Venue Panathinaiko Stadium | Competitors 7 from 4 nations | |
Dates April 6 (heats)
April 7 (final) | ||
The men's 400 metres race was the second-shortest of the flat-track events on the Athletics at the 1896 Summer Olympics programme. The competition's preliminary round was the last held on the first day, 6 April. The competitors were split into two groups. The top two runners in each heat advanced to the final, which was held on the second day, 7 April.
Contents
7 athletes from 4 nations competed. 5 of those athletes were also in the 100 metres.
Heats
The first round heats were held on 6 April. The top two placers in each of the two groups advanced.
Heat 1
Jamison won by 13½ yards. Hofmann and Grisel both had to run 401.83 metres after being penalized for false starts.
NOTE: The final positions of Grisel and Dörry are unclear.
Heat 2
Burke won by 15 yards, despite being tired from already having run in the heats of the 100 metres. Gmelin beat Reichel by 12 yards for second place.
Final
Burke beat Jamison by eight yards, with Gmelin beating Hofmann by a foot for third.