Swimming at the 1988 Summer Olympics – Women's 400 metre individual medley
The women's 400 metre individual medley event at the 1988 Summer Olympics took place between 18–19 September at the Jamsil Indoor Swimming Pool in Seoul, South Korea.Records
Prior to this competition, the existing world and Olympic records were as follows.Results
Heats
Rule: The eight fastest swimmers advance to final A, while the next eight to final B.
| Rank | Heat | Name | Nationality | Time | Notes |
| 1 | 3 | Noemi Lung | | 4:41.96 | Q |
| 2 | 3 | Kathleen Nord | | 4:42.92 | Q |
| 3 | 4 | Janet Evans | | 4:43.04 | Q |
| 4 | 3 | Jodie Clatworthy | | 4:44.26 | Q, OC |
| 5 | 4 | Daniela Hunger | | 4:44.85 | Q |
| 6 | 3 | Yelena Dendeberova | | 4:46.63 | Q |
| 7 | 2 | Donna Procter | | 4:47.57 | Q |
| 8 | 3 | Lin Li | | 4:48.89 | Q |
| 9 | 2 | Yan Ming | | 4:49.04 | q |
| 10 | 4 | Roberta Felotti | | 4:49.20 | q |
| 11 | 2 | Erika Hansen | | 4:50.03 | q |
| 12 | 2 | Antoaneta Strumenlieva | | 4:51.58 | q |
| 13 | 2 | Christine Magnier | | 4:51.91 | q |
| 14 | 3 | Birgit Lohberg-Schulz | | 4:52.05 | q |
| 15 | 2 | Anette Philipsson | | 4:53.58 | q |
| 16 | 2 | Annette Poulsen | | 4:54.01 | q |
| 17 | 4 | Anamarija Petričević | | 4:54.17 | |
| 18 | 4 | Suki Brownsdon | | 4:54.66 | |
| 19 | 4 | Yoshie Nishioka | | 4:55.31 | |
| 20 | 3 | Marianne Muis | | 4:56.31 | |
| 21 | 3 | Mildred Muis | | 4:56.89 | |
| 22 | 4 | Irene Dalby | | 4:58.14 | |
| 23 | 1 | Hiroyo Harada | | 5:00.92 | |
| 24 | 2 | Tracey Atkin | | 5:01.34 | |
| 25 | 1 | Michelle Smith | | 5:01.84 | |
| 26 | 1 | Marlene Bruten | | 5:03.69 | |
| 27 | 1 | Chang Hui-chien | | 5:13.20 | |
| 28 | 1 | Valentina Aracil | | 5:19.17 | |
| 29 | 1 | Annemarie Munk | | 5:24.11 | |
| 30 | 1 | Kimberly Chen | | 5:28.15 | |
| 4 | Yuliya Bogacheva | | | |
Finals
Final B
Final A
