Athletics at the 1920 Antwerpen Summer Games:

The world record holder (47.4 in 1916), Ted Meredith of the United States, was entered but failed to survive the semi-finals. The U.S. Olympic Trial had been won by Frank Shea, who defended his 1919 AAU crown in the process. The last two AAA champions were Britain's Guy Butler (1919) and South Africa's Bevil Rudd (1920). The 1919 Inter-Allied Champion was Earl Eby of the United States, who competed in Antwerp, but only in the 800 metres. Nils Engdahl of Sweden looked good entering the final, as he had won his semi- and quarter-final easily. Engdahl led early, along with Shea of the U.S., but Rudd took the lead at the head of the straight to win. Rudd had been born in Devonshire in the United Kingdom, but was raised in South Africa. He returned to England to attend Oxford on a Rhodes Scholarship. He had been a top runner prior to the War, during which he served with the Highland Regiment. At the 1920 Oxbridge meet, he showed the wide range of his abilities by finishing second in the 100 yards (to Harold Abrahams), tying for first in the 440 yards (with Guy Butler), winning the 880, and finishing fourth in the long jump.