The 400-meter world record is held by Florence Griffith-Joyner, who ran the distance in 47.60 seconds in 1988. This record has stood for over 30 years and is considered one of the greatest achievements in women’s track and field.
Griffith-Joyner’s record is all the more impressive considering that she only ran the 400 meters competitively a handful of times. She was primarily a 100- and 200-meter sprinter, but she decided to try the 400 meters at the 1988 Olympic Trials. She won the race easily and set a new world record in the process.