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2016 European Athletics Championships – Women's 400 metres

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Women's 400 metres
at the 2016 European Athletics Championships
Photo of seven athletes running on a red track with white lane stripes
Medalists Libania Grenot, Floria Gueï, and Anyika Onuora (third, fifth, and sixth from the left) during the final
VenueOlympic Stadium
LocationAmsterdam, Netherlands
Dates
  • 6 July 2016 (qualifying round)
  • 7 July 2016 (semifinals)
  • 8 July 2016 (final)
Competitors31 from 18 nations
Winning time50.73 s
Medalists
gold medal Libania Grenot   Italy
silver medal Floria Gueï   France
bronze medal Anyika Onuora   Great Britain and Northern Ireland
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The women's 400 metres at the 2016 European Athletics Championships was held over three rounds at the Olympic Stadium in Amsterdam, Netherlands, on 6, 7, and 8 July 2016. It was the eighteenth time that this event was contested at the European Athletics Championships. Athletes could qualify by achieving the entry standard of 53.40 seconds or by their placement at selected athletics meetings. Thirty-one athletes from eighteen nations competed in the event.

Twenty athletes started in the qualifying round, where thirteen advanced to the semifinals. Eleven athletes, who had a bye in the qualifying round, joined them there. Eight athletes advanced to the final, which was won by defending champion Libania Grenot of Italy in 50.73 seconds, followed by Floria Gueï of France in 51.21 seconds in second place and Anyika Onuora of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in 51.47 seconds in third place.

Background

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Photo of a red athletics track with green grass in the middle seen from the spectator seats
Olympic Stadium on 6 July 2016

At the European Athletics Championships, the women's 400 metres had been contested seventeen times before 2016, at every edition since its introduction in 1958.[1] In the event, athletes run one lap on a 400-metre athletics track in designated lanes.[2]

At the start of the 2016 championships, Marita Koch of East Germany held the European and world record of 47.60 s set in 1985 and the championship record of 48.16 s set in 1982.[3][4] Allyson Felix of the United States had set a world leading time of 49.68 s on 3 July 2016 and Antonina Krivoshapka of Russia had set a European leading time of 50.70 s on 21 June 2016.[5] Libania Grenot of Italy was the defending champion after winning the 2014 title in 51.10 s.[6]

The event was held at the Olympic Stadium in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The stadium was built for the 1928 Summer Olympics and renovated in 1996. During the 2016 European Athletics Championships, it had a capacity of around 20,000 spectators.[7]

Records before to the 2016 European Athletics Championships
Record Athlete (nation) Time Location Date
World record[3]  Marita Koch (GDR) 47.60 Canberra, Australia 6 October 1985
European record[4]
Championship record[4] 48.16 Athens, Greece 8 September 1982
World leading[5]  Allyson Felix (USA) 49.68 Eugene, Oregon, United States 3 July 2016
European leading[5]  Antonina Krivoshapka (RUS) 50.70 Cheboksary, Russia 21 June 2016

Qualification

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For this event, the qualification period was from 1 January 2015 until 26 June 2016. Athletes could qualify by achieving the entry standard with a performance of 53.40 s or faster, by finishing in the top three at a European Athletics Premium meeting, or by winning at a European Athletics Classic meeting. Up to three athletes from one nation could participate. The host nation could enter one unqualified athlete if no athletes had qualified. There was a target of 32 athletes.[8] European Athletics published a final entry list with 32 athletes on 1 July 2016.[9]

Results

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Qualifying round

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Twenty athletes from thirteen nations competed in the three heats of the qualifying round on 6 July 2016, starting at 13:10 (UTC+2). The first three athletes in each heat (Q) and the next fastest four athletes overall (q) advanced to the semifinals. In the second heat, Benedicte Hauge of Norway set a personal best (PB) of 53.13 s. In the third heat, Indira Terrero of Spain did not finish (DNF).[10]

Results of the qualifying round[10]
Rank Heat Lane Athlete Nation Time Note
1 2 5 Nicky van Leuveren  Netherlands (NED) 52.45 Q
2 1 4 Christine Ohuruogu  Great Britain & N.I. (GBR) 52.69 Q
3 2 3 Patrycja Wyciszkiewicz  Poland (POL) 52.79 Q
4 3 2 Lisanne de Witte  Netherlands (NED) 52.84 Q
5 2 6 Adelina Pastor  Romania (ROM) 53.03 Q, SB
6 2 8 Benedicte Hauge  Norway (NOR) 53.13 q, PB
7 1 6 Gunta Latiševa-Cudare  Latvia (LAT) 53.36 Q, SB
8 1 5 Aauri Lorena Bokesa  Spain (ESP) 53.46 Q
9 1 7 Maria Benedicta Chigbolu  Italy (ITA) 53.51 q
10 3 6 Irini Vasiliou  Greece (GRE) 53.86 Q
11 3 4 Sinead Denny  Ireland (IRL) 53.95 Q
12 1 8 Iveta Putálová  Slovakia (SVK) 53.96 q
13 2 4 Anna Vasiliou  Greece (GRE) 53.98 q
14 2 7 Laura Bueno  Spain (ESP) 54.01
15 1 2 Sanda Belgyan  Romania (ROM) 54.33
16 3 5 Ilona Usovich  Belarus (BLR) 54.58
17 3 3 Marta Milani  Italy (ITA) 54.85
18 1 3 Claire Mooney  Ireland (IRL) 55.66
19 2 2 Vijona Kryeziu  Kosovo (KOS) 56.04 SB
3 7 Indira Terrero  Spain (ESP) DNF

Semifinals

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Twenty-four athletes from sixteen nations – thirteen who advanced from the qualifying round plus eleven who had a bye in that round because they had the highest season ranking – competed in the three heats of the semifinals on 7 July 2016, starting at 17:35 (UTC+2).[8][11] The first two athletes of each heat (Q) and the next two fastest athletes overall (q) qualified for the final. In the first heat, Nicky van Leuveren of the Netherlands ran a personal best (PB) of 52.02 s. In the third heat, Libania Grenot of Italy ran a European leading time (EL) of 50.43 s and Małgorzata Hołub ran a person best of 51.67 s.[11]

Results of the semifinals[11]
Rank Heat Lane Athlete Nation Time Note
1 3 3 Libania Grenot*  Italy (ITA) 50.43 Q, EL
2 1 4 Floria Gueï*  France (FRA) 51.01 Q
3 1 5 Christine Ohuruogu  Great Britain & N.I. (GBR) 51.35 Q, SB
4 3 6 Małgorzata Hołub*  Poland (POL) 51.67 Q, PB
5 2 5 Anyika Onuora*  Great Britain & N.I. (GBR) 51.84 Q
6 1 7 Nicky van Leuveren  Netherlands (NED) 52.02 q, PB
7 2 6 Tamara Salaški*  Serbia (SRB) 52.27 Q
8 1 3 Justyna Święty*  Poland (POL) 52.34 q
9 2 7 Lisanne de Witte  Netherlands (NED) 52.37
10 3 7 Aauri Lorena Bokesa  Spain (ESP) 52.39 SB
11 2 3 Ruth Sophia Spelmeyer*  Germany (GER) 52.40
12 3 4 Cátia Azevedo*  Portugal (POR) 52.46
13 3 5 Yuliya Olishevska*  Ukraine (UKR) 52.54
14 2 4 Olha Zemlyak*  Ukraine (UKR) 52.58
14 3 8 Irin Vasiliou  Greece (GRE) 52.58
16 1 8 Maria Benedicta Chigbolu  Italy (ITA) 52.69
17 3 2 Adelina Pastor  Romania (ROM) 52.90 SB
18 2 8 Patrycja Wyciszkiewicz  Poland (POL) 52.92
19 1 6 Olha Bibik*  Ukraine (UKR) 53.02
20 1 2 Gunta Latiševa-Cudare  Latvia (LAT) 53.11 SB
21 3 1 Sinead Denny  Ireland (IRL) 53.27
22 1 1 Anna Vasiliou  Greece (GRE) 53.77
23 2 2 Iveta Putálová  Slovakia (SVK) 54.04
24 2 1 Benedicte Hauge  Norway (NOR) 54.50
*Athletes who received a bye to the semifinals[10][11]

Final

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Photo of eight runners on a red athletics track with the heads of spectators in the foreground
Finalists at the end of the second bend
Photo of Libania Grenot with raised arms
Winner Libania Grenot of Italy

Eight athletes from six nations competed in the final on 8 July 2016, starting at 20:25 (UTC+2).[4] Libania Grenot of Italy came off the second bend in the lead.[12] Floria Gueï of France and Anyika Onuora of Great Britain and Northern Ireland were gaining ground in the last 100 metres, but they didn't overtake the Italian.[13] Grenot won the race in 50.73 s, followed by Gueï in 51.21 s in second place and Onuora in 51.47 s in third place.[4] While Grenot and Gueï were 0.30 s and 0.20 s slower than in the semifinals, Onuora was 0.37 s faster resulting in her season's best (SB).[4][11]

According to Steve Smythe of Athletics Weekly, Grenot won "comfortably".[14] Thomas Byrne of the IAAF wrote that Grenot was "a cut above in the final".[12] Daniele Perboni of the Italian La Gazzetta dello Sport described Grenot's victory as: "A European title strongly desired and sought, with determination, anger, and courage."[13] Grenot became the first athlete to successfully defend her 400 metres title since world record holder Marita Koch in 1986.[6][15]

The medalists were each interviewed about the race. Grenot said: "I'm more determined than ever, finally number 1 in front of my name."[13] Gueï said: "I gave my all. The medal is what I dreamt of, and now I've got it."[16] And Onuora said: "This means the world to me. I have been competing for 15 years. This is the first time I have had the chance to compete for an individual medal."[17]

Results of the final[4]
Rank Lane Athlete Nation Time Note
1st place, gold medalist(s) 6 Libania Grenot  Italy (ITA) 50.73
2nd place, silver medalist(s) 4 Floria Gueï  France (FRA) 51.21
3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 3 Anyika Onuora  Great Britain & N.I. (GBR) 51.47 SB
4 5 Christine Ohuruogu  Great Britain & N.I. (GBR) 51.55
5 8 Małgorzata Hołub  Poland (POL) 51.89
6 2 Justyna Święty  Poland (POL) 51.96
7 7 Tamara Salaški  Serbia (SRB) 52.23
8 1 Nicky van Leuveren  Netherlands (NED) 52.76

References

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  1. ^ "European Athletics Championships 2016 – Statistics Handbook", European Athletics, p. 557. Archived 7 July 2016. Retrieved 22 May 2025.
  2. ^ "400 Metres", World Athletics. Retrieved 22 May 2025.
  3. ^ a b "Records – Records by Events — 400 Metres – Women - Senior", World Athletics. Retrieved 22 May 2025.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g "European Athletics Championships – Results – 400m Women – Final", European Athletics, 8 July 2016. Archived 3 December 2016. Retrieved 22 May 2025.
  5. ^ a b c "Toplists – All time Top lists – Senior - 400 Metres Women", World Athletics. Retrieved 22 May 2025.
  6. ^ a b "European Athletics Championships – Results – 400m Women", European Athletics, 15 August 20144. Archived 15 October 2014. Retrieved 22 May 2025.
  7. ^ "European Athletics Championships 2016 – Media Guide", European Athletics, p. 23. Archived 5 July 2016. Retrieved 22 May 2025.
  8. ^ a b "European Athletics Championships 2016 – Entry Standards & Conditions", European Athletics, June 2015. Archived 21 May 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
  9. ^ "European Athletics Championships Amsterdam 2016 – Final Entries – Athletes List by event", European Athletics, p. 11, 1 July 2016. Archived 7 July 2016. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
  10. ^ a b c "European Athletics Championships – Results – 400m Women – Qualification Round", European Athletics, 6 July 2016. Archived 3 December 2016. Retrieved 22 May 2025.
  11. ^ a b c d e "European Athletics Championships – Results – 400m Women – Semifinal", European Athletics, 7 July 2016. Archived 23 September 2016. Retrieved 22 May 2025.
  12. ^ a b Thomas Byrne, "Schippers wins second European 100m gold in Amsterdam", World Athletics, 9 July 2016. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
  13. ^ a b c Daniele Perboni, "Atletica, Europei: Grenot vince i 400, secondo oro continentale consecutivo" (in Italian), La Gazzetta dello Sport, 8 July 2016. Retrieved 24 May 2025.
  14. ^ Steve Smythe, "Martyn Rooney and Dafne Schippers retain European titles", Athletics Weekly, 10 February 2025. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
  15. ^ "Two-time European champion Grenot hangs up her spikes", European Athletics, 26 April 2019. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
  16. ^ "European Athletics Championships – Amsterdam 2016 – 400m Women – Semifinals – Flash Interviews", European Athletics. Archived 10 July 2016. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
  17. ^ "European Athletics Championships – Amsterdam 2016 – 400m Women – Final – Flash Interviews", European Athletics. Archived 10 July 2016. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
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