| Date | 1 – 5 August 2021 |
|---|---|
| Status | Olympic |
| Location | Japan National Stadium, Kasumigaoka, Shinjuku, Tokyo |
| Participants | 48 from 33 countries |
There was no single favorite in this event but two runners, Bahamian Steven Gardiner and American Michael Norman, were expecting to fight it out for the gold medal. The defending champion and world record holder Wayde van Niekerk (RSA) was also considered highly, but in October 2017 he had torn his anterior cruciate ligament playing football (soccer), and he was not back to his pre-injury level. Also expected to challenge for the medals were Grenadian Kirani James, the 2012 London gold medalist and 2011 World Champion, and the 2018 Commonwealth Games Champion, Isaac Makwala of Botswana.
All of the favorites save for van Niekerk made it to the final, where they were joined by another top American, Michael Cherry. James had been especially impressive in winning his semi-final in 43.88, as Gardiner led the third semi-final over Norman and Makwala, with van Niekerk trailing and not qualifying.
In the final James and Norman were out fastest with James holding a narrow lead at the halfway mark, as Gardiner was a good three metres back. At 300 metres, James still led but Gardiner had closed on the final turn and was close. Gardiner passed James on the straight to win the gold medal, as James was also passed by the Colombian Anthony Zambrano, who had been a silver medalist at the 2017 World Championships. Cherry finished fourth and Norman fifth as no Americans won a medal, unusual for the event, and Makwala was never a factor, placing seventh.
Gardiner won the first athletics gold medal for the Bahamas. For James, it was his third consecutive Olympics on the podium, completing his set of Olympic medals, after gold in 2012, and silver in 2016.
| Pos | Number | Competitor | NOC | R1 | SF | Final | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1136 | Steven Gardiner |  BAH | 45.05 (1 h5) | 44.14 (1 h3) | 43.85 (1) | Gold | ||
| 2 | 1551 | Anthony Zambrano |  COL | 44.87 (1 h4) | 43.93 (2 h1) | 44.08 (2) | Silver | ||
| 3 | 2235 | Kirani James |  GRN | 45.09 (2 h1) | 43.88 (1 h1) | 44.19 (3) | Bronze | ||
| 4 | 3913 | Michael Cherry |  USA | 44.82 (1 h3) | 44.44 (1 h2) | 44.21 (4) | |||
| 5 | 3958 | Michael Norman | USA | 45.35 (2 h6) | 44.52 (2 h3) | 44.31 (5) | |||
| 6 | 2634 | Christopher Taylor |  JAM | 45.20 (3 h3) | 44.92 (2 h2) | 44.79 (6) | |||
| 7 | 1270 | Isaac Makwala |  BOT | 44.86 (1 h1) | 44.59 (3 h3) | 44.94 (7) | |||
| 8 | 3015 | Liemarvin Bonevacia |  NED | 44.95 (1 h6) | 44.62 (3 h1) | 45.07 (8) | |||
| 3 h2 r2/3 | 1097 | Steven Solomon |  AUS | 44.94 (2 h4) | 45.15 (3 h2) | – | |||
| 4 h1 r2/3 | 3633 | Deon Lendore |  TTO | 45.14 (2 h5) | 44.93 (4 h1) | – | |||
| 4 h2 r2/3 | 2827 | Mazen Al-Yassin |  KSA | 45.16 (1 h2) | 45.37 (4 h2) | – | |||
| 4 h3 r2/3 | 2583 | Demish Gaye | JAM | 45.49 (4 h1) | 45.09 (4 h3) | – | |||
| 5 h1 r2/3 | 2437 | Davide Re |  ITA | 45.46 (5 h4) | 44.94 (5 h1) | – | |||
| 5 h2 r2/3 | 1274 | Leungo Scotch | BOT | 45.32 (4 h4) | 45.56 (5 h2) | – | |||
| 5 h3 r2/3 | 3438 | Wayde van Niekerk |  RSA | 45.25 (3 h4) | 45.14 (5 h3) | – | |||
| 6 h1 r2/3 | 3522 | Ricky Petrucciani |  SUI | 45.64 (3 h2) | 45.26 (6 h1) | – | |||
| 6 h2 r2/3 | 3625 | Machel Cedenio | TTO | 45.56 (3 h6) | 45.86 (6 h2) | – | |||
| 6 h3 r2/3 | 3019 | Jochem Dobber | NED | 45.54 (3 h5) | 45.48 (6 h3) | – | |||
| 7 h1 r2/3 | 3468 | Luka Janežič |  SLO | 45.44 (5 h3) | 45.36 (7 h1) | – | |||
| 7 h2 r2/3 | 1137 | Alonzo Russell | BAH | 45.51 (5 h1) | 46.04 (7 h2) | – | |||
| 7 h3 r2/3 | 3635 | Dwight St. Hillaire | TTO | 45.41 (4 h3) | 45.58 (7 h3) | – | |||
| 8 h1 r2/3 | 1201 | Jonathan Sacoor |  BEL | 45.41 (3 h1) | 45.88 (8 h1) | – | |||
| 8 h3 r2/3 | 1154 | Jonathan Jones |  BAR | 45.04 (2 h3) | 45.61 (8 h3) | – | |||
| DNS r2/3 | 1191 | Kévin Borlée | BEL | 45.36 (2 h2) | – | – | |||
| 4 h2 r1/3 | 3964 | Randolph Ross | USA | 45.67 (4 h2) | – | – | |||
| 4 h5 r1/3 | 2537 | Nathon Allen | JAM | 46.12 (4 h5) | – | – | |||
| 4 h6 r1/3 | 2438 | Edoardo Scotti | ITA | 45.71 (4 h6) | – | – | |||
| 5 h2 r1/3 | 3427 | Zakithi Nene | RSA | 45.74 (5 h2) | – | – | |||
| 5 h5 r1/3 | 3497 | Sadam Koumi |  SUD | 46.26 (5 h5) | – | – | |||
| 5 h6 r1/3 | 3428 | Thapelo Phora | RSA | 45.83 (5 h6) | – | – | |||
| 6 h1 r1/3 | 1076 | Alex Beck | AUS | 45.54 (6 h1) | – | – | |||
| 6 h2 r1/3 | 1546 | Jhon Perlaza | COL | 46.55 (6 h2) | – | – | |||
| 6 h3 r1/3 | 1453 | Gilles Anthony Afoumba |  CGO | 46.03 (6 h3) | – | – | |||
| 6 h4 r1/3 | 2719 | Julian Walsh |  JPN | 46.57 (6 h4) | – | – | |||
| 6 h5 r1/3 | 2178 | Marvin Schlegel |  GER | 46.39 (6 h5) | – | – | |||
| 6 h6 r1/3 | 2360 | Taha Hussein Yaseen |  IRQ | 46.00 (6 h6) | – | – | |||
| 7 h1 r1/3 | 3235 | Ricardo dos Santos |  POR | 46.83 (7 h1) | – | – | |||
| 7 h2 r1/3 | 1636 | Pavel Maslák |  CZE | 47.01 (7 h2) | – | – | |||
| 7 h3 r1/3 | 1312 | Lucas Carvalho |  BRA | 46.12 (7 h3) | – | – | |||
| 7 h4 r1/3 | 2953 | Jovan Stojoski |  MKD | 46.81 (7 h4) | – | – | |||
| 7 h5 r1/3 | 2741 | Mikhail Litvin |  KAZ | 47.15 (7 h5) | – | – | |||
| 7 h6 r1/3 | 1796 | Óscar Husillos |  ESP | 48.05 (7 h6) | – | – | |||
| 8 h1 r1/3 | 1454 | Bachir Mahamat |  CHA | 47.93 (8 h1) | – | – | |||
| 8 h2 r1/3 | 4017 | Ahmed Al-Yaari |  YEM | 48.53 (8 h2) | – | – | |||
| 8 h3 r1/3 | 1148 | Jahir Rayhan |  BAN | 48.29 (8 h3) | – | – | |||
| 8 h5 r1/3 | 3212 | Karol Zalewski |  POL | 2:15.38 (8 h5) | – | – | |||
| 8 h6 r1/3 | 2879 | Todisoa Franck Rabearison |  MAD | 48.40 (8 h6) | – | – | |||
| AC h4 r1/3 | 2780 | Emmanuel Korir |  KEN | – (DQ h4) | – | – |
| Date | 1 August 2021 — 10:45 |
|---|---|
| Format | Top three in each heat and next six fastest advanced to the semi-finals. |
| Time | 10:45 |
|---|
| Pos | Lane | Competitor | NOC | Time (Automatic) | Reaction Time | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | – | Isaac Makwala | BOT | 44.86 | 0.197 | ||
| 2 | – | Kirani James | GRN | 45.09 | 0.160 | ||
| 3 | – | Jonathan Sacoor | BEL | 45.41 | 0.151 | ||
| 4 | – | Demish Gaye | JAM | 45.49 | 0.165 | ||
| 5 | – | Alonzo Russell | BAH | 45.51 | 0.223 | ||
| 6 | – | Alex Beck | AUS | 45.54 | 0.160 | ||
| 7 | – | Ricardo dos Santos | POR | 46.83 | 0.140 | ||
| 8 | – | Bachir Mahamat | CHA | 47.93 | 0.206 |
| Time | 10:53 |
|---|
| Pos | Lane | Competitor | NOC | Time (Automatic) | Reaction Time | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | – | Mazen Al-Yassin | KSA | 45.16 | 0.163 | ||
| 2 | – | Kévin Borlée | BEL | 45.36 | 0.126 | ||
| 3 | – | Ricky Petrucciani | SUI | 45.64 | 0.168 | ||
| 4 | – | Randolph Ross | USA | 45.67 | 0.227 | ||
| 5 | – | Zakithi Nene | RSA | 45.74 | 0.147 | ||
| 6 | – | Jhon Perlaza | COL | 46.55 | 0.159 | ||
| 7 | – | Pavel Maslák | CZE | 47.01 | 0.196 | ||
| 8 | – | Ahmed Al-Yaari | YEM | 48.53 | 0.183 |
| Time | 11:01 |
|---|
| Pos | Lane | Competitor | NOC | Time (Automatic) | Reaction Time | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | – | Michael Cherry | USA | 44.82 | 0.178 | ||
| 2 | – | Jonathan Jones | BAR | 45.04 | 0.181 | ||
| 3 | – | Christopher Taylor | JAM | 45.20 | 0.151 | ||
| 4 | – | Dwight St. Hillaire | TTO | 45.41 | 0.176 | ||
| 5 | – | Luka Janežič | SLO | 45.44 | 0.163 | ||
| 6 | – | Gilles Anthony Afoumba | CGO | 46.03 | 0.199 | ||
| 7 | – | Lucas Carvalho | BRA | 46.12 | 0.172 | ||
| 8 | – | Jahir Rayhan | BAN | 48.29 | 0.170 |
| Time | 11:09 |
|---|
| Pos | Lane | Competitor | NOC | Time (Automatic) | Reaction Time | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | – | Anthony Zambrano | COL | 44.87 | 0.167 | ||
| 2 | – | Steven Solomon | AUS | 44.94 | 0.163 | ||
| 3 | – | Wayde van Niekerk | RSA | 45.25 | 0.162 | ||
| 4 | – | Leungo Scotch | BOT | 45.32 | 0.186 | ||
| 5 | – | Davide Re | ITA | 45.46 | 0.171 | ||
| 6 | – | Julian Walsh | JPN | 46.57 | 0.146 | ||
| 7 | – | Jovan Stojoski | MKD | 46.81 | 0.184 | ||
| – | Emmanuel Korir | KEN | – | – | 2 |
| Time | 11:17 |
|---|
| Pos | Lane | Competitor | NOC | Time (Automatic) | Reaction Time | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | – | Steven Gardiner | BAH | 45.05 | 0.163 | ||
| 2 | – | Deon Lendore | TTO | 45.14 | 0.203 | ||
| 3 | – | Jochem Dobber | NED | 45.54 | 0.179 | ||
| 4 | – | Nathon Allen | JAM | 46.12 | 0.138 | ||
| 5 | – | Sadam Koumi | SUD | 46.26 | 0.143 | ||
| 6 | – | Marvin Schlegel | GER | 46.39 | 0.200 | ||
| 7 | – | Mikhail Litvin | KAZ | 47.15 | 0.210 | ||
| 8 | – | Karol Zalewski | POL | 2:15.38 | 0.154 |
| Time | 11:25 |
|---|
| Pos | Lane | Competitor | NOC | Time (Automatic) | Reaction Time | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | – | Liemarvin Bonevacia | NED | 44.95 | 0.171 | ||
| 2 | – | Michael Norman | USA | 45.35 | 0.157 | ||
| 3 | – | Machel Cedenio | TTO | 45.56 | 0.218 | ||
| 4 | – | Edoardo Scotti | ITA | 45.71 | 0.169 | ||
| 5 | – | Thapelo Phora | RSA | 45.83 | 0.150 | ||
| 6 | – | Taha Hussein Yaseen | IRQ | 46.00 | 0.144 | ||
| 7 | – | Óscar Husillos | ESP | 48.05 | 0.147 | ||
| 8 | – | Todisoa Franck Rabearison | MAD | 48.40 | 0.196 |
| Date | 2 August 2021 — 20:05 |
|---|---|
| Format | Top two in each heat and next two fastest advanced to the final. |
| Pos | Lane | Competitor | NOC | Time (automatic) | Reaction Time | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | – | Kirani James | GRN | 43.88 | 0.160 | ||
| 2 | – | Anthony Zambrano | COL | 43.93 | 0.175 | ||
| 3 | – | Steven Gardiner | BAH | 44.14 | 0.152 | ||
| 4 | – | Michael Cherry | USA | 44.44 | 0.162 | ||
| 5 | – | Michael Norman | USA | 44.52 | 0.156 | ||
| 6 | – | Isaac Makwala | BOT | 44.59 | 0.197 | ||
| 7 | – | Liemarvin Bonevacia | NED | 44.62 | 0.160 | ||
| 8 | – | Christopher Taylor | JAM | 44.92 | 0.164 | ||
| 9 | – | Deon Lendore | TTO | 44.93 | 0.193 | ||
| 10 | – | Davide Re | ITA | 44.94 | 0.157 | ||
| 11 | – | Demish Gaye | JAM | 45.09 | 0.155 | ||
| 12 | – | Wayde van Niekerk | RSA | 45.14 | 0.381 | ||
| 13 | – | Steven Solomon | AUS | 45.15 | 0.168 | ||
| 14 | – | Ricky Petrucciani | SUI | 45.26 | 0.140 | ||
| 15 | – | Luka Janežič | SLO | 45.36 | 0.152 | ||
| 16 | – | Mazen Al-Yassin | KSA | 45.37 | 0.154 | ||
| 17 | – | Jochem Dobber | NED | 45.48 | 0.191 | ||
| 18 | – | Leungo Scotch | BOT | 45.56 | 0.178 | ||
| 19 | – | Dwight St. Hillaire | TTO | 45.58 | 0.153 | ||
| 20 | – | Jonathan Jones | BAR | 45.61 | 0.159 | ||
| 21 | – | Machel Cedenio | TTO | 45.86 | 0.192 | ||
| 22 | – | Jonathan Sacoor | BEL | 45.88 | 0.136 | ||
| 23 | – | Alonzo Russell | BAH | 46.04 | 0.169 |
| Time | 20:05 |
|---|
| Pos | Lane | Competitor | NOC | Time (Automatic) | Reaction Time | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | – | Kirani James | GRN | 43.88 | 0.160 | ||
| 2 | – | Anthony Zambrano | COL | 43.93 | 0.175 | ||
| 3 | – | Liemarvin Bonevacia | NED | 44.62 | 0.160 | ||
| 4 | – | Deon Lendore | TTO | 44.93 | 0.193 | ||
| 5 | – | Davide Re | ITA | 44.94 | 0.157 | ||
| 6 | – | Ricky Petrucciani | SUI | 45.26 | 0.140 | ||
| 7 | – | Luka Janežič | SLO | 45.36 | 0.152 | ||
| 8 | – | Jonathan Sacoor | BEL | 45.88 | 0.136 |
| Time | 20:13 |
|---|
| Pos | Lane | Competitor | NOC | Time (Automatic) | Reaction Time | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | – | Michael Cherry | USA | 44.44 | 0.162 | ||
| 2 | – | Christopher Taylor | JAM | 44.92 | 0.164 | ||
| 3 | – | Steven Solomon | AUS | 45.15 | 0.168 | ||
| 4 | – | Mazen Al-Yassin | KSA | 45.37 | 0.154 | ||
| 5 | – | Leungo Scotch | BOT | 45.56 | 0.178 | ||
| 6 | – | Machel Cedenio | TTO | 45.86 | 0.192 | ||
| 7 | – | Alonzo Russell | BAH | 46.04 | 0.169 |
| Time | 20:21 |
|---|
| Pos | Lane | Competitor | NOC | Time (Automatic) | Reaction Time | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | – | Steven Gardiner | BAH | 44.14 | 0.152 | ||
| 2 | – | Michael Norman | USA | 44.52 | 0.156 | ||
| 3 | – | Isaac Makwala | BOT | 44.59 | 0.197 | ||
| 4 | – | Demish Gaye | JAM | 45.09 | 0.155 | ||
| 5 | – | Wayde van Niekerk | RSA | 45.14 | 0.381 | ||
| 6 | – | Jochem Dobber | NED | 45.48 | 0.191 | ||
| 7 | – | Dwight St. Hillaire | TTO | 45.58 | 0.153 | ||
| 8 | – | Jonathan Jones | BAR | 45.61 | 0.159 |
| Date | 5 August 2021 — 21:00 |
|---|
| Pos | Lane | Competitor | NOC | Time (Automatic) | Reaction Time | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | – | Steven Gardiner | BAH | 43.85 | 0.179 | ||
| 2 | – | Anthony Zambrano | COL | 44.08 | 0.166 | ||
| 3 | – | Kirani James | GRN | 44.19 | 0.157 | ||
| 4 | – | Michael Cherry | USA | 44.21 | 0.179 | ||
| 5 | – | Michael Norman | USA | 44.31 | 0.148 | ||
| 6 | – | Christopher Taylor | JAM | 44.79 | 0.158 | ||
| 7 | – | Isaac Makwala | BOT | 44.94 | 0.167 | ||
| 8 | – | Liemarvin Bonevacia | NED | 45.07 | 0.168 |
