The 400 metres, or 400-meter dash, is a sprint event in track and field competitions. It has been featured in the athletics programme at the Summer Olympics since 1896 for men and since 1964 for women. On a standard outdoor running track, it is one lap around the track. Runners start in staggered positions and race in separate lanes for the entire course. In many countries, athletes previously competed in the 440-yard dash (402.336 m)—which is a quarter of a mile (1,760 yards) and was referred to as the "quarter-mile"—instead of the 400 m (437.445 yards), though this distance is now obsolete.
The current men's world record and Olympic record is held by Wayde van Niekerk of South Africa; his time of 43.03 seconds is the fastest ever run in an open 400 m. While Lythe Pillay holds the fastest 400 m relay split with a time of 42.66, 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. Considering van Niekerk's reaction time of 0.181 seconds in his run of 43.03, van Niekerk covered the 400-metre distance itself in 42.85 seconds, therefore being 0.19 seconds slower than Pillay's relay split.
Quincy Hall is the reigning men's Olympic champion. Collen Kebinatshipi is the current men's world champion. Kerron Clement is the men's world indoor record holder with a time of 44.57 seconds. The current women's world record is held by Marita Koch, with a time of 47.60 seconds. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone is the current women's world champion, holding the championship record of 47.78 seconds. Marileidy Paulino is the women's Olympic champion, and holds the Olympic record in a time of 48.17 seconds. Femke Bol holds the women's world indoor record at 49.17 (2024). The men's T43 Paralympic world record of 45.07 seconds is held by Oscar Pistorius.
An Olympic double of 200 metres and 400 m was first achieved by Valerie Brisco-Hooks in 1984, and later by Marie-José Pérec of France and Michael Johnson from the United States on the same evening in 1996. Alberto Juantorena of Cuba at the 1976 Summer Olympics became the first and so far the only athlete to win both the 400 m and 800 m Olympic titles. Pérec became the first to defend the Olympic title in 1996, Johnson became the first and only man to do so in 2000.
Sprint 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.Canadian Journal of Applied Sport Sciences, "Aerobic versus anaerobic training for success in various athletic events" by Shepard, R. J., 1978
Area records Updated 19 May 2026.
Area Men Women Time(s) Season Athlete Time(s) Season Athlete World 43.03 2016 47.60 1985 Area records Africa 43.03 2016 49.10 1996 Asia 43.93 2015 48.14 2019 Europe 43.44 2024 47.60 1985 North, Central Americaand Caribbean 43.18 1999 47.78 2025 Oceania 44.38 1988 48.63 1996 South America 43.93 2021 49.64 1992
All-time top 25 Tables show data for two definitions of "Top 25" - the top 25 400 m times and the top 25 athletes:- denotes top performance for athletes in the top 25 400 m times- denotes lesser performances, still in the top 25 400 m times, by repeat athletes- denotes top performance (only) for other top 25 athletes who fall outside the top 25 400 m times
Men (outdoor)
Correct as of September 2026.
Time (s) Reaction (s) Athlete Nation Date Place 1143.030.181 Wayde van Niekerk 14 August 2016 Rio de Janeiro 2243.180.150 Michael Johnson 26 August 1999 Seville 3343.29 Butch Reynolds 17 August 1988 Zürich4443.38 Samuel Ogazi 12 June 2026 Eugene 543.39 Johnson #2 9 August 1995 Gothenburg5543.390.169Collen Kebinatshipi12 September 2026Budapest6743.40 0.168 Quincy Hall 7 August 2024 Saint-Denis 743.400.164Kebinatshipi #24 September 2026Brussels 943.44 Johnson #3 19 June 1996 Atlanta7943.44 0.149 Matthew Hudson-Smith 7 August 2024 Saint-Denis 943.440.173Kebinatshipi #310 July 2026Monaco81243.450.182 Jeremy Wariner 31 August 2007 Osaka Michael Norman 20 April 2019 Torrance 1443.480.156 van Niekerk #2 26 August 2015 Beijing 101443.480.164 Steven Gardiner 4 October 2019 Doha 1643.49 Johnson #4 29 July 1996 Atlanta111743.50 Quincy Watts 5 August 1992 Barcelona1743.50 Wariner #2 7 August 2007 Stockholm1943.530.134Kebinatshipi #418 September 2025Tokyo2043.54Kebinatshipi #528 June 2026Paris2143.56 Norman #2 25 June 2022 Eugene 2243.590.163Kebinatshipi #623 August 2026Chorzów2343.600.130 Norman #3 28 May 2022 Eugene 2443.61 Norman #4 8 June 2018 Eugene2543.610.145 Kebinatshipi #716 September 2025Tokyo1243.64 Fred Kerley 27 July 2019 Des Moines 1343.650.195 LaShawn Merritt 26 August 2015 Beijing 1443.680.167 Jereem Richards 4 September 2026 Brussels1543.70 Champion Allison 25 June 2022 Eugene 1643.72 Isaac Makwala 5 July 2015 La Chaux-de-Fonds 1743.740.172 Kirani James 3 July 2014 Lausanne 0.185 Muzala Samukonga 7 August 2024 Saint-Denis1943.76 Zakithi Nene 31 May 2025 Nairobi2043.780.188 Jacory Patterson 4 September 2026 Brussels2143.81 Danny Everett 26 June 1992 New Orleans2243.830.171 Rai Benjamin 23 August 2026 Chorzów2343.85 Randolph Ross 11 June 2021 Eugene 2443.86 Lee Evans 18 October 1968 Mexico City2543.87 Steve Lewis 28 September 1988 Seoul
Women (outdoor)
Correct as of August 2026.
Time (s) Reaction (s) Athlete Nation Date Place 1 1 47.60 Marita Koch 6 October 1985 Canberra 2247.78 0.171Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone18 September 2025Tokyo3347.98 0.183Marileidy Paulino18 September 2025Tokyo4 4 47.99 Jarmila Kratochvílová 10 August 1983 Helsinki5 5 48.14 0.186 Salwa Eid Naser 3 October 2019 Doha 6 48.16 Koch #2 8 September 1982 Athens Koch #3 16 August 1984 Prague 848.17Paulino #29 August 2024Saint-Denis948.190.189Naser #218 September 2025Tokyo10 48.22 Koch #4 28 August 1986 Stuttgart6 11 48.25 Marie-José Pérec 29 July 1996 Atlanta 12 48.26 Koch #5 27 July 1984 Dresden7 13 48.27 Olga Bryzgina 6 October 1985 Canberra1448.29McLaughlin-Levrone #216 September 2025Tokyo8 15 48.36 Shaunae Miller-Uibo 6 August 2021 Tokyo 16 48.37 0.145 Miller-Uibo #2 3 October 2019 Doha 17 48.45 Kratochvílová #2 23 July 1983 Prague1848.48Paulino #328 June 2026Paris1948.53Naser #39 August 2024Saint-Denis9 20 48.57 Nickisha Pryce 20 July 2024 London 10 21 48.59 Taťána Kocembová 10 August 1983 Helsinki 22 48.60 Koch #6 4 August 1979 Turin Bryzgina #2 17 August 1985 Moscow 24 48.61 Kratochvílová #3 6 September 1981 Rome 11 25 48.63 Cathy Freeman 29 July 1996 Atlanta 12 48.70 Sanya Richards-Ross 16 September 2006 Athens 13 48.78 Henriette Jæger 18 September 2026 London1448.79Dejanea Oakley13 June 2026Eugene15 48.83 Valerie Brisco-Hooks 6 August 1984 Los Angeles1648.840.213 Aaliyah Butler 10 July 2026 Monaco 17 48.89 Ana Guevara 27 August 2003 Saint-Denis 1848.90Natalia Kaczmarek20 July 2024London1948.97 Madison Whyte 13 June 2026 Eugene 20 49.05 Chandra Cheeseborough 6 August 1984 Los Angeles21 49.07 Tonique Williams-Darling 12 September 2004 Berlin Rhasidat Adeleke10 June 2024Rome23 49.10 Falilat Ogunkoya 29 July 1996 Atlanta 24 49.11 Olga Nazarova 25 September 1988 Seoul 2549.13Britton Wilson13 May 2023Baton RougeKaylyn Brown8 June 2024Eugene
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. Time (s)AthleteNationDatePlace1144.49Christopher Morales Williams24 February 2024Fayetteville2244.52Michael Norman10 March 2018College StationKhaleb McRae13 February 2026Fayetteville4444.57Kerron Clement12 March 2005FayettevilleSamuel Ogazi14 March 2026Fayetteville6644.62Randolph Ross12 March 2022BirminghamJonathan Simms10 January 2026Clemson8844.63Michael Johnson4 March 1995Atlanta944.66Johnson #22 March 1996Atlanta1044.67Morales Williams #27 March 2024Boston91044.67Justin Braun14 March 2026Fayetteville101244.70Christopher Bailey14 February 2025Fayetteville111344.71Noah Williams13 March 2021Fayetteville1444.72Ogazi #228 February 2026College Station121544.74Ezekiel Nathaniel1 March 2025Lubbock131644.75Elija Godwin25 February 2023Fayetteville1744.75 Godwin #211 March 2023Albuquerque1844.76Morales Williams #321 March 2026Toruń141944.80Kirani James27 February 2011Fayetteville2044.80Morales Williams #413 February 2026Clemson152144.82Tyrell Richard9 March 2019Birmingham2244.83Ross #211 February 2022Clemson162344.85Fred Kerley11 March 2017College StationJordan Pierre14 March 2026Fayetteville2344.85 Ogazi #27 February 2026Albuquerque1844.86Akeem Bloomfield10 March 2018College Station1944.88Bralon Taplin3 February 2018College Station2044.91Auhmad Robinson9 March 2024Boston2144.93LaShawn Merritt11 February 2005Fayetteville44.93 Ryan Willie11 March 2023Albuquerque2344.95Jayden Davis1 March 2025Lubbock2445.00Jereem Richards19 March 2022Belgrade2545.01Attila Molnár3 February 2026Ostrava
Women (indoor) Correct as of March 2026. Time (s)AthleteNationDatePlace1149.17Femke Bol2 March 2024Glasgow249.24Bol #218 February 2024Apeldoorn2249.24Isabella Whittaker15 March 2025Virginia Beach449.26Bol #319 February 2023Apeldoorn3549.48 Britton Wilson11 March 2023Albuquerque4649.59Jarmila Kratochvílová7 March 1982Milan749.63Bol #410 February 2024Liévin849.64Kratochvílová #228 January 1981Vienna5949.68Natalya Nazarova18 February 2004Moscow1049.69Kratochvílová #36 March 1983BudapestBol #51 February 2024Metz61249.76Taťána Kocembová2 February 1984Vienna71349.78Aaliyah Butler1 March 2025College Station1449.85Bol #64 March 2023Istanbul1549.90Whittaker #21 March 2025College Station1649.96Bol #711 February 2023Metz1749.97Kocembová #24 March 1984GothenburgButler #215 March 2025Virginia Beach1949.98Nazarova #218 February 2006Moscow2050.00Kratochvílová #410 February 1983Vienna82150.01Sabine Busch2 February 1984Vienna92250.02Nicola Sanders3 March 2007Birmingham102350.04Olesya Krasnomovets18 February 2006Moscow2450.04Krasnomovets #212 March 2006Moscow2550.07Kratochvílová #522 February 1981Grenoble1150.10Lieke Klaver18 February 2024Apeldoorn1250.15Olga Zaytseva25 January 2006MoscowTalitha Diggs25 February 2023Fayetteville1450.21Vania Stambolova12 March 2006MoscowShaunae Miller-Uibo13 February 2021New York City1650.23Irina Privalova12 March 1995Barcelona1750.24Alexis Holmes2 March 2024Glasgow1850.28Petra Müller6 March 1988BudapestElla Onojuvwevwo13 March 2026Fayetteville2050.33Rhasidat Adeleke25 February 2023Lubbock2150.34Christine Amertil12 March 2006MoscowKendall Ellis10 March 2018College Station2350.36Sydney McLaughlin10 March 2018College Station2450.37Natalya Antyukh18 February 2006Moscow2550.40Dagmar Neubauer2 February 1984Vienna
Fastest relay splits Men