Athletics at the 1948 Summer Olympics – Men's 400 metres

From The Right Wiki
Jump to navigationJump to search
Men's 400 metres
at the Games of the XIV Olympiad
File:1948 Olympic final 400 m men.jpg
The finish of the men's 400 metres final. Left-right: Wint, Whitfield, McKenley.
VenueEmpire Stadium
DatesAugust 4 (heats and quarterfinals)
August 5 (semifinals and final)
Competitors53 from 28 nations
Winning time46.2 =OR
Medalists
1st place, gold medalist(s) Arthur Wint
File:Flag of Jamaica (1906-1957).svg Jamaica
2nd place, silver medalist(s) Herb McKenley
File:Flag of Jamaica (1906-1957).svg Jamaica
3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Mal Whitfield
File:US flag 48 stars.svg United States
← 1936
1952 →
File:TV-icon-2.svg
Official Video Highlights
Athletics at the
1948 Summer Olympics
File:Olympic Athletics.png
Track events
100 mmenwomen
200 mmenwomen
400 mmen
800 mmen
1500 mmen
5000 mmen
10,000 mmen
80 m hurdleswomen
110 m hurdlesmen
400 m hurdlesmen
3000 m
steeplechase		men
4 × 100 m relaymenwomen
4 × 400 m relaymen
Road events
Marathonmen
10 km walkmen
50 km walkmen
Field events
Long jumpmenwomen
Triple jumpmen
High jumpmenwomen
Pole vaultmen
Shot putmenwomen
Discus throwmenwomen
Javelin throwmenwomen
Hammer throwmen
Combined events
Decathlonmen

The men's 400 metres sprint event at the 1948 Olympic Games took place between August 4 and August 5. Fifty-three athletes from 28 nations competed.[1] The maximum number of athletes per nation had been set at 3 since the 1930 Olympic Congress. The final was won by 0.2 seconds by Jamaican Arthur Wint coming from almost 10 meters back to catch teammate and world record holder Herb McKenley.[2] This was Jamaica's first Olympic gold medal in their debut participation at the Games, and broke a string of 3 straight American victories in the men's 400 metres.

Background

This was the eleventh appearance of the event, which is one of 12 athletics events to have been held at every Summer Olympics. Bill Roberts of Great Britain was the only finalist from 1936 to return after the 12-year gap. Herb McKenley of Jamaica was the "heavy favorite," having recently broken the world record. Top challengers included fellow Jamaican Arthur Wint and American Mal Whitfield (fresh off a win in the 800 metres).[1] In addition to Jamaica winning gold in its first appearance in the event, Bermuda, Ceylon, Colombia, Cuba, Iceland, Iraq, Turkey, and Yugoslavia competed in the 400 metres for the first time. The United States made its eleventh appearance in the event, the only nation to compete in it at every Olympic Games to that point.

Competition format

The competition retained the basic four-round format from 1920. There were 12 heats in the first round, each with between 3 and 5 athletes. The top two runners in each heat advanced to the quarterfinals. There were 4 quarterfinals of 6 runners each; the top three athletes in each quarterfinal heat advanced to the semifinals. The semifinals featured 2 heats of 6 runners each. The top three runners in each semifinal heat advanced, making a six-man final.[1][3]

Records

Prior to the competition, the existing World and Olympic records were as follows.

World record File:Flag of Jamaica.svg Herb McKenley (JAM) 45.9 Milwaukee, United States 2 July 1948
Olympic record File:US flag 48 stars.svg Bill Carr (USA) 46.2 Los Angeles, United States 5 August 1932

Schedule

All times are British Summer Time (UTC+1)

Date Time Round
Wednesday, 4 August 1948 15:30
17:15		 Round 1
Quarterfinals
Thursday, 5 August 1948 15:00
16:45		 Semifinals
Finals

Results

Round 1

The fastest two runners in each of the twelve heats advanced to the quarterfinals.

Heat 1

Rank Athlete Nation Time Notes
1 Jimmy Reardon File:Flag of Ireland (3-2).svg Ireland 48.4 Q
2 Marko Račič File:Flag of SFR Yugoslavia.svg Yugoslavia 50.5 Q
3 Chen Yinglang File:Flag of the Republic of China.svg Republic of China 50.9
4 Georgios Karageorgos File:Flag of Greece (1828-1978).svg Greece 54.5

Heat 2

Rank Athlete Nation Time Notes
1 Herb McKenley File:Flag of Jamaica (1906-1957).svg Jamaica 48.4 Q
2 Rune Larsson File:Flag of Sweden.svg Sweden 49.2 Q
3 Ferenc Bánhalmi File:Flag of Hungary (1946-1949, 1956-1957).svg Hungary 49.6
4 Jaime Aparicio File:Flag of Colombia.svg Colombia 50.8
5 Guillermo Evans File:Flag of Argentina (1861–2010).svg Argentina 51.8

Heat 3

Rank Athlete Nation Time Notes
1 Zvonko Sabolović File:Flag of SFR Yugoslavia.svg Yugoslavia 49.9 Q
2 Kurt Lundquist File:Flag of Sweden.svg Sweden 50.0 Q
3 Antonio Pocovi File:Flag of Argentina (1861–2010).svg Argentina 50.7
4 Mario Rosas File:Flag of Colombia.svg Colombia 51.4
5 Labib Hasso File:Flag of Iraq (1921–1959).svg Iraq 56.8

Heat 4

Rank Athlete Nation Time Notes
1 George Rhoden File:Flag of Jamaica (1906-1957).svg Jamaica 48.4 Q
2 Dennis Shore File:Flag of South Africa (1928–1982).svg South Africa 49.0 Q
3 Oskar Hardmeier File:Civil Ensign of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Switzerland 49.2
4 Angel García File:Flag of Cuba (3-2).svg Cuba 50.2
5 Bill Ramsay File:Flag of Australia.svg Australia 50.3

Heat 5

Rank Athlete Nation Time Notes
1 Jacques Lunis File:Flag of France.svg France 49.3 Q
2 Folke Alnevik File:Flag of Sweden.svg Sweden 50.2 Q
3 Carlos Monges File:Flag of Mexico (1934-1968).svg Mexico 50.9

Heat 6

Rank Athlete Nation Time Notes
1 Dave Bolen File:US flag 48 stars.svg United States 50.1 Q
2 John Bartram File:Flag of Australia.svg Australia 50.8 Q
3 Hazzard Dill File:Flag of Bermuda (1910–1999).svg Bermuda 53.0

Heat 7

Rank Athlete Nation Time Notes
1 Leslie Lewis File:Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg Great Britain 48.9 Q
2 Bjørn Vade File:Flag of Norway.svg Norway 49.6 Q
3 Ernie McCullough File:Flag of Canada (1921–1957).svg Canada 49.9
4 Walter Keller File:Civil Ensign of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Switzerland 50.3
5 Runar Holmberg File:Flag of Finland.svg Finland 50.6

Heat 8

Rank Athlete Nation Time Notes
1 Mal Whitfield File:US flag 48 stars.svg United States 48.3 Q
2 Bill Roberts File:Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg Great Britain 48.9 Q
3 Don McFarlane File:Flag of Canada (1921–1957).svg Canada 49.5
4 Olavi Talja File:Flag of Finland.svg Finland 50.4
5 Max Trepp File:Civil Ensign of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Switzerland 50.9

Heat 9

Rank Athlete Nation Time Notes
1 Arthur Wint File:Flag of Jamaica (1906-1957).svg Jamaica 47.7 Q
2 Francis Schewetta File:Flag of France.svg France 48.9 Q
3 John De Saram File:Flag of Ceylon (1948-1951).svg Ceylon 51.2
4 Tauno Suvanto File:Flag of Finland.svg Finland 51.5
5 Doğan Acarbay File:Flag of Turkey.svg Turkey 53.0

Heat 10

Rank Athlete Nation Time Notes
1 Morris Curotta File:Flag of Australia.svg Australia 49.1 Q
2 Rosalvo Ramos File:Flag of Brazil (1889-1960).svg Brazil 49.2 Q
3 Raymond Crapet File:Flag of France.svg France 49.4
4 Kemal Horulu File:Flag of Turkey.svg Turkey 51.5

Heat 11

Rank Athlete Nation Time Notes
1 George Guida File:US flag 48 stars.svg United States 49.0 Q
2 Derek Pugh File:Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg Great Britain 49.3 Q
3 Gustavo Ehlers File:Flag of Chile.svg Chile 49.5
4 Stefanos Petrakis File:Flag of Greece (1828-1978).svg Greece 54.5

Heat 12

Rank Athlete Nation Time Notes
1 Herman Kunnen File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgium 50.0 Q
2 Bob McFarlane File:Flag of Canada (1921–1957).svg Canada 50.6 Q
3 Reynir Sigurðsson File:Flag of Iceland.svg Iceland 51.4
4 Jaime Hitelman File:Flag of Chile.svg Chile 51.5
5 Stylianos Stratakos File:Flag of Greece (1828-1978).svg Greece 52.8

Quarterfinals

The fastest three runners in each of the four heats advanced to the semifinal round.

Quarterfinal 1

Rank Athlete Nation Time Notes
1 Mal Whitfield File:US flag 48 stars.svg United States 48.0 Q
2 George Rhoden File:Flag of Jamaica (1906-1957).svg Jamaica 48.6 Q
3 Rosalvo Ramos File:Flag of Brazil (1889-1960).svg Brazil 48.7 Q
4 Leslie Lewis File:Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg Great Britain 49.2
5 Zvonko Sabolović File:Flag of SFR Yugoslavia.svg Yugoslavia 49.5
6 Folke Alnevik File:Flag of Sweden.svg Sweden 50.6

Quarterfinal 2

Rank Athlete Nation Time Notes
1 Arthur Wint File:Flag of Jamaica (1906-1957).svg Jamaica 47.7 Q
2 Morris Curotta File:Flag of Australia.svg Australia 48.4 Q
3 Dennis Shore File:Flag of South Africa (1928–1982).svg South Africa 48.5 Q
4 Bill Roberts File:Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg Great Britain 48.6
5 Bjørn Vade File:Flag of Norway.svg Norway 49.7
— Herman Kunnen File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgium DNS

Quarterfinal 3

Rank Athlete Nation Time Notes
1 Herb McKenley File:Flag of Jamaica (1906-1957).svg Jamaica 48.0 Q
2 George Guida File:US flag 48 stars.svg United States 48.0 Q
3 Rune Larsson File:Flag of Sweden.svg Sweden 48.8 Q
4 John Bartram File:Flag of Australia.svg Australia 49.9
5 Francis Schewetta File:Flag of France.svg France 49.9
6 Marko Račič File:Flag of SFR Yugoslavia.svg Yugoslavia 52.1

Quarterfinal 4

Rank Athlete Nation Time Notes
1 Dave Bolen File:US flag 48 stars.svg United States 48.0 Q
2 Jimmy Reardon File:Flag of Ireland (3-2).svg Ireland 48.3 Q
3 Bob McFarlane File:Flag of Canada (1921–1957).svg Canada 48.4 Q
4 Kurt Lundquist File:Flag of Sweden.svg Sweden 48.4
5 Derek Pugh File:Flag of the United Kingdom (3-2).svg Great Britain 48.8
6 Jacques Lunis File:Flag of France.svg France 48.9

Semifinals

The fastest three runners in each of the two heats advanced to the final round.

Semifinal 1

Rank Athlete Nation Time (hand) Notes
1 Arthur Wint File:Flag of Jamaica (1906-1957).svg Jamaica 46.3 Q
2 Morris Curotta File:Flag of Australia.svg Australia 47.2 Q
3 Mal Whitfield File:US flag 48 stars.svg United States 47.4 Q
4 George Rhoden File:Flag of Jamaica (1906-1957).svg Jamaica 47.7
5 Jimmy Reardon File:Flag of Ireland (3-2).svg Ireland 47.8
— Rune Larsson File:Flag of Sweden.svg Sweden DNS

Semifinal 2

Rank Athlete Nation Time (hand) Notes
1 Herb McKenley File:Flag of Jamaica (1906-1957).svg Jamaica 47.3 Q
2 Dave Bolen File:US flag 48 stars.svg United States 47.9 Q
3 George Guida File:US flag 48 stars.svg United States 48.3 Q
4 Dennis Shore File:Flag of South Africa (1928–1982).svg South Africa 48.8
5 Rosalvo Ramos File:Flag of Brazil (1889-1960).svg Brazil 49.1
6 Bob McFarlane File:Flag of Canada (1921–1957).svg Canada 51.7

Final

McKenley was known for starting fast and stayed true to form in this race, hitting the halfway mark at 21.6 seconds (a split which would have placed him 6th in the final of the 200 metre event itself). Wint, however, powered through the second half and caught McKenley with 20–30 metres to go. Neither Curotta nor any of the Americans had much chance at winning behind the two Jamaicans.[1][4]

Rank Lane Athlete Nation Time (hand) Notes
1st place, gold medalist(s) 3 Arthur Wint File:Flag of Jamaica (1906-1957).svg Jamaica 46.2 =OR
2nd place, silver medalist(s) 2 Herb McKenley File:Flag of Jamaica (1906-1957).svg Jamaica 46.4
3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 4 Mal Whitfield File:US flag 48 stars.svg United States 46.9
4 1 Dave Bolen File:US flag 48 stars.svg United States 47.2
5 5 Morris Curotta File:Flag of Australia.svg Australia 47.9
6 6 George Guida File:US flag 48 stars.svg United States 50.2

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "400 metres, Men". Olympedia. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
  2. ↑ "Athletics at the 1948 London Summer Games: Men's 400 metres". sports-reference.com. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
  3. ↑ Official Report, pp. 246–47.
  4. ↑ Official Report, p. 228.

External links

Retrieved from "https://rightwiki.org/index.php?title=Athletics_at_the_1948_Summer_Olympics_–_Men%27s_400_metres&oldid=11997809"