# 2022 European Athletics Championships – Women's 400 metres hurdles

The women's 400 metres hurdles at the 2022 European Athletics Championships took place in three rounds at the Olympiastadion in Munich, Germany, from 17 to 19 August 2022.
The three heats of round 1 were held on 17 August. The three fastest athletes of each heat plus the next three fastest of the rest qualified for the semi-finals, where they were joined by the twelve highest-ranking athletes, who had a bye in round 1. The three heats of the semi-finals were held on 18 August. The two fastest athletes of each heat and the next two fastest of the rest qualified for the finals. Viivi Lehikoinen set a Finnish record of 54.50 seconds in the semi-finals.
The final was held on 19 August. Femke Bol of the Netherlands won in a new championship record of 52.67 seconds, followed by Viktoriya Tkachuk of Ukraine in 54.30 seconds and Anna Ryzhykova of Ukraine in 54.86 seconds.

## Background

At the start of the 2024 European Athletics Championships, Femke Bol held the European record of 52.03 seconds and European leading time of 52.27 seconds. Natalya Antyukh held the championship record of 52.92 seconds. Sydney McLaughlin held the world record of 50.68 seconds, which was also the world leading mark.
Records before the 2024 European Athletics Championships :
| Record | Athlete (Nation) | Time | Location | Date |
| World record | Sydney McLaughlin (USA) | 50.68 | Eugene, United States | 22 July 2022 |
| European record | Femke Bol (NED) | 52.03 | Tokyo, Japan | 4 August 2021 |
| Championship record | Natalya Antyukh (RUS) | 52.92 | Barcelona, Spain | 30 July 2010 |
| World Leading | Sydney McLaughlin (USA) | 50.68 | Eugene, United States | 22 July 2022 |
| Europe Leading | Femke Bol (NED) | 52.27 | Stockholm, Sweden | 30 June 2022 |

## Qualification

For the women's 400 metres hurdles, the qualification period was from 27 July 2021 to 26 July 2022. Athletes could qualify by running the entry standard of 55.85 seconds or faster, by a receiving a wild card, or by their position on the World Athletics Rankings for the event.

## Rounds
### Round 1

The three heats of round 1 were held on 17 August, starting at 11:40 (UTC+2). The first three athletes in each heat (Q) and the next three fastest athletes (q) advanced to the semi-finals. The twelve highest ranked athletes received a bye into the semi-finals. Four athletes set a personal best (PB).
Results of round 1 :
| Rank | Heat | Lane | Name | Nation | Time | Note |
| 1 | 2 | 4 | Carolina Krafzik | Germany | 54.32 | Q, PB |
| 2 | 3 | 1 | Nikoleta Jíchová | Czech Republic | 55.93 | Q |
| 3 | 1 | 2 | Annina Fahr | Switzerland | 56.16 | Q, PB |
| 4 | 1 | 6 | Camille Seri | France | 56.18 | Q, PB |
| 5 | 1 | 5 | Rebecca Sartori | Italy | 56.44 | Q |
| 6 | 3 | 7 | Dimitra Gnafaki | Greece | 56.45 | Q, PB |
| 7 | 3 | 8 | Hayley McLean | Great Britain and Northern Ireland | 56.64 | Q |
| 8 | 2 | 3 | Yasmin Giger | Switzerland | 56.69 | Q |
| 9 | 1 | 1 | Kristiina Halonen | Finland | 56.70 | q |
| 10 | 1 | 7 | Nina Hespel | Belgium | 56.72 | q |
| 11 | 1 | 8 | Elisabeth Slettum | Norway | 56.72 | q |
| 12 | 2 | 5 | Daniela Ledecká | Slovakia | 56.98 | Q |
| 13 | 2 | 7 | Carla García | Spain | 57.03 | |
| 14 | 2 | 1 | Linda Olivieri | Italy | 57.03 | |
| 15 | 3 | 2 | Gisèle Wender | Germany | 57.09 | |
| 16 | 3 | 6 | Vera Barbosa | Portugal | 57.10 | |
| 17 | 1 | 4 | Eileen Demes | Germany | 57.11 | |
| 18 | 2 | 2 | Lena Pressler | Austria | 57.33 | |
| 19 | 3 | 3 | Janka Molnár | Hungary | 57.38 | |
| 20 | 2 | 6 | Agata Zupin | Slovenia | 57.42 | |
| 21 | 3 | 5 | Marielle Kleemeier | Estonia | 57.46 | |
| 22 | 2 | 8 | Annemarie Nissen | Denmark | 57.71 | |
| 23 | 3 | 4 | Emma Zapletalová | Slovakia | 58.65 | SB |
| 24 | 1 | 3 | Drita Islami | North Macedonia | 1:01.56 | |

### Semi-finals

The semi-final heats were held on 18 August, starting at 11:55 (UTC+2). The first two athletes in each heat (Q) and the next two fastest athletes (q) advance to the final. Viivi Lehikoinen set a Finnish record (NR) of 54.50 seconds and another three athletes set personal bests (PB) in this round.
Results of the semi-finals :
| Rank | Heat | Lane | Name | Nation | Time | Note |
| 1 | 3 | 6 | Femke Bol | Netherlands | 53.73 | Q |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | Anna Ryzhykova | Ukraine | 54.25 | Q, SB |
| 3 | 2 | 5 | Viivi Lehikoinen | Finland | 54.50 | Q, NR |
| 4 | 2 | 6 | Viktoriya Tkachuk | Ukraine | 54.65 | Q |
| 5 | 2 | 4 | Amalie Iuel | Norway | 54.68 | q, PB |
| 6 | 3 | 3 | Ayomide Folorunso | Italy | 54.98 | q |
| 7 | 1 | 6 | Sara Gallego | Spain | 55.16 | Q |
| 8 | 1 | 3 | Carolina Krafzik | Germany | 55.29 | Q |
| 9 | 3 | 5 | Hanne Claes | Belgium | 55.31 | |
| 10 | 2 | 3 | Jessie Knight | Great Britain and Northern Ireland | 55.39 | |
| 11 | 2 | 7 | Nikoleta Jíchová | Czech Republic | 55.48 | PB |
| 12 | 1 | 5 | Line Kloster | Norway | 55.63 | |
| 13 | 1 | 1 | Dimitra Gnafaki | Greece | 56.14 | PB |
| 13 | 2 | 8 | Paulien Couckuyt | Belgium | 56.14 | |
| 15 | 3 | 8 | Hayley McLean | Great Britain and Northern Ireland | 56.20 | |
| 16 | 3 | 7 | Elisabeth Slettum | Norway | 56.61 | |
| 17 | 3 | 1 | Kristiina Halonen | Finland | 56.82 | |
| 18 | 2 | 1 | Annina Fahr | Switzerland | 57.07 | |
| 19 | 2 | 2 | Daniela Ledecká | Slovakia | 57.08 | |
| 20 | 3 | 2 | Yasmin Giger | Switzerland | 57.13 | |
| 21 | 1 | 4 | Lina Nielsen | Great Britain and Northern Ireland | 57.19 | |
| 22 | 1 | 7 | Rebecca Sartori | Italy | 57.29 | |
| 23 | 1 | 2 | Nina Hespel | Belgium | 59.15 | |
| | 1 | 8 | Camille Seri | France | DNF | |

### Final

The final was held at 19 August, starting at 21:45 (UTC+2) in the evening. Femke Bol of the Netherlands won the gold medal with a new championship record (CR) of 52.67 seconds, improving the 12-year-old record of Natalya Antyukh by 0.25 seconds. Two days earlier, she had also won the women's 400 metres, this double victory was unprecedented at the European Athletics Championships. Viktoriya Tkachuk of Ukraine won the silver medal in 54.30 seconds and Anna Ryzhykova of Ukraine won the bronze medal in 54.86 seconds.
Results of the final :
| Rank | Lane | Name | Nation | Time | Note |
| | 3 | Femke Bol | Netherlands | 52.67 | CR |
| | 7 | Viktoriya Tkachuk | Ukraine | 54.30 | |
| | 5 | Anna Ryzhykova | Ukraine | 54.86 | |
| 4 | 6 | Sara Gallego | Spain | 54.97 | |
| 5 | 1 | Amalie Iuel | Norway | 55.32 | |
| 6 | 4 | Viivi Lehikoinen | Finland | 55.58 | |
| 7 | 2 | Ayomide Folorunso | Italy | 55.91 | |
| 8 | 8 | Carolina Krafzik | Germany | 56.02 | |