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400 metres hurdles

{{Short description|Track and field hurdling event}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}

{{Infobox athletics event

| event = 400 metres hurdles

| image = Naisten 400 m aidat.jpg

| image_upright = 1.1

| caption = Women's 400m hurdles

| WRmen = {{flagicon|NOR}} Karsten Warholm 45.94 (2021)

| ORmen = {{flagicon|NOR}} Karsten Warholm 45.94 (2021)

| CRmen = {{flagicon|BRA}} Alison dos Santos 46.29 (2022)

| WRwomen = {{flagicon|USA}} Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone 50.37

(2024)

| ORwomen = {{flagicon|USA}} Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone 50.37 (2024)

| CRwomen = {{flagicon|USA}} Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone 50.68 (2022)

}}

The 400 metres hurdles is a track and field hurdling event. The event has been on the Olympic athletics programme since 1900 for men and since 1984 for women.

On a standard outdoor track, 400 metres is the length of the inside lane, once around the stadium. Runners stay in their lanes the entire way after starting out of the blocks and must clear ten hurdles that are evenly spaced around the track. The hurdles are positioned and weighted so that they fall forward if bumped into with sufficient force, to prevent injury to the runners. Although there is no longer any penalty for knocking hurdles over, runners prefer to clear them cleanly, as touching them during the race slows runners down.

The current men's and women's world record holders are Karsten Warholm with 45.94 seconds and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone with 50.37 seconds. Compared to the 400 metres run, the hurdles race takes the men about three seconds longer and the women four seconds longer. Men clear hurdles that are {{convert|36|in|cm|1}} high, while women negotiate {{convert|30|in|cm|1}} barriers.

The 400 m hurdles was held for both sexes at the inaugural IAAF World Championships in Athletics. The first championship for women came at the 1980 World Championships in Athletics – being held as a one-off due to the lack of a race at the 1980 Summer Olympics.

History

{{Unreferenced-section|date=October 2023}}

{{see also|Men's 400 metres hurdles world record progression|Women's 400 metres hurdles world record progression}}

The first awards in a men's 400 m hurdles race were given in 1860 when a race was held in Oxford, England, over a course of 440 yards (402.336 m). While running the course, participants had to clear twelve wooden hurdles, over 100 centimetres tall, that had been spaced in even intervals.

To reduce the risk of injury, somewhat more lightweight constructions were introduced in 1895 that runners could push over. However, until 1935 runners were disqualified if they pushed over more than three hurdles in a race and records were only officially accepted if the runner in question had cleared all hurdles clean and left them all standing.

The 400 m hurdles became an Olympic event at the 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris, France. At the same time, the race was standardized; thus, virtually identical races could be held and the finish times compared to one other. As a result, the official distance was fixed to 400 metres, or one lap of the stadium, and the number of hurdles was reduced to ten. The official height of the hurdles was set to {{convert|36|in|cm|1}}. The hurdles are now placed on the course with a run-up to the first hurdle of 45 metres, distance between the hurdles of 35 metres each, and home stretch from the last hurdle to finish line of 40 metres.

The first documented 400 m hurdles race for women took place in 1971. In 1974, the International Amateur Athletics Federation (IAAF), now known as World Athletics, introduced the event officially as a discipline, with hurdles at the lower height of {{convert|30|in|cm|1}}. The women's race was not run at the Olympics until the 1984 Summer Games in Los Angeles where it was first staged with the first Men's World Champion having been crowned the year before at the inaugural World Athletics Championships. A special edition of the Women's 400m Hurdles took place in the 1980 IAAF World Championships in Athletics in response to the Women's 400m Hurdles not being included at the boycotted 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, and Liberty Bell Classic.

Many athletic commentators and officials have often brought up the idea of lifting the height of the women's 400 m hurdles to incorporate a greater requirement of hurdling skill. This is a view held by German athletic coach Norbert Stein, "All this means that the women's hurdles for specialists, who are the target group to be dealt with in this discussion, is considerably depreciated in skill demands when compared to the men's hurdles. It should not be possible in the women's hurdles that the winner is an athlete whose performance in the flat sprint is demonstrably excellent but whose technique of hurdling is only moderate and whose anthropometric characteristics are not optimal. This was the case at the World Championships in Seville and the same problem can often be seen at international and national meetings."{{Citation needed|date=April 2009}}

Hurdling technique

{{More citations needed section|date=October 2020}}

In terms of technique and endurance, the 400-metre hurdles is arguably the most demanding event in the sprints and hurdles group.{{Cite journal|last1=Lindeman |first1=Ralph |editor1-last=McGill |editor1-first=Kevin |year=1995 |title=400 Meter Hurdle Theory |journal=Track Coach |publisher=Track & Field News |number=131 |pages=4169{{Ndash}}4171, 4196 |location=El Camino Real |language=en |issn=0041-0314 |oclc=477310277 |url=https://archive.org/details/sim_track-coach_spring-1995_131/page/4169 |access-date=3 August 2021 |url-access=registration |quote=Formerly Track Technique. Spring 1995 edition. Reprinted from the October 1994 edition of the Hurdle Times newsletter published by the USATF Men's Development Committee.}}{{Rp|4169}}{{Cite journal|last1=Schiffer |first1=Jürgen |others=International Amateur Athletic Federation |year=2012 |title=The 400m Hurdles |journal=New Studies in Athletics |publisher=Meyer & Meyer Sport |volume=27 |issue=1{{Ndash}}2 |pages=9{{Ndash}}25 |location=Aachen |language=en |issn=0961-933X |oclc=751170802 |url=https://www.worldathletics.org/download/downloadnsa?filename=56881597-0299-4468-8b52-afa3636eea9b.pdf&urlslug=the-400m-hurdles |access-date=3 August 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210803094708/https://www.worldathletics.org/download/downloadnsa?filename=56881597-0299-4468-8b52-afa3636eea9b.pdf&urlslug=the-400m-hurdles |archive-date=3 August 2021}}{{Rp|9}} Athletes must be able to run a fast 400-metre flat time, maintain a good hurdling technique, and have a unique awareness of stride pattern between hurdles.{{R|"Schiffer 2012"|p=9}} The ideal time difference between an athlete's 400 time and their 400 hurdles time should be between 1.5 and 3 seconds. This variation depends on the specific qualities of the athlete. At the professional level, the women's hurdles are smaller (76cm) than the men's (91cm) which usually makes the 400-400hs average time difference smaller for female athletes. In 2024, the two fastest 400 hurdlers in the world (Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and Femke Bol) are also two of the fastest women in the open 400, based on their relay split compared to other athletes. To be able to maintain a good hurdling technique throughout the race it is important to work on step patterns. The number of steps an athlete takes during a 400 hurdles is called rhythm. Most 400 hurdlers know how many steps they are going to take in between each hurdle, starting from the block. The distance between the block and the first hurdle is 45 meters, which allows the fastest women to take 21 to 23 steps, while the fastest men can get down to 19 or 20. After the first one, the hurdles are 35 meters apart, and the tenth one is placed at 40 meters from the finish line. The internal steps from hurdle two to hurdle ten vary depending on the athlete's abilities, speed, technique, and personal preferences. The most skilled athletes can change their rhythm depending on how fast they need, or want, to run. For example, Karsten Warholm ran 13 steps up to hurdle seven, then decided to switch to 15 steps for the last three hurdles at the Paris Olympics, because he is more comfortable going over hurdles with his dominant leg. An even number of steps in between the hurdles implies alternating which leg goes over it first (lead leg), while an uneven number of steps allows for going over the hurdles with the same leg. Furthermore, athletes must possess anaerobic endurance over the final 150 to 100 metres of the race as, at this point, lactate (the conjugate base of lactic acid) will accumulate in the body from anaerobic glycolysis.{{Cite journal|last1=Iskra |first1=Janus |others=International Amateur Athletic Federation |year=1991 |title=Endurance in the 400 metres Hurdles |journal=New Studies in Athletics |publisher=Meyer & Meyer Sport |volume=6 |issue=2 |pages=43{{Ndash}}50 |location=Aachen |language=en |issn=0961-933X |oclc=751170802 |url=https://www.worldathletics.org/download/downloadnsa?filename=cbd830c1-bddd-48a6-bd8c-84c60bd785f3.pdf&urlslug=endurance-in-the-400m-hurdles |access-date=4 August 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210804055933/https://www.worldathletics.org/download/downloadnsa?filename=cbd830c1-bddd-48a6-bd8c-84c60bd785f3.pdf&urlslug=endurance-in-the-400m-hurdles |archive-date=4 August 2021}}{{Rp|43}}

=Block start=

When preparing to hurdle, the blocks should be set so that the athlete arrives at the first hurdle leading on the desired leg without inserting a stutter step. A stutter step is when the runner has to chop his or her stride down to arrive on the "correct" leg for take off. Throughout the race, any adjustments to stride length stride speed should be made several strides out from the hurdle because a stutter or being too far from the hurdle at takeoff will result in loss of momentum and speed.

=Hurdling=

File:Géo André Coolombes 1922.jpg jumps over a barrier during the 400 metres hurdles in 1922]]

At the beginning of the take-off, the knee must be driven toward the hurdle and the foot then extended. The leg position when extended must be stretched out, in a position of a split. The knee should be slightly bent when crossing the hurdle. Unless an athlete's body has great flexibility, the knee must be slightly bent to allow a forward body lean. Unlike the 110m hurdles, a significant forward body lean is not that necessary due to the hurdles being lower. However, the trail leg must be kept bent and short to provide a quick lever action allowing a fast hurdle clearance. The knee should pull through under the armpit and should not be flat across the top of the hurdle.

It is also important that the hurdler does not reach out on the last stride before the hurdle as this will result in a longer bound being made to clear the hurdle. This will also result in a loss of momentum if the foot lands well in front of the center of gravity.

=Stride length=

Using a left lead leg on the bends allows the hurdler to run closer to the inside of the lane and cover a shorter distance. Additionally, if the left leg is used for the lead, then the athlete's upper body can be leaned to the left, making it easier to bring the trail leg through. Additionally, an athlete hurdling with a right leg lead around the bends must take care that they do not inadvertently trail their foot or toe around the hurdle rather than passing over the top, which would lead to a disqualification from the race. Depending on the height and strength of the athlete, men work toward a stride pattern of 13 to 15 steps between each hurdle, and women work toward a stride pattern of 15 to 17. This does not include the landing step from the previous hurdle. Edwin Moses was the first man to keep 13 strides throughout an entire race. Weaker athletes will typically hold a longer step pattern throughout the race so that they do not bound or reach with each step, which also results in a loss of speed. These patterns are ideal because it allows the hurdler to take off from their predominant leg throughout the race without switching legs. However, fatigue from the race will knock athletes off their stride pattern and force runners to switch legs. At an early age, many coaches train their athletes to hurdle with both legs. This is a useful skill to learn since as a runner tires, their stride length may decrease, resulting in the need either to add a stutter stride, or to take a hurdle on the other leg. Even though some athletes prefer using their dominant leg as lead, every professional knows how to go over hurdles with both legs. Some athletes have started choosing an even rhythm (Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone does 14 steps for most of her race).

Continental Records

  • Updated 14 July 2024.{{cite web |url=https://www.worldathletics.org/records/by-discipline/hurdles/400-metres-hurdles/outdoor/men |title=Men's outdoor 400 Metres Hurdles{{!}} Records |website=worldathletics.org |publisher=World Athletics |access-date=20 July 2022}}{{cite web |url=https://www.worldathletics.org/records/by-discipline/hurdles/400-metres-hurdles/outdoor/women |title=Women's outdoor 400 Metres Hurdles {{!}} Records |website=worldathletcs.org |publisher=World Athletics |access-date=20 July 2022}}

class="wikitable"
rowspan=2| Area

! colspan="3" | Men

! colspan="3" |Women

Time (s)

! Athlete

! Nation

! Time (s)

! Athlete

! Nation

Africa {{small|(records)}}47.10Samuel Matete{{ZAM}}52.90Nezha Bidouane{{MAR}}
Asia {{small|(records)}}46.98Abderrahman Samba{{QAT}}53.09Kemi Adekoya{{BHR}}
Europe {{small|(records)}}45.94 {{WR}}Karsten Warholm{{NOR}}50.95Femke Bol{{NED}}
North, Central America
and Caribbean {{small|(records)}}		46.17Rai Benjamin{{USA}}50.37 {{WR}}Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone{{USA}}
Oceania {{small|(records)}}48.28Rohan Robinson{{AUS}}53.17Debbie Flintoff-King{{AUS}}
South America {{small|(records)}}46.29Alison dos Santos{{BRA}}53.69Gianna Woodruff{{PAN}}

All-time top 25

style="wikitable"

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

style="background: #f6F5CE" |- denotes top performance for athletes in the top 25 400m hurdles times
- denotes lesser performances, still in the top 25 400m hurdles times, by repeat athletes
style="background: #CCFFCC" |- denotes top performance (only) for other top 25 athletes who fall outside the top 25 400m hurdles times

=Men=

  • Correct as of August 2024.{{cite web|last=Larsson|first=Peter|date=10 August 2019|title=All-time men's best 400m hurdles|url=http://www.alltime-athletics.com/m_400hok.htm|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200915011228/http://www.alltime-athletics.com/m_400hok.htm|archive-date=15 September 2020|access-date=12 August 2019|website=Track and Field all-time Performances}}{{cite web|url=https://worldathletics.org/records/all-time-toplists/hurdles/400-metres-hurdles/outdoor/men/senior?regionType=world&timing=electronic&page=1&bestResultsOnly=false&firstDay=1899-12-31&lastDay=2021-11-20 |title=All time Top Lists: Senior Outdoor, 400 Metres Hurdles, Men |publisher=World Athletics |accessdate=21 November 2021}} (select the "All" option when filtering by athlete)

class="wikitable sortable"

! {{abbr|Ath.#|Athlete rank}} !! {{abbr|Perf.#|Performance rank}} !! Time (s) !! Athlete !! Nation !!data-sort-type=date| Date !! Place !! class="unsortable" | {{refh}}

bgcolor="#f6F5CE"

| align=center|1

align=center|1align=center|45.94Karsten Warholm{{NOR}}3 August 2021Tokyo{{cite web|title=Men's 400m Hurdles Results|url=https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/olympic-games/resOG2020-/pdf/OG2020-/ATH/OG2020-_ATH_C73A_ATHM400MHURD----------FNL-000100--.pdf|website=olympics.com|date=3 August 2021|access-date=18 August 2021|archive-date=3 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210803042807/https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/olympic-games/resOG2020-/pdf/OG2020-/ATH/OG2020-_ATH_C73A_ATHM400MHURD----------FNL-000100--.pdf|url-status=dead}}
bgcolor="#f6F5CE"

| align=center|2

align=center|2align=center|46.17Rai Benjamin{{USA}}3 August 2021Tokyo
bgcolor="#f6F5CE"

| align="center" |3

align="center" |3align="center" |46.29Alison dos Santos{{BRA}}19 July 2022Eugene{{cite web|title=Men's 400m Hurdles Final Results|url=https://media.aws.iaaf.org/competitiondocuments/pdf/7137279/AT-400H-M-f----.RS6.pdf|work=World Athletics|date=19 July 2022|access-date=22 July 2022}}
rowspan="15" |

|align=center|4

|align=center|46.39

|Benjamin #2

| rowspan="15" |

|16 September 2023

|Eugene

|{{cite web|title=400m Hurdles Result|url=https://livecache.sportresult.com/node/binaryData/ATH_PROD/EUGENE2023/PDF_ATHM400MHURDDIAMOND---FNL-000100--_C73B1.PDF?h=vydgFn/HZTmn9Ps8BTiYeVbysjk=/|work=sportresult.com|date=16 September 2023|access-date=19 September 2023}}{{dead link|date=August 2024}}

rowspan="2" align="center" |5

| rowspan="2" align="center" |46.46

|Benjamin #3

|30 June 2024

|Eugene

|{{Cite web|title=McLaughlin-Levrone breaks world 400m hurdles record at US Trials|url=https://worldathletics.org/competitions/olympic-games/paris24/news/article/sydney-mclaughlin-levrone-world-400m-hurdles-record-us-olympic-trials|author=Jessi Gabriel|date=30 June 2024|access-date=1 July 2024|website=World Athletics}}

Benjamin #4

|9 August 2024

|Saint-Denis

|{{Cite web |title=Paulino and Benjamin dazzle over one lap to win Olympic golds in Paris {{!}} News {{!}} Paris 24 {{!}} Olympic Games |url=https://worldathletics.org/competitions/olympic-games/paris24/news/article/paris-2024-olympics-evening-day-9-paulino-benjamin-thiam-diaz-chebet |access-date=2024-08-09 |website=worldathletics.org}}

align="center" |7

| align="center" |46.51

|Warholm #2

|21 July 2023

|Monaco

|{{cite web|title=400m Hurdles Results|url=https://livecache.sportresult.com/node/binaryData/ATH_PROD/MONACO2023/PDF_ATHM400MHURDDIAMOND---FNL-000100--_C73B1.PDF?h=sG+gPFrLbbmsBnVL9tWqU3hoCHg=|publisher=sportresult.com|date=21 July 2023|access-date=21 July 2023}}{{dead link|date=August 2024}}

align="center" |8

| align="center" |46.52

|Warholm #3

|15 June 2023

|Oslo

|{{Cite web|title=Warholm and Ingebrigtsen outstanding in Oslo|url=https://worldathletics.org/news/report/bislett-games-oslo-warholm-ingebrigtsen-haylom-bol|publisher=World Athletics|author=Cathal Dennehy|date=15 June 2023|access-date=16 June 2023}}

align="center" |9

| align="center" |46.53

|Warholm #4

|16 September 2023

|Eugene

|

align="center" |10

| align="center" |46.62

|Benjamin #5

|9 July 2023

|Eugene

|{{cite web|title=400m Hurdles Results|url=https://www.watchathletics.com/page/4396/men-s-400m-hurdles-results-usatf-outdoor-championships-2023|website=watchathletics.com|date=9 July 2023|access-date=10 July 2023}}

align="center" |11

| align="center" |46.63

|dos Santos #2

|30 May 2024

|Oslo

|{{cite web|title=400m Hurdles Result|url=https://ps-cache.web.swisstiming.com/node/binaryData/ATH_PROD/OSLO_2024/PDF_ATHM400MHURDDIAMOND---FNL-000100--_C73B1.PDF?h=a0Nl+0S8Gn3oinCxuPPaGg8a9Ds=|website=swisstiming.com|date=30 May 2024|access-date=30 May 2024}}

align="center" |12

| align="center" |46.64

|Benjamin #6

|18 May 2024

|Los Angeles

|{{Cite web |title=Benjamin and McLaughlin-Levrone impress in Los Angeles {{!}} REPORT {{!}} World Athletics |url=https://worldathletics.org/news/report/los-angeles-grand-prix-2024-benjamin-mclaughlin-levrone |access-date=2024-05-19 |website=worldathletics.org}}

align="center" |13

| align="center" |46.67

|Benjamin #7

|12 July 2024

|Monaco

|{{cite web|title=400m Hurdles Result|url=https://ps-cache.web.swisstiming.com/node/binaryData/ATH_PROD/MONACO_2024/PDF_ATHM400MHURDDIAMOND---FNL-000100--_C73B1.PDF?h=ie9GIVWuUvSjKEXowpj3aaV5pgo=|website=swisstiming.com|date=12 July 2024|access-date=17 July 2024}}

rowspan="2" align="center" |14rowspan="2" align="center" |46.70Warholm #51 July 2021Oslo
Warholm #630 May 2024Oslo{{cite web|title=400m Hurdles Result|url=https://ps-cache.web.swisstiming.com/node/binaryData/ATH_PROD/OSLO_2024/PDF_ATHM400MHURDDIAMOND---FNL-000100--_C73B1.PDF?h=a0Nl+0S8Gn3oinCxuPPaGg8a9Ds=|website=swisstiming.com|date=30 May 2024|access-date=30 May 2024}}
align="center" |16

| align="center" |46.72

|dos Santos #3

|3 August 2021

|Tokyo

|

align="center" |17

| align="center" |46.73

|Warholm #7

|12 July 2024

|Monaco

|{{cite web|title=400m Hurdles Result|url=https://ps-cache.web.swisstiming.com/node/binaryData/ATH_PROD/MONACO_2024/PDF_ATHM400MHURDDIAMOND---FNL-000100--_C73B1.PDF?h=ie9GIVWuUvSjKEXowpj3aaV5pgo=|website=swisstiming.com|date=12 July 2024|access-date=17 July 2024}}

align="center" |18

| align="center" |46.76

|Warholm #8

|6 July 2023

|Jessheim

|{{Cite web |last=Fystro-Gjerde |first=Yngve |date=2023-07-06 |title=Karsten Warholm med sitt fjerde raskaste løp nokosinne: – Det er tullete |url=https://www.nrk.no/sport/karsten-warholm-med-sitt-fjerde-raskaste-lop-nokosinne_-_-det-er-tullete-1.16474668 |access-date=2023-07-06 |website=NRK |language=nn-NO}}

bgcolor="#f6F5CE"

| align="center" |4

align="center" |19align="center" |46.78Kevin Young{{USA}}6 August 1992Barcelona

|

rowspan="6" |

| align="center" |20

| align="center" |46.80

|dos Santos #4

| rowspan="6" |

|30 June 2022

|Stockholm

|{{Cite news|title=Duplantis scales 6.16m in Stockholm for highest ever outdoor vault|url=https://www.worldathletics.org/competitions/diamond-league/news/stockholm-galan-duplantis-outdoor-vault-bol-santos|publisher=World Athletics|author=Simon Turnbull|date=30 June 2022|access-date=1 July 2022}}

align="center" |21

| align="center" |46.83

|Benjamin #8

|27 June 2021

|Eugene

|

align="center" |22

| align="center" |46.86

|dos Santos #5

|10 May 2024

|Doha

|{{Cite web|title=400m Hurdles Results|url=https://ps-cache.web.swisstiming.com/node/binaryData/ATH_PROD/DOHA_2024/PDF_ATHM400MHURDDIAMOND---FNL-000100--_C73B1.PDF?h=z4Q3vqBRht0qV+/EfXY8GC6hwTA=|work=swisstiming.com|date=10 May 2024|access-date=11 May 2024}}

align="center" |23align="center" |46.87Warholm #923 August 2020Stockholm
rowspan="2" align="center" |24

| rowspan="2" align="center" |46.89

|Benjamin #9

|19 July 2022

|Eugene

|{{cite web|title=Men's 400m Hurdles Final Results|url=https://media.aws.iaaf.org/competitiondocuments/pdf/7137279/AT-400H-M-f----.RS6.pdf|work=World Athletics|date=19 July 2022|access-date=22 July 2022}}

Warholm #1023 August 2023Budapest{{cite web|title=Men's 400m Hurdles Final Results|url=https://media.aws.iaaf.org/competitiondocuments/pdf/7138987/AT-400H-M-f----.RS6.pdf|work=World Athletics|date=23 August 2023|access-date=24 August 2023}}
bgcolor="#CCFFCC"

| align="center" |5

rowspan="21" align="center" |align="center" |46.98Abderrahman Samba{{QAT}}30 June 2018Paris{{cite web|title=400m Hurdles Results|url=http://static.sportresult.com/sports/at/data/2018/paris/re0270040.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180701140241/http://static.sportresult.com/sports/at/data/2018/paris/re0270040.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=1 July 2018|work=sportresult.com|date=30 June 2018|access-date=1 July 2018}}
bgcolor="#CCFFCC"

| align="center" |6

align="center" |47.02Edwin Moses{{USA}}31 August 1983Koblenz
bgcolor="#CCFFCC"

| align="center" |7

align="center" |47.03Bryan Bronson{{USA}}21 June 1998New Orleans
bgcolor="#CCFFCC"

|align=center|8

|align=center|47.08

|Kyron McMaster

|{{IVB}}

|3 August 2021

|Tokyo

|

bgcolor="#CCFFCC"

| align=center|9

align="center" |47.10Samuel Matete{{ZAM}}7 August 1991Zürich
bgcolor="#CCFFCC"

| align="center" |10

align="center" |47.19Andre Phillips{{USA}}25 September 1988Seoul
bgcolor=#CCFFCC

| rowspan="2" align="center" |11

rowspan="2" align="center" |47.23Amadou Dia Ba{{SEN}}25 September 1988Seoul
bgcolor=#CCFFCC

|Caleb Dean

|{{USA}}

|7 June 2024

|Eugene

|{{Cite web |title=Men 400 M Hurdles |url=https://flashresults.ncaa.com/Outdoor/2024/010-2_compiled.htm |access-date=2024-06-08 |website=flashresults.ncaa.com}}

bgcolor="#CCFFCC"

| align="center" |13

align="center" |47.24Kerron Clement{{USA}}26 June 2005Carson
bgcolor="#CCFFCC"

| rowspan="2" align="center" |14

rowspan="2" align="center" |47.25Félix Sánchez{{DOM}}29 August 2003Saint-Denis
bgcolor="#CCFFCC"Angelo Taylor{{USA}}18 August 2008Beijing
bgcolor=#CCFFCC

| align=center|16

align="center" |47.30Bershawn Jackson{{USA}}9 August 2005Helsinki
bgcolor=#CCFFCC

| align=center|17

align="center" |47.34Roshawn Clarke{{JAM}}21 August 2023Budapest{{Cite web|title=400m Hurdles Semifinal Results Summary|url=https://media.aws.iaaf.org/competitiondocuments/pdf/7138987/AT-400H-M-sf----.RS4.pdf|work=World Athletics|date=21 August 2023|access-date=21 August 2023}}
bgcolor=#CCFFCC

| align=center|18

align="center" |47.37Stéphane Diagana{{FRA}}5 July 1995Lausanne
bgcolor=#CCFFCC

|rowspan=2 align=center|19

rowspan="2" align="center" |47.38Danny Harris{{USA}}10 July 1991Lausanne
bgcolor="#CCFFCC"

|Trevor Bassitt

{{USA}}21 August 2023Budapest{{Cite web|title=400m Hurdles Semifinal Results Summary|url=https://media.aws.iaaf.org/competitiondocuments/pdf/7138987/AT-400H-M-sf----.RS4.pdf|work=World Athletics|date=21 August 2023|access-date=21 August 2023}}
bgcolor="#CCFFCC"

|align="center" |21

|align="center" |47.41

|Wilfried Happio

|{{FRA}}

|19 July 2022

|Eugene

|{{cite web|title=Men's 400m Hurdles Final Results|url=https://media.aws.iaaf.org/competitiondocuments/pdf/7137279/AT-400H-M-f----.RS6.pdf|work=World Athletics|date=19 July 2022|access-date=22 July 2022}}

bgcolor="#CCFFCC"

| rowspan=2 align="center" |22

rowspan=2 align="center" |47.42Malik James-King{{JAM}}28 June 2024Kingston{{cite web|title=Thompson and Jackson win 100m titles at Jamaican Championships|url=https://worldathletics.org/news/report/national-championships-2024-thompson-jackson|website=World Athletics|author=Noel Francis|date=29 June 2024|access-date=30 June 2024}}
bgcolor="#CCFFCC"

|Clement Ducos

{{FRA}}25 August 2024Chorzów{{cite web|title=400m Hurdles Results|url=https://ps-cache.web.swisstiming.com/node/binaryData/ATH_PROD/SILESIA_2024/PDF_ATHM400MHURDADDITIONALFNL-000100--_C73B1.PDF?h=04qF5LrI0Jo3gkFJeqCh83yzta0=|website=swisstiming.com|date=25 August 2024|access-date=28 August 2024}}
bgcolor="#CCFFCC"

| align="center" |24

align="center" |47.43James Carter{{USA}}9 August 2005Helsinki
bgcolor="#CCFFCC"

| align="center" |25

align="center" |47.48Harald Schmid{{FRG}}8 September 1982Athens

=Women=

  • Correct as of May 2025.{{cite web |title=400 Metres Hurdles Women All Time |url=https://www.iaaf.org/records/toplists/hurdles/400-metres-hurdles/outdoor/women/senior |publisher=IAAF |access-date=27 September 2019}}

class="wikitable sortable"

! {{abbr|Ath.#|Athlete rank}} !! {{abbr|Perf.#|Performance rank}} !! Time (s) !! Athlete !! Nation !! Date !! Place !! class="unsortable" | {{refh}}

bgcolor="#f6F5CE"

| align=center|1

align=center|1align=center|50.37{{Sortname|Sydney|McLaughlin-Levrone}}{{USA}}8 August 2024Saint-Denis{{cite web |title=Women's 400m Hurdles - Final results |url=https://olympics.com/OG2024/pdf/OG2024/ATH/OG2024_ATH_C73B1_ATHW400MHURD----------FNL-000100--.pdf |website=Olympics |access-date=9 August 2024 |date=8 August 2024}}{{dead link|date=January 2025}}
rowspan="2" align=center |align=center |2align=center |50.65|{{Sort|McLaughlin-Levrone, Sydney|McLaughlin-Levrone #2}}rowspan="2"|30 June 2024Eugene
align=center |3

|align=center|50.68

|{{Sort|McLaughlin-Levrone, Sydney|McLaughlin-Levrone #3}}

|22 July 2022

|Eugene

|{{cite web|title=400m Hurldes Final Results|url=https://media.aws.iaaf.org/competitiondocuments/pdf/7137279/AT-400H-W-f----.RS6.pdf|work=World Athletics|date=22 July 2022|access-date=23 July 2022}}

bgcolor="#f6F5CE"

|align=center|2

|align=center|4

| align=center |50.95

|{{Sortname|Femke|Bol}}

|{{NED}}

|14 July 2024

|La Chaux-de-Fonds

|{{Cite web |date=14 July 2024 |title=Bol breaks European 400m hurdles record in La Chaux-de-Fonds |url=https://worldathletics.org/news/report/bol-european-400m-hurdles-record-la-chaux-de-fonds |access-date=14 July 2024 |website=World Athletics}}{{Cite web |date=14 July 2024 |title=400m Hurdles Women Results |url=https://www.resisprint.ch/index.php/en/resultats/live |access-date=14 July 2024}}

rowspan=4|

| align=center |5

align=center |51.30{{Sort|Bol, Femke|Bol #2}}rowspan=4|20 July 2024London{{cite web|title=400m Hurdles Results|url=https://ps-cache.web.swisstiming.com/node/binaryData/ATH_PROD/LONDON_2024/PDF_ATHW400MHURDDIAMOND---FNL-000100--_C73B1.PDF?h=+8MAlnIuWG8iwS5xv4dhgW2MLZk=|work=swisstiming.com|date=20 July 2024|access-date=20 July 2024}}
align=center |6

| align=center |51.41

|{{Sort|McLaughlin-Levrone, Sydney|McLaughlin-Levrone #4}}

|25 June 2022

|Eugene

|{{cite news |author=Karen Rosen |date=26 June 2022 |title=McLaughlin breaks world 400m hurdles record with 51.41 at US Championships |publisher=World Athletics |url=https://worldathletics.org/news/report/us-championships-mclaughlin-world-record-400-hurdles |access-date=28 June 2022}}

align=center |7align=center |51.45{{Sort|Bol, Femke|Bol #3}}23 July 2023London{{cite web|title=400m Hurldes Results|url=https://livecache.sportresult.com/node/binaryData/ATH_PROD/LONDON2023/PDF_ATHW400MHURDDIAMOND---FNL-000100--_C73B1.PDF?h=H8myhbZlb+2qnoFbV2tiZjY7qVU=|work=sportresult.com|date=23 July 2023|access-date=23 July 2023|archive-date=15 March 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240315185632/https://livecache.sportresult.com/node/binaryData/ATH_PROD/LONDON2023/PDF_ATHW400MHURDDIAMOND---FNL-000100--_C73B1.PDF?h=H8myhbZlb%202qnoFbV2tiZjY7qVU%3D|url-status=dead}}
align=center |8

| align=center |51.46

|{{Sort|McLaughlin-Levrone, Sydney|McLaughlin-Levrone #5}}

|4 August 2021

|Tokyo

|{{Cite web |title=Athletics - Final Results |url=https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/olympic-games/en/results/athletics/result-women-s-400m-hurdles-fnl-000100-.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210731032409/https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/olympic-games/en/results/athletics/result-women-s-400m-hurdles-fnl-000100-.htm |archive-date=2021-07-31 |access-date=2021-08-04 |website=olympics.com |language=en-us}}

bgcolor="#f6F5CE"

| align=center |3

align=center |9align=center |51.58{{Sortname|Dalilah|Muhammad}}{{USA}}4 August 2021Tokyo
rowspan="3" |

| align=center |10

| align=center |51.61

|{{Sort|McLaughlin-Levrone, Sydney|McLaughlin-Levrone #6}}

| rowspan="3" |

|5 June 2022

|Nashville

|{{cite news|title=Sydney McLaughlin runs 51.61 seconds in her first 400m hurdles race this year in Nashville|url=https://www.watchathletics.com/article/11918/sydney-mclaughlin-runs-51-61-seconds-in-her-first-400m-hurdles-race-this-year-in-nashville/|website=watchathletics.com|date=5 June 2022|access-date=28 June 2022}}

align=center |11

| align=center |51.68

|{{Sort|McLaughlin-Levrone, Sydney|McLaughlin-Levrone #7}}

|8 August 2022

|Székesfehérvár

|{{cite news|title=McLaughlin sets European all-comers' record of 51.68 in Szekesfehervar|url=https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-continental-tour/news/szekesfehervar-istvan-gyulai-mclaughlin-kovacs-ceh-fraser-pryce|publisher=World Athletics|author=Chris Broadbent|date=8 August 2022|access-date=22 August 2022}}

align=center |12

| align=center |51.70

|{{Sort|Bol, Femke|Bol #4}}

|24 August 2023

|Budapest

|{{Cite web|title=400m Hurdles Final Results|url=https://media.aws.iaaf.org/competitiondocuments/pdf/7138987/AT-400H-W-f----.RS6.pdf|work=World Athletics|date=24 August 2023|access-date=26 August 2023}}

bgcolor="#f6F5CE"

| align=center |4

| align=center |13

| align=center |51.87

|{{Sortname|Anna|Cockrell}}

|{{USA}}

|8 August 2024

|Saint-Denis

|

rowspan="12" |

| align=center |14

| align=center |51.90

|{{Sort|McLaughlin-Levrone, Sydney|McLaughlin-Levrone #8}}

| rowspan="12" |

|27 June 2021

|Eugene

|{{cite web|author=Ron Dicker|date=28 June 2021|title=Sydney McLaughlin Shatters World Record in 400-Meter Hurdles at U.S. Olympic Trials|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/sydney-mclaughlin-world-record-400-meters_n_60d99633e4b0b9db24988b06|access-date=28 June 2021|work=HuffPost}}

align=center |15

| align=center |51.98

|{{Sort|Bol, Femke|Bol #5}}

|17 September 2023

|Eugene

|{{cite web|title=400m Hurdles Results|url=https://livecache.sportresult.com/node/binaryData/ATH_PROD/EUGENE2023/PDF_ATHW400MHURDDIAMOND---FNL-000100--_C73B1.PDF?h=B4Ed1QmfP6QV9GERfJT9zPLi5po=|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230930091433/https://livecache.sportresult.com/node/binaryData/ATH_PROD/EUGENE2023/PDF_ATHW400MHURDDIAMOND---FNL-000100--_C73B1.PDF?h=B4Ed1QmfP6QV9GERfJT9zPLi5po=|url-status=dead|archive-date=30 September 2023|work=sportresult.com|date=17 September 2023|access-date=20 September 2023}}

align=center |16align=center |52.03{{Sort|Bol, Femke|Bol #6}}4 August 2021Tokyo
align=center |17

| align=center |52.07

|{{Sort|McLaughlin-Levrone, Sydney|McLaughlin-Levrone #9}}

|3 May 2025

|Miramar

|{{Cite web |date=3 May 2025 |title=Grand Slam Track Miami - Women's 400 Metres Hurdles Final |url=https://worldathletics.org/competition/calendar-results/results/7220714?eventId=10229523&gender=W |access-date=4 May 2025 |website=worldathletics.org}}

align="center" |18align="center" |52.11{{Sort|Bol, Femke|Bol #7}}8 September 2023Brussels{{cite web |title=400m Hurdles Result |url=https://livecache.sportresult.com/node/binaryData/ATH_PROD/BRUSSELS2023/PDF_ATHW400MHURDDIAMOND---FNL-000100--_C73B1.PDF?h=mMsF3PPFla3ayqv8wrl7c2HHzP8= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231019114407/https://livecache.sportresult.com/node/binaryData/ATH_PROD/BRUSSELS2023/PDF_ATHW400MHURDDIAMOND---FNL-000100--_C73B1.PDF?h=mMsF3PPFla3ayqv8wrl7c2HHzP8= |url-status=dead |archive-date=19 October 2023 |work=sportresult.com |date=8 September 2023 |access-date=8 September 2023}}
rowspan="2" align="center" |19rowspan="2" align="center" |52.13{{Sort|McLaughlin-Levrone, Sydney|McLaughlin-Levrone #10}}6 August 2024Saint-Denis{{cite web |title=Women's 400m Hurdles - Semi-Final 2/3 results |url=https://olympics.com/OG2024/pdf/OG2024/ATH/OG2024_ATH_C73B1_ATHW400MHURD----------SFNL000200--.pdf |website=Olympics |access-date=8 August 2024}}
{{Sort|Bol, Femke|Bol #8}}

|25 August 2024

|Chorzów

|"[https://ps-cache.web.swisstiming.com/node/binaryData/ATH_PROD/SILESIA_2024/PDF_ATHW400MHURDDIAMOND---FNL-000100--_C73B1.PDF Results – 400m Hurdles Women]", Diamond League, 25 August 2024. Retrieved 25 August 2024.

align=center |21

| align=center |52.15

|{{Sort|Bol, Femke|Bol #9}}

|8 August 2024

|Saint-Denis

|

align=center |22

| align=center |52.16

|{{Sort|Muhammad, Dalilah|Muhammad #2}}

|4 October 2019

|Doha

|{{cite web|title=400m Hurdles Results|url=https://media.aws.iaaf.org/competitiondocuments/pdf/6033/AT-400H-W-f----.RS6.pdf?v=1192094969|publisher=IAAF|date=4 October 2019|access-date=6 October 2019}}

align=center |23

| align=center |52.17

|{{Sort|McLaughlin-Levrone, Sydney|McLaughlin-Levrone #11}}

|20 July 2022

|Eugene

|{{cite web|title=Women's 400m Hurdles Semi-Final Results|url=https://media.aws.iaaf.org/competitiondocuments/pdf/7137279/AT-400H-W-sf----.RS6.pdf|work=World Athletics|date=20 July 2022|access-date=22 July 2022}}

align=center |24align="center" |52.20|{{Sort|Muhammad, Dalilah|Muhammad #3}}28 July 2019Des Moines
align=center |25align="center" |52.23{{Sort|McLaughlin-Levrone, Sydney|McLaughlin-Levrone #12}}4 October 2019Doha
bgcolor="#CCFFCC"

| align=center |5

| rowspan="21" align=center |

| align=center |52.29

|{{Sortname|Jasmine|Jones}}

|{{USA}}

|8 August 2024

|Saint-Denis

|

bgcolor="#CCFFCC"

| align=center |6

align=center |52.34{{Sortname|Yuliya|Pechonkina}}{{RUS}}8 August 2003Tula
bgcolor="#CCFFCC"

| align=center |7

align=center |52.39{{Sortname|Shamier|Little}}{{USA}}4 July 2021Stockholm{{cite news|title=Duplantis soars over meeting record in Stockholm|url=https://www.worldathletics.org/competitions/diamond-league/news/duplantis-stockholm-bauhaus-galan|publisher=World Athletics|author=Jess Whittington|date=4 July 2021|access-date=16 July 2021}}
bgcolor="#CCFFCC"

| align=center |8

align=center |52.42{{Sortname|Melaine|Walker}}{{JAM}}20 August 2009Berlin
bgcolor="#CCFFCC"

| align=center |9

align=center |52.47{{Sortname|Lashinda|Demus}}{{USA}}1 September 2011Daegu
bgcolor="#CCFFCC"

| align=center |10

align=center |52.51{{Sortname|Rushell|Clayton}}{{JAM}}28 June 2024Kingston{{cite web|title=Thompson and Jackson win 100m titles at Jamaican Championships|url=https://worldathletics.org/news/report/national-championships-2024-thompson-jackson|website=World Athletics|author=Noel Francis|date=29 June 2024|access-date=29 June 2024}}
bgcolor="#CCFFCC"

| align=center |11

align=center |52.61{{Sortname|Kim|Batten}}{{USA}}11 August 1995Gothenburg
bgcolor="#CCFFCC"

| align=center |12

align=center |52.62{{Sortname|Tonja|Buford-Bailey}}{{USA}}11 August 1995Gothenburg
bgcolor="#CCFFCC"

| align=center |13

align=center |52.74{{Sortname|Sally|Gunnell}}{{GBR2}}19 August 1993Stuttgart
bgcolor="#CCFFCC"

| align=center |14

align=center |52.77{{Sortname|Fani|Halkia}}{{GRE}}22 August 2004Athens
bgcolor="#CCFFCC"

| rowspan="2" align=center |15

rowspan="2" align=center |52.79{{Sortname|Sandra|Farmer-Patrick}}{{USA}}19 August 1993Stuttgart
bgcolor="#CCFFCC"

| {{Sortname|Kaliese|Spencer}}

{{JAM}}5 August 2011London
bgcolor="#CCFFCC"

| align=center |17

align=center |52.82{{Sortname|Deon|Hemmings}}{{JAM}}31 July 1996Atlanta
bgcolor="#CCFFCC"

| align=center |18

align=center |52.83{{Sortname|Zuzana|Hejnová}}{{CZE}}15 August 2013Moscow
bgcolor="#CCFFCC"

| align=center |19

align=center |52.89{{Sortname|Daimí|Pernía}}{{CUB}}25 August 1999Seville
bgcolor="#CCFFCC"

| align=center |20

align=center |52.90{{Sortname|Nezha|Bidouane}}{{MAR}}25 August 1999Seville
bgcolor="#CCFFCC"

| align=center |21

align=center |52.92{{Sortname|Natalya|Antyukh}}{{RUS}}30 July 2010Barcelona
bgcolor="#CCFFCC"

| align=center |22

align=center |52.94{{Sortname|Marina|Stepanova}}{{URS}}17 September 1986Tashkent
bgcolor="#CCFFCC"

| rowspan="2" align=center |23

rowspan="2" align=center |52.95{{Sortname|Sheena|Johnson}}{{USA}}11 July 2004Sacramento
bgcolor="#CCFFCC"

| {{Sortname|Kori|Carter}}

{{USA}}25 June 2017Sacramento
bgcolor="#CCFFCC"

| align=center |25

align=center |52.96{{Sortname|Anna|Ryzhykova}}{{UKR}}4 July 2021Stockholm

==Annulled marks==

The following athletes have had their personal best annulled due to doping offences:

class="wikitable"

!Time

!Athlete

!Nation

!Date

!Place

!Ref

52.70

|Natalya Antyukh

|{{RUS}}

|08 August 2012

|London

|{{cite web|title=400 Metres Hurdles Results|url=http://www.iaaf.org/mini/oly12/Results/ResultsByDate.aspx?racedate=08-08-2012/sex=W/discCode=400H/combCode=hash/roundCode=f/results.html#detW_400H_hash_f|publisher=IAAF|date=8 August 2012|access-date=9 August 2012}}

Milestones

{{unreferenced section|date=July 2021}}

  • Men
  • First official IAAF world record: 55.0 seconds, Charles Bacon (USA), 1908
  • First under 54 seconds: 53.8 seconds, Sten Pettersson (SWE), 1925
  • First under 53 seconds: 52.6 seconds, John Gibson (USA), 1927
  • First under 52 seconds: 51.7 seconds, Bob Tisdall (IRL), 1932
  • First under 51 seconds: 50.6 seconds, Glenn Hardin (USA), 1934
  • First under 50 seconds: 49.5 seconds, Glenn Davis (USA), 1956
  • First under 49 seconds: 48.8 seconds, Geoff Vanderstock (USA), 1968
  • First under 48 seconds: 47.82 seconds, John Akii-Bua (UGA), 1972
  • First under 47 seconds: 46.78 seconds, Kevin Young (USA), 1992
  • First under 46 seconds: 45.94 seconds, Karsten Warholm (NOR), 2021{{Cite web|last=Abrahamson|first=Alan|date=3 August 2021|title=Abrahamson: Warholm, Benjamin deliver greatest 400m hurdle race in human history {{!}} NBC Olympics|url=https://www.nbcolympics.com/news/abrahamson-warholm-benjamin-deliver-greatest-400m-hurdle-race-human-history|url-status=live|access-date=2021-08-04|website=nbcolympics.com|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210803073151/https://www.nbcolympics.com/news/abrahamson-warholm-benjamin-deliver-greatest-400m-hurdle-race-human-history |archive-date=3 August 2021 }}
  • Women
  • First official world record: 56.51 seconds, Krystyna Kacperczyk (POL), 1974
  • First under 56 seconds: 55.74 seconds, Tatyana Storozheva (URS), 1977
  • First under 55 seconds: 54.89 seconds, Tatyana Zelentsova (URS), 1978
  • First under 54 seconds: 53.58 seconds, Margarita Ponomaryova (URS), 1984
  • First under 53 seconds: 52.94 seconds, Marina Stepanova (URS), 1986
  • First under 52 seconds: 51.90 seconds, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (USA), 2021
  • First under 51 seconds: 50.68 seconds, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (USA), 2022

Most successful athletes

American athlete Glenn Davis had a prodigious start to his hurdling career, running his first race in April 1956 in 54.4 s. Two months later, he ran a new world record with 49.5 s and later that year he won the 400 m hurdles at the Olympics, and was also the first to repeat that feat in 1960.

In terms of success and longevity in competition, Edwin Moses' record is significant: he won 122 races in a row between 1977 and 1987 plus two gold medals, at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montréal and the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. He was undefeated for exactly nine years nine months and nine days, from 26 August 1977 until 4 June 1987. He finished third in the 1988 Olympic final, the last race of his career. He also held the world record for sixteen years from when he first broke it at the Olympics on 25 July 1976 until it was finally broken by Kevin Young at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.

File:Ed moses.jpg

{{small|* Note: Edwin Moses, Kevin Young and Karsten Warholm are the only male 400 m hurdlers to have been Olympic Champion, World Champion, and broken the World Record.}}

{{small|* Note: Sally Gunnell, Dalilah Muhammad and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone are the only female 400 m hurdlers to have been Olympic Champion, World Champion, and broken the World Record.}}

Olympic medalists

=Men=

{{Olympic medalists in men's 400 metres hurdles}}

=Women=

{{Olympic medalists in women's 400 metres hurdles}}

World Championships medalists

=Men=

{{World Championships in Athletics medalists in men's 400 metres hurdles}}

=Women=

  • The official World Athletics Championships began in 1983 as the IAAF World Championships in Athletics, but in 1980, the women's 3000 metres and 400 metres hurdles events had a World Championship competition in Sittard, Netherlands. This was due to these events not yet being on the Olympic program (the same had happened in 1976 for the men's 50 km walk).[http://www.gbrathletics.com/ic/wc.htm IAAF World Championships in Athletics]. GBR Athletics.

{{World Championships in Athletics medalists in women's 400 metres hurdles}}

Season's bests

class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:100%; display:inline-table;"
+ Men's
Year

! Time

! Athlete

! Place

1971

| 48.9h

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Ralph Mann|USA}}

| Helsinki

1972

| 47.82

| align=left | {{flagathlete|John Akii-Bua|UGA}}

| Munich

1973

| 48.54

| align=left | {{flagathlete|John Akii-Bua|UGA}}

| Lagos

1974

| 48.1h

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Jim Bolding|USA}}

| Milan

1975

| 48.4h

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Jim Bolding|USA}}

| Milan

1976

| 47.63

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Edwin Moses|USA}}

| Montreal

1977

| 47.45

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Edwin Moses|USA}}

| Westwood

1978

| 47.94

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Edwin Moses|USA}}

| Zürich

1979

| 47.53

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Edwin Moses|USA}}

| Montreal

1980

| 47.13

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Edwin Moses|USA}}

| Milan

1981

| 47.14

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Edwin Moses|USA}}

| Lausanne

1982

| 47.48

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Harald Schmid|FRG}}

| Athens

1983

| 47.02

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Edwin Moses|USA}}

| Koblenz

1984

| 47.32

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Edwin Moses|USA}}

| Koblenz

1985

| 47.63

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Danny Harris|USA}}

| Zürich

1986

| 47.38

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Edwin Moses|USA}}

| Lausanne

1987

| 47.46

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Edwin Moses|USA}}

| Rome

1988

| 47.19

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Andre Phillips|USA}}

| Seoul

1989

| 47.86

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Kevin Young|USA}}

| Berlin

1990

| 47.49

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Danny Harris|USA}}

| Lausanne

1991

| 47.10

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Samuel Matete|ZAM}}

| Zürich

1992

| 46.78

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Kevin Young|USA}}

| Barcelona

1993

| 47.18

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Kevin Young|USA}}

| Stuttgart

1994

| 47.70

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Derrick Adkins|USA}}

| Linz

1995

| 47.37

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Stéphane Diagana|FRA}}

| Lausanne

1996

| 47.54

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Derrick Adkins|USA}}

| Atlanta

1997

| 47.64

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Bryan Bronson|USA}}

| Monaco

1998

| 47.03

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Bryan Bronson|USA}}

| New Orleans

1999

| 47.72

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Fabrizio Mori|ITA}}

| Seville

2000

| 47.50

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Angelo Taylor|USA}}

| Sydney

2001

| 47.38

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Félix Sánchez|DOM}}

| Zürich

2002

| 47.35

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Félix Sánchez|DOM}}

| Zürich

2003

| 47.25

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Félix Sánchez|DOM}}

| Saint-Denis

2004

| 47.63

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Félix Sánchez|DOM}}

| Athens

2005

| 47.24

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Kerron Clement|USA}}

| Carson

2006

| 47.39

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Kerron Clement|USA}}

| Indianapolis

2007

| 47.61

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Kerron Clement|USA}}

| Osaka

2008

| 47.25

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Angelo Taylor|USA}}

| Beijing

2009

| 47.91

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Kerron Clement|USA}}

| Berlin

2010

| 47.32

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Bershawn Jackson|USA}}

| Des Moines

rowspan=2|2011

| rowspan=2|47.66

| rowspan=2 align=left | {{flagathlete|L. J. van Zyl|RSA}}

| Pretoria

Ostrava
2012

| 47.63

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Félix Sánchez|DOM}}

| London

2013

| 47.69

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Jehue Gordon|TRI}}

| Moscow

2014

| 48.03

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Javier Culson|PUR}}

| New York City

2015

| 47.79

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Nicholas Bett|KEN}}

| Beijing

2016

| 47.73

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Kerron Clement|USA}}

| Rio de Janeiro

2017

| 47.80

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Kyron McMaster|IVB}}

| Kingston

2018

| 46.98

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Abderrahman Samba|QAT}}

| Paris

2019

| 46.92

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Karsten Warholm|NOR}}

| Zürich

2020

| 46.87

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Karsten Warholm|NOR}}

| Stockholm

2021

| 45.94

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Karsten Warholm|NOR}}

| Tokyo

2022

| 46.29

| align=left | {{Flagathlete|Alison dos Santos|BRA}}

| Eugene

2023

| 46.39

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Rai Benjamin|USA}}

| Eugene

2024

| 46.46

| align=left | {{Flagathlete|Rai Benjamin|USA}}

| Eugene

class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:100%; display:inline-table;"
+ Women's
Year

! Time

! Athlete

! Place

1971

|

|

|

1972

|

|

|

1973

| 56.7h

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Danuta Piecyk|POL}}

|Warsaw

1974

| 56.51

|align=left | {{flagathlete|Krystyna Kacperczyk|POL}}

|Augsburg

1975

|

|

|

1976

|

|

|

1977

| 55.63

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Karin Roßley|GDR}}

| Helsinki

1978

| 54.89

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Tatyana Zelentsova|URS}}

| Prague

1979

| 54.78

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Marina Stepanova|URS}}

| Moscow

1980

| 54.28

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Karin Roßley|GDR}}

| Jena

1981

| 54.79

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Ellen Fiedler|GDR}}

| Jena

1982

| 54.57

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Ann-Louise Skoglund|SWE}}

| Athens

1983

| 54.02

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Anna Ambrazienė|URS}}

| Moscow

1984

| 53.58

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Margarita Ponomaryova|URS}}

| Kyiv

1985

| 53.55

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Sabine Busch|GDR}}

| Berlin

1986

| 52.94

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Marina Stepanova|URS}}

| Tashkent

1987

| 53.24

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Sabine Busch|GDR}}

| Potsdam

1988

| 53.17

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Debbie Flintoff-King|AUS}}

| Seoul

1989

| 53.37

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Sandra Farmer-Patrick|USA}}

| New York City

1990

| 53.62

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Tatyana Ledovskaya|URS}}

| Split

1991

| 53.11

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Tatyana Ledovskaya|URS}}

| Tokyo

1992

| 53.23

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Sally Gunnell|GBR}}

| Barcelona

1993

| 52.74

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Sally Gunnell|GBR}}

| Stuttgart

1994

| 53.33

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Sally Gunnell|GBR}}

| Helsinki

1995

| 52.61

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Kim Batten|USA}}

| Gothenburg

1996

| 52.82

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Deon Hemmings|JAM}}

| Atlanta

rowspan=2|1997

| rowspan=2|52.97

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Kim Batten|USA}}

| Indianapolis

align=left | {{flagathlete|Nezha Bidouane|MAR}}

| Athens

1998

| 52.74

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Kim Batten|USA}}

| Monaco

1999

| 52.89

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Daimí Pernía|CUB}}

| Seville

2000

| 53.02

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Irina Privalova|RUS}}

| Sydney

2001

| 53.34

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Nezha Bidouane|MAR}}

| Edmonton

2002

| 53.10

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Yuliya Pechonkina|RUS}}

| Tula

2003

| 52.34

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Yuliya Pechonkina|RUS}}

| Tula

2004

| 52.77

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Faní Halkiá|GRE}}

| Athens

2005

| 52.90

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Yuliya Pechonkina|RUS}}

| Helsinki

2006

| 53.02

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Lashinda Demus|USA}}

| Athens

2007

| 53.28

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Tiffany Williams|USA}}

| Indianapolis

2008

| 52.64

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Melaine Walker|JAM}}

| Beijing

2009

| 52.42

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Melaine Walker|JAM}}

| Berlin

2010

| 52.82

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Lashinda Demus|USA}}

| Rome

2011

| 52.47

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Lashinda Demus|USA}}

| Daegu

2012

| 52.77

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Lashinda Demus|USA}}

| London

2013

| 52.83

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Zuzana Hejnová|CZE}}

| Moscow

2014

| 53.41

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Kaliese Spencer|JAM}}

| Kingston

2015

| 53.50

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Zuzana Hejnová|CZE}}

| Beijing

2016

| 52.88

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Dalilah Muhammad|USA}}

| Eugene

2017

| 52.64

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Dalilah Muhammad|USA}}

| Sacramento

2018

| 52.75

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Sydney McLaughlin|USA}}

| Knoxville

2019

| 52.16

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Dalilah Muhammad|USA}}

| Doha

2020

| 53.79

| align=left | {{flagathlete|Femke Bol|NED}}

| Arnhem

2021

| 51.46

| align=left| {{flagathlete|Sydney McLaughlin|USA}}

| Tokyo

2022

| 50.68

| align=left| {{flagathlete|Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone|USA}}

|Eugene

2023

|51.45

|align=left| {{flagathlete|Femke Bol|NED}}

|London

2024

|50.37

|align=left| {{flagathlete|Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone|USA}}

| Paris

National records

=Men=

  • Updated 6 July 2024.{{Cite web |title=400 Metres Hurdles - men - senior - outdoor |url=https://worldathletics.org/records/all-time-toplists/hurdles/400-metres-hurdles/outdoor/men/senior?regionType=world&timing=electronic&page=1&bestResultsOnly=true |access-date=17 September 2023 |website=worldathletics.org}}

Equal or superior to 48.00 s:

class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%;"
Nation

!Time

!Athlete

!Date

!Place

{{NOR}}

|45.94

|Karsten Warholm

|3 August 2021

|Tokyo

{{USA}}

|46.17

|Rai Benjamin

|3 August 2021

|Tokyo

{{BRA}}

|46.29

|Alison dos Santos

|19 July 2022

|Eugene

{{QAT}}

|46.98

|Abderrahman Samba

|30 June 2018

|Paris

{{IVB}}

|47.08

|Kyron McMaster

|3 August 2021

|Tokyo

{{ZAM}}

|47.10

|Samuel Matete

|7 August 1991

|Zürich

{{SEN}}

|47.23

|Amadou Dia Ba

|25 September 1988

|Seoul

{{DOM}}

|47.25

|Félix Sánchez

|29 August 2003

|Saint-Denis

{{JAM}}

|47.34

|Roshawn Clarke

|21 August 2023

|Budapest

{{FRA}}

|47.37

|Stéphane Diagana

|5 July 1995

|Lausanne

{{GER}}

|47.48

|Harald Schmid

|8 September 1982

|Athens

{{ITA}}

|47.50

|Alessandro Sibilio

|11 June 2024

|Rome

{{KSA}}

|47.53

|Hadi Soua'an Al-Somaily

|27 September 2000

|Sydney

{{RSA}}

|47.66

|L. J. van Zyl

|25 February 2011

|Pretoria

{{TTO}}

|47.69

|Jehue Gordon

|15 August 2013

|Moscow

{{PUR}}

|47.72

|Javier Culson

|8 May 2010

|Ponce

{{KEN}}

|47.78

|Boniface Mucheru

|18 August 2016

|Rio de Janeiro

{{TUR}}

|47.81

|Yasmani Copello

|9 August 2018

|Berlin

{{UGA}}

|47.82

|John Akii-Bua

|2 September 1972

|Munich

{{GBR2}}

|47.82

|Kriss Akabusi

|6 August 1992

|Barcelona

{{GRE}}

|47.82

|Periklis Iakovakis

|6 May 2006

|Osaka

{{EST}}

|47.82

|Rasmus Mägi

|14 June 2022

|Turku

{{PAN}}

|47.84

|Bayano Kamani

|7 August 2005

|Helsinki

{{JPN}}

|47.89

|Dai Tamesue

|10 August 2001

|Edmonton

{{CUB}}

|47.93

|Omar Cisneros

|13 August 2013

|Moscow

{{SWE}}

|47.94

|Carl Bengtström

|11 June 2024

|Rome

{{IRL}}

|47.97

|Thomas Barr

|18 August 2016

|Rio de Janeiro

{{NGR}}

|48.00

|Ezekiel Nathaniel

|11 May 2024

|Waco

=Women=

  • Updated 8 August 2024.{{Cite web |title=400 Metres Hurdles - women - senior - outdoor |url=https://worldathletics.org/records/all-time-toplists/hurdles/400-metres-hurdles/outdoor/women/senior?regionType=world&timing=electronic&page=1&bestResultsOnly=true |access-date=8 August 2024|website=worldathletics.org}}

Equal or superior to 54.00 s:

class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%;"
Nation

!Time

!Athlete

!Date

!Place

{{USA}}

|50.37

|Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone

|8 August 2024

|Saint-Denis

{{NED}}

|50.95

|Femke Bol

|14 July 2024

|La Chaux-de-Fonds

{{RUS}}

|52.34

|Yuliya Pechonkina

|8 August 2003

|Tula

{{JAM}}

|52.42

|Melaine Walker

|20 August 2009

|Berlin

{{GBR2}}

|52.74

|Sally Gunnell

|19 August 1993

|Stuttgart

{{GRE}}

|52.77

|Fani Halkia

|22 August 2004

|Athens

{{CZE}}

|52.83

|Zuzana Hejnová

|15 August 2013

|Moscow

{{CUB}}

|52.89

|Daimí Pernía

|25 August 1999

|Seville

{{MAR}}

|52.90

|Nezha Bidouane

|25 August 1999

|Seville

{{URS}}

|52.94

|Marina Stepanova

|17 September 1986

|Tashkent

{{UKR}}

|52.96

|Anna Ryzhykova

|4 July 2021

|Stockholm

{{BHR}}

|53.09

|Kemi Adekoya

|24 August 2023

|Budapest

{{AUS}}

|53.17

|Debbie Flintoff-King

|28 September 1988

|Seoul

{{TTO}}

|53.20

|Josanne Lucas

|20 August 2009

|Berlin

{{FRA}}

|53.21

|Marie-José Pérec

|16 August 1995

|Zürich

{{GER}}

|53.24

|Sabine Busch

|21 August 1987

|Potsdam

{{ROU}}

|53.25

|Ionela Târlea

|7 July 1999

|Rome

{{CAN}}

|53.26

|Savannah Sutherland

|8 June 2024

|Eugene

{{BAR}}

|53.36

|Andrea Blackett

|25 August 1999

|Sevilla

{{DEN}}

|53.55

|Sara Slott Petersen

|18 August 2016

|Rio de Janeiro

{{BUL}}

|53.68

|Vanya Stambolova

|5 June 2011

|Rabat

{{PAN}}

|53.69

|Gianna Woodruff

|20 July 2022

|Eugene

{{RSA}}

|53.74

|Myrtle Bothma

|18 April 1986

|Johannesburg

{{POL}}

|53.86

|Anna Jesień

|28 August 2007

|Osaka

{{ITA}}

|53.89

|Ayomide Folorunso

|22 August 2023

|Budapest

{{NOR}}

|53.91

|Line Kloster

|3 July 2022

|La Chaux-de-Fonds

rowspan=2|{{CHN}}

|rowspan=2|53.96

|Han Qing

|9 September 1993

|Beijing

Song Yinglan

|17 November 2001

|Guangzhou

Notes and references

{{reflist}}

External links

{{Commons category}}

  • [https://iaaf.gekko.de/?a=hurdles&d=400-metres-hurdles IAAF list of 400-metres-hurdles records in XML]

{{Athletics events}}

{{National records in athletics}}

{{Portal bar|Athletics}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:400 Metre Hurdles}}

Category:Events in track and field

Category:Summer Olympic disciplines in athletics

Category:Hurdling