World Records - 400 m Men
The 400 m Men world record stands at 43.03, set by Wayde Van Niekerk (RSA) in 2016. Explore its full progression through athletics history.
WV
400 mètresMen
WR
43.03WR
RSARSAAugust 14, 2016
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Record standing for: 10 years, 1 months
Record History
| Performance | Athlete | Country | Date | Competitions | Gap vs WR | Duration | Improvement |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
43.03WR | Wayde Van Niekerk | RSA | Aug 14, 2016 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | WR | 10y 1mo (Current) | -0.15s |
43.18 | Michael Johnson |  USA | Aug 26, 1999 | Seville, Spain | +0.15s | 17y | -0.11s |
43.29 | Butch Reynolds | USA | Aug 17, 1988 | Zürich, Switzerland | +0.26s | 11y | -0.57s |
43.86 | Lee Evans | USA | Oct 18, 1968 | Mexico City, Mexico | +0.83s | 19y 10mo | -1.04s |
44.9 | Mike Larrabee | USA | Sep 12, 1964 | Los Angeles, USA | +1.87s | 4y 1mo | - |
44.9 | Carl Kaufmann |  GER | Sep 6, 1960 | Rome, Italy | +1.87s | 4y | - |
44.9 | Otis Davis | USA | Sep 6, 1960 | Rome, Italy | +1.87s | 0d | -0.30s |
45.2 | Lou Jones | USA | Jun 30, 1956 | Los Angeles, USA | +2.17s | 4y 3mo | -0.60s |
45.8 | George Rhoden |  JAM | Aug 22, 1950 | Eskilstuna, Sweden | +2.77s | 5y 10mo | -0.10s |
45.9 | Herb McKenley | JAM | Jul 2, 1948 | Milwaukee, USA | +2.87s | 2y 1mo | -0.10s |
46.0 | Grover Klemmer | USA | Jun 6, 1941 | Philadelphia, USA | +2.97s | 7y 1mo | - |
46.0 | Rudolf Harbig | GER | Aug 12, 1939 | Frankfurt am Main, Germany | +2.97s | 1y 10mo | -0.10s |
46.1 | Archie Williams | USA | Jun 19, 1936 | Chicago, USA | +3.07s | 3y 2mo | -0.10s |
46.2 | Bill Carr | USA | Aug 5, 1932 | Los Angeles, USA | +3.17s | 3y 10mo | -0.80s |
47.0 | Emerson Spencer | USA | May 12, 1928 | Palo Alto, USA | +3.97s | 4y 3mo | -1.20s |
48.2 | Charles Reidpath | USA | Jul 13, 1912 | Stockholm, Sweden | +5.17s | 15y 10mo | - |
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Who holds the 400 m Men world record?
Wayde Van Niekerk (South Africa) holds the 400 m Men world record with 43.03, set on August 14, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Who held the 400 m Men world record before Wayde Van Niekerk?
Michael Johnson (United States) held it with 43.18, from August 26, 1999 until August 14, 2016 (16 years).
How many times has the 400 m Men world record been improved?
Elite Trackr's progression lists 15 improvements since 1912, when Charles Reidpath set 48.2.