James Leads Global Revolution of 400m Running Heading to Rio

Published by IAAF on June 7, 2016

When Kirani James won the 400m at Sunday’s IAAF Diamond League meeting in Birmingham, he reminded the world that the event, once dominated by US sprinters, in recent years had become a truly global event.

His 44.23 meeting record set in the process was just a small step on the Olympic champion’s way to defending his title in August.

James, who finished third at the IAAF World Championships Beijing 2015 behind South Africa’s Wayde van Niekerk and USA’s LaShawn Merritt, left the rest of the Birmingham field in the dust. Former African record-holder Isaac Makwala, who finished fifth in Beijing, crossed the line more than half a second behind him in 44.97.

The 23-year-old is the current world leader with 44.08, clocked at the Drake Relays in Des Moines in late April. He has since backed up his performance with victories at both the Eugene and Birmingham legs of the IAAF Diamond League, making him a strong contender for gold in Rio.