Hurdling is the act of running and jumping over an obstacle at speed. In the early 19th century, hurdlers ran at and jumped over each hurdle, landing on both feet and checking their forward motion. After experimenting with different step patterns the 3-step for high hurdles, 7-step for low hurdles, and 15-step for intermediate hurdles was decided on. In the sport of athletics, hurdling forms the basis of a number track and field events which are a highly specialized form of obstacle racing. In these events, a series of barriers known as hurdles are set at precisely measured heights and distances which each athlete must pass by running over. Failure to pass over, by passing under, or intentionally knocking over hurdles will result in disqualification. Accidental knocking over of hurdles is not cause for disqualification, but the hurdles are weighted to make doing so disadvantageous. Hurdle design improvements were made in 1935, when they developed the L-shaped hurdle. With this shape, the athlete could hit the hurdle and it will tip down, clearing the athlete's path.
Derrick Ralph Adkins is a former American track and field athlete who specialized in the 400-meter hurdles. He was an Olympic gold medalist in that event at the 1996 Summer Olympics and World Champion at the 1995 World Championships in Athletics. He was the fastest man in the world in the 1994 and 1996 seasons and holds a personal record of 47.54 seconds. Adkins was a two-time national champion at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
Kerron Stephon Clement is an American track and field athlete who competes in the 400-meter hurdles and 400-meter sprint. He held the indoor world record in the 400-meter sprint, having broken Michael Johnson's mark in 2005.
Sandra Glover is an African American former track and field athlete who competed in the 400-meter hurdles. She was a medalist in that event at the World Championships in Athletics in 2003 (silver) and 2005 (bronze). She also represented her country at the 2000 Summer Olympics. She was the national champion at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships for four consecutive years from 1999 to 2002. She had five victories on the IAAF Golden League circuit during her career.
Kezie Uchechukwu Duru Akabusi, known as Kriss Akabusi MBE is a British former sprint and hurdling track and field athlete.
Louis Jacobus van Zyl, better known as L. J. van Zyl, is a South African athlete competing in the 400 metre hurdles. He is the South African record holder in the event with a personal best of 47.66 seconds, which he achieved twice, three months apart. His time ranks him in the all-time top 25. He is a three-time African Champion in the event and competed for his country at the 2008, 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympics.
Matthew John "Matt" Elias is a retired Welsh athlete who specialised in the 400 metres sprint and 400 metres hurdles. During his international career he represented Great Britain. In 2003 he won a gold medal at the European Championships and at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens he finished 5th in the 4 × 400 m relay, He is also a part of Super Schools.
The British Virgin Islands have attended all seven Commonwealth Games since 1990.
Peirresha Alexandra Shakes-Drayton is a British track and field athlete. A knee injury at the 2013 World Championships forced Shakes-Drayton to concentrate on the 400 metres rather than the 400 metres hurdles on her return to athletics. She is the 2013 European Indoor Champion in the 400 metres and won a 2012 World Indoor Championship gold medal in the 4 x 400 metres relay. She has also won silver and bronze medals in the 4 × 400 m relay at the World Championships.
Johnny Dutch is a USA Track and Field athlete.
Eilidh Doyle is a British track and field athlete who specialises in the 400 metres hurdles and the 4 x 400 metres relay. She represented Great Britain at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, and won an Olympic bronze medal in the 4 x 400 metres relay at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro.
Hanna Vasylivna Ryzhykova is a Ukrainian track and field athlete who specialises in the 400 metres hurdles. She also competes for her country in the 4×400 metres relay. She won gold medals in the hurdles at the 2011 Summer Universiade and the European Athletics U23 Championships.
Lauren Wells is an Australian athletics competitor. Her events are the 400 metre hurdles, 400 metres and long jump. She was the youngest woman to win the 400 metres hurdle event at the Australian national championships. She has competed in the long jump event and the 400 metres hurdle event at the World University Games. She has competed at the 2006 and 2010 Commonwealth Games and the 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympics in the 400 metre hurdles event.
Karsten Warholm is a Norwegian athlete who competes in the sprints and hurdles. He has won gold in the 400 m hurdles at the 2017 and 2019 World Championships, and at the 2018 European Championships. He competed in the octathlon as a youth, winning gold at the 2013 World Youth Championships.
Eric Shauwn Brazas Cray is a Filipino-born American track and field athlete who competes in sprinting and hurdling events. He represented his country at the 2013 World Championships in Athletics, competing in the hurdles. He won gold medals at the Southeast Asian Games in 2013 and 2015. Cray currently holds the Filipino national record for the 400 metres hurdles and 100 metres.
Noel Stanley Clough is an Australian former track and field athlete who competed in the 400 metres, 800 metres, and 400 metres hurdles.
Kyron McMaster is an athlete from the British Virgin Islands specialising in the 400 metres hurdles.
The men's 400 metres hurdles at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, as part of the athletics programme, took place in the Carrara Stadium on 10 and 12 April 2018.
The men's 400 metres hurdles at the 2019 World Athletics Championships was held at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha from 27 to 30 September 2019.
