400 Metre Hurdles Betting
The 400 metre hurdle race is a true test of an athlete’s stamina, agility and speed and takes place over a standard 400m track with ten evenly spaced hurdles to tackle in the process. The men’s hurdles measure 36 inches high (91.4cm) whereas the women’s measure 30 inches high (76.2cm). The run-up to the first hurdle is 45 metres and then the other nine hurdles are spread 35 metres apart with the last hurdle coming 40 metres before the finishing line. The event was first introduced as an Olympic event for men in 1900 (Paris) and women in 1984 (Los Angeles). The top male athletes can complete a 400 metre hurdle race in a time of around 47 seconds, while the best female athletes achieve a time of around 53 seconds. To qualify for the Olympics, athletes must achieve the Olympic qualifying time and also must qualify for their nation’s Olympic team. A maximum of three competitors per country may compete in any hurdles event. With the Olympic event taking place over two or maybe even three preliminary rounds before the final, depending on the total athletes competing, there is plenty of scope when it comes to the 400 metre hurdle betting and the markets offered from the bookmakers.
Bet on the Outright Winner
The main 400 metre hurdles betting market is the outright winner and with the odds updated after each heat there is no excuse about missing your bet. The majority of people prefer to try and get the best possible value by placing their 400 metre bets prior to the first heat but if you aren’t 100% about your athlete’s level of fitness, you will have plenty of other opportunities to place your bet. Other Olympic 400 metre hurdles betting markets include, individual athlete’s performance, to make the final, to finish in the medals and will the world record be broken.
Two Olympic victories:
- Glenn Davis (USA), 1956 and 1960
- Edwin Moses (USA), 1976 and 1984
(also bronze in 1988) - Angelo Taylor (USA), 2000 and 2008
Since the launch of the men’s 400 metre hurdle event into the Olympics, we've been privileged to have seen some great athletes compete over the event but none more than the legendary track and field athlete Edwin Moses. The American won two gold medals in the 400 metre hurdles at the 1976 and 1984 Olympics and between 1977 and 1987, he went on to win 107 consecutive finals and set a new world record on four separate occasions. In this time period Moses also claimed the world title in 1983 and 1987.
Out of the female athletes, Great Britain’s Sally Gunnell is one of the most talked about names after she became the only woman to date to have held the European, World, Commonwealth and Olympic 400 metre hurdles titles at the same time. Not only will the Brit be remembered for these achievements, her run in the 1993 World Championships were she won gold will also go down in history as she set the a new British and world record in a time of 52.74s. Gunnell is now the British Olympic Association ambassador.
Milestones
Men:
- 1908 Charles Bacon -
First official IAAF world record: 55.0s - 1925 Sten Pettersson -
First under 54 seconds - 53.8s - 1927 John Gibson -
First under 53 seconds - 52.6s - 1932 Bob Tisdall -
First under 52 seconds - 51.7s - 1934 Glenn Hardin -
First under 51 seconds - 50.6s - 1956 Glenn Davis -
First under 50 seconds - 49.5s - 1968 Geoff Vanderstock -
First under 49 seconds - 48.8s - 1972 Akii-Bua -
First under 48 seconds - 47.82s - 1992 Kevin Young -
First under 47 seconds - 46.78s
Women:
- 1974 Krystyna Kacperczyk -
First official world record - 56.51s - 1977 Tatjana Storoschewa -
First under 56 seconds - 55.74s - 1978 Tatjana Selenzowa -
First under 55 seconds - 54.89s - 1984 Margarita Ponomarjowa -
First under 54 seconds - 53.58s - 1986 Marina Stepanova -
First under 53 seconds - 52.94s
