400 metres

Template:Short description Template:Infobox athletics event The 400 metres, or 400-meter dash, is a sprint event in track and field competitions. It has been featured in the athletics programme at the Summer Olympics since 1896 for men and since 1964 for women. On a standard outdoor running track, it is one lap around the track. Runners start in staggered positions and race in separate lanes for the entire course. In manyTemplate:Clarification needed countries, athletes previously competed in the 440-yard dash (402.336 m)—which is a quarter of a mile (1,760 yards) and was referred to as the "quarter-mile"—instead of the 400 m (437.445 yards), though this distance is now obsolete.

The current men's world record and Olympic record is held by Wayde van Niekerk of South Africa; his time of 43.03 seconds is the fastest 400 m ever run, in either an open 400 m or a relay split (excluding reaction time). While Michael Johnson holds the fastest 400 m relay split with a time of 42.94, relay splits are typically faster because athletes have a running start and do not need to react to the gun if they are not the leadoff leg. Considering van Niekerk's reaction time of 0.181 seconds in his run of 43.03, van Niekerk covered the 400-metre distance itself in 42.85 seconds, therefore being 0.09 s faster than Johnson's relay split.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Quincy Hall is the reigning men's Olympic champion. Antonio Watson is the current men's world champion. Kerron Clement is the men's world indoor record holder with a time of 44.57 seconds.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The current women's world record is held by Marita Koch, with a time of 47.60 seconds. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is the current women's world champion, holding the championship record of 47.78 seconds. Marileidy Paulino is the women’s Olympic champion, and holds the Olympic record in a time of 48.17 seconds. Femke Bol holds the women's world indoor record at 49.17 (2024). The men's T43 Paralympic world record of 45.07 seconds is held by Oscar Pistorius.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

An Olympic double of 200 metres and 400 m was first achieved by Valerie Brisco-Hooks in 1984, and later by Marie-José Pérec of France and Michael Johnson from the United States on the same evening in 1996. Alberto Juantorena of Cuba at the 1976 Summer Olympics became the first and so far the only athlete to win both the 400 m and 800 m Olympic titles. Pérec became the first to defend the Olympic title in 1996, Johnson became the first and only man to do so in 2000. From 31 appearances in the Olympic Games, the men's gold medalist came from the US 19 times (as of 2019).

Sprint

Like other sprint disciplines, the 400 m involves the use of starting blocks. The runners take up position in the blocks on the "ready" command, adopt a more efficient starting posture which isometrically preloads their muscles on the "set" command, and stride forwards from the blocks upon hearing the starter's pistol. The blocks allow the runners to begin more powerfully and thereby contribute to their overall sprint speed capability. Maximum sprint speed capability is a significant contributing factor to success in the event, but athletes also require substantial speed endurance and the ability to cope well with high amounts of lactic acid to sustain a fast speed over a whole lap. While considered to be predominantly an anaerobic event, there is some aerobic involvement and the degree of aerobic training required for 400-metre athletes is open to debate.<ref>Canadian Journal of Applied Sport Sciences, "Aerobic versus anaerobic training for success in various athletic events" by Shepard, R. J., 1978</ref>

Continental records

• Updated 18 September 2025.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Area	Men			Women
	Time (s)	Athlete	Nation	Time (s)	Athlete	Nation
Africa Template:Small	43.03 Template:WR	Wayde van Niekerk	Template:Flagu	49.10	Falilat Ogunkoya	Template:Flagu
Asia Template:Small	43.93	Yousef Masrahi	Template:Flagu	48.14	Salwa Eid Naser	Template:Flagu
Europe Template:Small	43.44	Matthew Hudson-Smith	Template:Flagu	47.60 Template:WR	Marita Koch	Template:Flagu
North, Central America and Caribbean Template:Small	43.18	Michael Johnson	Template:Flagu	47.78	Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone	Template:Flagu
Oceania Template:Small	44.38	Darren Clark	Template:Flagu	48.63	Cathy Freeman	Template:Flagu
South America Template:Small	43.93	Anthony Zambrano	Template:Flagu	49.64	Ximena Restrepo	Template:Flagu

All-time top 25

Tables show data for two definitions of "Top 25" - the top 25 400 m times and the top 25 athletes:

- denotes top performance for athletes in the top 25 400 m times

- denotes lesser performances, still in the top 25 400 m times, by repeat athletes

- denotes top performance (only) for other top 25 athletes who fall outside the top 25 400 m times

Men (outdoor)

• Correct as of September 2025.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Template:Abbr	Template:Abbr	Time (s)	Reaction (s)	Athlete	Nation	Date	Place	Template:Refh
1	1	43.03	0.181	Wayde van Niekerk	Template:RSA	14 August 2016	Rio de Janeiro	<ref name="2016Rio">Template:Cite web</ref>
2	2	43.18	0.150	Michael Johnson	Template:USA	26 August 1999	Seville	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
3	3	43.29		Butch Reynolds	Template:USA	17 August 1988	Zürich
	4	43.39		Johnson #2		9 August 1995	Gothenburg
4	5	43.40	0.168	Quincy Hall	Template:USA	7 August 2024	Saint-Denis	<ref name="400F2024OG" />
	6	43.44		Johnson #3		19 June 1996	Atlanta
5	6	43.44	0.149	Matthew Hudson-Smith	Template:GBR2	7 August 2024	Saint-Denis	<ref name="400F2024OG">Template:Cite web</ref>
6	8	43.45	0.182	Jeremy Wariner	Template:USA	31 August 2007	Osaka	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
				Michael Norman	Template:USA	20 April 2019	Torrance	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
	10	43.48	0.156	van Niekerk #2		26 August 2015	Beijing	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
8	11	43.48	0.164	Steven Gardiner	Template:BHS	4 October 2019	Doha	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
	12	43.49		Johnson #4		29 July 1996	Atlanta
9	13	43.50		Quincy Watts	Template:USA	5 August 1992	Barcelona
	14	43.50		Wariner #2		7 August 2007	Stockholm
10	15	43.53	0.134	Collen Kebinatshipi	Template:BWA	18 September 2025	Tokyo	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
	16	43.56		Norman #2		25 June 2022	Eugene	<ref name="auto5">Template:Cite news</ref>
	17	43.60	0.130	Norman #3		28 May 2022	Eugene	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
	18	43.61		Norman #4		8 June 2018	Eugene
	19	43.61	0.145	Kebinatshipi #2		16 September 2025	Tokyo	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
	20	43.62		Wariner #3		14 July 2006	Rome
			0.164	van Niekerk #3		6 July 2017	Lausanne	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
11	22	43.64		Fred Kerley	Template:USA	27 July 2019	Des Moines	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
	23	43.65		Johnson #5		17 August 1993	Stuttgart
12	24	43.65	0.195	LaShawn Merritt	Template:USA	26 August 2015	Beijing	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
	25	43.66		Johnson #6		16 June 1995	Sacramento
				Johnson #7		3 July 1996	Lausanne
13		43.70		Champion Allison	Template:USA	25 June 2022	Eugene	<ref name="auto5"/>
14		43.72		Isaac Makwala	Template:BWA	5 July 2015	La Chaux-de-Fonds	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
			0.145	Jereem Richards	Template:TTO	18 September 2025	Tokyo	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
16		43.74		Kirani James	Template:GRN	3 July 2014	Lausanne	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
			0.185	Muzala Samukonga	Template:ZAM	7 August 2024	Saint-Denis	<ref name="400F2024OG" />
18		43.76 Template:AthAbbr		Zakithi Nene	Template:RSA	31 May 2025	Nairobi	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
19		43.81		Danny Everett	Template:USA	26 June 1992	New Orleans
20		43.85		Randolph Ross	Template:USA	11 June 2021	Eugene	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
			0.158	Jacory Patterson	Template:USA	28 August 2025	Zurich	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
22		43.86 Template:AthAbbr		Lee Evans	Template:USA	18 October 1968	Mexico City
23		43.87		Steve Lewis	Template:USA	28 September 1988	Seoul
24		43.91		Khaleb McRae	Template:USA	22 June 2025	London	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
25		43.93		Yousef Masrahi	Template:KSA	23 August 2015	Beijing	<ref name="2015Beijing">Template:Cite web</ref>
				Rusheen McDonald	Template:JAM	23 August 2015	Beijing	<ref name="2015Beijing" />
				Anthony Zambrano	Template:COL	2 August 2021	Tokyo	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Women (outdoor)

• Correct as of September 2025.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Template:Abbr	Template:Abbr	Time (s)	Reaction (s)	Athlete	Nation	Date	Place	Template:Refh
1	1	47.60		Marita Koch	Template:GDR	6 October 1985	Canberra
2	2	47.78	0.171	Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone	Template:USA	18 September 2025	Tokyo	<ref name="WA-Levrone_2025-09">Template:Cite web</ref>
3	3	47.98	0.183	Marileidy Paulino	Template:DOM	18 September 2025	Tokyo	<ref name="WA-Levrone_2025-09"/>
4	4	47.99		Jarmila Kratochvílová	Template:TCH	10 August 1983	Helsinki
5	5	48.14	0.186	Salwa Eid Naser	Template:BHR	3 October 2019	Doha	<ref name="WC2019">Template:Cite web</ref>
	6	48.16		Koch #2		8 September 1982	Athens
				Koch #3		16 August 1984	Prague
	8	48.17		Paulino #2		9 August 2024	Saint-Denis	<ref name=":3">Template:Cite web</ref>
	9	48.19	0.189	Naser #2		18 September 2025	Tokyo	<ref name="WA-Levrone_2025-09"/>
	10	48.22		Koch #4		28 August 1986	Stuttgart
6	11	48.25		Marie-José Pérec	Template:FRA	29 July 1996	Atlanta
	12	48.26		Koch #5		27 July 1984	Dresden
7	13	48.27		Olga Bryzgina	Template:URS	6 October 1985	Canberra
	14	48.29		McLaughlin-Levrone #2		16 September 2025	Tokyo	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
8	15	48.36		Shaunae Miller-Uibo	Template:BHS	6 August 2021	Tokyo
	16	48.37	0.145	Miller-Uibo #2		3 October 2019	Doha
	17	48.45		Kratochvílová #2		23 July 1983	Prague
	18	48.53		Naser #3		9 August 2024	Saint-Denis	<ref name=":3" />
9	19	48.57		Nickisha Pryce	Template:JAM	20 July 2024	London	<ref name="auto6">Template:Cite web</ref>
10	20	48.59		Taťána Kocembová	Template:TCH	10 August 1983	Helsinki
	21	48.60		Koch #6		4 August 1979	Turin
				Bryzgina #2		17 August 1985	Moscow
	23	48.61		Kratochvílová #3		6 September 1981	Rome
11	24	48.63		Cathy Freeman	Template:AUS	29 July 1996	Atlanta
	25	48.65		Bryzgina #3		26 September 1988	Seoul
12		48.70		Sanya Richards-Ross	Template:USA	16 September 2006	Athens
13		48.83		Valerie Brisco-Hooks	Template:USA	6 August 1984	Los Angeles
14		48.89		Ana Guevara	Template:MEX	27 August 2003	Saint-Denis
15		48.90		Natalia Kaczmarek	Template:POL	20 July 2024	London	<ref name="auto6"/>
16		49.05		Chandra Cheeseborough	Template:USA	6 August 1984	Los Angeles
17		49.07		Tonique Williams-Darling	Template:BHS	12 September 2004	Berlin
				Rhasidat Adeleke	Template:Flag	10 June 2024	Rome	<ref name="auto">Template:Cite web</ref>
19		49.09	0.200	Aaliyah Butler	Template:USA	11 July 2025	Monaco	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
20		49.10		Falilat Ogunkoya	Template:NGA	29 July 1996	Atlanta
21		49.11		Olga Nazarova	Template:URS	25 September 1988	Seoul
22		49.13		Britton Wilson	Template:USA	13 May 2023	Baton Rouge	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
				Kaylyn Brown	Template:USA	8 June 2024	Eugene	<ref name=":2">Template:Cite web</ref>
24		49.14		Gabrielle Thomas	Template:USA	5 April 2025	Kingston	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
25		49.16		Antonina Krivoshapka	Template:RUS	5 July 2012	Cheboksary

Annulled marks

• Christine Mboma ran 48.54 in Bydgoszcz on 30 June 2021, but her performance was removed from the World Athletics database due to testosterone regulations in women's athletics.

Men (indoor)

• Correct as of September 2024.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Template:Abbr	Template:Abbr	Time (s)	Athlete	Nation	Date	Place	Template:Refh
1	1	44.49	Christopher Morales Williams	Template:Flagu	24 February 2024	Fayetteville	<ref name=":6">Template:Cite web</ref>
2	2	44.52	Michael Norman	Template:Flagu	10 March 2018	College Station
3	3	44.57	Kerron Clement	Template:Flagu	12 March 2005	Fayetteville
4	4	44.62	Randolph Ross	Template:Flagu	12 March 2022	Birmingham	<ref name=":7">Template:Cite web</ref>
5	5	44.63	Michael Johnson	Template:Flagu	4 March 1995	Atlanta
	6	44.66	Johnson #2		2 March 1996	Atlanta
	7	44.67	Morales Williams #2		7 March 2024	Boston
6	8	44.71	Noah Williams	Template:Flagu	13 March 2021	Fayetteville	<ref name="2021 NCAA Indoor">Template:Cite web</ref>
7	9	44.75	Elija Godwin	Template:Flagu	25 February 2023	Fayetteville	<ref name="auto2">Template:Cite web</ref>
	10	44.75 Template:AthAbbr	Godwin #2		11 March 2023	Albuquerque	<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref>
8	11	44.80	Kirani James	Template:Flagu	27 February 2011	Fayetteville
9	12	44.82	Tyrell Richard	Template:Flagu	9 March 2019	Birmingham	<ref name="400m Results">Template:Cite web</ref>
	13	44.83	Ross #2		11 February 2022	Clemson
10	14	44.85	Fred Kerley	Template:Flagu	11 March 2017	College Station
11	15	44.86	Akeem Bloomfield	Template:Flagu	10 March 2018	College Station
12	16	44.88	Bralon Taplin	Template:Flagu	3 February 2018	College Station
13	17	44.91	Auhmad Robinson	Template:Flagu	9 March 2024	Boston	<ref name=":8">Template:Cite web</ref>
14	18	44.93	LaShawn Merritt	Template:Flagu	11 February 2005	Fayetteville
		44.93 Template:AthAbbr	Ryan Willie	Template:Flagu	11 March 2023	Albuquerque	<ref name=":9">Template:Cite web</ref>
	20	44.94	Kerley #2		25 February 2017	Nashville
	21	44.97	Johnson #3		10 February 1995	Reno
	22	44.99	Ross #3		13 March 2021	Fayetteville
	23	45.00	Norman #2		9 February 2018	Clemson
16	23	45.00	Jereem Richards	Template:Flagu	19 March 2022	Belgrade	<ref name="auto1">Template:Cite web</ref>
17	25	45.02	Danny Everett	Template:Flagu	2 February 1992	Stuttgart
	25	45.02	Kerley #3		10 February 2017	Clemson
			Bloomfield #2		9 February 2018	Clemson
17	25	45.02	Khaleb McCrae	Template:Flagu	3 February 2024	Albuquerque
19		45.03	Torrin Lawrence	Template:Flagu	12 February 2010	Fayetteville
			Deon Lendore	Template:Flagu	1 March 2014	College Station
			Kahmari Montgomery	Template:Flagu	9 March 2019	Birmingham	<ref name="400m Results" />
22		45.04	Champion Allison	Template:Flagu	26 February 2022	College Station	<ref name=":10">Template:Cite web</ref>
23		45.05	Thomas Schönlebe	Template:Flagu	5 February 1988	Sindelfingen
			Alvin Harrison	Template:Flagu	28 February 1998	Atlanta
			Karsten Warholm	Template:Flagu	2 March 2019	Glasgow	<ref name=":11">Template:Cite web</ref>
			Trevor Bassitt	Template:Flagu	19 March 2022	Belgrade	<ref name="auto1" />
			Jacory Patterson	Template:Flagu	25 February 2023	Fayetteville

Women (indoor)

• Correct as of March 2025.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Template:Abbr	Template:Abbr	Time (s)	Athlete	Nation	Date	Place	Template:Refh
1	1	49.17	Femke Bol	Template:Flagu	2 March 2024	Glasgow	<ref name="auto3">Template:Cite web</ref>
	2	49.24	Bol #2		17 February 2024	Apeldoorn	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2	2	49.24	Isabella Whittaker	Template:Flagu	15 March 2025	Virginia Beach	<ref name=":12">Template:Cite web</ref>
	4	49.26	Bol #3		19 February 2023	Apeldoorn	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
3	5	49.48 Template:AthAbbr	Britton Wilson	Template:Flagu	11 March 2023	Albuquerque	<ref name=":0" />
4	6	49.59	Jarmila Kratochvílová	Template:Flagu	7 March 1982	Milan
	7	49.63	Bol #4		10 February 2024	Liévin	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
	8	49.64	Kratochvílová #2		28 January 1981	Vienna
5	9	49.68	Natalya Nazarova	Template:Flagu	18 February 2004	Moscow
	10	49.69	Kratochvílová #3		6 March 1983	Budapest
			Bol #5		1 February 2024	Metz	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
6	12	49.76	Taťána Kocembová	Template:Flagu	2 February 1984	Vienna
7	13	49.78	Aaliyah Butler	Template:Flagu	1 March 2025	College Station	<ref name=":5">Template:Cite web</ref>
	14	49.85	Bol #6		4 March 2023	Istanbul	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
	15	49.90	Whittaker #2		1 March 2025	College Station	<ref name=":5" />
	16	49.96	Bol #7		11 February 2023	Metz	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
	17	49.97	Kocembová #2		4 March 1984	Gothenburg
			Butler #2		15 March 2025	Virginia Beach	<ref name=":12" />
	19	49.98	Nazarova #2		18 February 2006	Moscow
	20	50.00	Kratochvílová #4		10 February 1983	Vienna
8	21	50.01	Sabine Busch	Template:Flagu	2 February 1984	Vienna
9	22	50.02	Nicola Sanders	Template:Flagu	3 March 2007	Birmingham
10	23	50.04	Olesya Krasnomovets	Template:Flagu	18 February 2006	Moscow
	24	50.04	Krasnomovets #2		12 March 2006	Moscow
	25	50.07	Kratochvílová #5		22 February 1981	Grenoble
11		50.10	Lieke Klaver	Template:Flagu	18 February 2024	Apeldoorn	<ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref>
12		50.15	Olga Zaytseva	Template:Flagu	25 January 2006	Moscow
			Talitha Diggs	Template:Flagu	25 February 2023	Fayetteville	<ref name="auto4">Template:Cite web</ref>
14		50.21	Vania Stambolova	Template:Flagu	12 March 2006	Moscow
			Shaunae Miller-Uibo	Template:Flagu	13 February 2021	New York City	<ref name=":4">Template:Cite news</ref>
16		50.23	Irina Privalova	Template:Flagu	12 March 1995	Barcelona
17		50.24	Alexis Holmes	Template:Flagu	2 March 2024	Glasgow	<ref name="auto3" />
18		50.28	Petra Müller	Template:Flagu	6 March 1988	Budapest
19		50.33	Rhasidat Adeleke	Template:Flagu	25 February 2023	Lubbock	<ref name="auto4" />
20		50.34	Christine Amertil	Template:Flagu	12 March 2006	Moscow
			Kendall Ellis	Template:Flagu	10 March 2018	College Station
22		50.36	Sydney McLaughlin	Template:Flagu	10 March 2018	College Station
23		50.37	Natalya Antyukh	Template:Flagu	18 February 2006	Moscow
24		50.40	Dagmar Neubauer	Template:Flagu	2 February 1984	Vienna
25		50.41	Svetlana Pospelova	Template:Flagu	5 March 2005	Madrid

Fastest relay splits

Men

Split Template:Ref	Athlete	Leg	Date	Event	Place	Template:Abbr
42.94 Template:Ref	Template:Flagathlete	L4	22 August 1993	World Championships	Stuttgart	<ref name=oreg22stutt93>Template:Cite book</ref>
43.04	Template:Flagathlete	L4	10 August 2024	Summer Olympics	Saint-Denis	<ref name="auto7">Template:Cite web</ref>
43.06	Template:Flagathlete	L4	27 May 2018	NCAA West Prelims	Sacramento	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
43.09	Template:Flagathlete	L4	10 August 2024	Summer Olympics	Saint-Denis	<ref name="auto7"/>
43.10	Template:Flagathlete	L4	2 September 2007	World Championships	Osaka	<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
43.1	Template:Flagathlete	L2	8 August 1992	Summer Olympics	Barcelona	<ref name=allathmen>Peter Larsson & Francois Lorange, All-time Men's best 4x400m relay</ref>
43.18	Template:Flagathlete	L4	23 August 2008	Summer Olympics	Beijing	<ref name=allathmen/>
	Template:Flagathlete	L4	7 June 2024	NCAA Championships	Eugene	<ref name=ncaa24>NCAA Outdoor Championships, Eugene 2024 - Results: Men 4x400 M Relay (Final)</ref>
	Template:Flagathlete	L4	10 August 2024	Summer Olympics	Saint-Denis	<ref name="auto7"/>
43.20	Template:Flagathlete	L4	7 June 2024	NCAA Championships	Eugene	<ref name=ncaa24/>
43.2	Template:Flagathlete	L2	20 October 1968	Summer Olympics	Mexico City	<ref name=allathmen/>
	Template:Flagathlete	L2	8 April 2006	Texas Relays	Austin	<ref name=allathmen/>
	Template:Flagathlete	L2	20 August 2016	Summer Olympics	Rio de Janeiro	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
43.23	Template:Flagathlete	L3	22 August 1993	World Championships	Stuttgart	<ref name=oreg22stutt93/>
43.24	Template:Flagathlete	L4	10 June 2022	NCAA Championships	Eugene	<ref>NCAA Outdoor Championships, Eugene 2024 - Results: Men 4x400 M Relay (Final)</ref>
43.26	Template:Flagathlete	L2	10 August 2024	Summer Olympics	Saint-Denis	<ref name="auto7"/>
	Template:Flagathlete	L3	21 September 2025	World Championships	Tokyo	<ref>"World Athletics Championships Tokyo'25 - Men's 4X400 Metres Relay - Final", World Athletics, 21 September 2025. Retrieved 21 September 2025.</ref>
43.3	Template:Flagathlete	L2	10 August 2012	Summer Olympics	London	<ref name=allathmen/>

Annulled marks

• The American athlete Antonio Pettigrew recorded a split time of 43.1 at the 1997 World Championships men's 4 x 400 m finals in Athens, but his time was annulled in 2008, after Pettigrew admitted to multiple doping violations between 1997 and 2003.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Women

Split Template:Ref	Athlete	Leg	Date	Event	Place	Template:Abbr
47.6	Template:Flagathlete	L4	11 September 1982	European Championships	Athens	<ref name=allathwom>Peter Larsson, All-time Women's best 4x400m relay</ref>
47.70	Template:Flagathlete	L4	3 June 1984	National Championships	Erfurt	<ref name=allathwom/>
47.71	Template:Nowrap	L2	10 August 2024	Summer Olympics	Saint-Denis	<ref>"Template:Cite web</ref>
47.72	Template:Flagathlete	L3	30 August 2015	World Championships	Beijing	<ref>"World Athletics Championships Beijing - 4x400 Metres Relay Women - Final - Seiko relay split times", World Athletics, 30 August 2015. Retrieved 21 September 2025.</ref>
47.75	Template:Flagathlete	L4	14 August 1983	World Championships	Helsinki	<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
47.8	Template:Flagathlete	L4	1 October 1988	Summer Olympics	Seoul	<ref name=allathwom/>
47.82	Template:Flagathlete	L2	1 October 1988	Summer Olympics	Seoul	<ref name=allathwom/>
	Template:Flagathlete	L4	21 September 2025	World Championships	Tokyo	<ref>"World Athletics Championships Tokyo'25 - Women's 4X400 Metres Relay - Final", World Athletics, 21 September 2025. Retrieved 21 September 2025.</ref>
47.84	Template:Flagathlete	L4	18 August 1984	Friendship Games	Prague	<ref name=allathwom/>
47.9	Template:Flagathlete	L4	5 July 1981	European Cup Semifinal	Frankfurt	<ref name=allathwom/>
	Template:Flagathlete	L4	2 August 1981	European Cup B Final	Pescara	<ref name=allathwom/>
	Template:Flagathlete	L4	11 September 1982	European Championships	Athens	<ref name=allathwom/>
	Template:Flagathlete	L4	21 August 1983	European Cup Final	London	<ref name=allathwom/>
	Template:Flagathlete	L4	4 October 1985	IAAF World Cup	Canberra	<ref>IAAF StatisticsHandbook, Split 2010 - Past results/World Cup Women's 4x400 m relay, page 86</ref>
47.91	Template:Flagathlete	L4	24 July 2022	World Championships	Eugene	<ref>"World Athletics Championships Oregon'22 - 4 x 400 Metres Relay Women - Final", World Athletics, 24 July 2022. Retrieved 21 September 2025.</ref>
48.00	Template:Flagathlete	L4 Template:Ref	3 August 2024	Summer Olympics	Saint-Denis	<ref>"Athletics – 4 x 400m Relay Mixed – Final – Results – Revised", Olympics.com, 5 August 2024. Retrieved 6 August 2024.</ref>
48.01	Template:Flagathlete	L2	2 September 2007	World Championships	Osaka	<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
48.08	Template:Flagathlete	L4	1 October 1988	Summer Olympics	Seoul	<ref name=allathwom/>
48.1	Template:Flagathlete	L4	12 May 2019	IAAF World Relays	Yokohama	<ref>Race analysis 4x400 Metres Women - Final</ref>

• ^{Template:Note}Relay splits are typically faster because athletes have a running start and do not need to react to the gun if they are not the leadoff leg.
• ^{Template:Note} World Athletics reports a split time of 42.94, which is based on "photo-finish pictures taken at the start and finish of Johnson’s leg supplied by Seiko. Using different methods, the DLV Biomechanics Report from Stuttgart 1993 variously showed timings of 42.91 and 42.92.<ref name=oreg22stutt93/>
• ^{Template:Note} Run in a mixed 4 x 400 metres relay race.

Most successful athletes

3 or more 400-metre victories at the Olympic Games and World Championships:

• 6 wins: Michael Johnson (USA) - Olympic champion in 1996 and 2000, world champion in 1993, 1995, 1997 and 1999.
• 4 wins: Marie-Jose Perec (FRA) - Olympic champion in 1992 and 1996, world champion in 1991 and 1995.
• 3 wins: Cathy Freeman (AUS) - Olympic champion in 2000, world champion in 1997 and 1999.
• 3 wins: Jeremy Wariner (USA) - Olympic champion in 2004, world champion in 2005 and 2007.
• 3 wins: Christine Ohuruogu (GBR) - Olympic champion in 2008, world champion in 2007 and 2013.
• 3 wins: LaShawn Merritt (USA) - Olympic champion in 2008, world champion in 2009 and 2013.
• 3 wins: Wayde van Niekerk (RSA) - Olympic champion in 2016, world champion in 2015 and 2017.
• 3 wins: Shaunae Miller-Uibo (BAH) - Olympic champion in 2016 and 2020, world champion in 2022.

The Olympic champion has frequently won a second gold medal in the 4 × 400 metres relay. This has been accomplished 14 times by men; Charles Reidpath, Ray Barbuti, Bill Carr, George Rhoden, Charles Jenkins, Otis Davis, Mike Larrabee, Lee Evans, Viktor Markin, Alonzo Babers, Steve Lewis, Quincy Watts, Jeremy Wariner and LaShawn Merritt; and 4 times by women; Monika Zehrt, Valerie Brisco-Hooks, Olga Bryzgina and Sanya Richards-Ross. All but Rhoden, Markin, Zehrt and Bryzgina ran on American relay teams. Injured after his double in 1996, Johnson also accomplished the feat in 2000 only to have it disqualified when his teammate Antonio Pettigrew admitted to doping.

World Indoor Championships medalists

Men

1985 ParisTemplate:Ref label	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete
1987 Indianapolis Template:DetailsLink	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete
1989 Budapest Template:DetailsLink	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete
1991 Seville Template:DetailsLink	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete
1993 Toronto Template:DetailsLink	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete
1995 Barcelona Template:DetailsLink	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete
1997 Paris Template:DetailsLink	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete
1999 Maebashi Template:DetailsLink	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete
2001 Lisbon Template:DetailsLink	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete
2003 Birmingham Template:DetailsLink	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete Template:Flagathlete
2004 Budapest Template:DetailsLink	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete
2006 Moscow Template:DetailsLink	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete
2008 Valencia Template:DetailsLink	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete
2010 Doha Template:DetailsLink	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete
2012 Istanbul Template:DetailsLink	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete
2014 Sopot Template:DetailsLink	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete
2016 Portland Template:DetailsLink	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete
2018 Birmingham Template:DetailsLink	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete
2022 Belgrade Template:DetailsLink	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete
2024 Glasgow Template:DetailsLink	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete
2025 Nanjing Template:DetailsLink	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete

Women

1985 ParisTemplate:Ref label	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete
1987 Indianapolis Template:DetailsLink	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete
1989 Budapest Template:DetailsLink	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete
1991 Seville Template:DetailsLink	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete
1993 Toronto Template:DetailsLink	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete
1995 Barcelona Template:DetailsLink	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete
1997 Paris Template:DetailsLink	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete
1999 Maebashi Template:DetailsLink	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete
2001 Lisbon Template:DetailsLink	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete
2003 Birmingham Template:DetailsLink	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete
2004 Budapest Template:DetailsLink	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete
2006 Moscow Template:DetailsLink	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete
2008 Valencia Template:DetailsLink	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete
2010 Doha Template:DetailsLink	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete
2012 Istanbul Template:DetailsLink	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete
2014 Sopot Template:DetailsLink	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete
2016 Portland Template:DetailsLink	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete
2018 Birmingham Template:DetailsLink	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete
2022 Belgrade Template:DetailsLink	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete
2024 Glasgow Template:DetailsLink	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete
2025 Nanjing Template:DetailsLink	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete	Template:Flagathlete

• ^{Template:Note label} Known as the World Indoor Games

Season's bests

Men

Year	Time	Athlete	Place
1966	44.82 Template:AthAbbr	Template:Flagathlete	Kingston
1967	44.74 Template:AthAbbr Template:AthAbbr	Template:Flagathlete	San Jose
1968	43.86 Template:AthAbbr	Template:Flagathlete	Mexico City
1969	44.67 Template:AthAbbr	Template:Flagathlete	Knoxville
1970	45.01	Template:Flagathlete	Edinburgh
1971	44.44 Template:AthAbbr Template:AthAbbr	Template:Flagathlete	Eugene
1972	44.34 Template:AthAbbr	Template:Flagathlete	Eugene
1973	44.85 Template:AthAbbr	Template:Flagathlete	Baton Rouge
1974	44.94 Template:AthAbbr Template:AthAbbr	Template:Flagathlete	Mexico City
1975	44.45 Template:AthAbbr	Template:Flagathlete	Mexico City
1976	44.26	Template:Flagathlete	Montreal
1977	44.65	Template:Flagathlete	La Habana
1978	44.27 Template:AthAbbr	Template:Flagathlete	Medellín
1979	44.92	Template:Flagathlete	Stuttgart
1980	44.60	Template:Flagathlete	Moscow
1981	44.58	Template:Flagathlete	Baton Rouge
1982	44.68	Template:Flagathlete	Indianapolis
1983	44.50	Template:Flagathlete	München
1984	44.27	Template:Flagathlete	Los Angeles
1985	44.47	Template:Flagathlete	Canberra
1986	44.30	Template:Flagathlete	Indianapolis
1987	44.10	Template:Flagathlete	Columbus
1988	43.29	Template:Flagathlete	Zurich
1989	44.27	Template:Flagathlete	Houston
1990	44.06	Template:Flagathlete	Seville
1991	44.17	Template:Flagathlete	Lausanne
1992	43.50	Template:Flagathlete	Barcelona
1993	43.65	Template:Flagathlete	Stuttgart
1994	43.90	Template:Flagathlete	Madrid
1995	43.39	Template:Flagathlete	Gothenburg
1996	43.44	Template:Flagathlete	Atlanta
1997	43.75	Template:Flagathlete	Waco
1998	43.68	Template:Flagathlete	Zürich
1999	43.18	Template:Flagathlete	Sevilla
2000	43.68	Template:Flagathlete	Sacramento
2001	44.28	Template:Flagathlete	Los Angeles
2002	44.45	Template:Flagathlete	Belém
2003	44.33	Template:Flagathlete	Palo Alto
2004	44.00	Template:Flagathlete	Athens
2005	43.93	Template:Flagathlete	Helsinki
2006	43.62	Template:Flagathlete	Rome
2007	43.45	Template:Flagathlete	Osaka
2008	43.75	Template:Flagathlete	Beijing
2009	44.06	Template:Flagathlete	Berlin
2010	44.13	Template:Flagathlete	Zürich
2011	44.35	Template:Flagathlete	Daegu
2012	43.94	Template:Flagathlete	London
2013	43.74	Template:Flagathlete	Moscow
2014	43.74	Template:Flagathlete	Lausanne
2015	43.48	Template:Flagathlete	Beijing
2016	43.03	Template:Flagathlete	Rio de Janeiro
2017	43.62	Template:Flagathlete	Lausanne
2018	43.61	Template:Flagathlete	Eugene
2019	43.45	Template:Flagathlete	Torrance
2020	44.91	Template:Flagathlete	Marietta
2021	43.85	Template:Flagathlete	Eugene
		Template:Flagathlete	Tokyo
2022	43.56	Template:Flagathlete	Eugene
2023	43.74	Template:Flagathlete	Székesfehérvár
2024	43.40	Template:Flagathlete	Saint-Denis
2025	43.53	Template:Flagathlete	Tokyo

Women

Year	Time	Athlete	Place
1966
1967
1968	52.03 Template:AthAbbr	Template:Flagathlete	Mexico City
1969	51.72	Template:Flagathlete	Athens
1970	51.02	Template:Flagathlete	Edinburgh
1971	52.14	Template:Flagathlete	Helsinki
1972	51.08	Template:Flagathlete	Munich
1973	51.27	Template:Flagathlete	Helsinki
1974	50.14	Template:Flagathlete	Rome
1975	50.50	Template:Flagathlete	Nice
1976	49.28	Template:Flagathlete	Montreal
1977	49.52	Template:Flagathlete	Düsseldorf
1978	48.94	Template:Flagathlete	Prague
1979	48.60	Template:Flagathlete	Potsdam
1980	48.88	Template:Flagathlete	Moscow
1981	48.61	Template:Flagathlete	Rome
1982	48.16	Template:Flagathlete	Athens
1983	47.99	Template:Flagathlete	Helsinki
1984	48.16	Template:Flagathlete	Prague
1985	47.60	Template:Flagathlete	Canberra
1986	48.22	Template:Flagathlete	Stuttgart
1987	49.38	Template:Flagathlete	Rome
1988	48.65	Template:Flagathlete	Seoul
1989	50.01	Template:Flagathlete	Duisburg
1990	49.50	Template:Flagathlete	Split
1991	49.32	Template:Flagathlete	Frankfurt
1992	48.83	Template:Flagathlete	Frankfurt
1993	49.81	Template:Flagathlete	Beijing
1994	49.77	Template:Flagathlete	Paris
1995	49.28	Template:Flagathlete	Gothenburg
1996	48.25	Template:Flagathlete	Atlanta
1997	49.39	Template:Flagathlete	Oslo
1998	49.29	Template:Flagathlete	Rome
1999	49.62	Template:Flagathlete	Lagos
2000	49.11	Template:Flagathlete	Sydney
2001	49.59	Template:Flagathlete	Athens
2002	49.16	Template:Flagathlete	Zürich
2003	48.89	Template:Flagathlete	Saint-Denis
2004	49.07	Template:Flagathlete	Berlin
2005	48.92	Template:Flagathlete	Zürich
2006	48.70	Template:Flagathlete	Athens
2007	49.27	Template:Flagathlete	Berlin
			Stuttgart
2008	49.62	Template:Flagathlete	Beijing
2009	48.83	Template:Flagathlete	Brussels
2010	49.64	Template:Flagathlete	Des Moines
2011	49.35	Template:Flagathlete	Cheboksary
2012	49.16	Template:Flagathlete	Cheboksary
2013	49.33	Template:Flagathlete	Monaco
2014	49.48	Template:Flagathlete	Sacramento
2015	49.26	Template:Flagathlete	Beijing
2016	49.44	Template:Flagathlete	Rio de Janeiro
2017	49.46	Template:Flagathlete	Brussels
2018	48.97	Template:Flagathlete	Monaco
2019	48.14	Template:Flagathlete	Doha
2020	50.42 Template:AthAbbr	Template:Flagathlete	Pretoria
2021	48.36	Template:Flagathlete	Tokyo
2022	48.99	Template:Flagathlete	Zürich
2023	48.74	Template:Flagathlete	Eugene
2024	48.17	Template:Flagathlete	Saint-Denis
2025	47.78	Template:Flagathlete	Tokyo

External links

• IAAF list of 400-metres records in XML
• All-time Masters men's 400 m list
• All-time Masters women's 400 m list