400 metres Hurdles, Men

This event had a star-studded field. The 2000 and 2008 gold medalist was back, American Angelo Taylor, as was the 2004 gold medalist, Dominican Félix Sánchez. Also highly considered were the other two Americans – Kerron Clement had been World Champion in 2007 and 2009, while Michael Tinsley had won the US Olympic Trials. The 2011 World Champion had been Britain’s Dai Greene, and these five would be joined in the final by three other Caribbean hurdlers – Javier Culson of Puerto Rico, Jehue Gordon of Trinidad & Tobago, and Jamaican Leford Green. Culson had been the strongest early in 2012, had been silver medalist at the Worlds in both 2009 and 2011, and was considered a slight favorite.

The early leaders were Sánchez, Culson, and Taylor with Taylor leading over hurdle seven. But he switched to a right-leg lead at the next hurdle and had difficulty with his steps coming home. Sánchez took the lead at the ninth hurdle, just ahead of Culson. Tinsley was not in it for the gold but had the fastest finish to come home for silver, just behind Sánchez, who won gold, with Culson taking bronze, Greene in fourth, and Taylor fifth.

Féliz Sánchez became the third intermediate hurdler to win the title twice without defending his title, following Taylor in 2000 and 2008, and Edwin Moses in 1976 and 1984. Glenn Davis (USA) also won the event twice, consecutively in 1956-60.