Michael Franks

Birth dateSep 23, 1963

Height-

Weight-

Michael "Mike" Franks (born September 23, 1963) is an American former track and field athlete who competed in the 400-meter dash. He was the silver medalist in the event at the inaugural 1983 World Championships in Athletics. He was given the Harrison Dillard Award in 1984 for his achievements.

While attending Southern Illinois University Carbondale, he took the 400 m title at the 1985 NCAA Men's Indoor Track and Field Championship. That same year he took the gold medal at the 1985 IAAF Grand Prix Final and two further golds at the 1985 IAAF World Cup in the 400 m and 4 × 400-meter relay events. He was the fastest athlete of 1985 over 400 m with his personal best time of 44.47 seconds.

He competed at the 1987 IAAF World Indoor Championships and secured the bronze medal behind Antonio McKay and Roberto Hernández. Turning to the outdoor season, he won at the 1987 Summer Universiade, taking the 400 m students' title. He was selected as an alternate for the 4 × 400 m relay at the 1987 World Championships in Athletics and helped set a championship record of 2:59.06 in the semi-finals (which was later improved upon when the Americans took gold in the event final.

Key facts

400 m

44.47

#119 all-time

500 Metres Short Track

1:00.45

1988 season best

44.82

Apr 30, 1988 · Des Moines, IA (USA)

1988 season best

Medals

World Championships: 1 gold, 1 silver

Age

62 years old

As of Sep 12, 2026: 400 m 44.47 (#119 all-time), 500 Metres Short Track 1:00.45, 1988 season best 44.82 (Apr 30, 1988, Des Moines, IA (USA)) · World Championships: 1 gold, 1 silver · 62 years old

Personal bests

10.25

20.58*

44.47

2:59.06

46.18

32.26

32.95

1:00.45

1:00.45

* Wind-assisted (> 2.0 m/s)

🏅

Medals

	🥇	🥈	🥉	Total
World Championships	1	1	-	2

Performance Charts

Season bests

Season	Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Trend	Competitions
1988	200m	20.62	+1.8	Apr 24, 1988	↑	Walnut, CA (USA)
1988	300m	32.63	-	Aug 28, 1988	↓	London (GBR)
1988	400m	44.82	-	Apr 30, 1988	↑	Des Moines, IA (USA)
1988	400m-short-track	46.19	-	Jan 31, 1988	↑	Stuttgart (GER) (i)
1988	4x400m	3:03.55	-	Aug 31, 1988	↑	Rieti (ITA)
1987	200m	20.63	+3.6	Apr 11, 1987	↑	Knoxville, TN (USA)
1987	300m	32.54	-	Aug 22, 1987	↓	London (GBR)
1987	300m-short-track	32.95	-	Feb 1, 1987	-	Stuttgart (GER) (i)
1987	400m	44.81	-	Aug 19, 1987	↑	Letzigrund, Zürich (SUI)
1987	400m-short-track	46.18	-	Feb 15, 1987	↑	Gainesville, FL (USA) (i)
1987	500m-short-track	1:00.45	-	Jan 16, 1987	↑	Indianapolis, IN (USA) (i)
1987	500Metres	1:00.45	-	Jan 16, 1987	↑	Indianapolis, IN (USA) (i)
1987	4x400m	2:59.06	-	Sep 5, 1987	↑	IAAF World Championships
1986	200m	20.92	-	Apr 12, 1986	↑	Lafayette, LA (USA)
1986	400m	45.33	-	Jun 27, 1986	↑	Hengelo (NED)
1986	500m-short-track	1:01.12	-	Dec 28, 1986	↑	Saskatoon (CAN) (i)
1986	500Metres	1:01.12	-	Dec 28, 1986	↑	Saskatoon (CAN) (i)
1985	100m	10.50	-	May 4, 1985	↓	Carbondale, IL (USA)
1985	200m	20.65	-	Sep 4, 1985	↑	Rieti (ITA)
1985	300m	32.26	-	Aug 16, 1985	↓	Bern (SUI)
1985	400m	44.47	-	Oct 5, 1985	↑	Canberra IAAF World Cup
1985	4x400m	3:00.71	-	Oct 6, 1985	↑	Bruce Stadium, Canberra (AUS)
1984	100m	10.25	+1.5	Mar 31, 1984	↓	Carbondale, IL (USA)
1984	200m	20.58	+2.8	May 30, 1984	↑	Carbondale, IL (USA)
1984	300m	32.53	-	Jul 6, 1984	↓	Gateshead (GBR)
1984	400m	45.20	-	Jun 2, 1984	↑	Eugene NCAA Championships
1984	400m-short-track	46.69	-	Mar 9, 1984	↑	Syracuse, NY (USA) (i)
1983	200m	20.77	+2.0	Jul 27, 1983	↑	Stockholm (SWE)
1983	400m	44.96	-	Jul 2, 1983	↑	Colorado Springs, CO (USA)
1983	4x400m	3:06.62	-	Aug 13, 1983	↑	IAAF World Championships, Olympiastadion, Helsinki
1982	200m	20.79	-	May 29, 1982	↑	South Bend, IN (USA)

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
4x400m	3:03.55	-	Aug 31	Rieti
300m	32.63	-	Aug 28	London
400m	45.94	-	Aug 21	Köln
400m	45.12	-	Aug 17	Weltklasse Zürich, Letzigrund, Zürich
400m	45.35	-	Aug 14	Adriaan Paulen Memorial, Hengelo
400m	45.61	-	Aug 10	Grosseto
400m	45.83	-	Aug 3	Viareggio
400m	46.22	-	Jul 30	Caorle
200m	21.03	-	Jul 27	Verona Golden Gala, Verona
400m	45.51	-	Jul 17	Indianapolis US Olympic Trials, Indianapolis, IN
400m	45.92	-	Jul 16	Indianapolis US Olympic Trials, Indianapolis, IN
300m	32.82	-	Jun 28	Jerez de la Frontera
400m	45.56	-	Jun 27	Villeneuve d'Ascq
400m	45.57	-	Jun 24	Athletissima Lausanne, Stade Olympique de la Pontaise, Lausanne
400m	46.03	-	Jun 20	Rovereto
400m	45.41	-	Jun 19	Formia
400m	45.22	-	May 22	Sao Paulo, São Paulo
400m	44.82	-	Apr 30	Des Moines, IA
200m	20.62	+1.8	Apr 24	Walnut, CA
400m	45.59	-	Apr 9	Cape Girardeau, MO
400m-short-track	46.19	-	Jan 31	Stuttgart (i)

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
400m	45.78	-	Sep 28	Sao Paulo, São Paulo
400m	44.82	-	Sep 15	Athletissima Lausanne, Lausanne
200m	20.90	-	Sep 13	Padova
400m	45.45	-	Sep 11	Bruxelles Memorial Van Damme
400m	45.13	-	Sep 8	Rieti
4x400m	2:59.06	-	Sep 5	IAAF World Championships
4x400m	3:03.00	-	Sep 5	IAAF World Championships
300m	32.54	-	Aug 22	London
400m	45.10	-	Aug 21	Berlin ISTAF, Olympiastadion, Berlin
400m	44.81	-	Aug 19	Weltklasse Zürich, Letzigrund, Zürich
400m	45.12	-	Aug 16	Köln Weltklasse, Köln
400m	45.16	-	Aug 13	Koblenz
400m	45.61	-	Aug 12	Viareggio
400m	45.33	-	Aug 10	Grosseto
4x400m	2:59.86	-	Jul 26	Durham, NC
400m	45.11	-	Jul 25	Durham, NC
400m	45.34	-	Jul 22	Roma Golden Gala, Roma
400m	44.89	-	Jul 19	Adriaan Paulen Memorial, Hengelo
400m	45.33	-	Jul 15	Zagreb Universiade
400m	45.55	-	Jul 11	Formia
400m	45.49	-	Jul 9	Caorle
400m	45.55	-	Jun 27	San José TAC Championships, San José
400m	44.97	-	Jun 26	San José TAC Championships, San José
400m	45.44	-	Jun 25	San José TAC Championships, San José
400m	45.55	-	Jun 11	Verona
400m	45.93	-	May 28	Torino
400m	45.22	-	May 23	Knoxville, TN
400m	45.30	-	Apr 11	Knoxville, TN
200m	20.63	+3.6	Apr 11	Knoxville, TN

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What is Michael Franks's 400 m personal best?

Michael Franks's 400 m personal best is 44.47, set on Oct 5, 1985 in Bruce Stadium, Canberra (AUS), #119 on the all-time list.

Which events does Michael Franks compete in?

Michael Franks competes in the 400 m and 500 Metres Short Track.

How did Michael Franks perform in 1988?

1988 season best: 44.82, set on Apr 30, 1988 in Des Moines, IA (USA).

How many medals has Michael Franks won?

Michael Franks has won 2 World Championships medals.

Michael Franks

Personal bests

Medals

Performance Charts

Season bests

1988

1987

Honours

Frequently asked questions