Silver medalist Wariner, gold medalist LaShawn Merritt and bronze medalist David Neville

American LaShawn Merritt obliterated the field including his compatriot the defending champion Jeremy Wariner to win the Olympic men's 400 metres title by the widest margin since 1896.

Merritt sealed a seventh straight gold in the event for the US, starting relatively slowly before blasting down the final straight to cross the line in a personal best of 43.75 seconds.

Merritt said: "I said nothing is going to get in my way. I said before the race this is my domain and I'm going to get it done... My work here is done, I did it."

"I used what I had, which is my stride length, and my speed and my power, and ran a great race," the world championship silver medallist said.

Wariner, visibly frustrated and upset, finished a distant second in 44.74 seconds and David Neville took third with a spectacular dive for the line to complete a US sweep of the medals.

"I didn't have anything left, I ran the best I could," Wariner said of his dramatic slowdown in the closing stages, which nearly cost him his silver when Neville lunged for the line.

"Sometimes we have to sacrifice our bodies, our minds and our spirit for what we really want," Neville said.

"I desired to come out and do my best and make a sacrifice, and that's what I did."

Merritt and twice world champion Wariner have dominated the 400m this year and clocked 11 of the fastest times in the world before the Olympics.

Merritt's rise

But the season was not straightforward for the 24-year-old Wariner, who had been virtually unchallenged over the past four years.

His troubles began in January when he parted with long-time coach Clyde Hart over a pay dispute and continued with unexpected losses to Merritt in key races, including the US Olympic trials.

Wariner was still considered the favourite coming into the Olympics after a strong European racing campaign but Merritt was always a threat.

US runners have been defeated in just one Olympic 400m final over the past half century, when Cuba's Alberto Juantorena completed his unprecedented 400m and 800m double in 1976.

Thursday's podium sweep was some consolation for US sprinters after Jamaica took all four golds in the 100m and 200m events and both US 4x100 relay squads dropped their batons in the heats.

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