400 metres Hurdles, Women

The favorite coming into London was American Lashinda Demus, the 2011 World Champion. She had competed at the 2004 Olympics, failing to make the final, and then failed to make the US team for the 2008 Olympics. However, she was world ranked #1 in both 2010 and 2011. The best time of the year had been posted by Russian Nataliya Antyukh, but her teammate Irina Davydova was more highly considered before the Games. However, Davydova did not get out of the semis, placing fifth in the second heat. Defending champion Melaine Walker of Jamaica was also considered a contender, but she also flopped in the semis, placing sixth in her heat.

The final came down to Demus against Antyukh, with Demus leading through the first five hurdles. But Antyukh had more at the end and took the lead just before the ninth hurdle. The two ran closely to the finish but Demus could not gain back ground and Antyukh won the gold medal. The bronze went to Czech Zuzana Hejnová, a consistent hurdler in 2012, who finished quickly on the final straight. Antyukh had started her career as a 400 hurdler but then switched to the open 400, only to return to the intermediates after failing to make the 2008 Olympic team.

However, in December 2022 re-tests of Antyukh’s urine samples from 2012 caused her to be disqualified by the Athletics Integrity Unit, and her gold medal was rescinded. In March 2023 the IOC Executive Board announced medal re-allocations with Lashinda Demus advancing to the gold medal, Zuzana Hejnová advancing to silver, and Jamaica’s Kaliese Spencer receiving the bronze medal.