The
men's 400 metres hurdles was the longer of two hurdling events at the
1908 Summer Olympics in
London. It was the third time the event had been featured at the Olympics. The Olympic record was beat three times in the course of the Games.
Ten sets of hurdles were set on the course. The hurdles were 3
feet (= 91.5 centimetre) tall and were placed 35 metres apart beginning 45 metres from the starting line.
The competition was held from Monday, July 20, 1908 to Wednesday, July 22, 1908.
15 runners from six nations competed.
Records
These were the standing world and Olympic records (in seconds) prior to the 1908 Summer Olympics.
(*) unofficial
(**) This track was 500 metres in circumference.
Harry Hillman ran 53.0 but he knocked over a hurdle and the hurdles were only 30 inches (76 cm) high.
In the first round
Charles Bacon set a new Olympic record with 57.0 seconds. In the second round
Harry Hillman set a new record with 56.4 seconds. In the final
Charles Bacon set a new world record with 55.0 seconds. This record became the first official world record for the 400 metre hurdles.
Results
First round
First round, heat 1There was no competition for Koops in the first heat.
First round, heat 2A tight race from start to finish, Coe won by about a metre.
First round, heat 3Bacon won easily, breaking Godfrey Shaw's 440 yards world record.
First round, heat 4There was no competition for Harmer in the fourth heat.
First round, heat 5There was no competition for Burton in the...
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