400 m is a common track running event. It is a sprint distance. On a standard outdoor running track, it is exactly one lap around the track. Runners start in staggered positions and race in separate lanes for the entire course. In many countries athletes previously competed in the 440 yard dash (402.336 m) instead of the 400 metres, though this distance is now obsolete.

The current men's world record is held by Michael Johnson, with a time of 43.18 seconds. The world indoor record holder is Kerron Clement, in 44.57 seconds. The current women's world record is held by Marita Koch, with a time of 47.60 seconds. The reigning World Champions are LaShawn Merritt and Sanya Richards. The reigning Olympic champions are LaShawn Merritt and Christine Ohuruogu. The men's Paralympic world record of 46.25 seconds is held by Oscar Pistorius.

An Olympic double of 200 metres and 400 m was first achieved by Valerie Brisco-Hooks in 1984, and later by Michael Johnson from the United States and Marie-José Pérec of France both 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.

Famous 400 m runners

Top all-time athletes - men

(Updated 16 June 2009.)

Rank	Time	Athlete	Nation	Date	Location
1.	43.18	Michael Johnson		26 August 1999	Seville
2.	43.29	Harry 'Butch' Reynolds		17 August 1988	Zürich
3.	43.45	Jeremy Wariner		31 August 2007	Osaka
4.	43.50	Quincy Watts		5 August 1992	Barcelona
5.	43.75	LaShawn Merritt		21 August 2008	Beijing
6.	43.81	Danny Everett		26 June 1992	New Orleans
7.	43.86	Lee Evans		18 October 1968	Mexico City
8.	43.87	Steve Lewis		28 September 1988	Seoul
9.	43.97	Larry James		18 October 1968	Mexico City
10.	44.05	Angelo Taylor		23 June 2007	Indianapolis

Top all-time athletes - women

(Updated 18 August 2009.)

Rank	Time	Athlete	Nation	Date	Location
1.	47.60	Marita Koch		6 October 1985	Canberra
2.	47.99	Jarmila Kratochvílová		10 August 1983	Helsinki
3.	48.25	Marie-José Pérec		29 July 1996	Atlanta
4.	48.27	Olga Vladykina-Bryzgina		6 October 1985	Canberra
5.	48.59	Taťána Kocembová		10 August 1983	Helsinki
6.	48.63	Cathy Freeman		29 July 1996	Atlanta
7.	48.70	Sanya Richards		16 September 2006	Athens
8.	48.83	Valerie Brisco-Hooks		6 August 1984	Los Angeles
9.	48.89	Ana Guevara		27 August 2003	Paris Saint-Denis
10.	49.05	Chandra Cheeseborough		6 August 1984	Los Angeles

Other well-known athletes

• Patrick Harty
• Alberto Juantorena
• Eric Liddell
• Archie Williams
• Irena Szewinska
• Christine Ohuruogu
• Eric Milazar

See also

• World record progression 400 metres men

External links

• All-time Masters men's 400 m list
• All-time Masters women's 400 m list

References

1. Pistorius faces Olympic rejection. BBC Sport (2007-12-20). Retrieved on 2009-01-29.