| Year | Event | Status | Participants | NOCs | 
| 1906 | 400 metres Freestyle, Men | Intercalated | 13 | 7 | 
| 1908 | 400 metres Freestyle, Men | Olympic | 25 | 10 | 
| 1912 | 400 metres Freestyle, Men | Olympic | 26 | 13 | 
| 1920 | 400 metres Freestyle, Men | Olympic | 22 | 11 | 
| 1924 | 400 metres Freestyle, Men | Olympic | 23 | 13 | 
| 1928 | 400 metres Freestyle, Men | Olympic | 26 | 17 | 
| 1932 | 400 metres Freestyle, Men | Olympic | 19 | 10 | 
| 1936 | 400 metres Freestyle, Men | Olympic | 34 | 16 | 
| 1948 | 400 metres Freestyle, Men | Olympic | 41 | 21 | 
| 1952 | 400 metres Freestyle, Men | Olympic | 48 | 29 | 
| 1956 | 400 metres Freestyle, Men | Olympic | 32 | 19 | 
| 1960 | 400 metres Freestyle, Men | Olympic | 40 | 25 | 
| 1964 | 400 metres Freestyle, Men | Olympic | 49 | 27 | 
| 1968 | 400 metres Freestyle, Men | Olympic | 37 | 20 | 
| 1972 | 400 metres Freestyle, Men | Olympic | 43 | 28 | 
| 1976 | 400 metres Freestyle, Men | Olympic | 47 | 29 | 
| 1980 | 400 metres Freestyle, Men | Olympic | 28 | 16 | 
| 1984 | 400 metres Freestyle, Men | Olympic | 36 | 25 | 
| 1988 | 400 metres Freestyle, Men | Olympic | 49 | 33 | 
| 1992 | 400 metres Freestyle, Men | Olympic | 46 | 31 | 
| 1996 | 400 metres Freestyle, Men | Olympic | 34 | 30 | 
| 2000 | 400 metres Freestyle, Men | Olympic | 46 | 40 | 
| 2004 | 400 metres Freestyle, Men | Olympic | 47 | 39 | 
| 2008 | 400 metres Freestyle, Men | Olympic | 36 | 26 | 
| 2012 | 400 metres Freestyle, Men | Olympic | 28 | 23 | 
| 2016 | 400 metres Freestyle, Men | Olympic | 50 | 39 | 
| 2020 | 400 metres Freestyle, Men | Olympic | 36 | 31 |