World Record Progression: The 400m 

You have no idea how much I love these world record progressions, me and my family watch them together and I can’t wait to show them this one! Thank you for these 🙏

Loved this. I was a 50:00 man at my peak…nice to know I would’ve been in the mix back in the 1800s!

The intros for Johnson and Van Niekerk were awesome

Butch Reynolds 43.29 was insane for it's time. Still 3rd fastest all-time despite it happening 35ish years ago.

Holy shit dude, I've been watching your channel for a bit now, but I STILL can't get over how high-quality your videos are. It is obvious you do the research and put in the effort to make these videos for us. You really deserve more attention. God Speed RunnerBoi.

Things to note, the announcers fail to mention three things. The 440 is approximately 3 yards longer than 400 meters, starting blocks didn't become popular until the 1950s and the first rubber tracks until the 1960s😊

I was able to see Butch Reynolds run his first 400 when I was in high school. He was the anchor in the 4x400 against our team which was very good. We had a nice lead on the final lap with our fastest 400 runner. When Reynolds got the baton he was like shot out of cannon. He passed our guy in the last 100 for the win. After the race he was so wore out from it he told his dad "the 400 wasn't for humans". Reynolds told that story at an event for our anchor runner a few years ago. They showed an old video of that race that brought back some fun memories. Good times.

I've always been really interested in the 400m since I had the privilege of sharing the same high school C class team as the great Lee Evans. Thank you for the well done video. Love the history!

Shout out to Jeremy Wariner, who got kind of close to Johnson's record in the 2000s.

you gotta be a different kind of animal to run the 400. watching van niekerk's WR was electrifying; great to see that he's bounced back from his unfortunate injury and is now winning DL meets

I remember watching MJ on TV when he was running up in Edinburgh Scotland. He ran an astounding sub 20 seconds in freezing cold conditions

The 1968 US Olympic track and field team were legends.

I was laughing so much about "the CEO of lactic acid" joke that I was unable to focus on the rest of the video... had to watch it back!

These are so well made I still can't get over it.....Always a treat! Would love to see a video about the crazy high school distance runners of this year (Birnbaum, Burns, Youngs, etc..) It would be an amazing story, and would capture this historic year of high school distance running beautfiaully.

This is just great. The quality, the research from the 1800s to date, the absorbing and interesting presentations, the accuracy, the facts, the progressions, the perspective the really interesting nuances make it a real treat, worthy of the athletes it portrays and honours. Thank you RunnerBoi

55 years since someones broke new second barrier, wade though is incredible maybe the greatest all around sprinter of all time.

There’s a 15 yr old young man outta Dc who’s running 45 high. Quincey Wilson is his name and he could be the person who eventually breaks 43. I don’t think there’s a pro now who can do it.

I am not really an Olympics fan, but Van Newkirk's record gave me goosebumps.

Lee Evans WR was a shocker. He did have a phenomenal coach though, Bud Winter. You can see Winter's influence in Evans's languid style.

Man that background music is sweet and relaxing. Love the channel.

love these videos

Although his record fell, Michael Johnson is still the best ever. When we consider the consistency that is.

Thanks for making these king. You’re an amazing content creator.

Alberto Juantereno was such a beautiful unique runner.

Another excellent video. Very well researched and put together. Well done.

I remember watching MJ as a kid throughout the 90s. He was like a Duracell rabbit running on electricity. Incredible athlete.

The lane 8 probably helped mentally as he could run his own race and not let other people's pacing throw him off. People have peaks, early peaks and late peaks. He MIGHT get better and faster when older and having more time to build those muscles and perfect his form BUT that could also be his best that he might never be able to accomplish again.

this was a really well researched video. the detail about WvN was excellent. some people did see it coming and you did show that. you also captured the Evans/Reynolds event well too. and the period in between. No one saw a 43.29 coming...but the drug use did tarnish it for sure because at the time there were rumours that his 43.29 was dirty. watching and waiting for MJ to get it felt like an eternity...and him trying to balance the 2/4 seemed to always get in the way.

Michael Johnson the only one to have held the 400 the 200 and the 300 WRS insane

The only athletes ever to react to my comments online have been Wayde van Niekirk and Ryan Crouser. I think it says something. The type of person that sets world records is also the type of person that will interact with random nobodies online. I mean that in the best way. A lot of successful CEOs are also the type of people that will talk to anybody. Same for Fred Armisen in comedy. There's some element of success that's tied with still feeling like an everyman no matter how successful you happen to be.

Wow Great information... Thank you 👏👌👍🙏💐🥰

My first memory of track and field was watching Michael Johnson. Legend!

Thank youuu!!

Such high quality videos, he needs more credit and subscribers

This was such a fun video. Thank you ❤

One of the greatest runners of all time, regardless of event....and a real gentleman as well.

A track athlete can run full blast for around 330 yards. Lactic acid builds up so fast after that and painful

Adolph Plummer ran his 44.9 on a rough dirt track

The commentary at 14:14 is so good

I went to high school with a guy that ran 48 seconds. He was the fastest human I've ever seen. I wasn't into track back then, so I didn't know how good that really was. I can't remember the kids name.

I remember watching Butch Reynolds smash the record. It was incredible, but even at the time to break it by over half a second rather than hundreths seemed highly suspicious and it felt dodgy. Then of course he was confirmed as a drug cheat like so many US athletes of the time. Just need someone to wipe Flo Jo's records off now. I was so happy when Johnson wiped Reynolds time off the book. Johnson is a legend and was incredible to watch with that unusual upright style reminiscent of the late great Eric Liddell, though not nearly as ungainly. These days Johnson often works as a pundit for the BBC. Eric Liddel was an incredible man. Not only was he a 400m Olympic gold medallist and WR holder, he was a fantastic 100m sprinter and a rugby international. He only started training for the 400m 6 months earlier as he was supposed to run in the 100m but withdrew after discovering the 100m heats were on Sunday and as a staunch christian he refused to run on the sabbath. Getting the gold medal in and WR for an event he wasn't supposed to run must be one of the greatest performances in athletics history. His sporting career in rugby and athletics only lasted 4 years as for him it was a bit of fun before starting his missionary work in china. Imagine how good he might have been with proper training. He had a reputation as being an incredibly principled man and unfailingly kind and decent, one of those rare Christians who actually did as they preached. After the Japanese invaded China he was put into a Japanese concentration camp. The camp descended into cliques but Liddell took over as a leader, shamed the others into sharing resources and acted as a teacher to the children. Tragically this incredible man died in the camp on 21/5/2/1945 shortly before it was liberated. For those interested Liddell features in the film 'Chariots of Fire'. Like most films it's not 100% historically accurate, but still a great watch. www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/jan/04/50-stunning-olympic-moments-eric-liddell en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Liddell

As a Zambian, I'll make a psa and let you know Muzala Samukonga is coming up

Adolph Plummer: I got his autograph once. He gave me the autograph, and a dirty look. Bud Spencer: he was our coach for the 440. "Hey Bud, how fast do you want these 220s?" "As fast as you can without straining." "Huh?" About 1987 I was watching somebody run repeat 220s at UCLA -- typical thing for a quarter miler. He was running like the wind; it looked like about 20 flat. It probably wasn't that fast. It was probably 21-22 something. I didn't know who it was. Next year after that, 1988, he won the gold medal in the Olympics.

2:47 do you mean century, millenium would mean from 1xxx to 2xxx not 18xx to 19xx

Much props for the incredibly well researched and presented video. Very well done, sir!

Excellent video

Beautiful Video. Wonderful cut. Thank you.

You have the most unexpected accent that resurfaces on one random word just as I finally forget about it

Many WR's fell in Mexico and took years to beat due to altitude.

bro is cracked at making me engage in documentaries regardless if they are on rhythm games or sports events

NEW RUNNERBOI NEW RUNNERBOI NEW RUNNERBOI

Excellent Vid!

michael johnson reminds me of a bowling pin

My record for the 400m is 87 metres.

Michael Johnson the most consistent quarter miler ever...

Edit: WVN has the most gifted final 20 meters I’ve ever seen, hands down. It’s almost his body is literally lurching. I do not understand it. It’s not even some final kick. He almost appears to visibly accelerate. This was great! As a quarter miler at heart in college I’ve always wanted to make this video as I’ve never felt it’s been done right - thankfully now I don’t have to haha

Michael Johnson is an awesome man and was an incredible athlete.

So wish Wade van Niekerk never injured his knee so soon after breaking the world record 😢... Oh what could have been...🤔

Loving this! Im getting great Summoning Salt vibes

EXCELLENT job

Are these guys even human! MY GOODNESS! These times are INSANE!

Michael Johnson has the most entertaining running form. All up right and shit like his dad got a belt chasing him about yo whip his ass

I know it's cliche but I have to say it anyway. So with every fibre of my being and from the depths of my soul; *fuck* the 400m.

Great job, possible help, but I think this could benefit from a few progression chart visualizations in the beginning (whatever summoning salt uses)

please don't stop making these, so well done

My favorite event. Ran it with great success in high school. Glory days ...

They're World Athletics now, not the IAAF...

I am amazed by how purposefully delusional some people are.. You don't just suddenly run 0.5 and 1 sec faster than your pb because there are lights and people watching. You only do that if you are drugged out of your mind for the final. It is what it is.

Fabulous video. ❤

Had Wayde Van Niekerk not gotten injured he would definitely have dipped below 43 seconds. He actually slowed down with his last 2 steps in the 43.03. Unfortunately years might have caught up to him. He looks strong now and could potentially be world champion again. But not likely to break a world record again. Although Michael Johnson proved it can be done in your 30s so we never know

Lee Evans in 1968 that World record 43.86 lasted until Butch Reynolds 1988. To run under 44 seconds in 1968 was unbelievable and Beamon like, after Wayde Van Niekerk 43 03 wont get to 2036 for 20 years, 43.03 is an unreal time thou.

This is one hell of a video…

Can you also do 200m and 100m world record progression

If there are sections with one audio channel that's silent, please for the love of God copy over the audio from the other channel.

John Ward ran the first recorded 400m world record in 56 sec. Makese happy with my sub 1min 400m time as a master athlete.

I am a geek and athletics nut so this is perfect for me thankyou!

When was steroid discovered?

20.01 into a -3.4 headwind is RIDICULOUS

Richard Buttery is the most British name I ever heard

Wade is the only one who broke all 4 sub second barriers insane

you just made my day :)))

EXCELLENT JOB

It’s such a pure and elemental event.

Johnson was so much fun to watch in the 96 Olympics! He toyed with everybody!!!

Running 47 sec 100 years ago is insane on those old shity tracks in slippers, imagine what those guys could do today

Butch renold dope!!!!

Here before I watch the whole video to say the 400 is the most difficult b.s. that has ever been thought of. How tf you gone ask people to sprint a lap. 60m...np. 100m cool. 200m...hol up wait...but cool. 800m...OK...a lil strategy. The 400...nah yall...sprint a lap...and don't die. *gun goes off. The 400 meters has to be stopped...

Remember Butch Reynolds Kriss Akabusi got the bronze

200 meter world record progression

Quality video mate

The 440 was run until1982 in the PIAA

My guess is this record won't be broken for at least 8 years. And if it is broken it will be by Quincy Wilson. At 16 years old he ran a 44.59 last month, breaking the U18 record.

the most painful human expirience in sports

These guys run 400m faster than I can run to the toilet

Runner Boi. You said "sweeped" instead of "swept." (12.20) You also said "44.8 "sex" not 44.8 six. You had a "glottle stop when you said "unbeaten" which sounds like this "Unbea-en." I still upvoted you and subscribed. I think the commenter of Butch Reynold's world record at sea level showed so much glee because Lee Evans had given the "Black Power" salute in the Mexico City Olympics victory. Reynold's time of 43.9 was amazing. It is amazing how they besmirched Reynold's times but overlooked the fact that Michael Johnson made sure to retire when better testing methods were developed. "He somehow ran faster than ever before at 43.18." The emphasis should be on "SOMEHOW." Wayde Von Niekerk - the greatest time to date he ran at Rio where he ran 43.03.

We need the Usain Bolt of 400m running to take it to the next level Perhaps the 2036 Olympics

10:06 Is Tommie Smith rocking Ray-Ban sunglasses while breaking a world record? 😂

Eddie Murphy should plays Michael Johnson in a movie...

Steroids rule the game. You use or you lose

This voice makes me feel nostalgic