Women's 400 metres hurdles world record progression

[2] Every world record is fully automatically timed and undergoes a ratification process that includes doping control.

[3] The first world record of 56.51 seconds was set by Krystyna Kacperczyk of Poland in 1974.

The longest-standing world record of 52.34 seconds was set by Yuliya Pechonkina of Russia in 2003 and stood for almost 16 years until 2019.

The current world record of 50.37 seconds was set by Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone of the United States in 2024.

McLaughlin-Levrone has set a total of six world records in this event, more than any other athlete.

Photo of Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone sitting on purple athletics tracks next to a furry yellow mascot holding a sign with the text "world records are my favorite food"
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone after setting her world record of 50.68 s, sitting next to the mascot of the 2022 World Athletics Championships