400 metres

Discipline: Track

The 400 metres is a one-lap sprint that combines speed, rhythm, and endurance, requiring athletes to maintain a fast pace over the full circuit of the track. It is longer and more demanding than the shorter sprints, often rewarding both raw speed and the ability to finish strongly. At Athens 1896, the event was contested in two heats followed by a final, with the top two runners from each heat advancing. The heats were held on 6 April and the final on 7 April, making it one of the earliest track events of the Games.