Athletics at the 1908 Summer Olympics – Men's 400 metres
The men's 400 metres was an Olympic event for the fourth time at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London. The competition was held originally scheduled from July 21, 1908 to July 23, 1908. The rerun of the final was held on July 25, 1908. The races were held on a track of 536.45 metres= mile in circumference.
37 runners from 11 nations competed. NOCs could enter up to 12 athletes.
It was the most controversial event of the London Games. The final resulted in the disqualification of American runner John Carpenter who was accused by the British officials of a manoeuvre that was legal under American rules but prohibited by the British rules under which the race was run.
As part of the disqualification of Carpenter, a second final race was ordered. Halswelle was to face the other two finalists again. These athletes, William Robbins and John Taylor, were both Americans and decided not to participate in the repeat of the final to protest against the judges' decision. Halswelle was thus the only medallist in the 400 metres.
Background
This was the fourth time the event was held. Only one of the runners from 1904, Paul Pilgrim of the United States, returned. Defending gold medalist Harry Hillman, also American, was in London but competed only in the hurdles. The favorite was British runner Wyndham Halswelle, the 1905, 1906, and 1908 AAA champion.Belgium, Sweden, and the Netherlands appeared in the event for the first time. The United States made its fourth appearance in the event, the only nation to compete in it at the first four Olympic Games.
Competition format
The competition consisted of three rounds. The first round had 16 heats, ranging from 0 to 4 runners. Only the top runner in each heat advanced to the semifinals. The semifinal was to consist of 4 heats of 4 runners each, but the final heat had only 3 runners due to the cancellation of the second heat in the first round. Again, only the top runner in each semifinal heat advanced, making a four-man final.Records
These were the standing world and Olympic records prior to the 1908 Summer Olympics.' 440 yards
' This track was 536.45 metres= mile in circumference.
In the semi-finals Wyndham Halswelle set a new Olympic record with 48.4 seconds.
Schedule
| Date | Time | Round |
| Tuesday, 21 July 1908 | Round 1 | |
| Wednesday, 22 July 1908 | 17:30 | Semifinals |
| Thursday, 23 July 1908 | 17:30 | Final |
| Saturday, 25 July 1908 | 12:00 | Final |
Results
Heats
The heats were run on July 21, 1908. The winner of each advanced to the semifinals, with all other runners eliminated.Heat 1
Montague led by twelve yards when he finished.| Rank | Athlete | Nation | Time | Notes |
| 1 | Edwin Montague | 50.2 | ||
| 2 | Paul Pilgrim | 51.4 |
Heat 2
The second heat was cancelled as there were no starters.Heat 3
Ryle had no competition in the third heat.| Rank | Athlete | Nation | Time | Notes |
| 1 | Edward Ryle | walkover |
Heat 4
Taylor won handily, with a twelve-yard margin.| Rank | Athlete | Nation | Time | Notes |
| 1 | John Taylor | 50.8 | ||
| 2 | Roberto Penna | 52.4 | ||
| 3 | Sven Låftman | Unknown |
Heat 5
Nicol won with a twelve-yard lead.| Rank | Athlete | Nation | Time | Notes |
| 1 | George Nicol | 50.8 | ||
| 2 | Oscar Guttormsen | 52.4 |
Heat 6
Eight yards separated the two runners when Malfait crossed the line.| Rank | Athlete | Nation | Time | Notes |
| 1 | Georges Malfait | 50.0 | ||
| 2 | Donald Buddo | 51.2 |
Heat 7
Robbins had no difficulty in this race, winning with a 12-yard lead.| Rank | Athlete | Nation | Time | Notes |
| 1 | William Robbins | 50.4 | ||
| 2 | József Nagy | 51.1 | ||
| 3 | Noel Godfrey Chavasse | Unknown | ||
| 4 | Victor Henny | Unknown |
Heat 8
Prout's lead was only two yards when he finished.| Rank | Athlete | Nation | Time | Notes |
| 1 | William C. Prout | 50.4 | ||
| 2 | Christopher Maude Chavasse | 50.7 |
Heat 9
Ramey's victory was one of the closest of the first round, with only a yard and a half separating him from Astley.| Rank | Athlete | Nation | Time | Notes |
| 1 | Horace Ramey | 51.0 | ||
| 2 | Arthur Astley | Unknown |
Heat 10
Jacquemin pulled up lame, allowing Sebert to win by 20 yards.| Rank | Athlete | Nation | Time | Notes |
| 1 | Louis Sebert | 50.2 seconds | ||
| 2 | Massimo Cartasegna | 52.7 | ||
| — | Victor Jacquemin |
Heat 11
| Rank | Athlete | Nation | Time | Notes |
| 1 | John Atlee | 50.4 | ||
| 2 | Alan Patterson | 50.6 | ||
| 3 | Giuseppe Tarella | Unknown |
Heat 12
| Rank | Athlete | Nation | Time | Notes |
| 1 | Charles Davies | 50.4 | ||
| 2 | Cornelis den Held | 51.0 |
Heat 13
| Rank | Athlete | Nation | Time | Notes |
| 1 | Ned Merriam | 52.2 | ||
| 2 | R. C. Robb | 52.5 |
Heat 14
| Rank | Athlete | Nation | Time | Notes |
| 1 | John Carpenter | 49.8 | ||
| 2 | Otto Trieloff | 50.9 | ||
| 3 | Arvid Ringstrand | Unknown | ||
| 4 | Henk van der Wal | Unknown |
Heat 15
| Rank | Athlete | Nation | Time | Notes |
| 1 | Wyndham Halswelle | 49.4 | ||
| 2 | Frederick de Selding | 50.8 | ||
| 3 | Bram Evers | Unknown |
Heat 16
Young won by 30 yards.| Rank | Athlete | Nation | Time | Notes |
| 1 | G. W. Young | 52.4 | ||
| 2 | Jacobus Hoogveld | 54.3 |
Semifinals
The semifinals were held on July 22, 1908. Winners advanced, all others were eliminated.Semifinal 1
Carpenter led throughout, with Davies challenging him at the end. Carpenter was "slowing fast in the last thirty yards" but managed to hold off Davies and win "by three yards."| Rank | Athlete | Nation | Time | Notes |
| 1 | John Carpenter | 49.4 | ||
| 2 | Charles Davies | 49.8 | ||
| 3 | Ned Merriam | Unknown | ||
| 4 | G. W. Young | Unknown |
Semifinal 2
Halswelle broke the Olympic record in this semifinal. He took the lead early and "was right away at the half distance," ultimately winning "by 12 yards."| Rank | Athlete | Nation | Time | Notes |
| 1 | Wyndham Halswelle | 48.4 | , | |
| 2 | Edwin Montague | 49.8 | ||
| 3 | George Nicol | Unknown | ||
| 4 | William C. Prout | Unknown |
Semifinal 3
Malfait took the lead at the start. Taylor caught him at 300 yards.| Rank | Athlete | Nation | Time | Notes |
| 1 | John Taylor | 49.8 | ||
| 2 | Horace Ramey | 50.5 | ||
| 3 | Edward Ryle | Unknown | ||
| 4 | Georges Malfait | Unknown |
Semifinal 4
Sebert started slow, but then lengthened his stride to pass Atlee and nearly catch Robbins, who held him off to win "by 3 yards."| Rank | Athlete | Nation | Time | Notes |
| 1 | William Robbins | 49.0 | ||
| 2 | Louis Sebert | 49.5 | ||
| 3 | John Atlee | Unknown |
Final
The final was initially held on July 23, 1908. After the disqualification of Carpenter, the second running of the final was scheduled for July 25.; First running
The first final ended with Carpenter finishing first, Halswelle following him, Robbins in third, and Taylor at the back. Roscoe Badger, one of the British umpires of the event, noticed Carpenter maneuvering so as to prevent Halswelle from passing him, which was legal at the time under the American rules under which Carpenter normally competed, but prohibited by the British rules that were in effect for the Olympics; Badger therefore signalled to the judges to declare the race void, leading to a thirty-minute argument between British and American team members. At the official inquiry later that day, the judges disqualified Carpenter and ordered the final to be rerun with Carpenter excluded.
| Rank | Athlete | Nation | Time |
| 1 | John Carpenter | 47.8 | |
| 2 | Wyndham Halswelle | Unknown | |
| 3 | William Robbins | Unknown | |
| 4 | John Taylor | Unknown |
; Second running
Carpenter was not permitted to start in the rerun, and Robbins and Taylor refused to participate in protest of the decision by the judges. Halswelle won with a jog, for the one and only walkover win in Olympic track and field history.
| Rank | Athlete | Nation | Time |
| Wyndham Halswelle | 50.0 | ||
| — | William Robbins | ||
| — | John Taylor | ||
| — | John Carpenter |