The 400 meters became part of the Olympic women’s track and field program in 1964. Since then, athletes representing Australia, the Bahamas, France, Great Britain, the German Democratic Republic, Poland, the Soviet Union, and the United States have won the race. French runners have won the three times, the most by a any nation, with Colette Besson claiming victory in 1968 and Marie-Jose Perec, the only woman to win two consecutive Olympic 400 meter titles, in 1992 and 1996.
Six (6) athletes have won more than 1 medal in the history of the Olympic 400 meters. Marie-Jose Perec (France) leads the individual medal count with 2 gold, followed by Cathy Freeman (Australia) with 2 (1 gold, 1 silver), Christine Ohuruogu (Great Britain/England) with 2 (1 gold, 1 silver), Olga Bryzgina (Soviet Union/Ukraine) with 2 (1 gold, 1 silver), Sanya Richards-Ross (United States) with 2 (1 gold, 1 silver), and Christina Lathan (Brehmer) (German Democratic Republic) with 2 (1 silver, 1 bronze).
Sixteen (16) nations/teams have won medals in the Olympic 400 meters. The German Democratic Republic, Great Britain, and the United States lead the medal count with 6 (2 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze), followed Australia with 4 (2 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze), France with 3 gold medals, the Soviet Union with 2 (1 gold, 1 bronze), Jamaica with 2 (1 silver, 1 bronze), Russia with 2 bronze, the Bahamas with 1 gold, Poland with 1 gold, the Commonwealth of Independent States with 1 silver, Federal Republic of Germany with 1 silver, Mexico with 1 silver, Czechoslovakia with 1 silver, Columbia with 1 bronze, and Nigeria with 1 bronze.
Twenty-five (25) nations/teams have scored points in the Olympic 400 meters. The United States leads scoring with 100 points, the German Democratic Republic with 60, Great Britain with 58, Australia with 38, the Soviet Union with 35, France with 31, Jamaica with 25, Russia with 23, the Bahamas with 17, the Federal Republic of Germany with 15, the Commonwealth of Independent States with 13, Mexico with 12, Nigeria with 11, Canada with11, Poland with 10, Finland with 9, Czechoslovakia with 8, Colombia with 6, Botswana with 6, Hungary with 6, Cuba with 4, the Netherlands with 4, South Africa with 3, Germany with 1, Kenya with 1.
(Points for Place: 1st=10 points; 2nd=8 points; 3rd=6 points; 4th=5 points; 5th=4 points; 6th=3 points; 7th=2 points; 8th=1 point)
From 1956 to 1964, both the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) and the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) competed as a single team. From 1968 to 1988, they competed separately, reuniting as a single German team in 1992, after German reunification in 1991.
Following the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991, the former Soviet Socialist Republics, expect for Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, competed as the Commonwealth of Independent States, or the “Unified Team” in 1992.
Olympic records noted are the records immediately before the final, including marks established in the qualifying rounds.
1964 Tokyo (October 17)
World Record: 51.9 Shin Geum Dan (North Korea) October 23, 1962
Olympic Record: 52.7 Ann Parker (Great Britain/England) October 17, 1964
1, Elizabeth Cuthbert (Australia) 52.0 OR
2, Ann Packer (Great Britain/England) 52.2
3, Judith Amoore (Australia) 53.4
4, Antonia Munkacsi (Hungary) 54.4
5, Maria Itkina (Soviet Union/Russia) 54.6
6, Mathilda “Tilly” van der Zwaard (Netherlands) 55.2
7, Gertrud Schmidt (Germany/German Democratic Republic) 55.4
8, Evelyne Lebret (France) 55.5
1968 Mexico City (October 16)
World Record: 51.9 Shin Geum Dan (North Korea) October 23, 1962
Olympic Record: 52.0 Elizabeth Cuthbert (Australia) October 17, 1964
1, Colette Besson (France) 52.0 (52.03) =OR
2, Lillian Board (Great Britain/England) 52.12
3, Natalya Pechenkina (Soviet Union/Russia) 52.25
4, Janet Simpson (Great Britain/England) 52.47
5, Aurelia Penton (Cuba) 52.75
6, Jarvis Scott (United States) 52.79
7, Helga Henning (Federal Republic of Germany) 52.89
8, Hermina Van Der Hoeven (Netherlands) 53.02
1972 Munich (September 7)
World Record: 51.0 (51.08) Monika Zehrt (German Democratic Republic) July 4, 1972
Olympic Record: 51.47 Monika Zehrt (German Democratic Republic) September 4, 1972
1, Monika Zehrt (German Democratic Republic) 51.08 OR
2, Rita Wilden (Federal Republic of Germany) 51.21
3, Kathy Hammond (United States) 51.84
4, Helga Seidler (German Democratic Republic) 51.86
5, Mable Fergerson (United States) 51.96
6, Charlene Rendina (Australia) 51.99
7, Dagmar Kasling (German Democratic Republic) 52.19
8, Gyorgyi Balogh (Hungary) 52.39
1976 Montreal (July 29)
World Record: 49.75 Irena Szewinska (Kirsenstein) (Poland) June 22, 1976
Olympic Record: 50.48 Irena Szewinska (Kirsenstein) (Poland) July 26, 1976
1, Irena Szewinska (Kirsenstein) (Poland) 49.28 (WR, OR)
2, Christina Brehmer (German Democratic Republic) 50.51
3, Ellen Streidt (Stropahl) (German Democratic Republic) 50.55
4, Pijo Haggman (Wilmi) (Finland) 50.56
5, Rosalyn Bryant (United States) 50.65
6, Sheila Ingram (United States) 50.90
7, Riita Salin (Finland) 50.98
8, Debra Sapenter (United States) 51.66
1980 Moscow (July 28)
World Record: 48.60 Marita Koch (German Democratic Republic) August 4, 1979
Olympic Record: 49.28 Irena Szewinska (Kirsenstein) (Poland) July 29, 1976
1, Marita Koch (German Democratic Republic) 48.88 OR
2, Jarmila Kratochilova (Czechoslovakia) 49.46
3, Christina Lathan (Brehmer) (German Democratic Republic) 49.66
4, Irina Nazarova (Soviet Union/Russia) 50.07
5, Nina Yuskova (Soviet Union/Ukraine) 50.17
6, Gabriele Lowe (German Democratic Republic) 51.33
7, Pijo Haggman (Wilmi) (Finland) 51.35
8, Linsey MacDonald (Great Britain/Scotland) 52.40
1984 Los Angeles (August 6)
World Record: 47.99 Jarmila Kratochilova (Czechoslovakia) August 10, 1984
Olympic Record: 49.88 Marita Koch (German Democratic Republic) July 28, 1980
1, Valerie Brisco-Hooks (United States) 48.83 OR
2, Chandra Cheeseborough (United States) 49.05
3, Kathy Cook (Great Britain/England) 49.42
4, Marita Payne (Canada) 49.91
5, Lillie Leatherwood (United States) 50.25
6, Ute Thimm (Federal Republic of Germany) 50.37
7, Charmaine Crooks (Canada) 50.45
8, Ruth Waithera (Kenya) 51.56
1988 Seoul (September 26)
World Record: 47.60 Marita Koch (German Democratic Republic) October 6, 1985
Olympic Record: 48.83 Valerie Brisco-Hooks (United States) August 6, 1984
1, Olga Bryzgina (Soviet Union/Ukraine) 48.65 OR
2, Petra Muller (German Democratic Republic) 49.45
3, Olga Nazarova (Soviet Union/Russia) 49.90
4, Valerie Brisco (United States) 50.16
5, Diane Dixon (United States) 50.72
6, Denean Howard (United States) 51.12
7, Helga Arendt (Federal Republic of Germany) 51.17
8, Maree Holland (Australia) 51.25
1992 Barcelona
World Record: 47.60 Marita Koch (German Democratic Republic) October 6, 1985
Olympic Record: 48.65 Olga Bryzgina (Soviet Union) September 26, 1988
1, Marie-Jose Perec (France) 48.83
2, Olga Bryzgina (Commonwealth of Independent States/Ukraine) 49.05
3, Ximena Restrepo (Colombia) 49.64
4, Olga Nazarova (Commonwealth of Independent States/Russia) 49.69
5, Jill Richardson-Brisco (Canada) 49.93
6, Rochelle Stevens (United States) 50.11
7, Sandie Richards (Jamaica) 50.19
8, Phylis Smith (Great Britain/England) 50.87
1996 Atlanta (July 29)
World Record: 47.60 Marita Koch (German Democratic Republic) October 6, 1985
Olympic Record: 48.65 Olga Bryzgina (Soviet Union) September 26, 1988
1, Marie-Jose Perec (France) 48.25 OR
2, Cathy Freeman (Australia) 48.63
3, Falilat Ogunkoya (Nigeria) 49.10
4, Pauline Davis (Bahamas) 49.28
5, Jearl Miles (United States) 49.55
6, Fatima Yusuf (Nigeria) 49.77
7, Sandie Richards (Jamaica) 50.45
8, Grit Breuer (Germany) 50.71
2000 Sydney (September 25)
World Record: 47.60 Marita Koch (German Democratic Republic) October 6, 1985
Olympic Record: 48.25 Marie-Jose Perec (France) July 29, 1996
1, Cathy Freeman (Australia) 49.11
2, Lorraine Graham (Jamaica) 49.58
3, Katharine Merry (Great Britain/England) 49.72
4, Donna Fraser (Great Britain/England) 49.79
5, Ana Guevara (Mexico) 49.96
6, Heide Seyerling (South Africa) 50.05
7, Falilat Ogunkoya-Osheku (Nigeria) 50.12
8, Olga Kotlyarova (Russia) 51.04
2004 Athens (August 24)
World Record: 47.60 Marita Koch (German Democratic Republic) October 6, 1985
Olympic Record: 48.25 Marie-Jose Perec (France) July 29, 1996
1, Tonique Williams-Darling (Bahamas) 49.41
2, Ana Guevara (Mexico) 49.56
3, Natalya Antyukh (Russia) 49.89
4, Monique Hennagan (United States) 49.97
5, DeeDee Trotter (United States) 50.00
6, Sanya Richards (United States) 50.19
7, Christine Amertil (Bahamas) 50.37
8, Natalya Nazarova (Russia) 50.65
2008 Beijing (August 19)
World Record: 47.60 Marita Koch (German Democratic Republic) October 6, 1985
Olympic Record: 48.25 Marie-Jose Perec (France) July 29, 1996
1, Christine Ohuruogu (Great Britain/England) 49.62
2, Sanya Richards (United States) 49.93
3, Shericka Williams (Jamaica) 49.69
4, Yulia Gushchina (Russia) 50.01
5, Anastasia Kapachinskaya (Russia) 50.03
6, Tatiana Firova (Russia) 50.11
7, Rosemarie Whyte (Jamaica) 50.68
8, Amantie Montsho (Botswana) 51.18
2012 London (August 5)
World Record: 47.60 Marita Koch (German Democratic Republic) October 6, 1985
Olympic Record: 48.25 Marie-Jose Perec (France) July 29, 1996
1, Sanya Richards-Ross (United States) 49.55
2, Christine Ohuruogu (Great Britain/England) 49.70
3, Deedee Trotter (United States) 49.72
4, Amantle Montsho (Botswana) 49.75
5, Novlene Williams-Mills (Jamaica) 50.11
6, Antonina Krivoshapka (Russia) 50.17
7, Francena McCorory (United States) 50.33
8, Rosemarie Whyte (Jamaica) 50.79
References:
Athletics Women’s 400 Metres, Sports Reference/Olympic Sports;
International Association of Athletic Federations, IAAF Statistics Handbook Daegu 2011, Part IV (IAA Media & Public Relations Department, 2011);
International Association of Athletic Federations, IAAF Statistics Handbook, Games of the XXX Olympiad, London 2012, Part I (IAAF Media & Public Relations Department, 2012);
International Association of Athletic Federations, IAAF Statistics Handbook, Games of the XXX Olympiad, London 2012, Part II (IAAF Media & Public Relations Department, 2012);
Wallechinsky, David, and Jaime Loucky, The Complete Book of the Olympics: 2012 Edition (London: Aurum Press, 2012).
