Athletics at the 1964 Summer Olympics – Men's 400 metres

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Men's 400 metres
at the Games of the XVIII Olympiad
Venue Olympic Stadium
Dates17–19 October 1964
Competitors50 from 33 nations
Winning time45.1
Medalists
Gold medal icon.svg Mike Larrabee Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Silver medal icon.svg Wendell Mottley Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg  Trinidad and Tobago
Bronze medal icon.svg Andrzej Badeński Flag of Poland (1928-1980).svg  Poland
  1960
1968  

The men's 400 metres was the third-shortest of the men's track races in the Athletics at the 1964 Summer Olympics program in Tokyo. It was held on 17 October, 18 October, and 19 October 1964. 55 athletes from 36 nations entered, with 5 not starting in the first round. The first two rounds were held on 17 October, with the semifinals on 18 October and the final on 19 October. [1] The maximum number of athletes per nation had been set at 3 since the 1930 Olympic Congress. The event was won by 0.1 seconds by Mike Larrabee of the United States, the third consecutive and tenth overall victory for an American in the event. Trinidad and Tobago and Poland each earned their first medal in the 400 metres.

Background

This was the fifteenth appearance of the event, which is one of 12 athletics events to have been held at every Summer Olympics. None of the finalists from 1960 returned. The United States again had a strong team; Henry Carr would have been favored, but ran only in the 200 metres and the 4 × 400 metres relay. Ulis Williams was the 1962 and 1963 AAU champion, but Mike Larrabee matched the world record to win the U.S. Olympic trials. Other contenders included 1962 European champion Robbie Ian Brightwell of Great Britain and Wendell Mottley of Trinidad and Tobago. [2]

Hong Kong, Iran, the Ivory Coast, Senegal, and Tanzania appeared in this event for the first time. South Korea and Mongolia had entrants, but did not start. The United States made its fifteenth 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. A significant change, however, was the introduction of the "fastest loser" system. Previously, advancement depended solely on the runners' place in their heat. The 1964 competition added advancement places to the fastest runners across the heats in the first round who did not advance based on place. The 1964 event also increased the standard heat size to 8 athletes.

There were 7 heats in the first round, each scheduled to have 7 or 8 athletes but with one dropping to as low as 5 after withdrawals. The top four runners in each heat advanced to the quarterfinals, along with the next four fastest runners overall. There were 4 quarterfinals of 8 runners each; the top four athletes in each quarterfinal heat advanced to the semifinals. The semifinals featured 2 heats of 8 runners each. The top four runners in each semifinal heat advanced, making an eight-man final. [2] [3]

Records

Prior to the competition, the existing World and Olympic records were as follows.

World recordFlag of the United States.svg  Otis Davis  (USA)44.9 Rome, Italy 6 September 1960
Olympic recordFlag of the United States.svg  Otis Davis  (USA)44.9 Rome, Italy 6 September 1960

No records were set during this event.

Schedule

All times are Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)

DateTimeRound
Saturday, 17 October 196410:00
15:00
Round 1
Quarterfinals
Sunday, 18 October 196415:20Semifinals
Monday, 19 October 196413:00Final

Results

First round

The top four runners in each of the 7 heats advanced.

Heat 1

RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1 Wendell Mottley Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg  Trinidad and Tobago 45.9Q
2 Robbie Ian Brightwell Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain 46.1Q
3 Jean-Pierre Boccardo Flag of France.svg  France 46.6Q
4 Gary Eddy Flag of Australia.svg  Australia 46.9Q
5 Stanisław Swatowski Flag of Poland (1928-1980).svg  Poland 47.6
6 István Gyulai Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 48.0
7 Didier Mejía Flag of Mexico (1934-1968).svg  Mexico 48.1
Chang Jong KilFlag of South Korea (1949-1984).svg  South Korea DNS

Heat 2

RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1 Kent Bernard Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg  Trinidad and Tobago 46.8Q
2 Sergio Bello Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 47.5Q
3 Vadym Arkhypchuk Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union 47.7Q
4 Tim Graham Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain 48.4Q
5 Arsenio Jazmin Flag of the Philippines (1936-1985, 1986-1998).svg  Philippines 49.9
Amarsanaa Dulam Flag of the Mongolian People's Republic (1945-1992).svg  Mongolia DNS
Wesley Johnson Flag of Liberia.svg  Liberia DNS
Samuel Owusa-MensahFlag of Ghana (1964-1966).svg  Ghana DNS

Heat 3

RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1 Andrzej Badeński Flag of Poland (1928-1980).svg  Poland 46.4Q
2 Adrian Peter Metcalfe Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain 46.7Q
3 Jörg Jüttner Flag of the German Olympic Team (1960-1968).svg  United Team of Germany 47.0Q
4 Rupert Hoilette Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica 47.5Q
5 Amos Omolo Flag of Uganda.svg  Uganda 47.6
6 Juan Carlos Dyrzka Flag of Argentina (1861-2010).svg  Argentina 48.3
7 Amadou Gakou Flag of Senegal.svg  Senegal 50.1
8 Daniel Thomas Flag of Tanganyika.svg  Tanzania 50.4

Heat 4

RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1 Ulis Williams Flag of the United States.svg  United States 46.2Q
2 Edwin Skinner Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg  Trinidad and Tobago 46.5Q
3 Tegegn Bezabih Flag of Ethiopia (1897-1974).svg  Ethiopia 46.7Q
4 Peter Vassella Flag of Australia.svg  Australia 46.7Q
5 Johannes Schmitt Flag of the German Olympic Team (1960-1968).svg  United Team of Germany 46.9q
6 Muhammad Sadiq Flag of Pakistan.svg  Pakistan 47.3q
7 Víctor Maldonado Flag of Venezuela (1954-2006).png  Venezuela 47.7
8 Jacques Pennewaert Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 47.7

Heat 5

RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1 Ollan Cassell Flag of the United States.svg  United States 46.8Q
2 William Crothers Flag of Canada (1957-1965).svg  Canada 46.8Q
3 James Addy Flag of Ghana (1964-1966).svg  Ghana 47.2Q
4 Pedro Grajales Flag of Colombia.svg  Colombia 47.2Q
5 Viktor Bychkov Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union 47.3q
6 Jürgen Kalfelder Flag of the German Olympic Team (1960-1968).svg  United Team of Germany 47.7
7 Yoyaga Dit Coulibaly Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  Ivory Coast 48.8
George E. Kerr Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica DNS

Heat 6

RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1 Mike Larrabee Flag of the United States.svg  United States 46.8Q
2 Ebenezer Quartey Flag of Ghana (1964-1966).svg  Ghana 47.1Q
3 Peter Laeng Civil Ensign of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland 47.1Q
4 Hryhoriy Sverbetov Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union 47.3Q
5 Ken Roche Flag of Australia.svg  Australia 47.4q
6 Somsakdi Tongsuke Flag of Thailand.svg  Thailand 48.9
7 Jasim Karim Kuraishi Flag of Iraq (1963-1991).svg  Iraq 49.5

Heat 7

RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1 Josef Trousil Flag of Czechoslovakia.svg  Czechoslovakia 47.0Q
2 Wilson Kiprugut Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya 47.1Q
3 Laurie Khan Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica 47.2Q
4 Ireneusz Kluczek Flag of Poland (1928-1980).svg  Poland 47.3Q
5 Hortensio Fucil Flag of Venezuela (1954-2006).png  Venezuela 47.9
6 Hayase Hirotada Flag of Japan (1870-1999).svg  Japan 48.5
7 William Hill Flag of Hong Kong (1959-1997).svg  Hong Kong 48.7
8 Hossein Ghafourizadeh State Flag of Iran (1964-1980).svg  Iran 50.8

Quarterfinals

The four fastest runners in each of the four heats advanced to the semifinals.

Quarterfinal 1

RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1 Wendell Mottley Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg  Trinidad and Tobago 45.8Q
2 Ollan Cassell Flag of the United States.svg  United States 46.2Q
3 Jean Pierre Boccardo Flag of France.svg  France 46.3Q
4 Peter Vassella Flag of Australia.svg  Australia 46.5Q
5 Peter Laeng Civil Ensign of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland 46.7
6 Sergio Bello Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 46.9
7 Ebenezer Quartey Flag of Ghana (1964-1966).svg  Ghana 47.0
8 Muhammad Sadiq Flag of Pakistan.svg  Pakistan 48.0

Quarterfinal 2

RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1 Andrzej Badeński Flag of Poland (1928-1980).svg  Poland 46.5Q
2 William Crothers Flag of Canada (1957-1965).svg  Canada 46.7Q
3 Tim Graham Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain 46.8Q
4 Laurie Khan Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica 47.0Q
5 Josef Trousil Flag of Czechoslovakia.svg  Czechoslovakia 47.2
6 Johannes Schmitt Flag of the German Olympic Team (1960-1968).svg  United Team of Germany 47.2
7 Ken Roche Flag of Australia.svg  Australia 48.0
8 Hryhoriy Sverbetov Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union 48.0

Quarterfinal 3

RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1 Mike Larrabee Flag of the United States.svg  United States 46.5Q
2 Kent Bernard Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg  Trinidad and Tobago 46.7Q
3 Robbie Ian Brightwell Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain 47.1Q
4 Jörg Jüttner Flag of the German Olympic Team (1960-1968).svg  United Team of Germany 47.2Q
5 Rupert Hoilette Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica 47.6
6 Gary Eddy Flag of Australia.svg  Australia 47.6
7 Wilson Kiprugut Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya 47.7
8 Vadym Arkhypchuk Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union 47.9

Quarterfinal 4

RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1 Edwin Skinner Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg  Trinidad and Tobago 46.9Q
2 Ulis Williams Flag of the United States.svg  United States 46.9Q
3 Tegegn Bezabih Flag of Ethiopia (1897-1974).svg  Ethiopia 47.2Q
4 James Addy Flag of Ghana (1964-1966).svg  Ghana 47.3Q
5 Adrian Peter Metcalfe Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain 47.8
6 P. A. Grajales Escobar Flag of Colombia.svg  Colombia 47.8
7 Viktor Bychkov Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union 47.9
Ireneusz Kluczek Flag of Poland (1928-1980).svg  Poland DNS

Semifinals

The top four runners in each of the two semifinals advanced to the final.

Semifinal 1

RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1 Robbie Ian Brightwell Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain 45.7Q
2 Wendell Mottley Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg  Trinidad and Tobago 45.9Q
3 Ulis Williams Flag of the United States.svg  United States 46.2Q
4 Peter Vassella Flag of Australia.svg  Australia 46.5Q
5 Jörg Jüttner Flag of the German Olympic Team (1960-1968).svg  United Team of Germany 46.7
6 Laurie Khan Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica 47.0
7 Tegegn Bezabih Flag of Ethiopia (1897-1974).svg  Ethiopia 47.1
8 Jean Pierre Boccardo Flag of France.svg  France 47.1

Semifinal 2

RankAthleteNationTimeNotes
1 Mike Larrabee Flag of the United States.svg  United States 46.0Q
2 Andrzej Badeński Flag of Poland (1928-1980).svg  Poland 46.2Q
3 Edwin Skinner Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg  Trinidad and Tobago 46.5Q
4 Tim Graham Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain 46.5Q
5 Ollan Cassell Flag of the United States.svg  United States 46.6
6 William Crothers Flag of Canada (1957-1965).svg  Canada 46.9
7 Kent Bernard Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg  Trinidad and Tobago 47.1
8 James Addy Flag of Ghana (1964-1966).svg  Ghana 47.6

Final

RankLaneAthleteNationTime
Gold medal icon.svg5 Mike Larrabee Flag of the United States.svg  United States 45.1
Silver medal icon.svg7 Wendell Mottley Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg  Trinidad and Tobago 45.2
Bronze medal icon.svg2 Andrzej Badeński Flag of Poland (1928-1980).svg  Poland 45.6
46 Robbie Ian Brightwell Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain 45.7
58 Ulis Williams Flag of the United States.svg  United States 46.0
61 Tim Graham Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain 46.0
73 Peter Vassella Flag of Australia.svg  Australia 46.3
84 Edwin Skinner Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg  Trinidad and Tobago 46.8

References

  1. "Athletics at the 1964 Tokyo Summer Games: Men's 400 metres". sports-reference.com. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 31 July 2017.
  2. 1 2 "400 metres, Men". Olympedia. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  3. Official Report, vol. 2, pp. 25–26.