Athletics at the 1924 Summer Olympics – Men's 400 metres

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Men's 400 metres
at the Games of the VIII Olympiad
Venue Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir
DatesJuly 10, 1924 (heats and quarterfinals)
July 11, 1924 (semifinals and final)
Competitors60 from 27 nations
Winning time47.6 WR
Medalists
Gold medal icon.svg Eric Liddell
Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain
Silver medal icon.svg Horatio Fitch
US flag 48 stars.svg  United States
Bronze medal icon.svg Guy Butler
Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain
  1920
1928  
Official Video TV-icon-2.svg
Official Video

The men's 400 metres event was part of the track and field athletics programme at the 1924 Summer Olympics. This race was depicted in the film Chariots of Fire . The competition was held on Thursday, July 10, 1924, and on Friday, July 11, 1924. [1]

As for all other races the track was 500 metres in circumference.

Sixty runners from 27 nations competed. No nation had more than 4 athletes.

Background

This was the seventh appearance of the event, which is one of 12 athletics events to have been held at every Summer Olympics. The defending gold medalist from 1920, Bevil Rudd of South Africa, did not return; the other two medalists, silver-winning Guy Butler of Great Britain and bronze-winning Nils Engdahl of Sweden, did. Eric Liddell of Great Britain was the 1924 Scottish and AAA champion. [2]

Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Haiti, Ireland, Mexico, Poland, and Switzerland appeared in the event for the first time. The United States made its seventh appearance in the event, the only nation to compete in it at every Olympic Games to that point.

Competition format

The competition retained the basic four-round format from 1920. The first round had 17 heats, ranging from 1 to 5 athletes. The top two runners in each heat advanced to the quarterfinals. There were 6 quarterfinals, intended to have 5 or 6 runners in each but sometimes having 4 due to withdrawals; the top two athletes in each quarterfinal heat advanced to the semifinals. The semifinals featured 2 heats of 6 runners each. The top three runners in each semifinal heat advanced, making a six-man final. [2] [3]

Records

These were the standing world and Olympic records (in seconds) prior to the 1924 Summer Olympics.

World recordFlag of the United States.svg  Ted Meredith  (USA)47.4(*) Cambridge, United States 27 May 1916
Olympic recordUS flag 48 stars.svg  Charles Reidpath  (USA)48.2 Stockholm, Sweden 13 July 1912

(*) 440 yards (= 402.34 m)

In the quarterfinals, Josef Imbach set a new Olympic record with 48.0 seconds. In the semifinals Horatio Fitch improved the Olympic record with 47.8 seconds. In the final, Eric Liddell set a new world record with 47.6 seconds; this time was ratified as a 400 metres world record as Ted Meredith ran his record over 440 yards. World Athletics rescinded Liddell's time as a world record in 1928.

Schedule

DateTimeRound
Thursday, 10 July 192414:00
16:00
Heats
Quarterfinals
Friday, 11 July 192414:45
17:30
Semifinals
Final

Results

Round 1

All heats were held on Thursday, July 10, 1924, and started at 2 p.m.

The best two finishers of every heat qualified for the quarter-finals.

Heat 1

RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1 Horace Aylwin Flag of Canada (1921-1957).svg  Canada 54.0Q
2 Erik Wilén Flag of Finland.svg  Finland 54.8Q

Heat 2

RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1 Ray Robertson US flag 48 stars.svg  United States 50.2Q
2 Kai Jensen Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 50.9Q
3 Jules Migeot Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 51.6
4 Reinhold Kesküll Flag of Estonia.svg  Estonia 53.2
5 Christophe Mirgain Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg Unknown

Heat 3

RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1 Gustaf Wejnarth Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 50.2Q
2 Lajos Kurunczy Flag of Hungary (1915-1918, 1919-1946; 3-2 aspect ratio).svg  Hungary 52.6Q
3 Richard Honner Flag of Australia.svg  Australia 53.1
4 Kiril Petrunov Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria Unknown

Heat 4

RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1 Eric Wilson US flag 48 stars.svg  United States 49.6Q
2 Roy Norman Flag of Australia.svg  Australia 50.6Q
3 William Fuller Flag of Canada (1921-1957).svg  Canada 51.5
4 Édouard Armand Flag of Haiti (1859-1964).svg  Haiti Unknown

Heat 5

RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1 Josef Imbach Civil Ensign of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland 51.8Q

Heat 6

RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1 David Johnson Flag of Canada (1921-1957).svg  Canada 51.8Q
2 Charles Hoff Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 53.0Q

Heat 7

RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1 John Coard Taylor US flag 48 stars.svg  United States 50.8Q
2 Tokushige Noto Flag of Japan (1870-1999).svg  Japan 51.7Q
3 Wim Bolten Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 53.0

Heat 8

RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1 Toby Betts Red Ensign of South Africa (1912-1951).svg  South Africa 49.8Q
2 Sean Lavan Flag of Ireland (3-2).svg  Ireland 51.2Q
3 Wim Kat Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 51.8
4 Guillermo Amparan Flag of Mexico (1916-1934).svg  Mexico 52.0

Heat 9

RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1 Artur Svensson Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 50.0Q
2 Raymond Fritz Flag of France.svg  France 51.0Q
3 Charles Lane Flag of Australia.svg  Australia 51.4
4 Menso Menso Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands Unknown
5 Juan Escutia Flag of Mexico (1916-1934).svg  Mexico Unknown

Heat 10

RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1 Clarence Oldfield Red Ensign of South Africa (1912-1951).svg  South Africa 49.6Q
2 Edward Toms Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain 49.9Q
3 Carlos Garces Flag of Mexico (1916-1934).svg  Mexico 51.0
4 Emilio Casanovas Flag of Argentina (1861-2010).svg  Argentina Unknown

Heat 11

RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1 Nils Engdahl Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 49.2Q
2 George Renwick Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain 50.3Q
3 Francisco Dova Flag of Argentina (1861-2010).svg  Argentina 51.0
4 José Martínez Flag of Mexico (1916-1934).svg  Mexico Unknown

Heat 12

RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1 Terence Pitt British Raj Red Ensign.svg  India 49.8Q
2 Alan Christie Flag of Canada (1921-1957).svg  Canada 50.5Q
3 Félix Escobar Flag of Argentina (1861-2010).svg  Argentina 51.4
4 Raymond Jamois Flag of France.svg  France Unknown
5 Karel Přibyl Flag of Czechoslovakia.svg  Czechoslovakia 52.8

Heat 13

RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1 Luigi Facelli Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg  Italy 51.0Q
2 Federico Brewster Flag of Argentina (1861-2010).svg  Argentina 51.8Q
3 Stefan Ołdak Flag of Poland (1919-1928).svg  Poland 55.0

Heat 14

RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1 Eric Liddell Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain 50.2Q
2 Alfredo Gargiullo Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg  Italy 50.4Q
3 Erik Byléhn Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 50.6
4 Stanisław Świętochowski Flag of Poland (1919-1928).svg  Poland 55.4

Heat 15

RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1 Horatio Fitch US flag 48 stars.svg  United States 52.0Q
2 Erik Åström Flag of Finland.svg  Finland 52.1Q

Heat 16

RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1 Guy Butler Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain 50.2Q
2 Gaston Féry Flag of France.svg  France 51.1Q
3 Narciso Costa Flag of Brazil (1889-1960).svg  Brazil Unknown
4 Ennio Maffiolini Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg  Italy Unknown
5 Christian Simmen Civil Ensign of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland Unknown

Heat 17

RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1Barthélémy FavodonFlag of France.svg  France 51.2Q
2 Adriaan Paulen Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 52.0Q
3 Paul Hammer Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg 53.1

Quarterfinals

All quarter-finals were held on Thursday, July 10, 1924, and started at 4 p.m.

The best two finishers of every heat qualified for the semifinals.

Lajos Kurunczy and Erik Åström had qualified for the quarterfinals but withdrew.

Quarterfinal 1

RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1 Horatio Fitch US flag 48 stars.svg  United States 49.0Q
2 Artur Svensson Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 50.0Q
3 Alan Christie Flag of Canada (1921-1957).svg  Canada 50.8
4 Edward Toms Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain Unknown

Quarterfinal 2

RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1 Toby Betts Red Ensign of South Africa (1912-1951).svg  South Africa 49.0Q
2 Charles Hoff Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 49.2Q
3 Gustaf Wejnarth Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 50.2
4 Gaston Féry Flag of France.svg  France 50.7

Quarterfinal 3

RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1 Guy Butler Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain 49.8Q
2 John Coard Taylor US flag 48 stars.svg  United States 50.4Q
3 Barthélémy Favodon Flag of France.svg  France 50.9
4 Terence Pitt British Raj Red Ensign.svg  India 51.6
5 Kai Jensen Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark Unknown
6 Federico Brewster Flag of Argentina (1861-2010).svg  Argentina Unknown

Quarterfinal 4

RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1 Adriaan Paulen Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 49.0Q
2 Eric Liddell Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain 49.3Q
3 Ray Robertson US flag 48 stars.svg  United States 49.5
4 Luigi Facelli Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg  Italy 50.5
5 Raymond Fritz Flag of France.svg  France 50.5

Quarterfinal 5

RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1 Clarence Oldfield Red Ensign of South Africa (1912-1951).svg  South Africa 49.0Q
2 David Johnson Flag of Canada (1921-1957).svg  Canada 49.3Q
3 Erik Wilén Flag of Finland.svg  Finland 49.6
4 Roy Norman Flag of Australia.svg  Australia 50.2
5 Alfredo Gargiullo Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg  Italy Unknown
6 George Renwick Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain Unknown

Quarterfinal 6

RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1 Josef Imbach Civil Ensign of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland 48.0Q, OR
2 Nils Engdahl Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 48.4Q
3 Eric Wilson US flag 48 stars.svg  United States 48.8
4 Sean Lavan Flag of Ireland (3-2).svg  Ireland 49.8
5 Tokushige Noto Flag of Japan (1870-1999).svg  Japan 50.7
6 Horace Aylwin Flag of Canada (1921-1957).svg  Canada Unknown

Semifinals

All semi-finals were held on Friday, July 11, 1924, and started at 2:45 p.m.

The best three finishers of each heat qualified for the final.

Semifinal 1

RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1 Horatio Fitch US flag 48 stars.svg  United States 47.8Q, OR
2 Guy Butler Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain 47.9Q
3 David Johnson Flag of Canada (1921-1957).svg  Canada 48.0Q
4 Adriaan Paulen Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 48.2
5 Toby Betts Red Ensign of South Africa (1912-1951).svg  South Africa 48.4
6 Nils Engdahl Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 48.6

Semifinal 2

RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1 Eric Liddell Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain 48.2Q
2 Josef Imbach Civil Ensign of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland 48.3Q
3 John Coard Taylor US flag 48 stars.svg  United States 48.7Q
4 Charles Hoff Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 48.8
5 Clarence Oldfield Red Ensign of South Africa (1912-1951).svg  South Africa 49.0
6 Artur Svensson Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 49.1

Final

The final was held on Friday, July 11, 1924, and started at 5:30 p.m. Taylor's ankle gave out just before the finish line in a career-ending injury; he crawled across the line. [4] [5] [6] Imbach tripped over the lane-dividing ropes, fell, and was unable to finish. [7] [8]

RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
Gold medal icon.svg Eric Liddell Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain 47.6 OR
Silver medal icon.svg Horatio Fitch US flag 48 stars.svg  United States 48.4
Bronze medal icon.svg Guy Butler Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain 48.6
4 David Johnson Flag of Canada (1921-1957).svg  Canada 48.8
5 John Coard Taylor US flag 48 stars.svg  United States 1:07.0
Josef Imbach Civil Ensign of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland DNF

References

  1. "Athletics at the 1924 Paris Summer Games: Men's 400 metres". sports-reference.com. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  2. 1 2 "400 metres, Men". Olympedia. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  3. Official Report, pp. 108–09.
  4. Hymans, Richard (2008). "The History of the United States Olympic Trials – Track & Field" (PDF). USA Track & Field . Retrieved May 22, 2017.
  5. "U.S. Jinxed In 400 Meter Race At Olympic Meet". Ellensburg Daily Record . Associated Press. April 25, 1928. Retrieved May 22, 2017.
  6. "120 Olympic Stars Retire From Track". Chicago Tribune . January 11, 1925. Retrieved May 22, 2017.
  7. Jukola, Martti (1935). Huippu-urheilun historia (in Finnish). Werner Söderström Osakeyhtiö.
  8. Butler, Mark (ed.). IAAF Athletics Statistics Book: Games of the XXX Olympiad London 2012. IAAF Communications Department. p. 69.