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 eve ...

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), competi ...

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 ina ...

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 yard ...

(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 Engli ...

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 s ...

. 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 nat ...

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 Sprint (running), sprinter who competes in the 200 metres, 200 and 400 metres. In the 400 metres, he is the current world record, world and ...

of South Africa, with a time of 43.03 seconds. Van Niekerk is also the Olympic record holder. Steven Gardiner is the reigning Olympic Champion. Michael Norman is the current world champion and the world indoor record holder with a time of 44.52 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 is the reigning women's Olympic champion and world champion.

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

holds the world indoor record at 49.59 dating back to 1982. 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 ...

. An Olympic double of 200 metres 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 ...

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 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 ...

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.

Continental records

*Updated 22 December 2020.

All-time top 25

Men (outdoor)

*Correct as of June 2022.

Women (outdoor)

*Correct as of September 2022.

Annulled marks

* Christine Mboma 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 mor ...

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 applie ...

. *

Aminatou Seyni Aminatou Seyni (born 24 October 1996) is a Nigerien track and field Sprint (running), sprinter. She has the List of Nigerien records in athletics, Nigerien national records for the 200 metres and 400 metres. Seyni competed in the Athletics at t ...

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 ...

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

. *

Yuliya Gushchina Yuliya Aleksandrovna Gushchina (russian: Ю́лия Александровна Гу́щина, born 4 March 1983 in Novocherkassk, Rostov Oblast) is a Russian sprinter who specializes in the 200 metres.

ran 49.28 in

Cheboksary Cheboksary (; russian: Чебокса́ры, r=Cheboksáry, p=tɕɪbɐˈksarɨ; cv, Шупашкар, ''Şupaşkar'') is the capital city of Chuvashia, Russia and a port on the Volga River. Geography The city is located in the Volga Upland reg ...

on 5 July 2012, but her time was annulled after she tested positive for

turinabol Chlorodehydromethyltestosterone (CDMT; brand name Oral Turinabol), also known as 4-chloro-17β-hydroxy17α-methylandrosta-1,4-dien-3-one, is an anabolic–androgenic steroid (AAS). It is the 4-chloro-substituted derivative of metandienone (dehyd ...

—a banned steroid—in a 2016 retest of a sample taken from the 2011 World Championships.

Men (indoor)

*Correct as of March 2022.

Notes

Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 45.16: * Michael Johnson also ran 44.66 (1996), 44.97 (1995) and 45.14 (1993). *

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 also ran 45.02 (2017), 45.03 (2021). *

Akeem Bloomfield Akeem Bloomfield (born 11 October 1997) is a Jamaican track and field athlete specializing in sprint events. Career Running for Auburn University under coach Henry Rolle, he finished second in the 400 meters at the 2018 NCAA Championships behi ...

also ran 45.02 (2018). *

Kahmari Montgomery Kahmari Montgomery (born August 16, 1997) is an American track and field Sprint (running), sprinter specializing in the 400 m for Nike, Inc., Nike. He was the men's 400 m champion at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, USA C ...

also ran 45.04 (2019). *

Torrin Lawrence Torrin Lawrence (April 11, 1989 – July 28, 2014) was an American sprinter who competed in the 400 meters. He ran for the University of Georgia. Career Torrin attended Andrew Jackson High School in Jacksonville, Florida, though he did not sta ...

also ran 45.10 (2010). *

Deon Lendore Deon Kristofer Lendore (28 October 1992 – 10 January 2022) was a Trinidad and Tobago sprinter who specialised in the 400 metres. He won a bronze medal in the 4 × 400 metres relay event at the 2012 Summer Olympics, and won medals at the Pan ...

also ran 45.15 (2013).

Women (indoor)

*Correct as of February 2021.

Notes

Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 50.00: *

also ran 49.64 (1981) and 49.69 (1983). * Taťána Kocembová also ran 49.97 (1984). *

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

also ran 49.98 (2006).

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 (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 ...

(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 the ...

(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: 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 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, the ...

. This has been accomplished 14 times by men; Charles Reidpath, Ray Barbuti,

Bill Carr William "Bill" Arthur Carr (October 24, 1909 – January 14, 1966) was an American athlete and double Olympic champion in 1932. Called the "Arkansas flyer," Carr never lost a race during his college and Olympic career. Early life and educati ...

, George Rhoden, Charles Jenkins, Otis Davis,

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, 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 ...

, Jeremy Wariner 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, re ...

, Olga Bryzgina 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 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) Summer Olympic disciplines in athletics