Athletics at the 1980 Summer Olympics – Men's 400 metres

Last updated

Contents

Men's 400 metres
at the Games of the XXII Olympiad
Venue Central Lenin Stadium
Dates27 July 1980 (heats)
28 July 1980 (quarter-finals and semi-finals)
30 July 1980 (final)
Competitors50 from 32 nations
Winning time44.60
Medalists
Gold medal icon.svg Viktor Markin
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union
Silver medal icon.svg Rick Mitchell
Olympic flag.svg  Australia
Bronze medal icon.svg Frank Schaffer
Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany
  1976
1984  

The men's 400 metres was an event at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow. The competition was held from July 27 to July 30, 1980. [1] Fifty athletes from 32 nations competed. [2] The maximum number of athletes per nation had been set at 3 since the 1930 Olympic Congress. The event was won by Viktor Markin of the Soviet Union, the nation's first title in the men's 400 metres and first medal in the event since 1956. With the United States boycotting the Games, the country was not represented on the podium for the first time since 1920. Australia earned its first medal in the event with Rick Mitchell's silver, while East Germany won its first medal with Frank Schaffer's bronze, which was the first medal by any German since the United Team took silvers in 1956 and 1960.

Background

This was the nineteenth appearance of the event, which is one of 12 athletics events to have been held at every Summer Olympics. Defending gold medalist from 1976 Alberto Juantorena of Cuba returned to try to repeat without competition from the Americans, but with an Achilles tendon injury from 1979. Other returning finalists were fourth-place finisher Fons Brijdenbach of Belgium, sixth-place finisher Rick Mitchell of Australia, and seventh-place finisher David Jenkins of Great Britain. The field was relatively open, with no clear favorite. [2]

Botswana, Guinea, Laos, Libya, the Seychelles, Sierra Leone, and Syria appeared in this event for the first time. Great Britain made its seventeenth appearance in the event, most of any present in Moscow but still one behind the United States at 18.

Competition format

The competition retained the basic four-round format from 1920. The "fastest loser" system, introduced in 1964, was available but not used because there were 8 first-round heats, making for even advancement. Each heat has 6 or 7 runners, with the top 4 advancing. The 4 quarterfinals each had 8 runners; the top four athletes in each quarterfinal heat advanced to the semifinals, with no "fastest loser" spots. 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

These were the standing world and Olympic records (in seconds) prior to the 1976 Summer Olympics.

World recordFlag of the United States.svg  Lee Evans  (USA)43.86 Mexico City, Mexico 18 October 1968
Olympic recordFlag of the United States.svg  Lee Evans  (USA)43.86 Mexico City, Mexico 18 October 1968

No world or Olympic records were set during this event.

Schedule

The quarterfinals were moved to the second day (along with the semifinals) after one time on the first day in 1976.

All times are Moscow Time (UTC+3)

DateTimeRound
Sunday, 27 July 198011:30Round 1
Monday, 28 July 198011:00
19:30
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Wednesday, 30 July 198018:40Final

Results

Round 1

Eight Round One heats were held at the Lenin Stadium on Sunday, 27 July 1980. The first four in each heat progressed to the quarterfinals.

Heat 1

RankLaneAthleteNationTimeNotes
16 David Jenkins Olympic flag.svg  Great Britain 46.67Q
25 Karel Kolář Flag of Czechoslovakia.svg  Czechoslovakia 47.26Q
32 Francis Demarthon Olympic flag.svg  France 47.43Q
43 Eddy De Leeuw Olympic flag.svg  Belgium 47.59Q
57 Charles Dramiga Flag of Uganda.svg  Uganda 48.69
64 Asfaw Deble Flag of Ethiopia (1975-1987).svg  Ethiopia 49.77
Constantino Reis Flag of Mozambique (1975-1983).svg  Mozambique DNS

Heat 2

RankLaneAthleteNationTimeNotes
11 Bert Cameron Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica 47.54Q
23 Didier Dubois Olympic flag.svg  France 47.57Q
34 Silver Ayoo Flag of Uganda.svg  Uganda 47.78Q
46 Charles Lupiya Flag of Zambia (1964-1996).svg  Zambia 48.49Q
57 Horia Toboc Flag of Romania (1965-1989).svg  Romania 49.90
62 Léopold Hounkanrin Flag of Benin (1975-1990).svg  Benin 51.04
75 Joseph Ramotshabi Flag of Botswana.svg  Botswana 51.49

Heat 3

RankLaneAthleteNationTimeNotes
11 Dele Udo Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 46.48Q
27 Joseph Coombs Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg  Trinidad and Tobago 46.55Q
33 Rick Mitchell Olympic flag.svg  Australia 46.63Q
45 Jens Smedegaard Hansen Olympic flag.svg  Denmark 47.01Q
54 Jimmy Massallay Flag of Sierra Leone.svg  Sierra Leone 49.68
66 El-Mehdi Sallah Diab Flag of Libya (1977-2011).svg  Libya 49.89
72Panh KhemanithFlag of Laos.svg  Laos 53.74

Heat 4

RankLaneAthleteNationTimeNotes
14 Derrick Peynado Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica 47.37Q
23 Fons Brijdenbach Olympic flag.svg  Belgium 47.72Q
31 Andrzej Stępień Flag of Poland.svg  Poland 47.99Q
42 Glen Cohen Olympic flag.svg  Great Britain 48.35Q
56 Régis Tranquille Flag of Seychelles (1977-1996).svg  Seychelles 49.34
65 Mohamed Diakité Flag of Guinea.svg  Guinea 49.59
Emmanuel Bitanga Flag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon DNS

Heat 5

RankLaneAthleteNationTimeNotes
13 Viktor Markin Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union 46.88Q
21 Mike Solomon Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg  Trinidad and Tobago 47.24Q
36 Hope Ezeigbo Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 47.46Q
44 Jacques Borlée Olympic flag.svg  Belgium 47.77Q
52 Mohamed El-Abed Flag of Syria.svg  Syria 50.47
65 Sahr Kendor Flag of Sierra Leone.svg  Sierra Leone 52.98
Koen Gijsbers Olympic flag.svg  Netherlands DNS

Heat 6

RankLaneAthleteNationTimeNotes
14 Jozo Alebić Flag of SFR Yugoslavia.svg  Yugoslavia 47.61Q
22 Stefano Malinverni Olympic flag.svg  Italy 47.63Q
33 Ian Stapleton Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica 47.97Q
46Hussain Ali NasayyifFlag of Iraq (1963-1991).svg  Iraq 48.03Q
55 Harry Schulting Olympic flag.svg  Netherlands 48.53
61 William Akabi-Davis Flag of Sierra Leone.svg  Sierra Leone 50.80
Ramyan al-RamianFlag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait DNS

Heat 7

RankLaneAthleteNationTimeNotes
17 Frank Schaffer Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany 46.13Q
25 Viktor Burakov Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union 46.41Q
34 Alberto Juantorena Flag of Cuba.svg  Cuba 46.69Q
43 Roberto Tozzi Olympic flag.svg  Italy 47.01Q
56 Jerzy Pietrzyk Flag of Poland.svg  Poland 47.18
61 Geraldo José Pegado Flag of Brazil (1968-1992).svg  Brazil 48.71
Ruben Inacio Flag of Angola.svg  Angola DNS
Boubacar Diallo Flag of Senegal.svg  Senegal DNS

Heat 8

RankLaneAthleteNationTimeNotes
16 Nikolay Chernetskiy Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union 47.04Q
22 Mauro Zuliani Olympic flag.svg  Italy 47.16Q
33 Marcel Klarenbeek Olympic flag.svg  Netherlands 47.67Q
47 Alan Bell Olympic flag.svg  Great Britain 47.38Q
55 Oddur Sigurðsson Flag of Iceland.svg  Iceland 47.39
61 Isidoro Hornillos Spain Olympic Flag 1980.svg  Spain 47.45
Christer Gullstrand Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden DNS

Quarterfinals

The quarterfinals were held on 28 July 1980. The top four in each heat advanced to the semifinals.

Quarterfinal 1

RankLaneAthleteNationTimeNotes
17 Rick Mitchell Olympic flag.svg  Australia 45.73Q
26 Fons Brijdenbach Olympic flag.svg  Belgium 45.88Q
32 Jens Smedegaard Hansen Olympic flag.svg  Denmark 45.89Q
41 Dele Udo Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 46.18Q
54 Francis Demarthon Olympic flag.svg  France 46.38
63 Jozo Alebić Flag of SFR Yugoslavia.svg  Yugoslavia 46.60
75 Charles Lupiya Flag of Zambia (1964-1996).svg  Zambia 47.67
88 Stefano Malinverni Olympic flag.svg  Italy 47.79

Quarterfinal 2

RankLaneAthleteNationTimeNotes
12 Viktor Markin Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union 45.58Q
24 Joseph Coombs Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg  Trinidad and Tobago 45.81Q
31 Mauro Zuliani Olympic flag.svg  Italy 45.93Q
43 Alan Bell Olympic flag.svg  Great Britain 46.17Q
55 Andrzej Stępień Flag of Poland.svg  Poland 46.31
67 Eddy De Leeuw Olympic flag.svg  Belgium 46.47
78 Derrick Peynado Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica 46.50
86 Marcel Klarenbeek Olympic flag.svg  Netherlands 46.81

Quarterfinal 3

RankLaneAthleteNationTimeNotes
17 Frank Schaffer Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany 46.15Q
26 Alberto Juantorena Flag of Cuba.svg  Cuba 46.23Q
32 Viktor Burakov Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union 46.23Q
45 Didier Dubois Olympic flag.svg  France 46.60Q
51 Silver Ayoo Flag of Uganda.svg  Uganda 47.03
64 Bert Cameron Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica 47.313
73 Glen Cohen Olympic flag.svg  Great Britain 47.35
88 Jacques Borlée Olympic flag.svg  Belgium 47.73

Quarterfinal 4

RankLaneAthleteNationTimeNotes
18 David Jenkins Olympic flag.svg  Great Britain 45.99Q
21 Mike Solomon Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg  Trinidad and Tobago 46.12Q
32 Karel Kolář Flag of Czechoslovakia.svg  Czechoslovakia 46.27Q
43 Nikolay Chernetskiy Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union 46.30Q
55 Roberto Tozzi Olympic flag.svg  Italy 46.73
66 Hope Ezeigbo Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 46.88
74 Ian Stapleton Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica 47.64
87Hussain Ali NasayyifFlag of Iraq (1963-1991).svg  Iraq 48.50

Semifinals

The semifinals were held on Tuesday, July 29, 1980.

RankLaneAthleteNationTimeNotes
15 Fons Brijdenbach Olympic flag.svg  Belgium 45.46Q
24 Rick Mitchell Olympic flag.svg  Australia 45.48Q
37 David Jenkins Olympic flag.svg  Great Britain 45.59Q
48 Mike Solomon Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg  Trinidad and Tobago 45.61Q
53 Dele Udo Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 45.88
62 Nikolay Chernetskiy Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union 45.94
76 Mauro Zuliani Olympic flag.svg  Italy 46.01
81 Karel Kolář Flag of Czechoslovakia.svg  Czechoslovakia 46.11

Semifinal 2

RankLaneAthleteNationTimeNotes
17 Frank Schaffer Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany 45.47Q
21 Viktor Markin Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union 45.60Q
38 Alberto Juantorena Flag of Cuba.svg  Cuba 45.95Q
43 Joseph Coombs Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg  Trinidad and Tobago 45.96Q
56 Viktor Burakov Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union 45.97
64 Didier Dubois Olympic flag.svg  France 46.72
75 Jens Smedegaard Hansen Olympic flag.svg  Denmark 47.00
82 Alan Bell Olympic flag.svg  Great Britain 48.50

Final

RankLaneAthleteNationTime
Gold medal icon.svg2 Viktor Markin Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union 44.60
Silver medal icon.svg4 Rick Mitchell Olympic flag.svg  Australia 44.84
Bronze medal icon.svg6 Frank Schaffer Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany 44.87
43 Alberto Juantorena Flag of Cuba.svg  Cuba 45.09
51 Fons Brydenbach Olympic flag.svg  Belgium 45.10
67 Mike Solomon Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg  Trinidad and Tobago 45.55
78 David Jenkins Olympic flag.svg  Great Britain 45.56
85 Joseph Coombs Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg  Trinidad and Tobago 46.33

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Athletics at the 2000 Summer Olympics – Men's 200 metres</span> Olympic athletics event

The men's 200 metres at the 2000 Summer Olympics, as part of the athletics programme, was held at Stadium Australia on Wednesday 27 September and Thursday 28 September 2000. There were 67 competitors from 50 nations. The event was won by Konstantinos Kenteris of Greece, the nation's first medal in the event. Darren Campbell's silver was Great Britain's first men's 200 metres medal since 1980 and matched the nation's best result in the event. Ato Boldon of Trinidad and Tobago repeated as bronze medalist, the ninth man to earn multiple medals in the 200 metres.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Athletics at the 1964 Summer Olympics – Men's 200 metres</span> Olympic athletics event

The men's 200 metres was the second-shortest of the men's track races in the Athletics at the 1964 Summer Olympics program in Tokyo. 63 athletes from 48 nations entered, with 6 not starting in the first round. The maximum number of athletes per nation had been set at 3 since the 1930 Olympic Congress. The first two rounds were held on 16 October, with the semifinals and the final on 17 October. The event was won by Henry Carr of the United States, the nation's 11th victory in the event. Fellow American Paul Drayton took silver; it was the fifth time in six Games that the United States had the top two finishers. Edwin Roberts gave Trinidad and Tobago its first medal in the men's 200 metres with his bronze.

The men's 400 metres at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea took place between 24 and 28 September 1988. Seventy-five athletes from 55 nations competed. The maximum number of athletes per nation had been set at 3 since the 1930 Olympic Congress. The event was won by Steve Lewis of the United States, the second in what would ultimately be 7 consecutive American victories stretching from 1984 to 2008. The United States swept the podium in the event for the third time, having previously done so in 1904 and 1968.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Athletics at the 1988 Summer Olympics – Men's 200 metres</span> Olympic athletics event

The men's 200 metres at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea had an entry list of 72 competitors from 59 nations, with ten qualifying heats (72), five quarterfinal races (40) and two semifinals (16), before the final (8) took off on Wednesday September 28, 1988. The maximum number of athletes per nation had been set at 3 since the 1930 Olympic Congress. The event was won by Joe DeLoach of the United States, beating his teammate and defending champion Carl Lewis by 0.04 seconds in the final. The defeat ended Lewis's hopes of repeating his 1984 quadruple, despite running the final under his own Olympic record time. It was the United States' 14th victory in the men's 200 metres. Lewis was the seventh man to win multiple medals in the event, matching Andy Stanfield for the best result to that point. Robson da Silva earned Brazil's first medal in the event with his bronze.

The men's 400 metres event at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia took place between 26 and 29 July. There were 62 competitors from 42 countries. The maximum number of athletes per nation had been set at 3 since the 1930 Olympic Congress.

The men's 400 metres was an event at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. There were a total number of 68 participating athletes from 52 nations, with nine qualifying heats. The maximum number of athletes per nation had been set at 3 since the 1930 Olympic Congress. The event was won by Quincy Watts of the United States, the third in what would ultimately be seven consecutive American victories stretching from 1984 to 2008 and the 15th overall title in the event by the United States. Steve Lewis became the third man to win a second medal in the event. Samson Kitur earned Kenya's first medal in the men's 400 metres since 1972.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Athletics at the 1992 Summer Olympics – Men's 200 metres</span> Olympic athletics event

The men's 200 metres was an event at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. There were 79 participating athletes from 65 nations, with eleven qualifying heats. The maximum number of athletes per nation had been set at 3 since the 1930 Olympic Congress. The event was won by Michael Marsh of the United States, the nation's third consecutive and 15th overall victory in the event. The Americans would take a second medal for the third consecutive Games as well, this time with Michael Bates earning bronze. The silver medal went to Frankie Fredericks, taking Namibia's first medal in the men's 200 metres.

The men's 100 metres event was one of the events in the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow. The competition was held on July 24, 1980, and on July 25, 1980. Sixty-five athletes from 40 nations competed. Each nation was limited to 3 athletes per rules in force since the 1930 Olympic Congress. The event was won by Allan Wells of Great Britain, that nation's first title in the men's 100 metres since 1924. Cuba took its first medal in the event since 1964, with Silvio Leonard's silver matching the nation's best result. Petar Petrov's bronze was Bulgaria's first Olympic medal in the men's 100 metres.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Athletics at the 1980 Summer Olympics – Men's 200 metres</span> Olympic athletics event

The men's 200 metres was an event at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow. The competition was held on July 27, 1980, and on July 28, 1980. There were 57 competitors from 37 nations. The maximum number of athletes per nation had been set at 3 since the 1930 Olympic Congress. The event was won by Pietro Mennea of Italy, the nation's first victory in the event since 1960 and second overall. Great Britain earned its first medal in the men's 200 metres since 1928 with Allan Wells' silver. Don Quarrie of Jamaica, the defending champion, took bronze. Mennea and Quarrie were the fifth and sixth men to earn multiple medals in the event.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Athletics at the 1984 Summer Olympics – Men's 200 metres</span> Olympic athletics event

The men's 200 metres at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California had an entry list of 76 competitors from 58 nations, with ten qualifying heats (76), four quarterfinals (32), and two semifinals (16) before the final (8) took off on Wednesday August 8, 1984. The maximum number of athletes per nation had been set at 3 since the 1930 Olympic Congress. The event was won by Carl Lewis of the United States, the nation's first victory in the men's 200 metres since 1968 and 13th overall. It was the third gold medal of the Games for Lewis, who was attempting to match Jesse Owens in winning the 100, 200, long jump, and 4x100 relay; his victory in this event left only the relay to go, in which the United States was heavily favored. The American team competed in a medal sweep in this event, the first since 1956 and the fifth overall for the United States, with Kirk Baptiste earning silver and Thomas Jefferson taking bronze.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Athletics at the 1984 Summer Olympics – Men's 400 metres</span>

The men's 400 metres was an event at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California. It was held from August 4 to August 8. Eighty athletes from 56 nations competed. The maximum number of athletes per nation had been set at 3 since the 1930 Olympic Congress. The event was won by Alonzo Babers, returning the United States to the top of the podium for the first time since 1972. Gabriel Tiacoh won the Ivory Coast's first Olympic medal in any event, with a silver.

The men's 400 metres event at the 2000 Summer Olympics as part of the athletics programme was held at Stadium Australia from 22 to 25 September 2000. Sixty-eight athletes from 44 nations competed. The maximum number of athletes per nation had been set at 3 since the 1930 Olympic Congress. The event was won by Michael Johnson of the United States, successfully defending his 1996 gold medal. It was the fifth in what would ultimately be 7 consecutive American victories stretching from 1984 to 2008 and the 17th overall title in the event by the United States. Gregory Haughton's bronze was Jamaica's first medal in the event since the nation won back-to-back golds in 1948 and 1952.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Athletics at the 1980 Summer Olympics – Men's 400 metres hurdles</span> Olympic athletics event

The men's 400 metres hurdles at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, Soviet Union had a start list of 22 competitors from 19 nations, with three quarterfinals, two semifinals (16), and a final (8) that took place on Saturday July 26, 1980. The maximum number of athletes per nation had been set at 3 since the 1930 Olympic Congress. The event was won by Volker Beck of East Germany, the nation's first medal in the event. Vasyl Arkhypenko earned silver, the second consecutive Games that the Soviet Union reached the podium in the event. Gary Oakes put Great Britain back on the podium after a one-Games absence with his bronze.

The men's 100 metres sprint event at the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, was held at Olympic Stadium on July 23 and 24. Sixty-three athletes from 40 nations competed. Each nation was limited to 3 athletes per rules in force since the 1930 Olympic Congress. The event was won by Hasely Crawford of Trinidad and Tobago, earning the nation's first gold medal and making Crawford a national hero. Don Quarrie's silver medal made Jamaica only the third country to reach the men's 100 metres podium three consecutive times. Valeriy Borzov of the Soviet Union was unable to defend his title, but by taking bronze became the third man to medal twice in the event. For only the second time, the United States did not have a medalist in the event.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Athletics at the 1976 Summer Olympics – Men's 200 metres</span> Olympic athletics event

The men's 200 metres was an event at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal. The competition was held on 25 July 1976 and 26 July 1976. There were 45 competitors from 33 nations. The maximum number of athletes per nation had been set at 3 since the 1930 Olympic Congress.

The men's 400 metres was an event at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal. The competition was held on July 26, 1976, July 28, 1976, and on July 29, 1976. Forty-four athletes from 29 nations competed. The maximum number of athletes per nation had been set at 3 since the 1930 Olympic Congress. The event was won by Alberto Juantorena of Cuba, the nation's first medal in the event, breaking a string of five victories by the United States. Juantorena became the first man to win both the 800 metres and 400 metres in an Olympics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Athletics at the 1948 Summer Olympics – Men's 400 metres</span>

The men's 400 metres sprint event at the 1948 Olympic Games took place between August 4 and August 5. Fifty-three athletes from 28 nations competed. The maximum number of athletes per nation had been set at 3 since the 1930 Olympic Congress. The final was won by Jamaican Arthur Wint coming from almost 10 meters back to catch teammate and world record holder Herb McKenley. This was Jamaica's first Olympic gold medal in any event, and broke a string of 3 straight American victories in the men's 400 metres.

The men's 100 metres sprint event at the 1984 Olympic Games took place between August 3 and August 4. Eighty-two athletes from 59 countries participated. Each nation was limited to 3 athletes per rules in force since the 1930 Olympic Congress. The event was won by Carl Lewis of the United States, that nation's first title after two Games of missing the podium. Canada's Ben Johnson took bronze to break up the Americans' bid to sweep the podium ; it was Canada's first medal in the event since 1964.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Athletics at the 1972 Summer Olympics – Men's 200 metres</span> Olympic athletics event

The men's 200 metres was an event at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich. The competition was held on 3–4 September. There were 57 competitors from 42 nations. The maximum number of athletes per nation had been set at 3 since the 1930 Olympic Congress. The event was won by Valeriy Borzov of the Soviet Union, the nation's first medal in the event. Larry Black took silver, extending the United States' podium streak in the men's 200 metres to nine Games. Italy earned its first medal in the event since 1960 with Pietro Mennea's bronze.

The men's 400 metres was an event at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich. The competition was held on 3, 4 and 7 September. Sixty-four athletes from 49 nations competed. The maximum number of athletes per nation had been set at 3 since the 1930 Olympic Congress. The event was won by Vince Matthews of the United States, the nation's fifth consecutive and 12th overall victory in the event. The Americans' hopes to repeat their podium sweep of four years earlier were dashed by injury in the final. Bronze medalist Julius Sang became the first black African to win a sprint Olympic medal, earning Kenya's first medal in the event.

References

  1. "Athletics at the 1980 Moscow Summer Games: Men's 400 metres". sports-reference.com. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 3 August 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 "400 metres, Men". Olympedia. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  3. Official Report, vol. 3, p. 29.