Swimming at the 1973 World Aquatics Championships – Women's 4 × 100 metre freestyle relay
The women's 4 × 100 metre freestyle relay competition of the swimming events at the 1973 World Aquatics Championships took place on September 8.
Records
Prior to the competition, the existing world and championship records were as follows.The following records were established during the competition:
| Date | Event | Nation | Athletes | Time | Record |
| 8 September | Heat | Andrea Hübner Eike Schmisch Angela Franke Sylvia Eichner | 3:56.550 | CR | |
| 8 September | Final | Kornelia Ender Andrea Eife Andrea Hübner Sylvia Eichner | 3:52.45 | WR |
Results
Heats
15 teams participated in 2 heats.| Rank | Heat | Lane | Nation | Athletes | Time | Notes |
| 1 | 1 | - | Andrea Hübner Eike Schmisch Angela Franke Sylvia Eichner | 3:56.55 | Q, CR | |
| 2 | 1 | - | Keena Rothhammer Deena Deardurff Heather Greenwood Kim Peyton | 3:57.56 | Q | |
| 3 | 2 | - | 4:01.44 | Q | ||
| 4 | 1 | - | Anita Zarnowiecki Irwi Johansson Diana Olsson Gunilla Lundberg | 4:02.23 | Q | |
| 5 | 2 | - | 4:02.61 | Q | ||
| 6 | 2 | - | 4:02.94 | Q | ||
| 7 | 2 | - | 4:06.47 | Q | ||
| 8 | 1 | - | Laura Podesta Laura Gorgerino Patrizia Lanfredini Novella Calligaris | 4:07.43 | Q | |
| 9 | 2 | - | 4:07.66 | |||
| 10 | 2 | - | 4:08.10 | |||
| 11 | 1 | - | Debra Cain Suzy Anderson Virginia Rickard Narelle Moras | 4:08.71 | ||
| 12 | 1 | - | Andrea Gyarmati Edit Kovács Ildikó Szekeres Magdolna Patóh | 4:09.02 | ||
| 13 | 2 | - | 4:13.91 | |||
| 14 | 1 | - | Ileana Morales Gisela Cerezo Marianela Huen S. Arambatsis | 4:26.03 | ||
| 15 | 1 | - | Leslie Thompson D. McSwain L. Moreda María Mock | 4:26.80 |
Final
The results of the final are below.| Rank | Lane | Nation | Athletes | Time | Notes |
| - | Kornelia Ender Andrea Eife Andrea Hübner Sylvia Eichner | 3:52.45 | WR | ||
| - | Kim Peyton Kathy Heddy Heather Greenwood Shirley Babashoff | 3:55.52 | |||
| - | Jutta Weber Heidemarie Reineck Gudrun Beckmann Angela Steinbach | 3:58.88 | |||
| - | Gail Amundrud Judy Wright Wendy Cook Leslie Cliff | 4:00.20 | |||
| - | Gunilla Lundberg L. Isaksson Irwi Johansson Diana Olsson | 4:02.01 | |||
| - | Enith Brigitha A. Segaar Linda Faber Veronica Stel | 4:02.16 | |||
| - | Laura Podesta Laura Gorgerino Patrizia Lanfredini Federica Stabilini | 4:06.59 | |||
| - | Guylaine Berger Chantal Schertz Jacquéline Pele Marie-Christine Knibiehly | 4:08.25 |