400 Metres

How it works

Competitors run once around a 400m track. They start from blocks set in staggered positions and run in lanes.

A reaction time – measured by sensors in the starting pistol and on the blocks – of less than 0.1 is deemed a false start and runners will be recalled, and the responsible athlete disqualified. A runner can also be disqualified if he or she steps out of their designated lane.

History

One of the original events at the Ancient Olympics was the 'diaulos', a race around two marks on a course roughly equivalent to the current 400m.

The 400m for men has been in every Olympic Games since 1896. Women first contested the distance at the 1964 Tokyo Games.

Did you know

When Cathy Freeman won Olympic gold in the 400m at her home Games in Sydney 2000, it drew record TV audiences in Australia of around 7million viewers.

Gold standard

This is arguably the strongest event for American men, having won 20 of the 27 Olympic titles to date. But their female counterparts have won just two Olympic golds.