With three of the four fastest in the world this year not in the event the stage is set for Shaunae Miller-Uibo? Will anyone challenge the Bahamian or will it be a second Olympic title? Here’s our women’s 400m preview for Tokyo.
Schedule
Tuesday 3 August 01:45 UK Time (Round 1) Wednesday 4 August 11:30 UK Time (Semifinals) Friday 6 August 13:35 UK Time (Final)
2021 Fastest Times
| 2021 Ranking | Time | Athlete | Country |
| 1 | 48.54 | Christine Mboma | Namibia |
| 2 | 49.08 | Shaunae Miller-Uibo | Bahamas |
| 3 | 49.53 | Beatrice Masilingi | Namibia |
| 4 | 49.57 | Athing Mu | USA |
| 5 | 49.61 | Stephenie Ann McPherson | Jamaica |
| 6 | 49.78 | Quanera Hayes | USA |
| 7 | 49.91 | Shamier Little | USA |
| 7 | 49.91 | Candice McLeod | Jamaica |
| 9 | 49.99 | Marileidy Paulino | Dominican Republic |
| 10 | 50.02 | Allyson Felix | USA |
British interest
GB & NI have a full squad of Ama Pipi, Jodie Williams and Nicole Yeargin. For 2021 they are the 34th, 35th and 40th fastest athletes and all have similar personal bests (50.94, 50.96, 51.08). Williams won European silver over 200m in 2014 and Euro Indoor bronze over 400m earlier this year. All will have to be at their best to make the final.
The favourites
With Beatrice Masilingi and Christine Mboma both now out of the Olympics due to testerone levels deemed too high, Athing Mu not entered for the 400m and Salwa Eid Naser serving a drugs ban, Shaunae Miller-Uibo now stands head and shoulders above the rest of the field. The defending Olympic Champion has run 48.37 before and has looked untroubled over 400m this year. Barring tiredness from her 200m double she should win.
Stephenie Ann McPherson looks a good pick for a medal, even though she was beaten by Kendall Ellis at Gateshead. Ellis failed to make the US team in the individual events.
Quanera Hayes is the US champ and has run well this year, dipping under 50 seconds on two occassions. Her consistency should give her a major chance for a first outdoor individual medal (she won World Indoor bronze in 2016). Allyson Felix and Wadeline Jonathas make up the rest of a US team which will always compete. Felix was the silver medalist in Rio and has rounded into shape nicely this summer. She has won six Olympic golds, the most by a female athlete.
Candice McLeod (49.91) also impressed behind McPherson in the Jamaican Champs.
Our medal predictions
- Shaunae Miller-Uibo
- Quanera Hayes
- Allyson Felix
Records
WR: 47.60 Marita Koch (1985)
OR: 48.25 Marie-José Pérec (1996 Atlanta)
Enjoy our women’s 400m preview? Check out the rest of Tokyo’s events below.
Featured image “Au milieu et en rouge: Allyson Felix, deux médailles d’or en attendant le 4x400m !” by Citizen59 is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
