400 metres

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. ==Continental records==

• Updated 18 September 2025. ==All-time top 25==

Men (outdoor) • Correct as of September 2025. Women (outdoor) • Correct as of September 2025. 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 March 2026. Women (indoor) • Correct as of March 2026. ==Fastest relay splits==

Men --> 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. Women • 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. • 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. • 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. ==Olympic medalists==

Men Women ==World Championships medalists==

Men Women ==World Indoor Championships medalists==

Men Women • Known as the World Indoor Games ==World leading times==