Forty-one athletes of thirty nations participated in the five heats of the first round on 21 August. Kemi Adekoya of Bahrain set an Asian record of 53.56 seconds. Twenty-four athletes competed in the three heats of the semifinals on 22 August. Adekoya improved her Asian record to 53.39 seconds and Ayomide Folorunso of Italy set a national record of 53.89 seconds.
Eight athletes competed in the final on 24 August. The gold medal was won by Femke Bol of the Netherlands in 51.70 seconds, silver by Shamier Little of the United States in 52.80 seconds and bronze by Rushell Clayton of Jamaica in 52.81 seconds. Outside the medals, Adekoya again broke her Asian record in 53.09 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 qualification period for the 400 metres hurdles was from 31 July 2022 to 30 July 2023. Athletes could qualify by achieving the entry standard of 54.90 seconds.[2]
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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