Athletics at the 1908 Summer Olympics – Men's 400 metres

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Men's 400 metres
at the Games of the IV Olympiad
Venue White City Stadium
DatesJuly 21 (quarterfinals)
July 22 (semifinals)
July 23 (final)
Competitors37 from 11 nations
Winning time50.0
Medalists
Gold medal icon.svg Wyndham Halswelle Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain
  1904
1912  

The men's 400 metres was an Olympic event for the fourth time at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London. The competition was held from July 21, 1908, to July 23, 1908. The rerun of the final was held on July 25, 1908. The races were held on a track of 536.45 metres=13 mile in circumference.

37 runners from 11 nations competed. NOCs could enter up to 12 athletes. [1]

It was the most controversial event of the London Games: the final resulted in the disqualification of American runner John Carpenter who was accused by the British officials of a manoeuvre that was legal under American rules (under which Carpenter normally competed) but prohibited by the British rules under which the race was run.

As part of the disqualification of Carpenter, a second final race was ordered, with Halswelle to face the other two finalists again. These athletes, William Robbins and John Taylor, were both Americans, and they boycotted the re-run final to protest the judges' decision.

Thus, Halswelle was the only medallist in the 400 metres.

Background

This was the fourth time the event was held. Only one of the runners from 1904, Paul Pilgrim of the United States, returned. Defending gold medalist Harry Hillman, also American, was in London but competed only in the hurdles. The favorite was British runner Wyndham Halswelle, the 1905, 1906, and 1908 AAA champion. [2]

Belgium, Sweden, and the Netherlands appeared in the event for the first time. The United States made its fourth appearance in the event, the only nation to compete in it at the first four Olympic Games.

Competition format

The competition consisted of three rounds. The first round had 16 heats, ranging from 0 to 4 runners (the second heat was cancelled because no athletes started). Only the top runner in each heat advanced to the semifinals. The semifinal was to consist of 4 heats of 4 runners each, but the final heat had only 3 runners due to the cancellation of the second heat in the first round. Again, only the top runner in each semifinal heat advanced, making a four-man final. [2] [3]

Records

These were the standing world and Olympic records (in seconds) prior to the 1908 Summer Olympics.

World recordFlag of the United States.svg  Maxie Long  (USA)47.8(*) New York, United States 29 September 1900
Olympic recordUS flag 45 stars.svg  Harry Hillman  (USA)49.2(**) St. Louis, United States 29 August 1904

(*) 440 yards (= 402.34 m)

(**) This track was 536.45 metres=13 mile in circumference.

In the semi-finals Wyndham Halswelle set a new Olympic record with 48.4 seconds.

Schedule

DateTimeRound
Tuesday, 21 July 1908Round 1
Wednesday, 22 July 190817:30Semifinals
Thursday, 23 July 190817:30Final (original)
Saturday, 25 July 190812:00Final (rerun)

Results

Heats

The heats were run on July 21, 1908. The winner of each advanced to the semifinals, with all other runners eliminated.

Heat 1

Montague led by twelve yards when he finished.

RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1 Edwin Montague Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain 50.2Q
2 Paul Pilgrim US flag 45 stars.svg  United States 51.4

Heat 2

The second heat was scratched as there were no starters.

Heat 3

Ryle had no competition in the third heat.

RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1 Edward Ryle Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain walkoverQ

Heat 4

Taylor won by twelve yards.

RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1 John Taylor US flag 45 stars.svg  United States 50.8Q
2 Roberto Penna Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg  Italy 52.4
3 Sven Låftman Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden Unknown

Heat 5

Nicol won easily, holding a twelve-yard lead over Guttormsen as he crossed the finish line.

RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1 George Nicol Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain 50.8Q
2 Oscar Guttormsen Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 52.4

Heat 6

Eight yards separated the two runners when Malfait crossed the line.

RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1 Georges Malfait Flag of France.svg  France 50.0Q
2 Donald Buddo Canadian Red Ensign (1868-1921).svg  Canada 51.2

Heat 7

Robbins had no difficulty in this race, leading from start to finish to win by six yards.

RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1 William Robbins US flag 45 stars.svg  United States 50.4Q
2 József Nagy Flag of Hungary (1867-1918).svg  Hungary 51.1
3 Noel Godfrey Chavasse Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain Unknown
4 Victor Henny Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands Unknown

Heat 8

Prout's lead was only two yards when he finished.

RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1 William C. Prout US flag 45 stars.svg  United States 50.4Q
2 Christopher Maude Chavasse Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain 50.7

Heat 9

Ramey's victory was one of the closest of the first round, with only a yard and a half separating him from Astley.

RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1 Horace Ramey US flag 45 stars.svg  United States 51.0Q
2 Arthur Astley Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain Unknown

Heat 10

Jacquemin took an early lead, but pulled up lame, allowing Sebert to win by 20 yards.

RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1 Louis Sebert Canadian Red Ensign (1868-1921).svg  Canada 50.2Q
2 Massimo Cartasegna Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg  Italy 52.7
Victor Jacquemin Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium DNF

Heat 11

RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1 John Atlee US flag 45 stars.svg  United States 50.4Q
2 Alan Patterson Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain 50.6
3 Giuseppe Tarella Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg  Italy Unknown

Heat 12

RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1 Charles Davies Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain 50.4Q
2 Cornelis den Held Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 51.0

Heat 13

RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1 Ned Merriam US flag 45 stars.svg  United States 52.2Q
2 Robert Robb Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain 52.5

Heat 14

RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1 John Carpenter US flag 45 stars.svg  United States 49.8Q
2 Otto Trieloff Flag of the German Empire.svg  Germany 50.9
3 Arvid Ringstrand Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden Unknown
4 Henk van der Wal Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands Unknown

Heat 15

RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1 Wyndham Halswelle Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain 49.4Q
2 Frederick de Selding US flag 45 stars.svg  United States 50.8
3 Bram Evers Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands Unknown

Heat 16

Young won by 30 yards.

RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1 George Young Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain 52.4Q
2 Jacobus Hoogveld Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 54.3

Semifinals

The semifinals were held on July 22, 1908. Winners advanced, all others were eliminated.

Semifinal 1

Carpenter led throughout, with Davies challenging him at the end. Carpenter was "slowing fast in the last thirty yards" but managed to hold off Davies and win "by three yards." [4]

RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1 John Carpenter US flag 45 stars.svg  United States 49.4Q
2 Charles Davies Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain 49.8
3 Ned Merriam US flag 45 stars.svg  United States Unknown
4 G. W. Young Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain Unknown

Semifinal 2

Halswelle broke the Olympic record in this semifinal. He took the lead early and "was right away at the half distance," ultimately winning "by 12 yards." [4]

RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1 Wyndham Halswelle Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain 48.4Q, OR
2 Edwin Montague Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain 49.8
3 George Nicol Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain Unknown
4 William C. Prout US flag 45 stars.svg  United States Unknown

Semifinal 3

Malfait took the lead at the start. Taylor caught him at 300 yards. [4]

RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1 John Taylor US flag 45 stars.svg  United States 49.8Q
2 Horace Ramey US flag 45 stars.svg  United States 50.5
3 Edward Ryle Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain Unknown
4 Georges Malfait Flag of France.svg  France Unknown

Semifinal 4

Sebert started slow, but then lengthened his stride to pass Atlee and nearly catch Robbins, who held him off to win "by 3 yards." [4]

RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1 William Robbins US flag 45 stars.svg  United States 49.0Q
2 Louis Sebert Canadian Red Ensign (1868-1921).svg  Canada 49.5
3 John Atlee US flag 45 stars.svg  United States Unknown

Final

The final was initially held on July 23, 1908. After the disqualification of Carpenter, a re-run of the final was scheduled for July 25.

First running

The first final ended with Carpenter winning ahead of Halswelle with Robbins in third, and Taylor last.

Roscoe Badger, one of the British umpires of the event, noticed Carpenter had maneuvered so as to prevent Halswelle from passing him; this was legal at the time under the American rules under which Carpenter normally competed, but prohibited by the British rules that were in effect for the Olympics.

Badger therefore signalled to the judges to declare the race null and void: his decision led to a thirty-minute argument between British and American team members.

At the official inquiry later that day, the judges upheld Badger's complaint, and Carpenter was disqualified. It was also ordered that the final be re-run with Carpenter excluded.

RankAthleteNationTime
1 John Carpenter US flag 45 stars.svg  United States 47.8
2 Wyndham Halswelle Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain Unknown
3 William Robbins US flag 45 stars.svg  United States Unknown
4 John Taylor US flag 45 stars.svg  United States Unknown
Second running

After the judges ruled that Carpenter was disqualified and barred from starting in the re-run, Robbins and Taylor withdrew in disgust.

Halswelle, now assured of the gold medal, won in the only walkover in Olympic track and field history.

RankAthleteNationTime
Gold medal icon.svg Wyndham Halswelle Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain 50.0
William Robbins US flag 45 stars.svg  United States DNS
John Taylor US flag 45 stars.svg  United States DNS
John Carpenter US flag 45 stars.svg  United States DSQ

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References

  1. Official report, p. 32.
  2. 1 2 "400 metres, Men". Olympedia. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  3. Official Report, pp. 53–57.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Official Report, p. 54.