The women's 400 metres hurdles at the 2023 World Athletics Championships took place in three rounds at the National Athletics Centre in Budapest, Hungary from 21 to 24 August 2023. On 21 August, forty-one athletes of thirty nations participated in the five heats of round 1. On 22 August, twenty-four athletes competed in the three heats of the semifinals. On 24 August, eight athletes competed in the final, which was won by Femke Bol of the Netherlands in 51.70 seconds, ahead Shamier Little of the United States in 52.80 seconds and Rushell Clayton of Jamaica in 52.81 seconds.
Background
In the absence of the 2022 world champion and world record holder Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, the overwhelming favorite for the world title was the 2022 European Champion and #2 of all time Femke Bol. In 2023, the 23-year-old Dutch woman broke the world indoor record over 400 metres flat, as well as her own European record over the 400 metres hurdles. Bol remained unbeaten in all her hurdles races since the 2022 final and her world-leading time of 51.45 s was almost 2 seconds faster than anyone else had run this year. After 2019 champion and #3 all time Dalilah Muhammad failed to qualify for the final, Bol's biggest opponent seemed to be the 2015 silver medalist and #5 all time Shamier Little, who posted the fastest qualifying time in the semi-finals. Other medal hopefuls were Bahraini Kemi Adekoya, who set Asian records in both the preliminary heats and semi-finals, and 2019 bronze medalist Rushell Clayton from Jamaica, who set a personal best in the semi-finals.
Records before the 2023 World Athletics Championships[1]
The five heats of the first round were held on 21 August, starting at 18:50 (UTC+2). The first four athletes in each heat (Q) and the next four fastest (q) qualified for the semi-finals. Kemi Adekoya set an Asian record (AR) of 53.56 seconds, and two other athletes set a personal best (PB).[3]
The three heats of the semi-finals were held on 22 August, starting at 20:25 (UTC+2). The first 2 athletes in each heat (Q) and the next 2 fastest (q) qualify to the final. Kemi Adekoya set a second Asian record (AR) of 53.39 seconds, Ayomide Folorunso set an Italian record (NR) of 53.89 seconds, and two more athletes set a personal best (PB).[4]
The final was held on 24 August, starting at 21:49 (UTC+2). Femke Bol of the Netherlands won the gold medal in 51.70 seconds, Shamier Little of the United States won the silver medal finishing 1.10 seconds later in 52.80 seconds, and Rushell Clayton won the bronze medal finishing in a personal best time of 52.81 seconds. Kemi Adekoya set a third Asian record of 53.09 seconds and Anna Cockrell set a personal best of 53.34 seconds.[5]
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