400 metres at the World Athletics Championships

The 400 metres at the World Championships in Athletics has been contested by both men and women since the inaugural edition in 1983. It is the second most prestigious title in the discipline after the 400 metres at the Olympics. The competition format typically has two or three qualifying rounds leading to a final between eight athletes.

400 metres
at the World Athletics Championships
Amantle Montsho and Allyson Felix at the finish of the 2011 women's final
Overview
GenderMen and women
Years heldMen: 19832023
Women: 19832023
Championship record
Men43.18 Michael Johnson (1999)
Women47.99 Jarmila Kratochvílová (1983)
Reigning champion
Men Antonio Watson (JAM)
Women Marileidy Paulino (DOM)

The championship records for the event are 43.18 seconds for men, set by Michael Johnson in 1999, and 47.99 seconds for women, set by Jarmila Kratochvílová in 1983. The men's world record has been broken at the competition on one occasion and Johnson's championship record remains the world record as of 2015.[1] The current women's championship record stood as the women's world record for two years and remains the only time that feat has been accomplished at the championships.

Michael Johnson is the most successful athlete of the World Championships 400 m, having won four straight titles from 1993 to 1999. He is the only sprint athlete to have won that many individual titles in an event. The second most successful is LaShawn Merritt – a two-time champion and the only other athlete to have won four medals. The most successful women are Marie-José Pérec, Cathy Freeman and Christine Ohuruogu, all of whom have won two world titles. Jeremy Wariner is the only other person to have won two titles, and also has three medals to his name.

The United States is comfortably the most successful nation in the discipline – American men have topped the podium ten times and taken 23 medals in total. American women also top the table with two golds among seven medals. Jamaica is the only other nation to have won more than one medal in the men's race, and has won eleven medals in total across the sexes. Great Britain has had two winners and two runners-up. Australia, France and Bahamas are the only other nations to have won multiple gold medals.

Jerome Young is the only athlete to be stripped of a medal in the event, as he lost his 2003 gold medal due to a doping ban.

Age records

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Distinction Male Female
Athlete Age Date Athlete Age Date
Youngest champion   Kirani James (GRN) 18 years, 363 days 30 Aug 2011   Salwa Eid Naser (BHR) 21 years, 133 days 3 Oct 2019
Youngest medalist   Kirani James (GRN) 18 years, 363 days 30 Aug 2011   Salwa Eid Naser (BHR) 19 years, 78 days 9 Aug 2017
Youngest finalist   Thomas Schönlebe (GDR) 18 years, 4 days 10 Aug 1983   Salwa Eid Naser (BHR) 19 years, 78 days 9 Aug 2017
Youngest participant   Kerth Gumbs (AIA) 16 years, 183 days 4 Aug 2001   Dijana Kojić (BIH) 15 years, 7 days 2 Aug 1997
Oldest champion   Michael Johnson (USA) 31 years, 347 days 26 Aug 1999   Jarmila Kratochvílová (TCH) 32 years, 196 days 10 Aug 1983
Oldest medalist   Michael Johnson (USA) 31 years, 347 days 26 Aug 1999   Jarmila Kratochvílová (TCH) 32 years, 196 days 10 Aug 1983
Oldest finalist   Michael Johnson (USA) 31 years, 347 days 26 Aug 1999   Novlene Williams-Mills (JAM) 35 years, 105 days 9 Aug 2017
Oldest participant   Chris Brown (BAH) 36 years, 313 days 24 Aug 2015   Amy Mbacké Thiam (SEN) 36 years, 274 days 11 Aug 2013

Doping

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Antonio Pettigrew, the 1991 champion, was the first have his results annulled due to doping, although this ban affected his finalist placings from 1997 to 2001 only. His fellow American Jerome Young became the first and thus far only 400 m athlete to be stripped of their world title. His ban covered his 2003 win, a 2001 semi-finalist placing, and a fourth-place finish in 1999.[3]

Natalya Sologub of Belarus became the first female 400 m runner to be disqualified from the championships, having originally been a 2001 semi-finalist. The 2003 sixth-place finish of Calvin Harrison was annulled for doping, as weer the semi-finalist runs of Amaka Ogoegbunam in 2009 and Antonina Yefremova in 2011.[3]

Medalists

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Championships Gold Silver Bronze
1983 Helsinki
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  Bert Cameron (JAM)   Michael Franks (USA)   Sunder Nix (USA)
1987 Rome
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  Thomas Schönlebe (GDR)   Innocent Egbunike (NGA)   Harry Reynolds (USA)
1991 Tokyo
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  Antonio Pettigrew (USA)   Roger Black (GBR)   Danny Everett (USA)
1993 Stuttgart
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  Michael Johnson (USA)   Butch Reynolds (USA)   Samson Kitur (KEN)
1995 Gothenburg
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  Michael Johnson (USA)   Butch Reynolds (USA)   Greg Haughton (JAM)
1997 Athens
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  Michael Johnson (USA)   Davis Kamoga (UGA)   Tyree Washington (USA)
1999 Seville
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  Michael Johnson (USA)   Sanderlei Parrela (BRA)   Alejandro Cárdenas (MEX)
2001 Edmonton
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  Avard Moncur (BAH)   Ingo Schultz (GER)   Greg Haughton (JAM)
2003 Saint-Denis
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  Tyree Washington (USA)   Marc Raquil (FRA)   Michael Blackwood (JAM)
2005 Helsinki
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  Jeremy Wariner (USA)   Andrew Rock (USA)   Tyler Christopher (CAN)
2007 Osaka
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  Jeremy Wariner (USA)   LaShawn Merritt (USA)   Angelo Taylor (USA)
2009 Berlin
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  LaShawn Merritt (USA)   Jeremy Wariner (USA)   Renny Quow (TRI)
2011 Daegu
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  Kirani James (GRN)   LaShawn Merritt (USA)   Kévin Borlée (BEL)
2013 Moscow
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  LaShawn Merritt (USA)   Tony McQuay (USA)   Luguelín Santos (DOM)
2015 Beijing
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  Wayde van Niekerk (RSA)   LaShawn Merritt (USA)   Kirani James (GRN)
2017 London
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  Wayde van Niekerk (RSA)   Steven Gardiner (BAH)   Abdalelah Haroun (QAT)
2019 Doha
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  Steven Gardiner (BAH)   Anthony Zambrano (COL)   Fred Kerley (USA)
2022 Eugene
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  Michael Norman (USA)   Kirani James (GRN)   Matthew Hudson-Smith (GBR)
2023 Budapest
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  Antonio Watson (JAM)   Matthew Hudson-Smith (GBR)   Quincy Hall (USA)

Medalists by country

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Rank Nation Gold Silver Bronze Total
1   United States (USA) 11 8 6 27
2   South Africa (RSA) 2 0 0 2
3   East Germany (GDR) 1 0 0 1
4   Bahamas (BAH) 2 1 0 3
5   Jamaica (JAM) 2 0 3 5
6   Grenada (GRN) 1 1 1 3
7   Great Britain (GBR) 0 2 1 3
8   Brazil (BRA) 0 1 0 1
  France (FRA) 0 1 0 1
  Germany (GER) 0 1 0 1
  Nigeria (NGR) 0 1 0 1
  Uganda (UGA) 0 1 0 1
13   Belgium (BEL) 0 0 1 1
  Canada (CAN) 0 0 1 1
  Dominican Republic (DOM) 0 0 1 1
  Kenya (KEN) 0 0 1 1
  Mexico (MEX) 0 0 1 1
  Trinidad and Tobago (TRI) 0 0 1 1

Multiple medalists

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Rank Athlete Nation Period Gold Silver Bronze Total
1 Michael Johnson   United States (USA) 1991–1999 4 0 0 4
2 LaShawn Merritt   United States (USA) 2007–2013 2 3 0 5
3 Jeremy Wariner   United States (USA) 2005–2009 2 1 0 3
4 Wayde van Niekerk   South Africa (RSA) 2015–2017 2 0 0 2
5 Kirani James   Grenada (GRN) 2011–2022 1 1 1 3
6 Tyree Washington   United States (USA) 1997–2003 1 0 1 2
7 Butch Reynolds   United States (USA) 1987–1995 0 2 1 3
8 Greg Haughton   Jamaica (JAM) 1995–2001 0 0 2 2

Women

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Championships Gold Silver Bronze
1983 Helsinki
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  Jarmila Kratochvílová (TCH)   Taťána Kocembová (TCH)   Mariya Pinigina (URS)
1987 Rome
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  Olga Bryzgina (URS)   Petra Muller (GDR)   Kirsten Emmelmann (GDR)
1991 Tokyo
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  Marie-José Pérec (FRA)   Grit Breuer (GER)   Sandra Myers (ESP)
1993 Stuttgart
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  Jearl Miles (USA)   Natasha Kaiser-Brown (USA)   Sandie Richards (JAM)
1995 Gothenburg
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  Marie-José Pérec (FRA)   Pauline Davis (BAH)   Jearl Miles (USA)
1997 Athens
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  Cathy Freeman (AUS)   Sandie Richards (JAM)   Jearl Miles Clark (USA)
1999 Seville
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  Cathy Freeman (AUS)   Anja Rücker (GER)   Lorraine Graham-Fenton (JAM)
2001 Edmonton
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  Amy Mbacké Thiam (SEN)   Lorraine Fenton (JAM)   Ana Guevara (MEX)
2003 Saint-Denis
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  Ana Guevara (MEX)   Lorraine Fenton (JAM)   Amy Mbacké Thiam (SEN)
2005 Helsinki
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  Tonique Williams-Darling (BAH)   Sanya Richards (USA)   Ana Guevara (MEX)
2007 Osaka
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  Christine Ohuruogu (GBR)   Nicola Sanders (GBR)   Novlene Williams (JAM)
2009 Berlin
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  Sanya Richards (USA)   Shericka Williams (JAM)   Antonina Krivoshapka (RUS)
2011 Daegu
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  Amantle Montsho (BOT)   Allyson Felix (USA)   Francena McCorory (USA)§
2013 Moscow
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  Christine Ohuruogu (GBR)   Amantle Montsho (BOT)   Stephanie McPherson (JAM)§
2015 Beijing
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  Allyson Felix (USA)   Shaunae Miller (BAH)   Shericka Jackson (JAM)
2017 London
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  Phyllis Francis (USA)   Salwa Eid Naser (BHR)   Allyson Felix (USA)
2019 Doha
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  Salwa Eid Naser (BHR)   Shaunae Miller-Uibo (BAH)   Shericka Jackson (JAM)
2022 Eugene
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  Shaunae Miller-Uibo (BAH)   Marileidy Paulino (DOM)   Sada Williams (BAR)
2023 Budapest
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  Marileidy Paulino (DOM)   Natalia Kaczmarek (POL)   Sada Williams (BAR)

§ : awarded following doping disqualification.

Medalists by country

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Rank Nation Gold Silver Bronze Total
1   United States (USA) 4 3 4 11
2   Great Britain (GBR) 2 1 0 3
3   Australia (AUS) 2 0 0 2
  France (FRA) 2 0 0 2
5   Bahamas (BAH) 1 3 0 4
6   Dominican Republic (DOM) 1 1 0 2
  Botswana (BOT) 1 1 0 2
  Czechoslovakia (TCH) 1 1 0 2
  Bahrain (BHR) 1 1 0 2
10   Mexico (MEX) 1 0 2 3
11   Senegal (SEN) 1 0 1 2
  Soviet Union (URS) 1 0 1 2
13   Jamaica (JAM) 0 4 6 10
14   Germany (GER) 0 2 0 2
15   East Germany (GDR) 0 1 1 2
16   Poland (POL) 0 1 0 1
17   Barbados (BAR) 0 0 2 2
  Russia (RUS) 0 0 2 2
13   Spain (ESP) 0 0 1 1

Multiple medalists

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Rank Athlete Nation Period Gold Silver Bronze Total
1 Marie-José Pérec   France (FRA) 1991–1995 2 0 0 2
Cathy Freeman   Australia (AUS) 1997–1999 2 0 0 2
Christine Ohuruogu   Great Britain (GBR) 2007–2013 2 0 0 2
4 Shaunae Miller-Uibo   Bahamas (BAH) 2015–2022 1 2 0 3
5 Allyson Felix   United States (USA) 2011–2017 1 1 1 3
6 Sanya Richards   United States (USA) 2005–2009 1 1 0 2
7 Amantle Montsho   Botswana (BOT) 2011–2013 1 1 0 2
Salwa Eid Naser   Bahrain (BHR) 2017–2019 1 1 0 2
Marileidy Paulino   Dominican Republic (DOM) 2022-2023 1 1 0 2
10 Jearl Miles Clark   United States (USA) 1993–1997 1 0 2 3
Ana Guevara   Mexico (MEX) 2001–2005 1 0 2 3
12 Amy Mbacke Thiam   Senegal (SEN) 2001–2003 1 0 1 2
13 Lorraine Fenton   Jamaica (JAM) 1999–2003 0 2 1 3
14 Sandie Richards   Jamaica (JAM) 1993–1997 0 1 1 2
15 Shericka Jackson   Jamaica (JAM) 2015–2019 0 0 2 2
Sada Williams   Barbados (BAR) 2022-2023 0 0 2 2

Championship record progression

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Men's 400 metres World Championships record progression[4]
Time Athlete Nation Year Round Date
46.19 Sunder Nix   United States (USA) 1983 Heats 7 August 1983
46.11 Bert Cameron   Jamaica (JAM) 1983 Heats 7 August 1983
45.74 Hartmut Weber   West Germany (FRG) 1983 Heats 7 August 1983
45.57 Michael Franks   United States (USA) 1983 Quarter-finals 8 August 1983
45.44 Michael Franks   United States (USA) 1983 Semi-finals 9 August 1983
45.05 Bert Cameron   Jamaica (JAM) 1983 Final 10 August 1983
45.03 Derek Redmond   Great Britain (GBR) 1987 Quarter-finals 1987-08-31
44.81 Thomas Schönlebe   East Germany (GDR) 1987 Quarter-finals 1987-08-31
44.26 Innocent Egbunike   Nigeria (NGR) 1987 Semi-finals 1987-09-01
43.65 Michael Johnson   United States (USA) 1993 Final 1993-08-17
43.39 Michael Johnson   United States (USA) 1995 Final 1995-08-09
43.18 WR Michael Johnson   United States (USA) 1997 Final 1999-08-26

Women

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Women's 400 metres World Championships record progression[5]
Time Athlete Nation Year Round Date
52.42 Jarmila Kratochvílová   Czechoslovakia (TCH) 1983 Heats 1983-08-07
51.05 Mariya Pinigina   Soviet Union (URS) 1983 Quarter-finals 1983-08-08
50.07 Mariya Pinigina   Soviet Union (URS) 1983 Semi-finals 1983-08-09
47.99 WR Jarmila Kratochvílová   Czechoslovakia (TCH) 1983 Finals 1983-08-10

Finishing times

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Top ten fastest World Championship times

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References

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  1. ^ IAAF World Championships: IAAF Statistics Handbook Daegu 2011, pp. 595–6 (archived). IAAF. Retrieved on 2015-07-06.
  2. ^ "World Athletics Championships - Budapest 23 Statistical Booklet" (PDF). www.worldathletics.org: 42–45.
  3. ^ a b Butler 2013, p. 67–9.
  4. ^ Main > Men, 400 m > World Championships Records Progression. Track and Field Brinkster. Retrieved on 2015-07-07.
  5. ^ Main > Women, 400 m > World Championships Records Progression. Track and Field Brinkster. Retrieved on 2015-07-07.
  6. ^ "Men's 400m".
  7. ^ "Women's 400m".

Bibliography

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