A US 1-2-3 in Tokyo? You know what it’s not off the cards. Here’s our men’s 400m preview for the Tokyo Olympics.
Schedule
Sunday 1 August 02:45am UK Time (Heats) Monday 2 August 12.05pm (Semifinals) Thursday 5th August 11:00am (Final)
2021 Top Times
| 2021 Ranking | Time | Athlete | Country |
| 1 | 43.85 | Randolph Ross | USA |
| 2 | 44.07 | Michael Norman | USA |
| 3 | 44.3 | Noah Williams | USA |
| 4 | 44.35 | Michael Cherry | USA |
| 5 | 44.44 | Bryce Deadmon | USA |
| 6 | 44.47 | Isaac Makwala | Botswana |
| 7 | 44.47 | Steven Gardiner | Bahamas |
| 8 | 44.51 | Anthony Jose Zambrano | Colombia |
| 9 | 44.52 | Trevor Stewart | USA |
| 10 | 44.56 | Wayde Van Niekerk | South Africa |
British interest
Britain have no entrants for the Men’s 400m.
The favourites
Though the top 5 times this year have all come from Americans fortunately for the rest of the world only three can go and all of them have looked vulnerable in recent weeks. In a much anticipated clash in Székesfehérvár Steve Gardiner, the Doha World Champ came out on top with Bryce Deadmon the best of the Americans (Deadmon didn’t even make the US team, it’s Norman, Cherry, Ross). Norman was a distant third that day but he’ll be one of the favourites for gold in Tokyo, having dipped under 44 seconds in both 2018 and 2019 and won the US trials. Randolph Ross is the only athlete to have run under 44 seconds this year but he comes off a long collegiate season and is still only 20.
The fan’s favourite will no doubt be Wayde Van Niekerk. The World Record holder and reigning Olympic Champ will hope to crown an unlikely comeback from a crippling knee injury. Pulling out of Székesfehérvár due to a niggle all the storylines are there but this would be some achievement. Colombian Anthony Jose Zambrano deserves mention as well, having bested the South African in their latest match up.
Kirani James anyone?
Our medal predictions
- Michael Norman
- Steve Gardiner
- Randolph Ross
Records
WR: 43.03 Wayde Van Niekerk (2016)
OR: 43.03 Wayde Van Niekerk (2016 Rio)
Featured image “Atletismo – Wayde van Niekerk / África do Sul – 400m rasos” by Secretaria Especial do Esporte is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
