Men's 400 metres European record progression


The following table shows the European record progression in the men's 400 metres, as ratified by the EAA

Hand timing

TimeAthleteNationalityVenueDate
47.8*Beauchamp DayPerth, AustraliaApril 1, 1907
47.6Eric LiddellParis, FranceJuly 12, 1924
46.7Godfrey BrownBerlin, GermanyAugust 7, 1936
46.0Rudolf HarbigFrankfurt, GermanyAugust 12, 1939
46.0Ardalion IgnatyevMoscow, RussiaJune 25, 1955
45.8Carl KaufmannCologne, GermanySeptember 19, 1959
45.7Carl KaufmannCologne, GermanyJune 15, 1960
45.4Carl KaufmannBerlin, GermanyJuly 24, 1960
44.9Carl KaufmannRome, ItalySeptember 6, 1960
44.9Martin JellinghausMexico City, MexicoOctober 17, 1968
44.7Karl HonzMunich, GermanyJuly 21, 1972

* Performance timed over 440 yards

Automatic timing

TimeAthleteNationalityVenueDate
44.70Karl HonzMunich, GermanyJuly 21, 1972
44.60Viktor MarkinMoscow, RussiaJuly 30, 1980
44.50Erwin SkamrahlMunich, GermanyJuly 26, 1983
44.48Thomas SchönlebePotsdam, GermanyAugust 21, 1987
44.33Thomas SchönlebeRome, ItalySeptember 3, 1987