400 metres hurdles - wikipedia 400 metres hurdles This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( March 2015 ) Athletics 400 metres hurdles Women 's 400m hurdles. Men 's records World Kevin Young 46.78 ( 1992 ) Olympic Kevin Young 46.78 ( 1992 ) Women 's records World Yuliya Pechonkina 52.34 ( 2003 ) Olympic Melaine Walker 52.64 ( 2008 ) The 400 metres hurdles is a track and field hurdling event. The event has been on the Olympic athletics programme since 1900 for men and since 1984 for women. On a standard outdoor track, 400 metres is the length of the inside lane, once around the stadium. Runners stay in their lanes the entire way after starting out of the blocks and must clear ten hurdles that are evenly spaced around the track. The hurdles are positioned and weighted so that they fall forward if bumped into with sufficient force, to prevent injury to the runners. Although there is no longer any penalty for knocking hurdles over, runners prefer to clear them cleanly, as touching them during the race slows runners down. The best male athletes can run the 400 m hurdles in a time of around 47 seconds, while the best female athletes achieve a time of around 53 seconds. The current men 's and women 's world record holders are Kevin Young with 46.78 seconds and Yuliya Pechonkina with 52.34 seconds. Compared to the 400 metres run, the hurdles race takes the men about three seconds longer and the women four seconds longer. The 400 m hurdles was held for both sexes at the inaugural IAAF World Championships in Athletics. The first championship for women came at the 1980 World Championships in Athletics -- being held as a one - off due to the lack of a race at the 1980 Summer Olympics. Contents 1 History 2 Hurdling technique 2.1 Block start 2.2 Hurdling 2.3 Stride length 3 Statistics 3.1 All - time top 25 men 3.1. 1 Notes 3.2 All - time top 25 women 3.2. 1 Notes 3.3 Milestones 4 Most successful athletes 5 Olympic medalists 5.1 Men 5.2 Women 6 World Championships medalists 6.1 Men 6.2 Women 7 Season 's bests 8 External links 9 Notes and references History See also : Men 's 400 metres hurdles world record progression and Women 's 400 metres hurdles world record progression The first awards in a 400 m hurdles race were given in 1860 when a race was held in Oxford, England, over a course of 440 yards ( 402.336 m ). While running the course, participants had to clear twelve wooden hurdles, over 100 centimetres tall, that had been spaced in even intervals. To reduce the risk of injury, somewhat more lightweight constructions were introduced in 1895 that runners could push over. However, until 1935 runners were disqualified if they pushed over more than three hurdles in a race and records were only officially accepted if the runner in question had cleared all hurdles clean and left them all standing. The 400 m hurdles became an Olympic event at the 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris, France. At the same time, the race was standardized so that virtually identical races could be held and the finish times compared to each other. As a result, the official distance was fixed to 400 metres, or one lap of the stadium, and the number of hurdles was reduced to ten. The official height of the hurdles was set to 91.4 cm ( 3 feet ) for men and 76.20 cm ( 2 ft, 6 inches ) for women. The hurdles were now placed on the course with a run - up to the first hurdle of 45 metres, a distance between the hurdles of 35 metres each, and a home stretch from the last hurdle to the finish line of 40 metres. The first documented 400 m hurdles race for women took place in 1971. The International Association of Athletics Federations ( IAAF ) introduced the event officially as a discipline in 1974, although it was not run at the Olympics until 1984, the first Men 's World Champion having been crowned the year before at the inaugural IAAF World Championships in Athletics. A special edition of the Women 's 400m Hurdles happened in the 1980 IAAF World Championships in Athletics in response to the Women 's 400m Hurdles not being included in the boycotted 1980 Moscow Olympics and the Liberty Bell Classic. Many athletic commentators and officials have often brought up the idea of lifting the height of the women 's 400 m hurdles to incorporate a greater requirement of hurdling skill. This is a view held by German athletic coach Norbert Stein : `` All this means that the women 's hurdles for specialists, who are the target group to be dealt with in this discussion, is considerably depreciated in skill demands when compared to the men 's hurdles. It should not be possible in the women 's hurdles that the winner is an athlete whose performance in the flat sprint is demonstrably excellent but whose technique of hurdling is only moderate and whose anthropometric characteristics are not optimal. This was the case at the World Championships in Seville and the same problem can often be seen at international and national meetings. '' Hurdling technique `` The 400m hurdle race one of the most demanding of all events in the sprint - hurdle group. '' ( Lindeman ) It requires speed, endurance, and hurdling technique all along with unique awareness and special concentration throughout the race. Block start When preparing to hurdle, the blocks should be set so that the athlete arrives at the first hurdle leading on the desired leg without inserting a stutter step. A stutter step is when the runner has to chop his or her stride down to arrive on the `` correct '' leg for take off. Throughout the race, any adjustments to stride length stride speed should be made several strides out from the hurdle because a stutter or being too far from the hurdle at take off will result in loss of momentum and speed. Hurdling At the beginning of the take - off, the knee must be driven toward the hurdle and the foot then extended. The knee should be slightly bent when crossing the hurdle. Unless an athlete 's body has great flexibility, the knee must be slightly bent to allow a forward body lean. Unlike the 110m hurdles, a significant forward body lean is not that necessary due to the hurdles being lower. However, the trail leg must be kept bent and short to provide a quick lever action allowing a fast hurdle clearance. The knee should pull through under the armpit and should not be flat across the top of the hurdle. It is also important that the hurdler does n't reach out on the last stride before the hurdle as this will result in a longer bound being made to clear the hurdle. This will also result in a loss of momentum if the foot lands well in front of the center of gravity. Stride length Using a left lead leg on the bends allows the hurdler to run closer to the inside of the lane and cover a shorter distance. Additionally, if the left leg is used for the lead, then the athlete 's upper body can be leaned to the left, making it easier to bring the trail leg through. Additionally, an athlete hurdling with a right leg lead around the bends must take care that they do not inadvertently trail their foot or toe around the hurdle rather than passing over the top, which would lead to a disqualification from the race. Depending on the height and strength of the athlete, men work toward a stride pattern of 13 to 15 steps between each hurdle, and women work toward a stride pattern of 15 to 17. This does not include the landing step from the previous hurdle. Weaker athletes will typically hold a longer step pattern throughout the race so that they do not bound or reach with each step, which also results in a loss of speed. These patterns are ideal because it allows the hurdler to take off from their predominant leg throughout the race without switching legs. However, fatigue from the race will knock athletes of their stride pattern and force runners to switch legs. At an early age, many coaches train their athletes to hurdle with both legs. This is a useful skill to learn since as a runner tires, their stride length may decrease, resulting in the need either to add a stutter stride, or to take a hurdle on the other leg. The 400 metre hurdles is a very physically demanding race. It requires intense training to get the endurance, speed and technique needed to compete. Statistics All - time top 25 men As of July 2016 Rank Time Athlete Country Date Venue 46.78 Kevin Young United States 6 August 1992 Barcelona 47.02 Edwin Moses United States 31 August 1983 Koblenz 47.03 Bryan Bronson United States 21 June 1998 New Orleans 47.10 Samuel Matete Zambia 7 August 1991 Zürich 5 47.19 Andre Phillips United States 25 September 1988 Seoul 6 47.23 Amadou Dia Ba Senegal 25 September 1988 Seoul 7 47.24 Kerron Clement United States 26 June 2005 Carson, California 8 47.25 Félix Sánchez Dominican Republic 29 August 2003 Paris, Saint - Denis Angelo Taylor United States 18 August 2008 Beijing 10 47.30 Bershawn Jackson United States 9 August 2005 Helsinki 11 47.37 Stéphane Diagana France 5 July 1995 Lausanne 12 47.38 Danny Harris United States 10 July 1991 Lausanne 13 47.43 James Carter United States 9 August 2005 Helsinki 14 47.48 Harald Schmid West Germany 8 September 1982 Athens 15 47.53 Hadi Soua'an Al - Somaily Saudi Arabia 27 September 2000 Sydney 16 47.54 Derrick Adkins United States 5 July 1995 Lausanne Fabrizio Mori Italy 10 August 2001 Edmonton 18 47.60 Winthrop Graham Jamaica 4 August 1993 Zürich 19 47.63 Johnny Dutch United States 26 June 2010 Des Moines 20 47.66 A L.J. van Zyl South Africa 25 February 2011 Pretoria 47.66 31 May 2011 Ostrava 21 47.67 Bennie Brazell United States 11 June 2005 Sacramento 22 47.69 Jehue Gordon Trinidad and Tobago 15 August 2013 Moscow 23 47.70 Michael Tinsley United States 15 August 2013 Moscow 24 47.72 Javier Culson Puerto Rico 8 May 2010 Ponce 25 47.75 David Patrick United States 17 July 1988 Indianapolis Notes Below is a list of all other times superior to 47.35. Edwin Moses ran 47.13 ( 1980 ), 47.14 ( 1981 ), 47.17 ( 1980 ), 47.27 ( 1981 ), 47.32 ( 1984 ) Kevin Young ran 47.18 ( 1993 ) Bershawn Jackson ran 47.32 ( 2010 ) Felix Sanchez ran 47.35 ( 2002 ) All - time top 25 women As of June 2017 Rank Time Athlete Nation Date Place Ref 52.34 Yuliya Pechonkina Russia 8 August 2003 Tula 52.42 Melaine Walker Jamaica 20 August 2009 Berlin 52.47 Lashinda Demus United States 1 September 2011 Daegu 52.61 Kim Batten United States 11 August 1995 Gothenburg 5 52.62 Tonja Buford - Bailey United States 11 August 1995 Gothenburg 6 52.64 Dalilah Muhammad United States 25 June 2017 Sacramento 7 52.70 Natalya Antyukh Russia 8 August 2012 London 8 52.74 Sally Gunnell Great Britain 19 August 1993 Stuttgart 9 52.75 Shamier Little United States 25 June 2017 Sacramento 10 52.77 Fani Halkia Greece 22 August 2004 Athens 11 52.79 Sandra Farmer - Patrick United States 19 August 1993 Stuttgart Kaliese Spencer Jamaica 5 August 2011 London 13 52.82 Deon Hemmings Jamaica 31 July 1996 Atlanta 14 52.83 Zuzana Hejnová Czech Republic 15 August 2013 Moscow 15 52.89 Daimí Pernía Cuba 25 August 1999 Seville 16 52.90 Nezha Bidouane Morocco 25 August 1999 Seville 17 52.94 Marina Stepanova Soviet Union 17 September 1986 Tashkent 18 52.95 Sheena Johnson United States 11 July 2004 Sacramento Kori Carter United States 25 June 2017 Sacramento 20 53.02 Irina Privalova Russia 27 September 2000 Sydney 21 53.11 Tatyana Ledovskaya Soviet Union 29 August 1991 Tokyo Ashley Spencer United States 25 June 2017 Sacramento 23 53.14 Georganne Moline United States 25 June 2017 Sacramento 24 53.17 Debbie Flintoff - King Australia 28 September 1988 Seoul 25 53.20 Josanne Lucas Trinidad and Tobago 20 August 2009 Berlin Notes Below is a list of all other times superior to 52.88. Lashinda Demus ran 52.63 ( 2009 ), 52.77 ( 2012 ), 52.82 ( 2010 ). Melaine Walker ran 52.64 ( 2008 ), 52.73 ( 2011 ). Kim Batten ran 52.74 ( 2008 ), 52.84 ( 1998 ). Faní Halkiá also ran 52.82 ( 2004 ). Dalilah Muhammad also ran 52.88 ( 2016 ). Milestones Men First official IAAF world record : 55.0 seconds, Charles Bacon ( USA ), 1908 First under 54 seconds : 53.8 seconds, Sten Pettersson ( SWE ), 1925 First under 53 seconds : 52.6 seconds, John Gibson ( USA ), 1927 First under 52 seconds : 51.7 seconds, Bob Tisdall ( IRL ), 1932 First under 51 seconds : 50.6 seconds, Glenn Hardin ( USA ), 1934 First under 50 seconds : 49.5 seconds, Glenn Davis ( USA ), 1956 First under 49 seconds : 48.8 seconds, Geoff Vanderstock ( USA ), 1968 First under 48 seconds : 47.82 seconds, John Akii - Bua ( UGA ), 1972 First under 47 seconds : 46.78 seconds, Kevin Young ( USA ), 1992 ( this is the only time under 47 seconds ) Women First official world record : 56.51 seconds, Krystyna Kacperczyk ( POL ), 1974 First under 56 seconds : 55.74 seconds, Tatjana Storoschewa ( USSR ), 1977 First under 55 seconds : 54.89 seconds, Tatjana Selenzowa ( USSR ), 1978 First under 54 seconds : 53.58 seconds, Margarita Ponomaryova ( USSR ), 1984 First under 53 seconds : 52.94 seconds, Marina Stepanova ( USSR ), 1986 Most successful athletes American athlete Glenn Davis had a prodigious start to his hurdling career, running his first race in April 1956 in 54.4 s. Two months later, he ran a new world record with 49.5 s and later that year he won the 400 m hurdles at the Olympics, and was also the first to repeat that feat in 1960. In terms of success and longevity in competition, Edwin Moses ' record is significant : he won 122 races in a row between 1977 and 1987 plus two gold medals, at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montréal and the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. He was undefeated for exactly nine years nine months and nine days, from 26 August 1977 until 4 June 1987. The U.S. boycott of the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow prevented him from winning a hat - trick of gold medals, but his career is nonetheless widely regarded as one of the most successful in hurdling. He finished third in the 1988 Olympic final, the last race in his professional career. He also held the world record for sixteen years from when he first broke it at the Olympics on 25 July 1976 ( twice in one day ) until it was finally broken by Kevin Young at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. Edwin Moses Olympic Games & World Championships victories Edwin Moses ( USA ), Olympic 1976, 1984, World 1983, 1987 Felix Sanchez ( DOM ), Olympic 2004, 2012, World 2001, 2003 Kerron Clement ( USA ), Olympic 2016 ( and Olympic silver 2008 ), World 2007 and 2009 Sally Gunnell ( GBR ), Olympic 1992, World 1993 Kevin Young ( USA ), Olympic 1992, World 1993 Derrick Adkins ( USA ), Olympic 1996, World 1995 Melaine Walker ( JAM ), Olympic 2008, World 2009 Two Olympic victories : Glenn Davis ( USA ), 1956 and 1960 Edwin Moses ( USA ), 1976 and 1984 ( also bronze in 1988 ) Angelo Taylor ( USA ), 2000 and 2008 Félix Sánchez ( DOM ), 2004 and 2012 Two World Championships : Edwin Moses ( USA ), 1983 and 1987 Félix Sánchez ( DOM ), 2001 and 2003 ( won silver in 2007 ) Kerron Clement ( USA ), 2007 and 2009 Nezha Bidouane ( MAR ), 1997 and 2001 ( won silver in 1999 ) Jana Rawlinson ( AUS ), 2003 ( as Jana Pittman ) and 2007 Zuzana Hejnová ( CZE ), 2013 and 2015 Note : Edwin Moses and Kevin Young are the only male 400 m hurdlers to have been Olympic Champion, World Champion and broken the World Record. Note : Sally Gunnell is the only female 400 m hurdler to have been Olympic Champion, World Champion and broken the World Record. Olympic medalists Men Games Gold Silver Bronze 1900 Paris details Walter Tewksbury ( USA ) Henri Tauzin ( FRA ) George Orton ( CAN ) 1904 St. Louis details Harry Hillman ( USA ) Frank Waller ( USA ) George Poage ( USA ) 1908 London details Charles Bacon ( USA ) Harry Hillman ( USA ) Jimmy Tremeer ( GBR ) 1912 Stockholm not included in the Olympic program 1920 Antwerp details Frank Loomis ( USA ) John Norton ( USA ) August Desch ( USA ) 1924 Paris details Morgan Taylor ( USA ) Erik Wilén ( FIN ) Ivan Riley ( USA ) 1928 Amsterdam details David Burghley ( GBR ) Frank Cuhel ( USA ) Morgan Taylor ( USA ) 1932 Los Angeles details Bob Tisdall ( IRL ) Glenn Hardin ( USA ) Morgan Taylor ( USA ) 1936 Berlin details Glenn Hardin ( USA ) John Loaring ( CAN ) Miguel White ( PHI ) 1948 London details Roy Cochran ( USA ) Duncan White ( CEY ) Rune Larsson ( SWE ) 1952 Helsinki details Charles Moore ( USA ) Yuriy Lituyev ( URS ) John Holland ( NZL ) 1956 Melbourne details Glenn Davis ( USA ) Eddie Southern ( USA ) Josh Culbreath ( USA ) 1960 Rome details Glenn Davis ( USA ) Clifton Cushman ( USA ) Dick Howard ( USA ) 1964 Tokyo details Rex Cawley ( USA ) John Cooper ( GBR ) Salvatore Morale ( ITA ) 1968 Mexico City details David Hemery ( GBR ) Gerhard Hennige ( FRG ) John Sherwood ( GBR ) 1972 Munich details John Akii - Bua ( UGA ) Ralph Mann ( USA ) David Hemery ( GBR ) 1976 Montreal details Edwin Moses ( USA ) Michael Shine ( USA ) Yevgeniy Gavrilenko ( URS ) 1980 Moscow details Volker Beck ( GDR ) Vasyl Arkhypenko ( URS ) Gary Oakes ( GBR ) 1984 Los Angeles details Edwin Moses ( USA ) Danny Harris ( USA ) Harald Schmid ( FRG ) 1988 Seoul details André Phillips ( USA ) Amadou Dia Ba ( SEN ) Edwin Moses ( USA ) 1992 Barcelona details Kevin Young ( USA ) Winthrop Graham ( JAM ) Kriss Akabusi ( GBR ) 1996 Atlanta details Derrick Adkins ( USA ) Samuel Matete ( ZAM ) Calvin Davis ( USA ) 2000 Sydney details Angelo Taylor ( USA ) Hadi Al - Somaily ( KSA ) Llewellyn Herbert ( RSA ) 2004 Athens details Félix Sánchez ( DOM ) Danny McFarlane ( JAM ) Naman Keïta ( FRA ) 2008 Beijing details Angelo Taylor ( USA ) Kerron Clement ( USA ) Bershawn Jackson ( USA ) 2012 London details Félix Sánchez ( DOM ) Michael Tinsley ( USA ) Javier Culson ( PUR ) 2016 Rio de Janeiro details Kerron Clement ( USA ) Boniface Mucheru Tumuti ( KEN ) Yasmani Copello ( TUR ) Women Games Gold Silver Bronze 1984 Los Angeles details Nawal El Moutawakel ( MAR ) Judi Brown ( USA ) Cristieana Cojocaru ( ROU ) 1988 Seoul details Debbie Flintoff - King ( AUS ) Tatyana Ledovskaya ( URS ) Ellen Fiedler ( GDR ) 1992 Barcelona details Sally Gunnell ( GBR ) Sandra Farmer - Patrick ( USA ) Janeene Vickers ( USA ) 1996 Atlanta details Deon Hemmings ( JAM ) Kim Batten ( USA ) Tonja Buford - Bailey ( USA ) 2000 Sydney details Irina Privalova ( RUS ) Deon Hemmings ( JAM ) Nezha Bidouane ( MAR ) 2004 Athens details Fani Halkia ( GRE ) Ionela Târlea - Manolache ( ROU ) Tetyana Tereshchuk - Antipova ( UKR ) 2008 Beijing details Melaine Walker ( JAM ) Sheena Tosta ( USA ) Tasha Danvers ( GBR ) 2012 London details Natalya Antyukh ( RUS ) Lashinda Demus ( USA ) Zuzana Hejnová ( CZE ) 2016 Rio de Janeiro details Dalilah Muhammad ( USA ) Sara Petersen ( DEN ) Ashley Spencer ( USA ) World Championships medalists Men Championships Gold Silver Bronze 1983 Helsinki details Edwin Moses ( USA ) Harald Schmid ( FRG ) Aleksandr Kharlov ( URS ) 1987 Rome details Edwin Moses ( USA ) Danny Harris ( USA ) Harald Schmid ( FRG ) 1991 Tokyo details Samuel Matete ( ZAM ) Winthrop Graham ( JAM ) Kriss Akabusi ( GBR ) 1993 Stuttgart details Kevin Young ( USA ) Samuel Matete ( ZAM ) Winthrop Graham ( JAM ) 1995 Gothenburg details Derrick Adkins ( USA ) Samuel Matete ( ZAM ) Stéphane Diagana ( FRA ) 1997 Athens details Stéphane Diagana ( FRA ) Llewellyn Herbert ( RSA ) Bryan Bronson ( USA ) 1999 Seville details Fabrizio Mori ( ITA ) Stéphane Diagana ( FRA ) Marcel Schelbert ( SUI ) 2001 Edmonton details Félix Sánchez ( DOM ) Fabrizio Mori ( ITA ) Dai Tamesue ( JPN ) 2003 Saint - Denis details Félix Sánchez ( DOM ) Joey Woody ( USA ) Periklis Iakovakis ( GRE ) 2005 Helsinki details Bershawn Jackson ( USA ) James Carter ( USA ) Dai Tamesue ( JPN ) 2007 Osaka details Kerron Clement ( USA ) Félix Sánchez ( DOM ) Marek Plawgo ( POL ) 2009 Berlin details Kerron Clement ( USA ) Javier Culson ( PUR ) Bershawn Jackson ( USA ) 2011 Daegu details Dai Greene ( GBR ) Javier Culson ( PUR ) L.J. van Zyl ( RSA ) 2013 Moscow details Jehue Gordon ( TRI ) Michael Tinsley ( USA ) Emir Bekrić ( SRB ) 2015 Beijing details Nicholas Bett ( KEN ) Denis Kudryavtsev ( RUS ) Jeffery Gibson ( BAH ) 2017 London details Karsten Warholm ( NOR ) Yasmani Copello ( TUR ) Kerron Clement ( USA ) Women The official IAAF World Championships in Athletics began in 1983, but in 1980, the women 's 3000 metres and 400 metres hurdles events had a World Championship competition in Sittard, Netherlands. This was due to these events not yet being on the Olympic program ( the same had happened in 1976 for the men 's 50 km walk ). Championships Gold Silver Bronze 1980 Sittard details Bärbel Broschat ( GDR ) Ellen Neumann ( GDR ) Petra Pfaff ( GDR ) 1983 Helsinki details Yekaterina Fesenko ( URS ) Ana Ambrazienė ( URS ) Ellen Neumann - Fiedler ( GDR ) 1987 Rome details Sabine Busch ( GDR ) Debbie Flintoff ( AUS ) Cornelia Feuerbach ( GDR ) 1991 Tokyo details Tatyana Ledovskaya ( URS ) Sally Gunnell ( GBR ) Janeene Vickers ( USA ) 1993 Stuttgart details Sally Gunnell ( GBR ) Sandra Farmer - Patrick ( USA ) Margarita Ponomaryova ( RUS ) 1995 Gothenburg details Kim Batten ( USA ) Tonja Buford ( USA ) Deon Hemmings ( JAM ) 1997 Athens details Nezha Bidouane ( MAR ) Deon Hemmings ( JAM ) Kim Batten ( USA ) 1999 Seville details Daimí Pernía ( CUB ) Nezha Bidouane ( MAR ) Deon Hemmings ( JAM ) 2001 Edmonton details Nezha Bidouane ( MAR ) Yuliya Pechonkina ( RUS ) Daimí Pernía ( CUB ) 2003 Saint - Denis details Jana Pittman ( AUS ) Sandra Glover ( USA ) Yuliya Pechonkina ( RUS ) 2005 Helsinki details Yuliya Pechonkina ( RUS ) Lashinda Demus ( USA ) Sandra Glover ( USA ) 2007 Osaka details Jana Rawlinson ( AUS ) Yuliya Pechenkina ( RUS ) Anna Jesień ( POL ) 2009 Berlin details Melaine Walker ( JAM ) Lashinda Demus ( USA ) Josanne Lucas ( TRI ) 2011 Daegu details Lashinda Demus ( USA ) Melaine Walker ( JAM ) Natalya Antyukh ( RUS ) 2013 Moscow details Zuzana Hejnová ( CZE ) Dalilah Muhammad ( USA ) Lashinda Demus ( USA ) 2015 Beijing details Zuzana Hejnová ( CZE ) Shamier Little ( USA ) Cassandra Tate ( USA ) 2017 London details Kori Carter ( USA ) Dalilah Muhammad ( USA ) Ristananna Tracey ( JAM ) Season 's bests Men 's Year Time Athlete Location 1971 48.9 Ralph Mann ( USA ) Helsinki 1972 47.82 John Akii - Bua ( UGA ) Munich 1973 48.54 John Akii - Bua ( UGA ) Lagos 48.1 Jim Bolding ( USA ) Milan 48.4 Jim Bolding ( USA ) Milan 1976 47.63 Edwin Moses ( USA ) Montreal 1977 47.45 Edwin Moses ( USA ) Westwood, Los Angeles 1978 47.94 Edwin Moses ( USA ) Zürich 1979 47.53 Edwin Moses ( USA ) Montreal 1980 47.13 Edwin Moses ( USA ) Milan 1981 47.14 Edwin Moses ( USA ) Lausanne 1982 47.48 Harald Schmid ( FRG ) Athens 47.02 Edwin Moses ( USA ) Koblenz 1984 47.32 Edwin Moses ( USA ) Koblenz 1985 47.63 Danny Harris ( USA ) Zürich 1986 47.38 Edwin Moses ( USA ) Lausanne 47.46 Edwin Moses ( USA ) Rome 1988 47.19 Andre Phillips ( USA ) Seoul 1989 47.86 Kevin Young ( USA ) Berlin 1990 47.49 Danny Harris ( USA ) Lausanne 1991 47.10 Samuel Matete ( ZAM ) Zürich 1992 46.78 Kevin Young ( USA ) Barcelona 1993 47.18 Kevin Young ( USA ) Stuttgart 1994 47.70 Derrick Adkins ( USA ) Linz 1995 47.37 Stéphane Diagana ( FRA ) Lausanne 47.54 Derrick Adkins ( USA ) Atlanta 1997 47.64 Bryan Bronson ( USA ) Monaco 1998 47.03 Bryan Bronson ( USA ) New Orleans 1999 47.72 Fabrizio Mori ( ITA ) Seville 2000 47.50 Angelo Taylor ( USA ) Sydney 2001 47.38 Félix Sánchez ( DOM ) Zürich 2002 47.35 Félix Sánchez ( DOM ) Zürich 2003 47.25 Félix Sánchez ( DOM ) Saint - Denis 47.63 Félix Sánchez ( DOM ) Athens 2005 47.24 Kerron Clement ( USA ) Carson 2006 47.39 Kerron Clement ( USA ) Indianapolis 2007 47.61 Kerron Clement ( USA ) Osaka 2008 47.25 Angelo Taylor ( USA ) Beijing 2009 47.91 Kerron Clement ( USA ) Berlin 47.32 Bershawn Jackson ( USA ) Des Moines 2011 47.66 L.J. van Zyl ( RSA ) Pretoria / Ostrava 2012 47.63 Félix Sánchez ( DOM ) London 2013 47.69 Jehue Gordon ( TRI ) Moscow 2014 48.03 Javier Culson ( PUR ) New York City 2015 47.79 Nicholas Bett ( KEN ) Beijing 2016 47.73 Kerron Clement ( USA ) Rio de Janeiro 2017 47.80 Kyron McMaster ( IVB ) Kingston Women 's Year Time Athlete Location 1971 1972 1973 1976 1977 1978 54.89 Tatyana Zelentsova ( URS ) Prague 1979 54.78 Marina Stepanova ( URS ) Moscow 1980 54.28 Karin Roßley ( GDR ) Jena 1981 54.79 Ellen Fiedler ( GDR ) Jena 1982 54.57 Ann - Louise Skoglund ( SWE ) Athens 54.02 Anna Ambrazienė ( URS ) Moscow 1984 53.58 Margarita Ponomaryova ( URS ) Kiev 1985 53.55 Sabine Busch ( GDR ) Berlin 1986 52.94 Marina Stepanova ( URS ) Tashkent 53.24 Sabine Busch ( GDR ) Potsdam 1988 53.17 Debbie Flintoff - King ( AUS ) Seoul 1989 53.37 Sandra Farmer - Patrick ( USA ) New York City 1990 53.62 Tatyana Ledovskaya ( URS ) Split 1991 53.11 Tatyana Ledovskaya ( URS ) Tokyo 1992 53.23 Sally Gunnell ( GBR ) Barcelona 1993 52.74 Sally Gunnell ( GBR ) Stuttgart 1994 53.33 Sally Gunnell ( GBR ) Helsinki 1995 52.61 Kim Batten ( USA ) Gothenburg 52.82 Deon Hemmings ( JAM ) Atlanta 1997 52.97 Kim Batten ( USA ) Nezha Bidouane ( MAR ) Indianapolis Athens 1998 52.74 Kim Batten ( USA ) Monaco 1999 52.89 Daimí Pernía ( CUB ) Seville 2000 53.02 Irina Privalova ( RUS ) Sydney 2001 53.34 Nezha Bidouane ( MAR ) Edmonton 2002 53.10 Yuliya Pechonkina ( RUS ) Tula 2003 52.34 Yuliya Pechonkina ( RUS ) Tula 52.77 Faní Halkiá ( GRE ) Athens 2005 52.90 Yuliya Pechonkina ( RUS ) Helsinki 2006 53.02 Lashinda Demus ( USA ) Athens 2007 53.28 Tiffany Williams ( USA ) Indianapolis 2008 52.64 Melaine Walker ( JAM ) Beijing 2009 52.42 Melaine Walker ( JAM ) Berlin 52.82 Lashinda Demus ( USA ) Rome 2011 52.47 Lashinda Demus ( USA ) Daegu 2012 52.70 Natalya Antyukh ( RUS ) London 2013 52.83 Zuzana Hejnová ( CZE ) Moscow 2014 53.41 Kaliese Spencer ( JAM ) Moscow 2015 53.50 Zuzana Hejnová ( CZE ) Beijing 2016 52.88 Dalilah Muhammad ( USA ) Eugene 2017 52.64 Dalilah Muhammad ( USA ) Sacramento External links IAAF list of 400 - metres - hurdles records in XML Notes and references Jump up ^ `` 400 Metres Hurdles Men All Time ''. IAAF. Jump up ^ `` 400 Metres Hurdles Women All Time ''. IAAF. Jump up ^ Roy Jordan ( 25 June 2017 ). `` Muhammad wins historic 400m hurdles race at US Championships ''. IAAF. Retrieved 26 June 2017. Jump up ^ `` 400 Metres Hurdles Results ''. IAAF. 8 August 2012. Retrieved 9 August 2012. Jump up ^ Roy Jordan ( 25 June 2017 ). `` Muhammad wins historic 400m hurdles race at US Championships ''. IAAF. Retrieved 26 June 2017. Jump up ^ Roy Jordan ( 25 June 2017 ). `` Muhammad wins historic 400m hurdles race at US Championships ''. IAAF. Retrieved 26 June 2017. Jump up ^ Roy Jordan ( 25 June 2017 ). `` Muhammad wins historic 400m hurdles race at US Championships ''. IAAF. Retrieved 26 June 2017. Jump up ^ Roy Jordan ( 25 June 2017 ). `` Muhammad wins historic 400m hurdles race at US Championships ''. IAAF. Retrieved 26 June 2017. Jump up ^ IAAF World Championships in Athletics. GBR Athletics. Athletics events Track and field Road running Racewalking Racerunning Cross country running Multi-day race Ultramarathon Wheelchair racing Backward running Track Sprints 50 m 55 m 60 m 100 y 100 m 150 m 200 m ( straight ) 300 m 400 m 500 m 600 m Hurdles 50 m 55 m 60 m 80 m 100 m 110 m 200 m ( low ) 300 m 400 m Middle - distance 800 m 1000 m 1500 m One mile 2000 m 2000 m steeplechase 3000 m 3000 m steeplechase Two miles Long - distance 5000 m 10,000 m One hour run Relays 4 × 100 m 4 × 200 m 4 × 400 m 4 × 800 m 4 × 1500 m Distance medley relay Sprint medley relay Swedish relay Walking Mile 3000 m 5000 m 10,000 m 15,000 m 20,000 m Field Throws Discus Hammer Javelin Shot put Weight throw Softball throw Jumps High jump ( standing ) Long jump ( standing ) Triple jump ( standing ) Pole vault Combined Decathlon Heptathlon Athletics pentathlon Women 's pentathlon Throws pentathlon Road Running 5 km 10 km 15 km 10 mi 20 km Half marathon 25 km 30 km Marathon Ekiden Ultramarathon Walking 10 km 20 km 50 km 50 mi 100 km Current Olympic events shown in italics Athletics portal Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=400_metres_hurdles&oldid=801843108 '' Categories : Events in athletics ( track and field ) Hurdling Summer Olympic disciplines in athletics Hidden categories : Articles needing additional references from March 2015 All articles needing additional references Use dmy dates from January 2013 All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from April 2009 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Català Čeština Dansk Deutsch Eesti Español Euskara فارسی Français 한국어 Hrvatski Italiano עברית Latviešu Lietuvių Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk Polski Português Русский Српски / srpski Suomi Svenska தமிழ் Türkçe 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 22 September 2017, at 06 : 36. 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Question: who holds the world record for men's 400m hurdles
Answer: Kevin Young