The men's 400m final will be battle of former World and Olympic champions.



2012 Olympic Champion Kirani James (#8 fastest all-time), 2013 World Champion and 2008 Olympic Champion LaShawn Merritt (#6 all-time) and 2015 World Champion Wayde van Niekerk (#4 all-time) will compete for the gold medal on Sunday evening in Rio. The three took home the medals at last summer's world championship with Merritt claiming silver behind van Niekerk, and James earning bronze.

James beat Merritt in the first 400m semifinal in 44.02 to 44.21. Van Niekerk fell narrowly to Trinidad and Tobago's Machel Cedenio in heat 2, while Team USA's David Verburg failed to advance after finishing fifth in 45.61. Former Texas A&M All American Bralon Taplin won the final semifinal to advance to his first Olympic final.

Auto Qualifiers:
44.02 Kirani James (GRN)
44.21 LaShawn Merritt (USA)
44.39 Machel Cedenio (TTO)
44.44 Bralon Taplin (GRN)
44.45 Wayde van Niekerk (RSA)
44.48 Matthew Hudson-Smith (GBR)

Time Qualifiers:
44.47 Karabo Sibanda (BOT)
44.49 Ali Khamis Khamis

The men's 400m final will take place on Sunday, August 14 at 8:00PM CST.