World Records — 400 m Women

The 400 m Women world record stands at 47.60, set by Marita Koch (GDR) in 1985. Explore its full progression through athletics history.

Record progression

Mark over the years. The higher the curve, the better the record.

5055196019802000202055.2 · Lazareva47.60 · Koch

Record History

1985Marita KochCurrentGDR—Oct 6, 1985Canberra, AustraliaOngoing47.60-0.39s
1983Jarmila KratochvílováTCH—Aug 10, 1983Helsinki, Finland2.2 years47.99-0.17s
1982Marita KochGDR—Sep 8, 1982Athens, Greece11 months48.16-0.44s
1979Marita KochGDR—Aug 4, 1979Turin, Italy3.1 years48.60-0.29s
1979Marita KochGDR—Jul 29, 1979Potsdam, East Germany6 d48.89-0.05s
1978Marita KochGDR—Aug 31, 1978Prague, Czechoslovakia11 months48.94-0.09s
1978Marita KochGDR—Aug 19, 1978Potsdam, East Germany12 d49.03-0.16s
1978Marita KochGDR—Jul 2, 1978Leipzig, East Germany48 d49.19-0.10s
1976Irena SzewińskaPOL—Jul 29, 1976Montreal, Canada23 months49.29-0.61s
1974Irena SzewińskaPOL—Jun 22, 1974Warsaw, Poland2.1 years49.9-1.10s
1972Monika ZehrtGDR—Jul 4, 1972Paris, France24 months51.0—
1970Marilyn NeufvilleJAM—Jul 23, 1970Edinburgh, Scotland23 months51.0-0.70s
1969Colette BessonFRA—Sep 18, 1969Athens, Greece10 months51.7—
1969Nicole DuclosFRA—Sep 18, 1969Athens, GreeceEqualled51.7-0.20s
1962Shin Geum-DanPRK—Oct 23, 1962Pyongyang, North Korea6.9 years51.9-1.50s
1962Mariya ItkinaURS—Sep 14, 1962Belgrade, Yugoslavia39 d53.4-0.20s
1957Mariya ItkinaURS—Jul 6, 1957Moscow, Soviet Union5.2 years53.6-0.40s
1957Mariya ItkinaURS—Jun 8, 1957Minsk, Soviet Union28 d54.0-1.20s
1957Polina LazarevaURS—May 10, 1957Moscow, Soviet Union29 d55.2—
FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Marita Koch (Germany) holds the 400 m Women world record with 47.60, set on October 6, 1985 in Canberra, Australia.

Jarmila Kratochvílová (Czechia) held it with 47.99, from August 10, 1983 until October 6, 1985 (2 years).

Elite Trackr's progression lists 18 improvements since 1957, when Polina Lazareva set 55.2.