400 meters
Rules
Athletes in the 400-meter race take the start from a low position from the starting pads. Each athlete runs along his own track (400-meter track) from start to finish. On the 200-meter track, the athletes go through their tracks for the first two turns and then go out onto the common track. An athlete who makes a false start is disqualified, a runner may also be disqualified if he or she goes outside his or her track.
History
400 meters are included in the program Olympic Games for men since 1896 and for women since 1964. Running 400 meters is one of the oldest disciplines. In the USA, the 440-yard (402.3-meter) distance was popular at first, but now it is rarely found in official competitions.
Interesting facts
When Katie Freeman won Olympic gold in the 400 meters at her home Games in Sydney in 2000, the number of viewers in Australia was about 7 million.
South African Runner Oscar Pistorius became the first athlete in the world to break the 47-second mark in the 400-meter run and at the same time does not have both legs, Oscar uses specially designed carbon prostheses for running.
Records
In open stadiums.
Men: Wayde van Niekerk 🇿🇦 South Africa — 43.03 — 14.08.2016 — Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Women: Marita Koch 🇩🇪 GDR* — 47.60 — 06.10.1985 — Canberra, Australia
Indoors.
Men: Caleb Mackrey 🇺🇸 — 44.52 (ratified in 2026)
Women: Femke Bol 🇳🇱 — 49.24
