Athletics at the 1924 Summer Olympics – Men's 400 metres hurdles


The men's 400 metres hurdles event was part of the track and field athletics programme at the 1924 Summer Olympics. The competition was held on Sunday, July 6, 1924 and on Monday, July 7, 1924.
As for all other races the track was 500 metres in circumference.
Twenty-three hurdlers from 13 nations competed.

Records

These were the standing world and Olympic records prior to the 1924 Summer Olympics.
World Record54.0 Frank LoomisAntwerp August 16, 1920
World Record52.1' Ivan RileyAnn Arbor May 31, 1924
Olympic Record54.0 Frank LoomisAntwerp August 16, 1920

' not ratified as he knocked over a hurdle
Morgan Taylor won the U.S. trials in a time of 52.6 but he also knocked over a hurdle, which was against the rules in force at that time. He did the same in the final of this competition so the time he set, again 52.6, was also not ratified as world record. As the second placed Erik Wilén used a similar style his 53.8 were also not accepted as world record but tolerated as Olympic record.

Results

Round 1

All heats were held on Sunday, July 6, 1924.
The best two finishers of every heat qualified for the semi-finals.
Heat 1
PlaceAthleteTimeQual.
154.8Q
256.5Q
356.8

Heat 2
PlaceAthleteTimeQual.
155.0Q
255.3Q
356.0
4DNF

Heat 3
PlaceAthleteTimeQual.
156.0Q
257.2Q
358.0

Heat 4
PlaceAthleteTimeQual.
157.2Q
257.7Q
—58.5

Heat 5
PlaceAthleteTimeQual.
155.8Q
256.9Q
357.0
458.5
560.0

Heat 6
PlaceAthleteTimeQual.
155.4Q
256.4Q
356.7
4
5

Semifinals

All semi-finals were held on Sunday, July 6, 1924.
The best three finishers of each heat qualified for the final.
Semifinal 1
PlaceAthleteTimeQual.
154.6Q
254.9Q
355.4Q
455.6
556.7
657.3

Semifinal 2
PlaceAthleteTimeQual.
156.6Q
256.7Q
358.4Q
458.6
558.6
659.0

Final

The final was held on Monday, July 7, 1924.
Frederick Blackett was disqualified for two false starts. After the race, Morgan Taylor's time was rejected as a world record because knocked over a hurdle, which was against the rules in force at that time, while Charles Brookins, who had crossed the finish line in second, was disqualified for running out of his lane. As such, Erik Wilén was credited with an Olympic record, but his time was not ratified as world record.
PlaceAthleteTime
152.6
253.8 OR
354.2
456.2
—DSQ
—DSQ