Which athlete won the first Olympic women’s 400 metres title at Tokyo 1964?

Betty Cuthbert won the first Olympic women’s 400 metres title at Tokyo 1964.

The 400 metres was introduced to the women’s Olympic programme at Tokyo. Cuthbert, representing Australia, won the final in 52.01 seconds, ahead of Great Britain’s Ann Packer. Her victory made her the inaugural Olympic champion in the event.

Cuthbert had already become a star at Melbourne 1956, where she won gold in the 100 metres, 200 metres and 4×100 metres relay. A hamstring injury then kept her away from the 1960 Games. She returned to competition and successfully moved up to the newly introduced 400 metres.

Her Tokyo victory gave her four Olympic gold medals across two Games. Cuthbert retired from athletics soon afterward and was later diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. She remained an important figure in Australian sporting history.