400 m and

800 m The 800 metres, or meters ( US spelling), is a common track running event. It is the shortest commonly run middle-distance running event. The 800 metres is run over two laps of an outdoor (400-metre) track and has been an Olympic event since the ...

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.

Continental records

*Updated 22 December 2020.

All-time top 25

Men (outdoor)

*Correct as of July 2024.

Women (outdoor)

*Correct as of June 2024.

Annulled marks

Christine Mboma Christine Mboma (born 22 May 2003) is a Namibian sprinter who competes in the 100 metres and 200 m. At the age of 18, she won a silver medal in the 200 metres at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, becoming the first ever Namibian woman to win a women's O ...

ran 48.54 in

Bydgoszcz Bydgoszcz ( , , ; german: Bromberg) is a city in northern Poland, straddling the meeting of the River Vistula with its left-bank tributary, the Brda. With a city population of 339,053 as of December 2021 and an urban agglomeration with more ...

on 30 June 2021, but her performance was removed from the World Athletics database because of

Testosterone regulations in women's athletics The testosterone regulations in women's athletics are a series of policies first published in 2011 by the IAAF (now World Athletics) and last updated following a court victory against Caster Semenya in May 2019. The first version of the rules appli ...

. *

Aminatou Seyni Aminatou Seyni (born 24 October 1996) is a Nigerien track and field sprinter. She has the Nigerien national records for the 200 metres and 400 metres. Seyni competed in the women's 100 metres and 200 metres at the 2019 African Games. She r ...

ran 49.19 in

Lausanne , neighboring_municipalities= Bottens, Bretigny-sur-Morrens, Chavannes-près-Renens, Cheseaux-sur-Lausanne, Crissier, Cugy, Écublens, Épalinges, Évian-les-Bains (FR-74), Froideville, Jouxtens-Mézery, Le Mont-sur-Lausanne, Lugrin (FR-74), ...

on 5 July 2019, but her performance was removed from the World Athletics database because of

Men (indoor)

*Correct as of March 2024.

Notes

While recognized as world bests, the times of 44.52 by Michael Norman and 44.49 by Christopher Morales Williams are not ratified as world records. Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 45.05: * Michael Johnson also ran 44.66 (1996) and 44.97 (1995). * Christopher Morales Williams also ran 44.67 (2024). *

Randolph Ross Randolph Ross (born January 1, 2001) is an American athlete specializing in the 400 metres, who competes collegiately for the North Carolina A&T Aggies. He is coached by his father Duane Ross, who was also an Olympian in the 110m hurdles. On Febr ...

also ran 44.83 (2022), 44.99 (2021). * Michael Norman also ran 45.00 (2018). *

Fred Kerley Fredrick Lee Kerley (born May 7, 1995) is an American track and field sprinter known primarily for competing in the 400 meters distance but more recently the 100 meters and 200 meters. He has earned several medals at the World Championships in ...

also ran 45.02 (2017), 45.03 (2021). * Akeem Bloomfield also ran 45.02 (2018). *

Kahmari Montgomery Kahmari Montgomery (born August 16, 1997) is an American track and field sprinter specializing in the 400 m for Nike. He was the men's 400 m champion at the USA Championships in 2018, and at the NCAA Division I Championships i ...

also ran 45.04 (2019).

Women (indoor)

*Correct as of March 2024.

Notes

Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 50.42: *

also ran 49.24 (2024), 49.26 (2023), 49.63 (2024), 49.69 (2024), 49.85 (2023), 49.96 (2023), 50.20 (2023) and 50.30 (2022). *

Jarmila Kratochvílová Jarmila Kratochvílová (; born 26 January 1951, in Golčův Jeníkov) is a Czech people, Czech former track and field athlete. She won the 400 metres and 800 metres at the 1983 World Championships in Athletics, 1983 World Championships, setting a ...

also ran 49.64 (1981) and 49.69 (1983). *

Taťána Kocembová Taťána Netoličková (née Kocembová (, divorced Slaninova; born 2 May 1962) is a retired 400 metres runner who represented Czechoslovakia. Her greatest achievement was winning the silver medal behind teammate Jarmila Kratochvílová at the 198 ...

also ran 49.97 (1984). *

Natalya Nazarova Natalya Viktorovna Nazarova (russian: Наталья Викторовна Назарова, born May 26, 1979, Moscow) is a track and field Sprint (running), sprinter. She was born in Moscow. Following a personal best time of 49.65 seconds ...

also ran 49.98 (2006). *

Olesya Krasnomovets Olesya Aleksandrovna Forsheva (russian: Олеся Александровна Форшева (Красномовец), née Krasnomovets on 8 July 1979) is a retired Russian sprint runner who specialized in the 400 m and 4×400 m relay. She had ...

also ran 50.04 (2006). * Lieke Klaver also ran 50.16 (2024) and 50.34 (2023). * Alexis Holmes also ran 50.34 (2024).

Fastest relay splits

Men

Women

Most successful athletes

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 Catherine Astrid Salome Freeman (born 16 February 1973) is an Aboriginal Australian former sprinter, who specialised in the 400 metres event. Her personal best of 48.63 seconds currently ranks her as the ninth-fastest woman of all time, set ...

(AUS) - Olympic Champion in 2000, World Champion in 1997 and 1999. *3 wins:

Jeremy Wariner Jeremy Matthew Wariner (born January 31, 1984) is a retired American track athlete specializing in the 400 meters. He has won four Olympic medals (three gold, one silver) and six World Championships medals. He is the fourth fastest competitor in ...

(USA) - Olympic Champion in 2004, World Champion in 2005 and 2007. *3 wins:

Christine Ohuruogu Christine Ijeoma Ohuruogu , MBE (born 17 May 1984) is a British former track and field athlete who specialised in the 400 metres, the event for which she is a former Olympic, World and Commonwealth champion. The Olympic champion in 2008, and s ...

(GBR) - Olympic Champion in 2008, World Champion in 2007 and 2013. *3 wins:

LaShawn Merritt LaShawn Merritt (born June 27, 1986) is an American track and field athlete who competes in sprinting events, specializing in the 400 metres. He is a former Olympic champion over the distance and his personal best of 43.65 seconds makes him th ...

(USA) - Olympic Champion in 2008, World Champion in 2009 and 2013. *3 wins:

(RSA) - Olympic Champion in 2016, World Champion in 2015 and 2017. *3 wins:

(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 The 4 × 400 metres relay or long relay is an athletics track event in which teams consist of four runners who each complete 400 metres or one lap. It is traditionally the final event of a track meet. At top class events, th ...

. This has been accomplished 14 times by men;

Charles Reidpath Charles Decker Reidpath (September 20, 1889 – October 21, 1975) was an American track and field sprinter and winner of two gold medals at the 1912 Summer Olympics, who later went on to have an outstanding military career. Biography Born in Bu ...

Ray Barbuti Raymond James Barbuti (June 12, 1905 – July 8, 1988) was an American football player and sprint runner who won two gold medals at the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Barbuti traveled to Amsterdam to initially only compete f ...

, Bill Carr,

George Rhoden George Vincent Rhoden (born 13 December 1926) is a Jamaican retired athlete, winner of two Olympic gold medals in 1952. Rhoden was born in Kingston in December 1926. He later moved to San Francisco, California, and was one of the successful ...

, Charles Jenkins,

Otis Davis Otis Crandall Davis (born July 12, 1932) is a former American athlete, winner of two gold medals for record-breaking performances in both the 400 m and 4 × 400 m relay at the 1960 Summer Olympics. Davis set a new world record of 44.9 seconds ...

Mike Larrabee Mike Larrabee (''Michael Denny Larrabee;'' December 2, 1933 – April 22, 2003) was an American athlete, winner of two gold medals at the 1964 Summer Olympics. Born in Hollywood, California and raised in Ventura, Larrabee was a young running ...

, Lee Evans,

Viktor Markin Viktor Fyodorovich Markin () (born 23 February 1957 in the village of Oktyabrsky, Ust-Tarksky District, Novosibirsk Oblast ) is a former Soviet athlete, winner of two gold medals at the 1980 Summer Olympics. After graduating from a ...

Alonzo Babers Alonzo C. Babers (born October 31, 1961) is an American former athlete, winner of two gold medals at the 1984 Summer Olympics, in the 400 m and the 4 × 400 m relay. Born in Montgomery, Alabama, Alonzo Babers was a military dependent who graduat ...

, Steve Lewis,

Quincy Watts Quincy D. Watts (born June 19, 1970) is an American former athlete, and two time gold medallist at the 1992 Summer Olympics. Career Born in Detroit, Michigan, Quincy Watts attended the University of Southern California (USC) where he excelled ...

and

; and 4 times by women;

Monika Zehrt Monika Zehrt (later Landgraf, born 29 September 1952) is a retired East German sprinter who specialized in the 400m. At the 1972 Olympics she won gold medals in the individual 400m and 4 × 400m relay, setting an Olympic and a world record, res ...

Olga Bryzgina Olha Bryzhina ( uk, Ольга Бризгіна, maiden name Olga Arkad'evna Vladykina; russian: Ольга Аркадьевна Владыкина; born June 30, 1963 in Krasnokamsk, Perm Oblast) is a retired athlete who represented Soviet Union ...

and

Sanya Richards-Ross Sanya Richards-Ross (née Richards; born February 26, 1985) is a retired Jamaican-American track and field athlete, who competed internationally for the United States in the 400-meter sprint. Her notable accolades in this event include being th ...

. 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 Antonio Pettigrew (November 3, 1967 – August 10, 2010) was an American sprinter who specialized in the 400 meters. Early life and career Pettigrew was born in Macon, Georgia. While attending St. Augustine's College in Raleigh, North Ca ...

admitted to doping.

Olympic medalists

Men

Women

World Championships medalists

Men

Women

World Indoor Championships medalists

Men

Women

* Known as the ''World Indoor Games''

Season's bests

Men

Women

Notes and references

External links

IAAF list of 400-metres records in XML
{{Use dmy dates, date=June 2017 Events in track and field Sprint running disciplines Summer Olympic disciplines in athletics