Athletics at the 1988 Summer Olympics – Men's 400 metres

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Men's 400 metres
at the Games of the XXIV Olympiad
Athletics pictogram.svg
Athletics
Venue Olympic Stadium
DatesSeptember 24 (heats)
September 25 (quarter-finals)
September 26 (semi-finals)
September 28 (final)
Competitors75 from 55 nations
Winning time43.87
Medalists
Gold medal icon.svg Steve Lewis
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Silver medal icon.svg Butch Reynolds
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Bronze medal icon.svg Danny Everett
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
  1984
1992  

The men's 400 metres at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea took place between 24 and 28 September 1988. [1] Seventy-five athletes from 55 nations competed. [2] The maximum number of athletes per nation had been set at three since the 1930 Olympic Congress. The event was won by 0.06 seconds by Steve Lewis of the United States, the second in what would ultimately be seven 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.

Summary

It always promised to be a classic. The clear favourite was the legendary American Harry "Butch" Reynolds. He had set a new world record of 43.29 seconds six weeks before. Reynolds breezed through the heats and into the final.

The final, ran on Thursday September 28, 1988, started somewhat as expected, with Reynolds holding back and saving himself for his normal strong finish. To the surprise of most watching a young American Steve Lewis went out strong from the start and gave Reynolds a run for his money. Entering the home straight Lewis was leading and Reynolds charging back at him but Reynolds left it too late and the 19yr old Lewis hung on for victory in an amazing time of 43.87sec. Reynolds finished second and Danny Everett third for an American sweep. The same trio was also involved with Kevin Robinzine in winning the 4 × 400 m relay.

The career of Lewis was blighted by injury although he did compete in the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain, placing second in 400m and being part of the American quartet who took gold in 4 × 400 m relay.

Background

This was the 21st appearance of the event, which is one of 12 athletics events to have been held at every Summer Olympics. None of the Americans from 1984 returned, but all five non-American finalists did: silver medalist Gabriel Tiacoh of the Ivory Coast, fourth-place finisher Darren Clark of Australia, sixth-place finisher Sunday Uti and seventh-place finisher Innocent Egbunike of Nigeria, and Bert Cameron of Jamaica (who had qualified for but did not start the Los Angeles final due to injury). The new American team was favored, however; Butch Reynolds had just broken the 20-year-old world record, and Danny Everett and Steve Lewis were strong contenders. The 1987 world champion, Thomas Schönlebe of East Germany, was also a significant challenger. [2]

Bangladesh, Honduras, Indonesia, the Maldives, Mali, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, South Korea, Vanuatu, the (U.S.) Virgin Islands, and Zaire appeared in this event for the first time; the Republic of China had previously competed, but now appeared as Chinese Taipei for the first time. The United States made its 20th 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 7 or 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]

Records

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

World recordFlag of the United States.svg  Butch Reynolds  (USA)43.29 Zürich, Switzerland 17 August 1988
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

Following the 1984 schedule, the event was held on four separate days, with each round being on a different day.

All times are Korea Standard Time adjusted for daylight savings (UTC+10)

DateTimeRound
Saturday, 24 September 19889:30Round 1
Sunday, 25 September 198812:20Quarterfinals
Monday, 26 September 198815:45Semifinals
Wednesday, 28 September 198812:55Final

Results

Round 1

Heat 1

RankLaneAthleteNationTimeNotes
12 Todd Bennett Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain 46.37Q
27 Miles Murphy Flag of Australia.svg  Australia 46.38Q
33 Anton Skerritt Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 46.64Q
44 Richard Louis Flag of Barbados.svg  Barbados 46.80
58 Felix Sandy Flag of Sierra Leone.svg  Sierra Leone 46.82
65 Gustavo Envela Flag of Equatorial Guinea.svg  Equatorial Guinea 48.11
76 Joe Rodan Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji 48.69
81 Odiya Silweya Flag of Malawi.svg  Malawi 49.73

Heat 2

RankLaneAthleteNationTimeNotes
17 Brian Whittle Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain 46.07Q
26 Gaietà Cornet Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 46.16Q
33 Butch Reynolds Flag of the United States.svg  United States 46.28Q
44 Seibert Straughn Flag of Barbados.svg  Barbados 47.37
51 Filipe Lombá Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal 47.57
65 Ali Faudet Flag of Chad.svg  Chad 48.69
72 Baptiste Firiam Flag of Vanuatu.svg  Vanuatu 51.77

Heat 3

RankLaneAthleteNationTimeNotes
13 Mohamed Amer Al-Malki Flag of Oman (1970-1995).svg  Oman 46.79Q
26 Lucas Sang Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya 46.85Q
32 Ousmane Diarra Flag of Senegal.svg  Senegal 46.86Q
44 Douglas Kalembo Flag of Zambia (1964-1996).svg  Zambia 47.44
58 Mohamed Hossain Milzer Flag of Bangladesh.svg  Bangladesh 48.76
61 Akossi Gnalo Flag of Togo.svg  Togo 51.46
7 Sérgio de Menezes Flag of Brazil (1968-1992).svg  Brazil DNF
William Taramai Flag of the Cook Islands.svg  Cook Islands DNS

Heat 4

RankLaneAthleteNationTimeNotes
11 Ian Morris Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg  Trinidad and Tobago 45.84Q
24 Thomas Schönlebe Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany 47.07Q
32 Sunday Uti Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 47.08Q
43 Lin Kuang-liang Flag of Chinese Taipei for Olympic games.svg  Chinese Taipei 48.18
58 Ernest Tché-Noubossie Flag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon 48.31
67 Haji Bakr Al-Qahtani Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia 48.53
76 Enock Musonda Flag of Zambia (1964-1996).svg  Zambia 49.21
85 Ahmed Shageef Flag of Maldives.svg  Maldives 50.61

Heat 5

RankLaneAthleteNationTimeNotes
17 Steve Lewis Flag of the United States.svg  United States 45.31Q
26 Jens Carlowitz Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany 45.64Q
33 Gabriel Tiacoh Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  Ivory Coast 47.19Q
45 Jean-Didiace Bémou Flag of the People's Republic of Congo.svg  Republic of the Congo 48.46
52 Abdullah Ali Ahmed Flag of Libya (1977-2011).svg  Libya 48.89
64 Jonathan Chipalo Flag of Zambia (1964-1996).svg  Zambia 48.97
71 Maher Abbas Flag of Lebanon (1943-1995).svg  Lebanon 51.29
88Carlton UsherFlag of Belize (1981-2019).svg  Belize 51.42

Heat 6

RankLaneAthleteNationTimeNotes
16 Gérson de Souza Flag of Brazil (1968-1992).svg  Brazil 45.90Q
22 Howard Davis Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica 45.97Q
38 Takale Tuna Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg  Papua New Guinea 47.87Q
47 Sunday Maweni Flag of Botswana.svg  Botswana 47.97
55 Sulaiman Juma Al-Habsi Flag of Oman (1970-1995).svg  Oman 48.30
63 Nordin Mohamed Jadi Flag of Malaysia.svg  Malaysia 49.52
71 Michael Williams Flag of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.svg  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 51.22

Heat 7

RankLaneAthleteNationTimeNotes
17 Darren Clark Flag of Australia.svg  Australia 45.93Q
25 Simeon Kipkemboi Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya 46.15Q
33 Elvis Forde Flag of Barbados.svg  Barbados 46.47Q
44 Elijah Nkala Flag of Zimbabwe.svg  Zimbabwe 46.60
51 Antonio Sánchez Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 47.18
66 Jaime Rodrigues Flag of Mozambique.svg  Mozambique 47.33
72 Aouf Abdul Rahman Youssef Flag of Iraq (1963-1991).svg  Iraq 47.45
88 Desai Wynter Flag of the United States Virgin Islands.svg  Virgin Islands 48.39

Heat 8

RankLaneAthleteNationTimeNotes
13 Bert Cameron Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica 46.24Q
22 Rob Stone Flag of Australia.svg  Australia 46.52Q
36 Dawda Jallow Flag of The Gambia.svg  The Gambia 46.91Q
48 Yun Nam-han Flag of South Korea (1984-1997).svg  South Korea 47.02
51 John Goville Flag of Uganda.svg  Uganda 47.11
65 Muhammad Fayyaz Flag of Pakistan.svg  Pakistan 47.13
77 Yaya Seyba Flag of Mali.svg  Mali 48.83
84 Alfred Browne Flag of Antigua and Barbuda.svg  Antigua and Barbuda 48.92

Heat 9

RankLaneAthleteNationTimeNotes
11 Danny Everett Flag of the United States.svg  United States 45.63Q
23 Devon Morris Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica 45.95Q
32 Tomasz Jędrusik Flag of Poland.svg  Poland 46.12Q
46 Patrick Delice Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg  Trinidad and Tobago 46.14q
55 Slobodan Branković Flag of SFR Yugoslavia.svg  Yugoslavia 46.59
67 Jorge Fidel Ponce Flag of Honduras (before 2022).svg  Honduras 51.11
8 Mwana Bute Kasongo Flag of Zaire (1971-1997).svg  Zaire DSQ

Heat 10

RankLaneAthleteNationTimeNotes
15 Susumu Takano Flag of Japan (1870-1999).svg  Japan 45.42Q
27 Troy Douglas Flag of Bermuda (1910-1999).svg  Bermuda 45.69Q
34 Innocent Egbunike Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 46.02Q
46 Elkana Nyangau Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya 46.25q
53 Ismail Mačev Flag of SFR Yugoslavia.svg  Yugoslavia 46.37
68 Elieser Wattebosi Flag of Indonesia.svg  Indonesia 47.10
72 Willis Todman Flag of the British Virgin Islands.svg  British Virgin Islands 50.11

Quarterfinals

Quarterfinal 1

RankLaneAthleteNationTimeNotes
16 Ian Morris Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg  Trinidad and Tobago 44.70Q
23 Jens Carlowitz Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany 45.09Q
34 Brian Whittle Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain 45.22Q
45 Tomasz Jędrusik Flag of Poland.svg  Poland 45.27Q
57 Sunday Uti Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 45.33
62 Miles Murphy Flag of Australia.svg  Australia 45.93
71 Dawda Jallow Flag of The Gambia.svg  The Gambia 46.35
88 Elvis Forde Flag of Barbados.svg  Barbados 46.59

Quarterfinal 2

RankLaneAthleteNationTimeNotes
15 Danny Everett Flag of the United States.svg  United States 44.33Q
26 Innocent Egbunike Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 45.02Q
37 Thomas Schönlebe Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany 45.09Q
48 Bert Cameron Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica 45.16Q
53 Simeon Kipkemboi Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya 45.44
62 Todd Bennett Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain 45.96
71 Ousmane Diarra Flag of Senegal.svg  Senegal 46.23
84 Troy Douglas Flag of Bermuda (1910-1999).svg  Bermuda 46.28

Quarterfinal 3

RankTimeAthleteNationTimeNotes
15 Steve Lewis Flag of the United States.svg  United States 44.41Q
23 Darren Clark Flag of Australia.svg  Australia 44.96Q
38 Mohamed Amer Al-Malki Flag of Oman (1970-1995).svg  Oman 45.01Q
46 Devon Morris Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica 45.30Q
54 Gaietà Cornet Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 45.39
62 Anton Skerritt Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 46.08
71 Elkana Nyangau Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya 46.09
87 Takale Tuna Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg  Papua New Guinea 47.48

Quarterfinal 4

RankLaneAthleteNationTimeNotes
11 Butch Reynolds Flag of the United States.svg  United States 44.46Q
23 Susumu Takano Flag of Japan (1870-1999).svg  Japan 45.00Q
35 Gérson de Souza Flag of Brazil (1968-1992).svg  Brazil 45.35Q
46 Howard Davis Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica 45.40Q
57 Gabriel Tiacoh Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  Ivory Coast 45.49
68 Lucas Sang Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya 45.72
74 Patrick Delice Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg  Trinidad and Tobago 45.75
82 Rob Stone Flag of Australia.svg  Australia 46.04

Semifinals

Semifinal 1

RankLaneAthleteNationTimeNotes
13 Steve Lewis Flag of the United States.svg  United States 44.35Q
25 Danny Everett Flag of the United States.svg  United States 44.36Q
36 Darren Clark Flag of Australia.svg  Australia 44.38Q
48 Bertland Cameron Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica 44.50Q
54 Susumu Takano Flag of Japan (1870-1999).svg  Japan 44.90
62 Jens Carlowitz Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany 45.08
77 Gerson Souza Flag of Brazil (1968-1992).svg  Brazil 45.27
81 Tomasz Jędrusik Flag of Poland.svg  Poland 46.17

Semifinal 2

RankLaneAthleteNationTimeNotes
16 Butch Reynolds Flag of the United States.svg  United States 44.33Q
23 Ian Morris Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg  Trinidad and Tobago 44.60Q
35 Mohamed Amer Al-Malki Flag of Oman (1970-1995).svg  Oman 44.69Q
44 Innocent Egbunike Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 44.74Q
52 Thomas Schönlebe Flag of East Germany.svg  East Germany 44.90
61 Howard Davis Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica 45.48
78 Devon Morris Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica 45.68
87 Brian Whittle Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg  Great Britain 46.07

Final

Lewis' winning margin of 0.06 seconds remains the smallest winning margin in the history of the event.

RankLaneAthleteNationTime
Gold medal icon.svg6 Steve Lewis Flag of the United States.svg  United States 43.87
Silver medal icon.svg3 Butch Reynolds Flag of the United States.svg  United States 43.93
Bronze medal icon.svg4 Danny Everett Flag of the United States.svg  United States 44.09
45 Darren Clark Flag of Australia.svg  Australia 44.55
57 Innocent Egbunike Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 44.72
62 Bertland Cameron Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica 44.94
78 Ian Morris Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg  Trinidad and Tobago 44.95
81 Mohamed Amer Al-Malki Flag of Oman (1970-1995).svg  Oman 45.03

See also

References

  1. "Athletics at the 1988 Seoul Summer Games: Men's 400 metres". sports-reference.com. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 "400 metres, Men". Olympedia. Retrieved 4 August 2020.