400 metres Hurdles, Men

The favorite coming into 1976 was the defending champion John Akii-Bua but the African boycott kept him out of the competition. Also highly considered was 1974 European and Commonwealth Champion Alan Pascoe (GBR), but a leg injury had him at less than his best in Montréal. Akii-Bua’s absence prevented what could have been one of the great races of the Olympics. In his absence the race turned into a showcase coming out party for Edwin Moses, the man who would soon become known as the greatest practitioner of the event ever. Little known outside collegiate circles before 1976, he had failed to qualify for the NCAA championship earlier in the year but ran away from the field at the US Trials to qualify for the Olympic team. He won the gold medal by over a second in a world record 47.63. American Mike Shine closed quickly for the silver medal.