Winthrop Graham earned Jamaica's first men's 400 metres hurdles medal with his silver.

Kriss Akabusi earned bronze, putting Great Britain on the podium in the event for the first time since 1980.

However, when the Olympics returned in 1920 after World War I, the men's 400 metres hurdles was back and would continue to be contested at every Games thereafter.

Two of the great long hurdlers, American Edwin Moses and West German Harald Schmid, had retired.

[2] The Central African Republic, Costa Rica, Guam, Guinea, Israel, Papua New Guina, Thailand, and Tonga each made their debut in the event; some former Soviet republics competed as the Unified Team.

Running in lane 4, Kevin Young appeared to have the slowest reaction to the gun of the field.

Using a left leg lead, 13 strides to the second hurdle, Young had pulled to just slightly behind Graham.

Realizing he had the clear victory, Young raised his right arm in celebration 10 meters before the finish, slowing his last four strides.