400 metres at the World Athletics Championships

Last updated

400 metres
at the World Athletics Championships
Montsho Felix Daegu 2011.jpg
Amantle Montsho and Allyson Felix at the finish of the 2011 women's final
Overview
GenderMen and women
Years heldMen: 19832025
Women: 19832025
Championship record
Men43.18 Michael Johnson (1999)
Women47.78 Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (2025)
Reigning champion
MenFlag of Botswana.svg  Collen Kebinatshipi  (BOT)
WomenFlag of the United States.svg  Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone  (USA)

The 400 metres at the World Championships in Athletics has been contested by both men and women since the inaugural edition in 1983. It is the second most prestigious title in the discipline after the 400 metres at the Olympics. The competition format typically has two or three qualifying rounds leading to a final between eight athletes.

Contents

The championship records for the event are 43.18 seconds for men, set by Michael Johnson in 1999, and 47.99 seconds for women, set by Jarmila Kratochvílová in 1983. The men's world record has been broken at the competition on one occasion and Johnson's championship record remains the world record as of 2015. [1] The current women's championship record stood as the women's world record for two years and remains the only time that feat has been accomplished at the championships.

Michael Johnson is the most successful athlete of the World Championships 400 m, having won four straight titles from 1993 to 1999. He is the only sprint athlete to have won that many individual titles in an event. The second most successful is LaShawn Merritt – a two-time champion and the only other athlete to have won four medals. The most successful women are Marie-José Pérec, Cathy Freeman and Christine Ohuruogu, all of whom have won two world titles. Jeremy Wariner is the only other person to have won two titles, and also has three medals to his name.

The United States is comfortably the most successful nation in the discipline – American men have topped the podium ten times and taken 23 medals in total. American women also top the table with two golds among seven medals. Jamaica is the only other nation to have won more than one medal in the men's race, and has won eleven medals in total across the sexes. Great Britain has had two winners and two runners-up. Australia, France and Bahamas are the only other nations to have won multiple gold medals.

Jerome Young is the only athlete to be stripped of a medal in the event, as he lost his 2003 gold medal due to a doping ban.

Age records

DistinctionMaleFemale
AthleteAgeDateAthleteAgeDate
Youngest championFlag of Grenada.svg  Kirani James  (GRN)18 years, 363 days30 Aug 2011Flag of Bahrain.svg  Salwa Eid Naser  (BHR)21 years, 133 days3 Oct 2019
Youngest medalistFlag of Grenada.svg  Kirani James  (GRN)18 years, 363 days30 Aug 2011Flag of Bahrain.svg  Salwa Eid Naser  (BHR)19 years, 78 days9 Aug 2017
Youngest finalistFlag of East Germany.svg  Thomas Schönlebe  (GDR)18 years, 4 days10 Aug 1983Flag of Bahrain.svg  Salwa Eid Naser  (BHR)19 years, 78 days9 Aug 2017
Youngest participantFlag of Anguilla.svg  Kerth Gumbs  (AIA)16 years, 183 days4 Aug 2001Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg  Dijana Kojić  (BIH)15 years, 7 days2 Aug 1997
Oldest championFlag of the United States.svg  Michael Johnson  (USA)31 years, 347 days26 Aug 1999Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Jarmila Kratochvílová  (TCH)32 years, 196 days10 Aug 1983
Oldest medalistFlag of the United States.svg  Michael Johnson  (USA)31 years, 347 days26 Aug 1999Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Jarmila Kratochvílová  (TCH)32 years, 196 days10 Aug 1983
Oldest finalistFlag of the United States.svg  Michael Johnson  (USA)31 years, 347 days26 Aug 1999Flag of Jamaica.svg  Novlene Williams-Mills  (JAM)35 years, 105 days9 Aug 2017
Oldest participantFlag of the Bahamas.svg  Chris Brown  (BAH)36 years, 313 days24 Aug 2015Flag of Senegal.svg  Amy Mbacké Thiam  (SEN)36 years, 274 days11 Aug 2013

Doping

Antonio Pettigrew, the 1991 champion, was the first have his results annulled due to doping, although this ban affected his finalist placings from 1997 to 2001 only. His fellow American Jerome Young became the first and thus far only 400 m athlete to be stripped of their world title. His ban covered his 2003 win, a 2001 semi-finalist placing, and a fourth-place finish in 1999. [3]

Natalya Sologub of Belarus became the first female 400 m runner to be disqualified from the championships, having originally been a 2001 semi-finalist. The 2003 sixth-place finish of Calvin Harrison was annulled for doping, as weer the semi-finalist runs of Amaka Ogoegbunam in 2009 and Antonina Yefremova in 2011. [3]

Medalists

Men

ChampionshipsGoldSilverBronze
1983 Helsinki
details
Flag of Jamaica.svg  Bert Cameron  (JAM)Flag of the United States.svg  Michael Franks  (USA)Flag of the United States.svg  Sunder Nix  (USA)
1987 Rome
details
Flag of East Germany.svg  Thomas Schönlebe  (GDR)Flag of Nigeria.svg  Innocent Egbunike  (NGA)Flag of the United States.svg  Harry Reynolds  (USA)
1991 Tokyo
details
Flag of the United States.svg  Antonio Pettigrew  (USA)Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Roger Black  (GBR)Flag of the United States.svg  Danny Everett  (USA)
1993 Stuttgart
details
Flag of the United States.svg  Michael Johnson  (USA)Flag of the United States.svg  Butch Reynolds  (USA)Flag of Kenya.svg  Samson Kitur  (KEN)
1995 Gothenburg
details
Flag of the United States.svg  Michael Johnson  (USA)Flag of the United States.svg  Butch Reynolds  (USA)Flag of Jamaica.svg  Greg Haughton  (JAM)
1997 Athens
details
Flag of the United States.svg  Michael Johnson  (USA)Flag of Uganda.svg  Davis Kamoga  (UGA)Flag of the United States.svg  Tyree Washington  (USA)
1999 Seville
details
Flag of the United States.svg  Michael Johnson  (USA)Flag of Brazil.svg  Sanderlei Parrela  (BRA)Flag of Mexico.svg  Alejandro Cárdenas  (MEX)
2001 Edmonton
details
Flag of the Bahamas.svg  Avard Moncur  (BAH)Flag of Germany.svg  Ingo Schultz  (GER)Flag of Jamaica.svg  Greg Haughton  (JAM)
2003 Saint-Denis
details
Flag of the United States.svg  Tyree Washington  (USA)Flag of France.svg  Marc Raquil  (FRA)Flag of Jamaica.svg  Michael Blackwood  (JAM)
2005 Helsinki
details
Flag of the United States.svg  Jeremy Wariner  (USA)Flag of the United States.svg  Andrew Rock  (USA)Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Tyler Christopher  (CAN)
2007 Osaka
details
Flag of the United States.svg  Jeremy Wariner  (USA)Flag of the United States.svg  LaShawn Merritt  (USA)Flag of the United States.svg  Angelo Taylor  (USA)
2009 Berlin
details
Flag of the United States.svg  LaShawn Merritt  (USA)Flag of the United States.svg  Jeremy Wariner  (USA)Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg  Renny Quow  (TRI)
2011 Daegu
details
Flag of Grenada.svg  Kirani James  (GRN)Flag of the United States.svg  LaShawn Merritt  (USA)Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Kévin Borlée  (BEL)
2013 Moscow
details
Flag of the United States.svg  LaShawn Merritt  (USA)Flag of the United States.svg  Tony McQuay  (USA)Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg  Luguelín Santos  (DOM)
2015 Beijing
details
Flag of South Africa.svg  Wayde van Niekerk  (RSA)Flag of the United States.svg  LaShawn Merritt  (USA)Flag of Grenada.svg  Kirani James  (GRN)
2017 London
details
Flag of South Africa.svg  Wayde van Niekerk  (RSA)Flag of the Bahamas.svg  Steven Gardiner  (BAH)Flag of Qatar.svg  Abdalelah Haroun  (QAT)
2019 Doha
details
Flag of the Bahamas.svg  Steven Gardiner  (BAH)Flag of Colombia.svg  Anthony Zambrano  (COL)Flag of the United States.svg  Fred Kerley  (USA)
2022 Eugene
details
Flag of the United States.svg  Michael Norman  (USA)Flag of Grenada.svg  Kirani James  (GRN)Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Matthew Hudson-Smith  (GBR)
2023 Budapest
details
Flag of Jamaica.svg  Antonio Watson  (JAM)Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Matthew Hudson-Smith  (GBR)Flag of the United States.svg  Quincy Hall  (USA)
2025 Tokyo
details
Flag of Botswana.svg  Collen Kebinatshipi  (BOT)Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg  Jereem Richards  (TTO)Flag of Botswana.svg  Bayapo Ndori  (BOT)

Medalists by country

RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA)119627
2Flag of the Bahamas.svg  Bahamas  (BAH)2103
3Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica  (JAM)2035
4Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa  (RSA)2002
5Flag of Grenada.svg  Grenada  (GRN)1113
6Flag of Botswana.svg  Botswana  (BOT)1012
7Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany  (GDR)1001
8Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain  (GBR)0213
9Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg  Trinidad and Tobago  (TRI)0112
10Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil  (BRA)0101
Flag of Colombia.svg  Colombia  (COL)0101
Flag of France.svg  France  (FRA)0101
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany  (GER)0101
Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria  (NGR)0101
Flag of Uganda.svg  Uganda  (UGA)0101
16Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium  (BEL)0011
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada  (CAN)0011
Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg  Dominican Republic  (DOM)0011
Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya  (KEN)0011
Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico  (MEX)0011
Flag of Qatar.svg  Qatar  (QAT)0011

Multiple medalists

RankAthleteNationPeriodGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1 Michael Johnson Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA)1991–19994004
2 LaShawn Merritt Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA)2007–20132305
3 Jeremy Wariner Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA)2005–20092103
4 Wayde van Niekerk Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa  (RSA)2015–20172002
5 Kirani James Flag of Grenada.svg  Grenada  (GRN)2011–20221113
6 Tyree Washington Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA)1997–20031012
7 Butch Reynolds Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA)1987–19950213
8 Greg Haughton Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica  (JAM)1995–20010022

Women

ChampionshipsGoldSilverBronze
1983 Helsinki
details
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Jarmila Kratochvílová  (TCH)Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Taťána Kocembová  (TCH)Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Mariya Pinigina  (URS)
1987 Rome
details
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Olga Bryzgina  (URS)Flag of East Germany.svg  Petra Muller  (GDR)Flag of East Germany.svg  Kirsten Emmelmann  (GDR)
1991 Tokyo
details
Flag of France.svg  Marie-José Pérec  (FRA)Flag of Germany.svg  Grit Breuer  (GER)Flag of Spain.svg  Sandra Myers  (ESP)
1993 Stuttgart
details
Flag of the United States.svg  Jearl Miles  (USA)Flag of the United States.svg  Natasha Kaiser-Brown  (USA)Flag of Jamaica.svg  Sandie Richards  (JAM)
1995 Gothenburg
details
Flag of France.svg  Marie-José Pérec  (FRA)Flag of the Bahamas.svg  Pauline Davis  (BAH)Flag of the United States.svg  Jearl Miles  (USA)
1997 Athens
details
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Cathy Freeman  (AUS)Flag of Jamaica.svg  Sandie Richards  (JAM)Flag of the United States.svg  Jearl Miles Clark  (USA)
1999 Seville
details
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Cathy Freeman  (AUS)Flag of Germany.svg  Anja Rücker  (GER)Flag of Jamaica.svg  Lorraine Graham-Fenton  (JAM)
2001 Edmonton
details
Flag of Senegal.svg  Amy Mbacké Thiam  (SEN)Flag of Jamaica.svg  Lorraine Fenton  (JAM)Flag of Mexico.svg  Ana Guevara  (MEX)
2003 Saint-Denis
details
Flag of Mexico.svg  Ana Guevara  (MEX)Flag of Jamaica.svg  Lorraine Fenton  (JAM)Flag of Senegal.svg  Amy Mbacké Thiam  (SEN)
2005 Helsinki
details
Flag of the Bahamas.svg  Tonique Williams-Darling  (BAH)Flag of the United States.svg  Sanya Richards  (USA)Flag of Mexico.svg  Ana Guevara  (MEX)
2007 Osaka
details
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Christine Ohuruogu  (GBR)Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Nicola Sanders  (GBR)Flag of Jamaica.svg  Novlene Williams  (JAM)
2009 Berlin
details
Flag of the United States.svg  Sanya Richards  (USA)Flag of Jamaica.svg  Shericka Williams  (JAM)Flag of Russia.svg  Antonina Krivoshapka  (RUS)
2011 Daegu
details
Flag of Botswana.svg  Amantle Montsho  (BOT)Flag of the United States.svg  Allyson Felix  (USA)Flag of the United States.svg  Francena McCorory  (USA)§
2013 Moscow
details
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Christine Ohuruogu  (GBR)Flag of Botswana.svg  Amantle Montsho  (BOT)Flag of Jamaica.svg  Stephanie McPherson  (JAM)§
2015 Beijing
details
Flag of the United States.svg  Allyson Felix  (USA)Flag of the Bahamas.svg  Shaunae Miller  (BAH)Flag of Jamaica.svg  Shericka Jackson  (JAM)
2017 London
details
Flag of the United States.svg  Phyllis Francis  (USA)Flag of Bahrain.svg  Salwa Eid Naser  (BHR)Flag of the United States.svg  Allyson Felix  (USA)
2019 Doha
details
Flag of Bahrain.svg  Salwa Eid Naser  (BHR)Flag of the Bahamas.svg  Shaunae Miller-Uibo  (BAH)Flag of Jamaica.svg  Shericka Jackson  (JAM)
2022 Eugene
details
Flag of the Bahamas.svg  Shaunae Miller-Uibo  (BAH)Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg  Marileidy Paulino  (DOM)Flag of Barbados.svg  Sada Williams  (BAR)
2023 Budapest
details
Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg  Marileidy Paulino  (DOM)Flag of Poland.svg  Natalia Kaczmarek  (POL)Flag of Barbados.svg  Sada Williams  (BAR)
2025 Tokyo
details
Flag of the United States.svg  Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone  (USA)Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg  Marileidy Paulino  (DOM)Flag of Bahrain.svg  Salwa Eid Naser  (BHR)

§ : awarded following doping disqualification.

Medalists by country

RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA)53412
2Flag of the Bahamas.svg  Bahamas  (BAH)2305
3Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain  (GBR)2103
5Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia  (AUS)2002
Flag of France.svg  France  (FRA)2002
6Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg  Dominican Republic  (DOM)1203
7Flag of Bahrain.svg  Bahrain  (BHR)1113
8

Flag of Botswana.svg  Botswana  (BOT)

1102
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia  (TCH)1102
10Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico  (MEX)1023
11Flag of Senegal.svg  Senegal  (SEN)1012
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union  (URS)1012
13Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica  (JAM)04610
14Flag of Germany.svg  Germany  (GER)0202
15Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany  (GDR)0112
16Flag of Poland.svg  Poland  (POL)0101
17Flag of Barbados.svg  Barbados  (BAR)0022
Flag of Russia.svg  Russia  (RUS)0022
13Flag of Spain.svg  Spain  (ESP)0011

Multiple medalists

RankAthleteNationPeriodGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1 Marie-José Pérec Flag of France.svg  France  (FRA)1991–19952002
Cathy Freeman Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia  (AUS)1997–19992002
Christine Ohuruogu Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain  (GBR)2007–20132002
4 Shaunae Miller-Uibo Flag of the Bahamas.svg  Bahamas  (BAH)2015–20221203
Marileidy Paulino Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg  Dominican Republic  (DOM)2022-20251203
6 Allyson Felix Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA)2011–20171113
Salwa Eid Naser Flag of Bahrain.svg  Bahrain  (BHR)2017–20251113
8 Sanya Richards Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA)2005–20091102
9 Amantle Montsho Flag of Botswana.svg  Botswana  (BOT)2011–20131102
10 Jearl Miles Clark Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA)1993–19971023
Ana Guevara Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico  (MEX)2001–20051023
12 Amy Mbacke Thiam Flag of Senegal.svg  Senegal  (SEN)2001–20031012
13 Lorraine Fenton Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica  (JAM)1999–20030213
14 Sandie Richards Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica  (JAM)1993–19970112
15 Shericka Jackson Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica  (JAM)2015–20190022
Sada Williams Flag of Barbados.svg  Barbados  (BAR)2022-20230022

Championship record progression

Men

Men's 400 metres World Championships record progression [4]
TimeAthleteNationYearRoundDate
46.19 Sunder Nix Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA) 1983 Heats7 August 1983
46.11 Bert Cameron Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica  (JAM) 1983 Heats7 August 1983
45.74 Hartmut Weber Flag of Germany.svg  West Germany  (FRG) 1983 Heats7 August 1983
45.57 Michael Franks Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA) 1983 Quarter-finals8 August 1983
45.44 Michael Franks Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA) 1983 Semi-finals9 August 1983
45.05 Bert Cameron Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica  (JAM) 1983 Final10 August 1983
45.03 Derek Redmond Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain  (GBR) 1987 Quarter-finals1987-08-31
44.81 Thomas Schönlebe Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany  (GDR) 1987 Quarter-finals1987-08-31
44.26 Innocent Egbunike Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria  (NGR) 1987 Semi-finals1987-09-01
43.65 Michael Johnson Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA) 1993 Final1993-08-17
43.39 Michael Johnson Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA) 1995 Final1995-08-09
43.18 WR Michael Johnson Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA) 1997 Final1999-08-26

Women

Women's 400 metres World Championships record progression [5]
TimeAthleteNationYearRoundDate
52.42 Jarmila Kratochvílová Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia  (TCH) 1983 Heats1983-08-07
51.05 Mariya Pinigina Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union  (URS) 1983 Quarter-finals1983-08-08
50.07 Mariya Pinigina Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union  (URS) 1983 Semi-finals1983-08-09
47.99 WR Jarmila Kratochvílová Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia  (TCH) 1983 Final1983-08-10
47.78 Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA) 2025 Final2025-09-18

Finishing times

Top ten fastest World Championship times

References

  1. IAAF World Championships: IAAF Statistics Handbook Daegu 2011, pp. 595–6 (archived). IAAF. Retrieved on 2015-07-06.
  2. "World Athletics Championships - Budapest 23 Statistical Booklet" (PDF). www.worldathletics.org : 42–45.
  3. 1 2 Butler 2013, p. 67–9.
  4. Main > Men, 400 m > World Championships Records Progression. Track and Field Brinkster. Retrieved on 2015-07-07.
  5. Main > Women, 400 m > World Championships Records Progression. Track and Field Brinkster. Retrieved on 2015-07-07.
  6. "Men's 400m".
  7. "Women's 400m".

Bibliography