Athletics at the 1984 Summer Olympics – Men's 400 metres

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Men's 400 metres
at the Games of the XXIII Olympiad
Alonzo Babers finish.JPEG
Alonzo Babers winning the gold medal
Venue Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Dates4 to 8 August
Competitors80 from 56 nations
Winning time44.27
Medalists
Gold medal icon.svg Alonzo Babers
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Silver medal icon.svg Gabriel Tiacoh
Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  Ivory Coast
Bronze medal icon.svg Antonio McKay
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
  1980
1988  

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. [1] [2] The maximum number of athletes per nation had been set at 3 since the 1930 Olympic Congress. The event was won by 0.27 seconds by Alonzo Babers, returning the United States to the top of the podium for the first time since 1972 (and the 13th time overall). Gabriel Tiacoh won the Ivory Coast's first Olympic medal in any event, with a silver.

Background

This was the twentieth appearance of the event, which is one of 12 athletics events to have been held at every Summer Olympics. None of the finalists from 1980 returned. The favorites were Bert Cameron of Jamaica (winner of the first world championship in 1983) and Americans Antonio McKay and Alonzo Babers. [2]

The British Virgin Islands, Cameroon, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, the Gambia, Mauritius, Mozambique, Nepal, Oman, Rwanda, Somalia, Suriname, Togo, the United Arab Emirates, and Zimbabwe appeared in this event for the first time. The United States made its 19th appearance, most of any nation, having missed only the boycotted 1980 Games.

Competition format

The competition retained the basic four-round format from 1920. The "fastest loser" system, introduced in 1964, was used for the first round. There were 10 first-round heats, each with 8 runners. The top three runners in each heat advanced, along with the next two fastest overall. The 32 quarterfinalists were divided into 4 quarterfinals with 8 runners each; 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. National records set were:

NationAthleteRoundTime
Flag of Barbados.svg  Barbados Elvis Forde Semifinal 245.32
Flag of Somalia.svg  Somalia Ibrahim Okash Heat 147.91

Schedule

For the first time, the event was held on four separate days, with each round being on a different day.

All times are Pacific Daylight Time (UTC-7)

DateTimeRound
Saturday, 4 August 198410:30Round 1
Sunday, 5 August 198417:00Quarterfinals
Monday, 6 August 198416:55Semifinals
Wednesday, 8 August 198416:45Final

Results

Round 1

Alonzo Babers wins heat of the 400 meters. 400 meter track at the 1984 Summer Olympics.JPEG
Alonzo Babers wins heat of the 400 meters.

Heat 1

RankLaneAthleteNationTimeNotes
15 Davison Lishebo Flag of Zambia (1964-1996).svg  Zambia 46.20Q
21 David Peltier Flag of Barbados.svg  Barbados 46.57Q
37 Allan Ingraham Flag of the Bahamas.svg  Bahamas 46.72Q
46 Boubacar Diallo Flag of Senegal.svg  Senegal 46.73
52 Dean Greenaway Flag of the British Virgin Islands.svg  British Virgin Islands 47.33
63 Evaldo da Silva Flag of Brazil (1968-1992).svg  Brazil 47.55
74 Ibrahim Okash Flag of Somalia.svg  Somalia 47.91NR
88 Issaka Hassane Flag of Chad.svg  Chad 49.64

Heat 2

RankLaneAthleteNationTimeNotes
13 Gabriel Tiacoh Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  Ivory Coast 45.96Q
26 David Kitur Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya 46.25Q
35 Marcel Arnold Civil Ensign of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland 46.46Q
42 Gary Minihan Flag of Australia.svg  Australia 46.93
51 Nordin Jadi Flag of Malaysia.svg  Malaysia 47.12
67 Tommy Johansson Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 47.77
78 Daniel Andre Flag of Mauritius.svg  Mauritius 49.09
84 Faustin Butéra Flag of Rwanda (1962-2001).svg  Rwanda 51.41

Heat 3

RankLaneAthleteNationTimeNotes
11 Innocent Egbunike Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 46.63Q
25 Mark Senior Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica 46.73Q
38 Gérson de Souza Flag of Brazil (1968-1992).svg  Brazil 47.02Q
46 Manuel Ramirez-Caicedo Flag of Colombia.svg  Colombia 47.17
57 Bryan Saunders Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 47.40
64 Mohamed Amer Al-Malky Flag of Oman (1970-1995).svg  Oman 47.61
73 Meesaq Rizvi Flag of Pakistan.svg  Pakistan 49.58
2 Secundino Borabota Flag of Equatorial Guinea.svg  Equatorial Guinea DSQ

Heat 4

RankLaneAthleteNationTimeNotes
14 Bertland Cameron Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica 46.14Q
27 Oddur Sigurdsson Flag of Iceland.svg  Iceland 46.30Q
32 Doug Hinds Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 46.42Q
41 Richard Louis Flag of Barbados.svg  Barbados 46.70
55 Jean-Didace Bemou Flag of the People's Republic of Congo.svg  Republic of the Congo 47.26
63 Hector Llatser Flag of France.svg  France 47.30
78 Phillip Pipersburg Flag of Belize (1981-2019).svg  Belize 48.04
86 Alberto López Flag of Guatemala.svg  Guatemala 52.21

Heat 5

RankLaneAthleteNationTimeNotes
17 Alonzo Babers Flag of the United States.svg  United States 45.81Q
23 Michael Paul Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg  Trinidad and Tobago 46.18Q
32 Philip Brown Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain 46.26Q
41 Moses Kyeswa Flag of Uganda.svg  Uganda 46.78
58 Tim Bethune Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 46.98
66 Joseph Ramotshabi Flag of Botswana.svg  Botswana 48.11
75 Dawda Jallow Flag of The Gambia.svg  The Gambia 48.36
84 René López Flag of El Salvador.svg  El Salvador 48.71

Heat 6

RankLaneAthleteNationTimeNotes
11 Bruce Frayne Flag of Australia.svg  Australia 46.08Q
22 Aldo Canti Flag of France.svg  France 46.14Q
38 Susumu Takano Flag of Japan (1870-1999).svg  Japan 46.26Q
46 Nafi Mersal Flag of Egypt (1972-1984).svg  Egypt 46.46
53 Alfred Browne Flag of Antigua and Barbuda.svg  Antigua and Barbuda 47.29
67 Rashid Al-Jirbi Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg  United Arab Emirates 48.71
74 Siegfried Cruden Flag of Suriname.svg  Suriname 50.07
5 Hassan El-Kashief Flag of Sudan.svg  Sudan DNF

Heat 7

RankLaneAthleteNationTimeNotes
12 Sunder Nix Flag of the United States.svg  United States 45.42Q
26 Elvis Forde Flag of Barbados.svg  Barbados 45.47Q
37 Antonio Sánchez Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 46.03Q
44 Anton Skerritt Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg  Trinidad and Tobago 46.30q
55 James Atuti Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya 47.04
68 Adjé Adjeoda Vignon Flag of Togo.svg  Togo 47.43
73 Lapule Tamean Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg  Papua New Guinea 47.60
81 Pushpa Raj Ojha Flag of Nepal.svg  Nepal 52.12

Heat 8

RankLaneAthleteNationTimeNotes
15 Antonio McKay Flag of the United States.svg  United States 45.55Q
21 John Anzrah Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya 46.12Q
37 Isidro del Prado Flag of the Philippines (1936-1985, 1986-1998).svg  Philippines 46.82Q
46 Leonardo Loforte Flag of Mozambique.svg  Mozambique 47.07
53 Joseph Rodan Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji 49.00
68 Agripa Mwausegha Flag of Malawi.svg  Malawi 49.12
74 Charles Moses Flag of Ghana.svg  Ghana 50.39
2 Ali St. Louis Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg  Trinidad and Tobago DNF

Heat 9

RankLaneAthleteNationTimeNotes
12 Erwin Skamrahl Flag of Germany.svg  West Germany 45.94Q
25 Angel Heras Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 46.06Q
33 Todd Bennett Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain 46.09Q
44 Yann Quentrec Flag of France.svg  France 46.94
57 Wilson dos Santos Flag of Brazil (1968-1992).svg  Brazil 47.55
68 Mark Handelsman Flag of Israel.svg  Israel 48.17
71 Chris Madzokere Flag of Zimbabwe.svg  Zimbabwe 48.49
86 Arsène Randriamahazomana Flag of Madagascar.svg  Madagascar 48.86

Heat 10

RankLaneAthleteNationTimeNotes
16 Kriss Akabusi Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain 45.64Q
23 Darren Clark Flag of Australia.svg  Australia 45.68Q
35 Sunday Uti Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 45.74Q
42 Devon Morris Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica 45.80q
51 Mike Okot Flag of Uganda.svg  Uganda 46.68
68 Samuel Sarkpa Flag of Liberia.svg  Liberia 47.65
77 Mama Moluh Flag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon 48.90
4 Vincent Confait Flag of Seychelles (1977-1996).svg  Seychelles DSQ

Quarterfinals

Quarterfinal 1

RankLaneAthleteNationTimeNotes
18 Antonio McKay Flag of the United States.svg  United States 44.72Q
26 Darren Clark Flag of Australia.svg  Australia 44.77Q
33 Kriss Akabusi Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain 45.43Q
44 Dave Lishebo Flag of Zambia (1964-1996).svg  Zambia 45.57Q
52 John Anzrah Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya 45.67
61 Devon Morris Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica 46.14
77 Allan Ingraham Flag of the Bahamas.svg  Bahamas 46.14
85 David Peltier Flag of Barbados.svg  Barbados 46.48

Quarterfinal 2

RankLaneAthleteNationTimeNotes
14 Innocent Egbunike Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 45.26Q
25 Sunder Nix Flag of the United States.svg  United States 45.31Q
32 Elvis Forde Flag of Barbados.svg  Barbados 45.60Q
47 Aldo Canti Flag of France.svg  France 45.64Q
53 Angel Heras Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 45.88
66 Marcel Arnold Civil Ensign of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland 46.10
78 Philip Brown Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain 46.63
81 Anton Skerritt Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg  Trinidad and Tobago 46.93

Quarterfinal 3

RankLaneAthleteNationTimeNotes
15 Alonzo Babers Flag of the United States.svg  United States 44.75Q, PB
21 Sunday Uti Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 45.01Q
38 Bertland Cameron Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica 45.16Q
47 Bruce Frayne Flag of Australia.svg  Australia 45.35Q
56 Todd Bennett Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain 45.51
62 Antonio Sánchez Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 45.79
74 Oddur Sigurdsson Flag of Iceland.svg  Iceland 46.07
83 Doug Hinds Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 46.19

Quarterfinal 4

RankLaneAthleteNationTimeNotes
12 Gabriel Tiacoh Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  Ivory Coast 45.15Q
26 David Kitur Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya 45.78Q
38 Michael Paul Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg  Trinidad and Tobago 45.84Q
44 Susumu Takano Flag of Japan (1870-1999).svg  Japan 45.91Q
51 Erwin Skamrahl Flag of Germany.svg  West Germany 46.39
67 Mark Senior Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica 46.50
73 Gerson Souza Flag of Brazil (1968-1992).svg  Brazil 46.65
85 Isidro del Prado Flag of the Philippines (1936-1985, 1986-1998).svg  Philippines 46.71

Semifinals

Semifinal 1

RankLaneAthleteNationTimeNotes
13 Innocent Egbunike Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 45.16Q
27 Alonzo Babers Flag of the United States.svg  United States 45.17Q
31 Darren Clark Flag of Australia.svg  Australia 45.26Q
46 Sunder Nix Flag of the United States.svg  United States 45.41Q
58 Aldo Canti Flag of France.svg  France 45.59
65 Michael Paul Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg  Trinidad and Tobago 45.60
72 Kriss Akabusi Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain 45.69
84 Susumu Takano Flag of Japan (1870-1999).svg  Japan 45.88

Semifinal 2

Cameron pulled up with an injury at 150 metres, hopping for about 20 metres before returning to a run. Despite the injury, he finished fourth to qualify for the final (in which he ultimately would not be able to run). [2]

RankLaneAthleteNationTimeNotes
14 Gabriel Tiacoh Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  Ivory Coast 44.64Q
28 Sunday Uti Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 44.83Q
33 Antonio McKay Flag of the United States.svg  United States 44.92Q
42 Bertland Cameron Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica 45.10Q
55 Bruce Frayne Flag of Australia.svg  Australia 45.21
61 Elvis Forde Flag of Barbados.svg  Barbados 45.32NR
76 David Kitur Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya 45.62
87 Dave Lishebo Flag of Zambia (1964-1996).svg  Zambia 45.97

Final

Cameron was still injured from the semifinal race and could not start the final. Clark led early and held the lead until the final straight. Babers began his successful push from about the 250 metre mark, with Tiacoh behind him. McKay edged Clark and Nix at the finish. [2] [4]

RankLaneAthleteNationTimeNotes
Gold medal icon.svg4 Alonzo Babers Flag of the United States.svg  United States 44.27PB
Silver medal icon.svg7 Gabriel Tiacoh Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  Ivory Coast 44.54
Bronze medal icon.svg1 Antonio McKay Flag of the United States.svg  United States 44.71
45 Darren Clark Flag of Australia.svg  Australia 44.75
56 Sunder Nix Flag of the United States.svg  United States 44.75
62 Sunday Uti Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 44.93
73 Innocent Egbunike Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 45.35
8 Bertland Cameron Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica DNS

In the UK TV show Little Britain , character Denver Mills is credited as having won the silver medal in the 400 metres at the 1984 Olympics.

See also

References

  1. "Athletics at the 1984 Los Angeles 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 4 5 "400 metres, Men". Olympedia. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  3. Official Report, vol. 2, pp. 273–74.
  4. Official Report, p. 274.