# 400 metres at the World Athletics Championships

The 400 metres at the World Championships in Athletics has been contested by both men and women since the inaugural edition in 1983. It is the second most prestigious title in the discipline after the 400 metres at the Olympics. The competition format typically has two or three qualifying rounds leading to a final between eight athletes.
The championship records for the event are 43.18 seconds for men, set by Michael Johnson in 1999, and 47.99 seconds for women, set by Jarmila Kratochvílová in 1983. The men's world record has been broken at the competition on one occasion and Johnson's championship record remains the world record as of 2015. The current women's championship record stood as the women's world record for two years and remains the only time that feat has been accomplished at the championships.
Michael Johnson is the most successful athlete of the World Championships 400 m, having won four straight titles from 1993 to 1999. He is the only sprint athlete to have won that many individual titles in an event. The second most successful is LaShawn Merritt – a two-time champion and the only other athlete to have won four medals. The most successful women are Marie-José Pérec, Cathy Freeman and Christine Ohuruogu, all of whom have won two world titles. Jeremy Wariner is the only other person to have won two titles, and also has three medals to his name.
The United States is comfortably the most successful nation in the discipline – American men have topped the podium ten times and taken 23 medals in total. American women also top the table with two golds among seven medals. Jamaica is the only other nation to have won more than one medal in the men's race, and has won eleven medals in total across the sexes. Great Britain has had two winners and two runners-up. Australia, France and Bahamas are the only other nations to have won multiple gold medals.
Jerome Young is the only athlete to be stripped of a medal in the event, as he lost his 2003 gold medal due to a doping ban.

## Age records

* All information from World Athletics.
| Distinction | Male | Male | Male | Female | Female | Female |
| Distinction | Athlete | Age | Date | Athlete | Age | Date |
| Youngest champion | Kirani James (GRN) | 18 years, 363 days | 30 Aug 2011 | Salwa Eid Naser (BHR) | 21 years, 133 days | 3 Oct 2019 |
| Youngest medalist | Kirani James (GRN) | 18 years, 363 days | 30 Aug 2011 | Salwa Eid Naser (BHR) | 19 years, 78 days | 9 Aug 2017 |
| Youngest finalist | Thomas Schönlebe (GDR) | 18 years, 4 days | 10 Aug 1983 | Salwa Eid Naser (BHR) | 19 years, 78 days | 9 Aug 2017 |
| Youngest participant | Kerth Gumbs (AIA) | 16 years, 183 days | 4 Aug 2001 | Dijana Kojić (BIH) | 15 years, 7 days | 2 Aug 1997 |
| Oldest champion | Michael Johnson (USA) | 31 years, 347 days | 26 Aug 1999 | Jarmila Kratochvílová (TCH) | 32 years, 196 days | 10 Aug 1983 |
| Oldest medalist | Michael Johnson (USA) | 31 years, 347 days | 26 Aug 1999 | Jarmila Kratochvílová (TCH) | 32 years, 196 days | 10 Aug 1983 |
| Oldest finalist | Michael Johnson (USA) | 31 years, 347 days | 26 Aug 1999 | Novlene Williams-Mills (JAM) | 35 years, 105 days | 9 Aug 2017 |
| Oldest participant | Chris Brown (BAH) | 36 years, 313 days | 24 Aug 2015 | Amy Mbacké Thiam (SEN) | 36 years, 274 days | 11 Aug 2013 |

## Doping

Antonio Pettigrew, the 1991 champion, was the first have his results annulled due to doping, although this ban affected his finalist placings from 1997 to 2001 only. His fellow American Jerome Young became the first and thus far only 400 m athlete to be stripped of their world title. His ban covered his 2003 win, a 2001 semi-finalist placing, and a fourth-place finish in 1999.
Natalya Sologub of Belarus became the first female 400 m runner to be disqualified from the championships, having originally been a 2001 semi-finalist. The 2003 sixth-place finish of Calvin Harrison was annulled for doping, as weer the semi-finalist runs of Amaka Ogoegbunam in 2009 and Antonina Yefremova in 2011.

## Medalists
### Men

| Championships | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
| 1983 Helsinki details | Bert Cameron (JAM) | Michael Franks (USA) | Sunder Nix (USA) |
| 1987 Rome details | Thomas Schönlebe (GDR) | Innocent Egbunike (NGA) | Harry Reynolds (USA) |
| 1991 Tokyo details | Antonio Pettigrew (USA) | Roger Black (GBR) | Danny Everett (USA) |
| 1993 Stuttgart details | Michael Johnson (USA) | Butch Reynolds (USA) | Samson Kitur (KEN) |
| 1995 Gothenburg details | Michael Johnson (USA) | Butch Reynolds (USA) | Greg Haughton (JAM) |
| 1997 Athens details | Michael Johnson (USA) | Davis Kamoga (UGA) | Tyree Washington (USA) |
| 1999 Seville details | Michael Johnson (USA) | Sanderlei Parrela (BRA) | Alejandro Cárdenas (MEX) |
| 2001 Edmonton details | Avard Moncur (BAH) | Ingo Schultz (GER) | Greg Haughton (JAM) |
| 2003 Saint-Denis details | Tyree Washington (USA) | Marc Raquil (FRA) | Michael Blackwood (JAM) |
| 2005 Helsinki details | Jeremy Wariner (USA) | Andrew Rock (USA) | Tyler Christopher (CAN) |
| 2007 Osaka details | Jeremy Wariner (USA) | LaShawn Merritt (USA) | Angelo Taylor (USA) |
| 2009 Berlin details | LaShawn Merritt (USA) | Jeremy Wariner (USA) | Renny Quow (TRI) |
| 2011 Daegu details | Kirani James (GRN) | LaShawn Merritt (USA) | Kévin Borlée (BEL) |
| 2013 Moscow details | LaShawn Merritt (USA) | Tony McQuay (USA) | Luguelín Santos (DOM) |
| 2015 Beijing details | Wayde van Niekerk (RSA) | LaShawn Merritt (USA) | Kirani James (GRN) |
| 2017 London details | Wayde van Niekerk (RSA) | Steven Gardiner (BAH) | Abdalelah Haroun (QAT) |
| 2019 Doha details | Steven Gardiner (BAH) | Anthony Zambrano (COL) | Fred Kerley (USA) |
| 2022 Eugene details | Michael Norman (USA) | Kirani James (GRN) | Matthew Hudson-Smith (GBR) |
| 2023 Budapest details | Antonio Watson (JAM) | Matthew Hudson-Smith (GBR) | Quincy Hall (USA) |

#### Medalists by country

| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 1 | United States (USA) | 11 | 8 | 6 | 27 |
| 2 | South Africa (RSA) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 3 | East Germany (GDR) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 4 | Bahamas (BAH) | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| 5 | Jamaica (JAM) | 2 | 0 | 3 | 5 |
| 6 | Grenada (GRN) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 7 | Great Britain (GBR) | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 8 | Brazil (BRA) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 8 | France (FRA) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 8 | Germany (GER) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 8 | Nigeria (NGR) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 8 | Uganda (UGA) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 13 | Belgium (BEL) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 13 | Canada (CAN) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 13 | Dominican Republic (DOM) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 13 | Kenya (KEN) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 13 | Mexico (MEX) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 13 | Trinidad and Tobago (TRI) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |

#### Multiple medalists

| Rank | Athlete | Nation | Period | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 1 | Michael Johnson | United States (USA) | 1991–1999 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 2 | LaShawn Merritt | United States (USA) | 2007–2013 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 5 |
| 3 | Jeremy Wariner | United States (USA) | 2005–2009 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| 4 | Wayde van Niekerk | South Africa (RSA) | 2015–2017 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 5 | Kirani James | Grenada (GRN) | 2011–2022 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 6 | Tyree Washington | United States (USA) | 1997–2003 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 7 | Butch Reynolds | United States (USA) | 1987–1995 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 8 | Greg Haughton | Jamaica (JAM) | 1995–2001 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |

### Women

| Championships | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
| 1983 Helsinki details | Jarmila Kratochvílová (TCH) | Taťána Kocembová (TCH) | Mariya Pinigina (URS) |
| 1987 Rome details | Olga Bryzgina (URS) | Petra Muller (GDR) | Kirsten Emmelmann (GDR) |
| 1991 Tokyo details | Marie-José Pérec (FRA) | Grit Breuer (GER) | Sandra Myers (ESP) |
| 1993 Stuttgart details | Jearl Miles (USA) | Natasha Kaiser-Brown (USA) | Sandie Richards (JAM) |
| 1995 Gothenburg details | Marie-José Pérec (FRA) | Pauline Davis (BAH) | Jearl Miles (USA) |
| 1997 Athens details | Cathy Freeman (AUS) | Sandie Richards (JAM) | Jearl Miles Clark (USA) |
| 1999 Seville details | Cathy Freeman (AUS) | Anja Rücker (GER) | Lorraine Graham-Fenton (JAM) |
| 2001 Edmonton details | Amy Mbacké Thiam (SEN) | Lorraine Fenton (JAM) | Ana Guevara (MEX) |
| 2003 Saint-Denis details | Ana Guevara (MEX) | Lorraine Fenton (JAM) | Amy Mbacké Thiam (SEN) |
| 2005 Helsinki details | Tonique Williams-Darling (BAH) | Sanya Richards (USA) | Ana Guevara (MEX) |
| 2007 Osaka details | Christine Ohuruogu (GBR) | Nicola Sanders (GBR) | Novlene Williams (JAM) |
| 2009 Berlin details | Sanya Richards (USA) | Shericka Williams (JAM) | Antonina Krivoshapka (RUS) |
| 2011 Daegu details | Amantle Montsho (BOT) | Allyson Felix (USA) | Francena McCorory (USA)§ |
| 2013 Moscow details | Christine Ohuruogu (GBR) | Amantle Montsho (BOT) | Stephanie McPherson (JAM)$^§$ |
| 2015 Beijing details | Allyson Felix (USA) | Shaunae Miller (BAH) | Shericka Jackson (JAM) |
| 2017 London details | Phyllis Francis (USA) | Salwa Eid Naser (BHR) | Allyson Felix (USA) |
| 2019 Doha details | Salwa Eid Naser (BHR) | Shaunae Miller-Uibo (BAH) | Shericka Jackson (JAM) |
| 2022 Eugene details | Shaunae Miller-Uibo (BAH) | Marileidy Paulino (DOM) | Sada Williams (BAR) |
| 2023 Budapest details | Marileidy Paulino (DOM) | Natalia Kaczmarek (POL) | Sada Williams (BAR) |
§ : awarded following doping disqualification.

#### Medalists by country

| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 1 | United States (USA) | 4 | 3 | 4 | 11 |
| 2 | Great Britain (GBR) | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| 3 | Australia (AUS) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 3 | France (FRA) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 5 | Bahamas (BAH) | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 |
| 6 | Dominican Republic (DOM) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 6 | Botswana (BOT) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 6 | Czechoslovakia (TCH) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 6 | Bahrain (BHR) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 10 | Mexico (MEX) | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| 11 | Senegal (SEN) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 11 | Soviet Union (URS) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 13 | Jamaica (JAM) | 0 | 4 | 6 | 10 |
| 14 | Germany (GER) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 15 | East Germany (GDR) | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 16 | Poland (POL) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 17 | Barbados (BAR) | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 17 | Russia (RUS) | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 13 | Spain (ESP) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |

#### Multiple medalists

| Rank | Athlete | Nation | Period | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 1 | Marie-José Pérec | France (FRA) | 1991–1995 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 1 | Cathy Freeman | Australia (AUS) | 1997–1999 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 1 | Christine Ohuruogu | Great Britain (GBR) | 2007–2013 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 4 | Shaunae Miller-Uibo | Bahamas (BAH) | 2015–2022 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 5 | Allyson Felix | United States (USA) | 2011–2017 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 6 | Sanya Richards | United States (USA) | 2005–2009 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 7 | Amantle Montsho | Botswana (BOT) | 2011–2013 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 7 | Salwa Eid Naser | Bahrain (BHR) | 2017–2019 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 7 | Marileidy Paulino | Dominican Republic (DOM) | 2022-2023 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 10 | Jearl Miles Clark | United States (USA) | 1993–1997 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| 10 | Ana Guevara | Mexico (MEX) | 2001–2005 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| 12 | Amy Mbacke Thiam | Senegal (SEN) | 2001–2003 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 13 | Lorraine Fenton | Jamaica (JAM) | 1999–2003 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 14 | Sandie Richards | Jamaica (JAM) | 1993–1997 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 15 | Shericka Jackson | Jamaica (JAM) | 2015–2019 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 15 | Sada Williams | Barbados (BAR) | 2022-2023 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |

## Championship record progression
### Men

Men's 400 metres World Championships record progression :
| Time | Athlete | Nation | Year | Round | Date |
| 46.19 | Sunder Nix | United States (USA) | 1983 | Heats | 7 August 1983 |
| 46.11 | Bert Cameron | Jamaica (JAM) | 1983 | Heats | 7 August 1983 |
| 45.74 | Hartmut Weber | West Germany (FRG) | 1983 | Heats | 7 August 1983 |
| 45.57 | Michael Franks | United States (USA) | 1983 | Quarter-finals | 8 August 1983 |
| 45.44 | Michael Franks | United States (USA) | 1983 | Semi-finals | 9 August 1983 |
| 45.05 | Bert Cameron | Jamaica (JAM) | 1983 | Final | 10 August 1983 |
| 45.03 | Derek Redmond | Great Britain (GBR) | 1987 | Quarter-finals | 1987-08-31 |
| 44.81 | Thomas Schönlebe | East Germany (GDR) | 1987 | Quarter-finals | 1987-08-31 |
| 44.26 | Innocent Egbunike | Nigeria (NGR) | 1987 | Semi-finals | 1987-09-01 |
| 43.65 | Michael Johnson | United States (USA) | 1993 | Final | 1993-08-17 |
| 43.39 | Michael Johnson | United States (USA) | 1995 | Final | 1995-08-09 |
| 43.18 WR | Michael Johnson | United States (USA) | 1997 | Final | 1999-08-26 |

### Women

Women's 400 metres World Championships record progression :
| Time | Athlete | Nation | Year | Round | Date |
| 52.42 | Jarmila Kratochvílová | Czechoslovakia (TCH) | 1983 | Heats | 1983-08-07 |
| 51.05 | Mariya Pinigina | Soviet Union (URS) | 1983 | Quarter-finals | 1983-08-08 |
| 50.07 | Mariya Pinigina | Soviet Union (URS) | 1983 | Semi-finals | 1983-08-09 |
| 47.99 WR | Jarmila Kratochvílová | Czechoslovakia (TCH) | 1983 | Finals | 1983-08-10 |

## Finishing times
### Top ten fastest World Championship times

Fastest men's times at the World Championships :
| Rank | Time (sec) | Athlete | Nation | Games | Date |
| 1 | 43.18 | Michael Johnson | United States | 1999 | 1998-08-26 |
| 2 | 43.39 | Michael Johnson | United States | 1995 | 1995-08-09 |
| 3 | 43.45 | Jeremy Wariner | United States | 2007 | 2007-08-31 |
| 4= | 43.48 | Wayde van Niekerk | South Africa | 2015 | 2015-08-26 |
| 4= | 43.48 | Steven Gardiner | Bahamas | 2019 | 2019-10-04 |
| 6= | 43.65 | Michael Johnson | United States | 1993 | 1993-08-17 |
| 6= | 43.65 | LaShawn Merritt | United States | 2015 | 2015-08-26 |
| 8 | 43.74 | LaShawn Merritt | United States | 2013 | 2013-08-13 |
| 9 | 43.78 | Kirani James | Grenada | 2015 | 2015-08-26 |
| 10 | 43.89 | Steven Gardiner | Bahamas | 2017 $^{SF}$ | 2017-08-06 |
Fastest women's times at the World Championships :
| Rank | Time (sec) | Athlete | Nation | Games | Date |
| 1 | 47.99 | Jarmila Kratochvílová | Czechoslovakia | 1983 | 1983-08-10 |
| 2 | 48.14 | Salwa Eid Naser | Bahrain | 2019 | 2019-10-03 |
| 3 | 48.37 | Shaunae Miller-Uibo | Bahamas | 2019 | 2019-10-03 |
| 4 | 48.59 | Taťána Kocembová | Czechoslovakia | 1983 | 1983-08-10 |
| 5 | 48.76 | Marileidy Paulino | Dominican Republic | 2023 | 2023-08-23 |
| 6 | 48.89 | Ana Guevara | Mexico | 2003 | 2003-08-27 |
| 7 | 49.00 | Sanya Richards | United States | 2009 | 2009-08-18 |
| 8 | 49.11 | Shaunae Miller-Uibo | Bahamas | 2022 | 2022-07-22 |
| 9 | 49.13 | Marie-José Pérec | France | 1991 | 1991-08-27 |
| 10 | 49.19 | Mariya Kulchunova | Soviet Union | 1983 | 1983-08-10 |