World vs Japan
How the gap between the Japanese record and the world record has changed over time.
Men · Current Gap
+1.41
World43.03Wayde van Niekerk
Japan44.44Yuki Joseph Nakajima
Women · Current Gap
+4.15
World47.60Marita Koch
Japan51.75Asami Tanno
Record progressions
World and Japan record progressions.
Men
Current
WR43.03Wayde van Niekerk· 2016
JPN44.44Yuki Joseph Nakajima· 2025
Women
Current
WR47.60Marita Koch· 1985
JPN51.75Asami Tanno· 2008
The gap over time
How the gap between the world and Japan records has moved.
Men
+1.41Current
WR43.03Wayde van Niekerk· 2016
JPN44.44Yuki Joseph Nakajima· 2025
Women
+4.15Current
WR47.60Marita Koch· 1985
JPN51.75Asami Tanno· 2008
What this chart shows
The closer the line gets to zero, the closer Japan is to the world record; when it rises, the world record is pulling away. The gap is plotted at every record change — world or national — so the line always reflects the gap at that moment.