Swimming at the 1928 Summer Olympics – Women's 400 metre freestyle


The women's 400 metre freestyle was a swimming event held as part of the swimming at the 1928 Summer Olympics programme. It was the second appearance of the event, which was established in 1924 after 1920 a 300-metre event was held. The competition was held from Saturday to Monday, 4 to 6 August 1928.
Twenty swimmers from nine nations competed.

Records

These were the standing world and Olympic records prior to the 1928 Summer Olympics.
World Record5:49.6 Martha NoreliusNew York City 30 June 1928
Olympic Record6:02.2 Martha NoreliusParis 15 July 1924

In the first heat Martha Norelius set a new world record with 5:45.4 minutes. In the final she bettered her own record to 5:42.8 minutes.

Results

Heats

Saturday 4 August 1928: The fastest two in each heat and the fastest third-placed from across the heats advanced.

Heat 1

RankSwimmerNationTimeNotes
15:45.4,
26:12.3
36:26.4
4Unknown
5Unknown
66:37.0

Heat 2

RankSwimmerNationTimeNotes
16:04.6
26:11.0
36:12.0
46:28.0
5Unknown
6Unknown

Heat 3

RankSwimmerNationTimeNotes
16:10.0
26:16.8
36:20.0
4Unknown

Heat 4

RankSwimmerNationTimeNotes
15:53.8
26:03.6
36:10.4
4Unknown

Semifinals

Sunday 5 August 1928: The fastest three in each semi-final advanced to the final.

Semifinal 1

RankSwimmerNationTimeNotes
15:58.0
26:01.6
36:06.4
4Unknown
5Unknown

Semifinal 2

RankSwimmerNationTimeNotes
15:54.6
25:55.0
36:09.0
4Unknown

Final

Monday 6 August 1928:
RankSwimmerNationTimeNotes
5:42.8
5:57.8
6:00.2
46:07.0
56:07.2
66:11.6