Swimming at the 1959 Pan American Games – Women's 400 metre freestyle
The women's 400 metre freestyle competition of the swimming events at the 1959 Pan American Games took place on 2 September and 6 September. The last Pan American Games champion was Beth Whittall of Canada.
This race consisted of eight lengths of the pool, with all eight being in the freestyle stroke.Results
All times are in minutes and seconds.
| KEY: | q | Fastest non-qualifiers | Q | Qualified | GR | Games record | NR | National record | PB | Personal best | SB | Seasonal best |
Heats
The first round was held on September 2.
| Rank | Heat | Name | Nationality | Time | Notes |
| 1 | 1 | Chris von Saltza | | 4:58.1 | Q, GR |
| 2 | 2 | Sylvia Ruuska | | 5:00.1 | Q |
| 3 | 1 | Donna Graham | | 5:11.5 | Q |
| 4 | 1 | Maria Luísa Sousa | | 5:22.0 | Q |
| 5 | 2 | Blanca Barrón | | 5:22.4 | Q |
| 6 | 1 | Katy Campbell | | 5:25.1 | Q |
| 7 | 1 | Susan Sangster | | 5:25.7 | Q |
| 8 | 1 | Maria Teixeira | | 5:37.2 | Q |
| - | 2 | Lilian Moreira | | 5:40.1 | |
| - | 2 | Glória Funaro | | 5:46.4 | |
Final
The final was held on September 6.
| Rank | Name | Nationality | Time | Notes |
| Chris von Saltza | | 4:55.9 | GR |
| Sylvia Ruuska | | 5:03.4 | |
| Donna Graham | | 5:03.5 | |
| 4 | Katy Campbell | | 5:19.8 | |
| 5 | Blanca Barrón | | 5:20.0 | |
| 6 | Maria Luísa Sousa | | 5:21.5 | |
| 7 | - | - | - | |
| 8 | Glória Funaro | | 5:44.0 | |
