Men's 400 metres European record progression

The following table shows the European record progression in the men's 400 metres, as ratified by the EAA European Athletics

Hand timing

Time Athlete Nationality Venue Date 47.8* Beauchamp Day Perth, Australia April 1, 1907 47.6 Eric Liddell Paris, France July 12, 1924 46.7 Godfrey Brown Berlin, Germany August 7, 1936 46.0 Rudolf Harbig Frankfurt, Germany August 12, 1939 46.0 Ardalion Ignatyev Moscow, Russia June 25, 1955 45.8 Carl Kaufmann Cologne, Germany September 19, 1959 45.7 Carl Kaufmann Cologne, Germany June 15, 1960 45.4 Carl Kaufmann Berlin, Germany July 24, 1960 44.9 Carl Kaufmann Rome, Italy September 6, 1960 44.9 Martin Jellinghaus Mexico City, Mexico October 17, 1968 44.7 Karl Honz Munich, Germany July 21, 1972

* Performance timed over 440 yards

Automatic timing

Time Athlete Nationality Venue Date 44.70 Karl Honz Munich, Germany July 21, 1972 44.60 Viktor Markin Moscow, Russia July 30, 1980 44.50 Erwin Skamrahl Munich, Germany July 26, 1983 44.48 Thomas Schönlebe Potsdam, Germany August 21, 1987 44.33 Thomas Schönlebe Rome, Italy September 3, 1987 44.26 Matt Hudson-Smith Budapest, Hungary August 22, 2023

References