Athletics at the 2020 Summer Olympics – Women's 400 metres

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Women's 400 metres
at the Games of the XXXII Olympiad
Olympic Athletics.png
Olympic Athletics
Venue Japan National Stadium
Dates3 August 2021 (heats)
4 August 2021 (semifinals)
6 August 2021 (final) [1]
Competitors45 from 34 nations
Winning time48.36
Medalists
Gold medal icon.svg Shaunae Miller-Uibo
Flag of the Bahamas.svg  Bahamas
Silver medal icon.svg Marileidy Paulino
Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg  Dominican Republic
Bronze medal icon.svg Allyson Felix
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
  2016
2024  
Official Video Highlights TV-icon-2.svg
Official Video Highlights

The women's 400 metres event at the 2020 Summer Olympics took place from 3 to 6 August 2021 at the Japan National Stadium. [1] 45 athletes from 34 nations competed. [2] Shaunae Miller-Uibo won the gold medal by 0.84 seconds in a personal best of 48.36 secs, a time which ranks her sixth on the world all-time list. In successfully defending her title, Miller-Uibo joined Marie-Jose Perec as the only women to win two Olympic 400 metres titles.

Summary

Returning from Rio was Gold Medalist Shaunae Miller-Uibo, remembered for her diving finish to beat Allyson Felix. Felix was back as well, now age 35 and a mother, running in her fifth Olympics. Each time she sets a season best, it is a masters world record. But the list of non-participants is notable; World Champion Salwa Eid Naser suspended a little over a month before the Olympics due to three whereabouts failures; Olympic and World Championship bronze medalist Shericka Jackson, who focused her season on the shorter sprints, netting a bronze medal in the 100 metres; Namibian teenage sensations Beatrice Masilingi, number one in 2020 and Christine Mboma who ran the #7 time in history the same day Eid Naser was suspended, both were barred from running 400 or 800 due to the new Testosterone regulations. Both ran in the 200 metres, Mboma taking silver. Another teenager, NCAA Champion Athing Mu, chose to focus her efforts on the 800 metres, netting a gold medal.

It took sub-50 in the semi-finals just to get into the final. Marileidy Paulino was the fastest qualifier at 49.34, her Dominican National Record, putting her in the center of the track, lane 5 for the final. The Jamaicans Stephenie Ann McPherson and Candice McLeod in 6 and 4 respectively, were the fastest around the first turn, with Felix, blind to her competitors in lane 9, also getting out well. Roxana Gómez pulled up after 100 m. Coming off her poor performance in the 200 final, Miller-Uibo ran conservatively in the first 200 metres, still keeping in close contact with Felix well within her view from lane 7. Towards the end of the first straight, Jodie Williams moved up to join McPherson's early pace in lane 8. Through the final turn, Miller-Uibo and Paulino began to assert themselves, with Miller-Uibo advancing to a 2 metre lead coming off the turn. Behind her, Felix, Williams, McPherson and Paulino were all in a row to battle for the medals. Down the final straight, Paulino clearly pulled away, but was too far back to chase down Miller-Uibo who kept increasing her lead. Williams fell back but McPherson and Felix battled until Felix pulled ahead half way towards home.

Miller-Uibo joined Marie-José Pérec as the only women to successfully defend the Olympic 400 metres title. She improved her personal best, which was the #6 time in history and the North American Continental Record. Paulino set her second national record of the competition, moving her to #20 of all time. This season she improved her personal best by 2.68 seconds. Felix nabbed her tenth Olympic medal, breaking a tie with Merlene Ottey as the most of any woman in athletics and set her third Masters World Record of the season. [3]

Background

This was the 15th time the event was held, having appeared at every Olympics since 1964.

Qualification

A National Olympic Committee (NOC) could enter up to 3 qualified athletes in the women's 400 metres event if all athletes meet the entry standard or qualify by ranking during the qualifying period. (The limit of 3 has been in place since the 1930 Olympic Congress.) The qualifying standard is 51.35 seconds. This standard was "set for the sole purpose of qualifying athletes with exceptional performances unable to qualify through the IAAF World Rankings pathway." The world rankings, based on the average of the best five results for the athlete over the qualifying period and weighted by the importance of the meet, will then be used to qualify athletes until the cap of 48 is reached. [2] [4]

The qualifying period was originally from 1 May 2019 to 29 June 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the period was suspended from 6 April 2020 to 30 November 2020, with the end date extended to 29 June 2021. The world rankings period start date was also changed from 1 May 2019 to 30 June 2020; athletes who had met the qualifying standard during that time were still qualified, but those using world rankings would not be able to count performances during that time. The qualifying time standards could be obtained in various meets during the given period that have the approval of the IAAF. Both indoor and outdoor meets were eligible for qualifying. The most recent Area Championships may be counted in the ranking, even if not during the qualifying period. [2] [5]

NOCs can also use their universality place—each NOC can enter one female athlete regardless of time if they had no female athletes meeting the entry standard for an athletics event—in the 400 metres. [2]

Competition format

The event continued to use the three-round format introduced in 2012. [6]

Records

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

World recordFlag of East Germany.svg  Marita Koch  (GDR)47.60 Canberra, Australia6 October 1985
Olympic recordFlag of France.svg  Marie-José Pérec  (FRA)48.25 Atlanta, Georgia, United States29 July 1996
Area
Time (s)AthleteNation
Africa ( records )48.54 Christine Mboma Flag of Namibia.svg Namibia
Asia ( records )48.14 Salwa Eid Naser Flag of Bahrain.svg Bahrain
Europe ( records )47.60 WR Marita Koch Flag of East Germany.svg East Germany
North, Central America
and Caribbean
( records )
48.37 Shaunae Miller-Uibo Flag of the Bahamas.svg Bahamas
Oceania ( records )48.63 Cathy Freeman Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australia
South America ( records )49.64 Ximena Restrepo Flag of Colombia.svg Colombia

Schedule

All times are Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)

The women's 400 metres took place over three separate days. [1]

DateTimeRound
Tuesday, 3 August 20219:00Round 1
Wednesday, 4 August 202118:30Semifinals
Friday, 6 August 202119:50Final

Results

Round 1

Qualification rule: first three finishers of each heat (Q) plus the next six fastest times (q) qualify to the semifinals. [7]

Heat 1

RankLaneAthleteNationReactionTimeNotes
12 Shaunae Miller-Uibo Flag of the Bahamas.svg  Bahamas 0.13250.50 Q
26 Roxana Gómez Flag of Cuba.svg  Cuba 0.18250.76 Q, =PB
37 Sada Williams Flag of Barbados.svg  Barbados 0.15451.36 Q, SB
48 Aliyah Abrams Flag of Guyana.svg  Guyana 0.16051.44 q, SB
55 Kyra Constantine Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 0.16751.69 q
63 Anita Horvat Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia 0.18552.34
74 Patience Okon George Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 0.18752.41

Heat 2

RankLaneAthleteNationReactionTimeNotes
13 Jodie Williams Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain 0.17050.99 Q
24 Quanera Hayes Flag of the United States.svg  United States 0.17551.07 Q
37 Cátia Azevedo Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal 0.15551.26 Q
45 Lisanne de Witte Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 0.17251.68 q, SB
56 Bendere Oboya Flag of Australia.svg  Australia 0.17252.37
2 Amantle Montsho Flag of Botswana.svg  Botswana 0.125 DNF
8 Meleni Rodney Flag of Grenada.svg  Grenada 0.196 DNF
9 Aliya Boshnak Flag of Jordan.svg  Jordan 0.238 DQ TR 17.3.1

Heat 3

RankLaneAthleteNationReactionTimeNotes
14 Allyson Felix Flag of the United States.svg  United States 0.16850.84 Q
22 Roneisha McGregor Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica 0.18051.14 (51.138) Q
36 Lada Vondrová Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic 0.18251.14 (51.139) Q, PB
43 Ama Pipi Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain 0.12651.17 q
57 Tiffani Marinho Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil 0.21052.11
68 Leni Shida Flag of Uganda.svg  Uganda 0.20152.48
75 Samantha Dirks Flag of Belize.svg  Belize 0.17754.16 SB
89 Tetyana Melnyk Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine 0.17954.99

Heat 4

RankLaneAthleteNationReactionTimeNotes
15 Candice McLeod Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica 0.20251.09 Q
26 Amandine Brossier Flag of France.svg  France 0.17151.65 Q
37 Susanne Walli Flag of Austria.svg  Austria 0.20952.19 Q
43 Corinna Schwab Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 0.15552.29
59 Irini Vasiliou Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 0.16453.16
64 Galefele Moroko Flag of Botswana.svg  Botswana 0.20255.89 SB
8 Nicole Yeargin Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain 0.182 DQ TR 17.3.1
2 Cynthia Bolingo Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium DNS

Heat 5

RankLaneAthleteNationReactionTimeNotes
13 Stephenie Ann McPherson Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica 0.13850.89 Q
24 Natalia Kaczmarek Flag of Poland.svg  Poland 0.15051.06 Q
35 Paola Morán Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico 0.16251.18 Q, SB
46 Phil Healy Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland 0.15851.98
58 Hellen Syombua Kalii Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya 0.22152.70
62 Agnė Šerkšnienė Flag of Lithuania.svg  Lithuania 0.17252.78
77 Natassha McDonald Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 0.16153.54

Heat 6

RankLaneAthleteNationReactionTimeNotes
12 Marileidy Paulino Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg  Dominican Republic 0.18450.06 Q
26 Wadeline Jonathas Flag of the United States.svg  United States 0.20950.93 Q
34 Lieke Klaver Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 0.20051.37 Q
47 Aauri Bokesa Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 0.23551.89 q, SB
59 Eleni Artymata Flag of Cyprus.svg  Cyprus 0.22451.91 q
68 Barbora Malíková Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic 0.19552.83
73 Shalysa Wray Flag of the Cayman Islands (pre-1999).svg  Cayman Islands 0.21653.61
85 Christine Botlogetswe Flag of Botswana.svg  Botswana 0.21453.99 SB

Semifinals

Qualification rule: first two finishers of each heat (Q) plus the next two fastest times (q) qualify to the final. [8]

Semifinal 1

RankLaneAthleteNationReactionTimeNotes
15 Marileidy Paulino Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg  Dominican Republic 0.17249.38 Q, NR
27 Candice McLeod Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica 0.16249.51 Q, PB
34 Roxana Gómez Flag of Cuba.svg  Cuba 0.16849.71 q, PB
46 Quanera Hayes Flag of the United States.svg  United States 0.15349.81 q
53 Eleni Artymata Flag of Cyprus.svg  Cyprus 0.19150.80 NR
69 Susanne Walli Flag of Austria.svg  Austria 0.22451.52 PB
72 Ama Pipi Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain 0.14051.59
88 Lada Vondrová Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic 0.18351.62

Semifinal 2

RankLaneAthleteNationReactionTimeNotes
16 Shaunae Miller-Uibo Flag of the Bahamas.svg  Bahamas 0.15549.60 Q
25 Jodie Williams Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain 0.13649.97 Q, PB
34 Roneisha McGregor Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica 0.18150.34
47 Wadeline Jonathas Flag of the United States.svg  United States 0.18950.51
59 Paola Morán Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico 0.16851.06 SB
68 Lieke Klaver Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 0.20851.37
72 Aliyah Abrams Flag of Guyana.svg  Guyana 0.13751.46
83 Aauri Bokesa Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 0.19451.57 PB

Semifinal 3

RankLaneAthleteNationReactionTimeNotes
15 Stephenie Ann McPherson Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica 0.13449.34 Q, PB
26 Allyson Felix Flag of the United States.svg  United States 0.17949.89 Q, SB MWR
38 Sada Williams Flag of Barbados.svg  Barbados 0.16750.11 NR
44 Natalia Kaczmarek Flag of Poland.svg  Poland 0.16550.79
53 Kyra Constantine Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 0.17751.22
67 Amandine Brossier Flag of France.svg  France 0.17051.30
79 Cátia Azevedo Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal 0.14651.32
82 Lisanne de Witte Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 0.17852.09

Final

RankLaneAthleteNationReactionTimeNotes
Gold medal icon.svg7 Shaunae Miller-Uibo Flag of the Bahamas.svg  Bahamas 0.16248.36 AR
Silver medal icon.svg5 Marileidy Paulino Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg  Dominican Republic 0.17649.20 NR
Bronze medal icon.svg9 Allyson Felix Flag of the United States.svg  United States 0.15849.46 SB MWR
46 Stephenie Ann McPherson Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica 0.13149.61
54 Candice McLeod Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica 0.15249.87
68 Jodie Williams Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain 0.12749.97=PB
72 Quanera Hayes Flag of the United States.svg  United States 0.17650.88
3 Roxana Gómez Flag of Cuba.svg  Cuba 0.191 DNF

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