JUL 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 AUG 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
 Athletics – 400m
  
Stade de France
Event Medal

FORMAT
Heats, semi-final and final. New repechage round introduced*
Laps of track 1
     
ORIGINS
Thomas Burke (USA) wins 400m in 1896. Betty Cuthbert (AUS) takes gold as women’s event debuts at Tokyo 1964

LEGACY
Marie-José Pérec is first to defend
title, emulated by Michael Johnson, while Kirani James has one gold, silver and bronze

2020 GOLD
Bahamas double as Steven Gardiner triumphs and Shaunae Miller- Uibo retains title

Marie-José Pérec
FRA
1992, 1996

Michael Johnson
USA
1996, 2000

Kirani James 
GRN  2012
 
Olympic record
Wayde van Niekerk (RSA) Rio de Janeiro 2016 43.03
Marie-José Pérec (FRA) Atlanta 1996 48.25
 
World record
Wayde van Niekerk (RSA) Rio de Janeiro 2016 43.03
Marita Koch (GER) Canberra 1985 47.60

Sources: IOC, IAAF Pictures: Getty *Fastest losers’ second chance to qualify © GRAPHIC NEWS