Athletics at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Women's 400 metres hurdles
The women's 400 metres hurdles at the 2008 Summer Olympics took place on 17–20 August at the Beijing National Stadium.
The qualifying standards were 55.60 s and 56.50 s.
Schedule
All times are China Standard Time| Date | Time | Round |
| Sunday, August 17, 2008 | 20:10-20:42 | Round 1 |
| Monday, August 18, 2008 | 20:45-21:00 | [|Semifinals] |
| Wednesday, August 20, 2008 | 22:35-22:40 | [|Final] |
Records
Prior to this competition, the existing world and Olympic records were as follows:The following new Olympic record was set during this competition.
| Date | Event | Name | Nationality | Time | OR | WR |
| 20 August | Final | Melaine Walker | 52.64 | OR |
Results
Round 1
The first three runners of each heat plus the next four overall fastest runners qualified for the Semifinals.| Rank | Heat | Name | Nationality | Result | Notes |
| 1 | 3 | Melaine Walker | 54.46 | [|Q] | |
| 2 | 4 | Ekaterina Bikert | 55.15 | Q | |
| 3 | 3 | Anastasiya Rabchenyuk | 55.18 | Q | |
| 4 | 2 | Tasha Danvers | 55.19 | Q, SB | |
| 5 | 3 | Tsvetelina Kirilova | 55.22 | Q, PB | |
| 6 | 2 | Anastasiya Ott | 55.34 | Q | |
| 7 | 4 | Anna Jesień | 55.35 | Q | |
| 8 | 1 | Tiffany Ross-Williams | 55.51 | Q | |
| 9 | 1 | Irina Obedina | 55.71 | Q | |
| 10 | 2 | Nickiesha Wilson | 55.75 | Q | |
| 11 | 1 | Satomi Kubokura | 55.82 | Q, SB | |
| 12 | 4 | Zuzana Hejnová | 55.91 | Q | |
| 13 | 3 | Queen Harrison | 55.96 | [|q] | |
| 14 | 2 | Angela Morosanu | 56.07 | q, SB | |
| 15 | 2 | Sheena Tosta | 56.12 | q | |
| 16 | 3 | Aïssata Soulama | 56.37 | q | |
| 17 | 1 | Shevon Stoddart | 56.52 | ||
| 18 | 2 | Nikolina Horvat | 56.65 | ||
| 19 | 4 | Tatyana Azarova | 56.88 | ||
| 20 | 4 | Muna Jabir Adam | 57.16 | ||
| 21 | 1 | Ieva Zunda | 57.43 | ||
| 22 | 1 | Lucimar Teodoro | 57.68 | ||
| 23 | 4 | Josanne Lucas | 57.76 | ||
| 24 | 3 | Carole Kaboud Mebam | 57.81 | ||
| 25 | 2 | Michelle Carey | 57.99 | ||
| 26 | 4 | Laia Forcadell | 58.64 | ||
| 27 | 3 | Galina Pedan | 1:00.31 |
Semifinals
Qualification: First 4 in each heat advance to the Final.| Rank | Heat | Name | Nationality | Result | Notes |
| 1 | 1 | Sheena Tosta | 54.07 | Q | |
| 2 | 2 | Melaine Walker | 54.20 | Q | |
| 3 | 1 | Tasha Danvers | 54.31 | Q, SB | |
| 4 | 1 | Anna Jesień | 54.36 | Q | |
| 5 | 1 | Ekaterina Bikert | 54.38 | Q | |
| 6 | 2 | Anastasiya Rabchenyuk | 54.60 | Q, PB | |
| 7 | 1 | Nickiesha Wilson | 54.67 | ||
| 8 | 1 | Anastasiya Ott | 54.74 | PB | |
| 9 | 2 | Tiffany Ross-Williams | 54.99 | Q | |
| 10 | 2 | Zuzana Hejnová | 55.17 | Q | |
| 11 | 2 | Aïssata Soulama | 55.69 | SB | |
| 12 | 2 | Irina Obedina | 55.69 | ||
| 13 | 2 | Queen Harrison | 55.88 | ||
| 14 | 2 | Tsvetelina Kirilova | 55.97 | ||
| 15 | 1 | Satomi Kubokura | 56.69 | ||
| 16 | 1 | Angela Morosanu | 57.67 |