| Date | 26 October 1968 |
|---|---|
| Status | Olympic |
| Location | Alberca Olímpica Francisco Márquez, Ciudad de México |
| Participants | 63 from 15 countries |
The United States had swept the medals in the 100 metre freestyle and all three swimmers were on the 4 x 100 free relay team, making them prohibitive favorites. They were led off by Jane Barkman, bronze medalist in the 200 freestyle, and she put them ahead, over East German Gabriele Wetzko, 1:01.2 to 1:01.5. But after that came the three 100 medalists – Linda Gustavson, Sue Pedersen, and Jan Henne, and the East Germans could not stay in touch. The US won by over three seconds, with East Germany taking silver ahead of the Canadian team.
| Pos | Lane | Competitors | NOC | R1 | Final | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | – | United States |  USA | 4:11.1 (1 h2) | 4:02.5 (1) | Gold | ||
| 15377 | Jane Barkman | – | – | |||||
| 15383 | Linda Gustavson | – | – | |||||
| 15394 | Sue Pedersen | – | – | |||||
| 15385 | Jan Henne | – | – | |||||
| 2 | – | East Germany |  GDR | 4:10.3 (1 h3) | 4:05.7 (2) | Silver | ||
| 23078 | Gabriele Wetzko | – | – | |||||
| 23058 | Roswitha Krause | – | – | |||||
| – | Uta Schmuck | – | – | |||||
| 23126 | Martina Grunert | – | – | 1 | ||||
| 23065 | Gabriele Perthes | – | – | |||||
| 3 | – | Canada |  CAN | 4:14.1 (2 h3) | 4:07.2 (3) | Bronze | ||
| 13888 | Angela Coughlan | – | – | |||||
| 13886 | Marilyn Corson | – | – | |||||
| 13885 | Elaine Tanner | – | – | |||||
| 13884 | Marion Lay | – | – | |||||
| 4 | – | Australia |  AUS | 4:12.0 (1 h1) | 4:08.7 (4) | |||
| 13068 | Jenny Steinbeck | – | – | |||||
| 13059 | Sue Eddy | – | – | |||||
| 13069 | Lynne Watson | – | – | |||||
| 13056 | Lyn Bell | – | – | |||||
| 13063 | Julie McDonald | – | – | |||||
| 5 | – | Hungary |  HUN | 4:13.6 (2 h2) | 4:11.0 (5) | |||
| 17381 | Edit Kovács | – | – | |||||
| 17384 | Magdolna Patóh | – | – | |||||
| – | Andrea Gyarmati | – | – | |||||
| 17385 | Judit Turóczy | – | – | |||||
| 6 | – | Japan |  JPN | 4:14.5 (3 h2) | 4:13.6 (6) | |||
| – | Shigeko Kawanishi | – | – | |||||
| – | Yoshimi Nishigawa | – | – | |||||
| 18160 | Yasuko Fujii | – | – | |||||
| 18153 | Miwako Kobayashi | – | – | |||||
| 18154 | Yumiko Ono | – | – | |||||
| 7 | – | Great Britain |  GBR | 4:16.3 (3 h3) | 4:18.0 (7) | |||
| 16692 | Shelagh Ratcliffe | – | – | |||||
| 16704 | Fiona Kellock | – | – | |||||
| 16691 | Sue Williams | – | – | |||||
| 16703 | Alex Jackson | – | – | |||||
| DQ r2/2 | – | France |  FRA | 4:15.4 (2 h1) | – ( | |||
| 16246 | Marie-José Kersaudy | – | – | |||||
| – | Simone Hanner | – | – | |||||
| 16247 | Danièle Dorléans | – | – | |||||
| – | Claude Mandonnaud | – | – | |||||
| 9 | 2 | Netherlands |  NED | 4:16.7 (4 h2) | – | |||
| – | Hella Rentema | – | – | |||||
| 17074 | Bep Weeteling | – | – | |||||
| 17076 | Mirjam van Hemert | – | – | |||||
| 17071 | Nel Bos | – | – | |||||
| 10 | 4 | Soviet Union |  URS | 4:17.1 (3 h1) | – | |||
| 21039 | Zoya Dus | – | – | |||||
| 21064 | Tamara Sosnova | – | – | |||||
| 21061 | Nataliya Ustinova | – | – | |||||
| 21063 | Lidiya Grebets | – | – | |||||
| 11 | 7 | Sweden |  SWE | 4:18.2 (4 h1) | – | |||
| 20391 | Elisabeth Berglund | – | – | |||||
| 20396 | Elisabeth Morris | – | – | |||||
| – | Lotten Andersson | – | – | |||||
| 20394 | Ingrid Gustavsson | – | – | |||||
| 12 | 2 | West Germany |  FRG | 4:19.4 (5 h1) | – | |||
| 12338 | Heidi Reineck | – | – | |||||
| 12327 | Aloisia Bauer | – | – | |||||
| 12339 | Ingeborg Renner | – | – | |||||
| 12328 | Helmi Boxberger | – | – | |||||
| 13 | 5 | Mexico |  MEX | 4:21.9 (6 h1) | – | |||
| 18776 | María Teresa Ramírez | – | – | |||||
| 18777 | Laura Vaca | – | – | |||||
| – | Marcia Arriaga | – | – | |||||
| 18780 | Norma Amezcua | – | – | |||||
| 14 | 4 | Uruguay |  URU | 4:33.4 (4 h3) | – | |||
| 21524 | Mónica E. Figueroa | – | – | |||||
| 21521 | Ruth Apt | – | – | |||||
| 21523 | Felicia Ospitaletche | – | – | |||||
| 21522 | Lylián Castillo | – | – | |||||
| 15 | 6 | El Salvador |  ESA | 4:39.8 (5 h2) | – | |||
| 14928 | María Moreno | – | – | |||||
| 14929 | Rosa Hasbún | – | – | |||||
| 14927 | Donatella Ferracuti | – | – | |||||
| 14926 | Carmen Ferracuti | – | – |
| Date | 26 October 1968 — 10:00 |
|---|---|
| Format | Fastest 8 advanced to the final round. |
| Pos | Lane | Team | NOC | Time | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 | East Germany | GDR | 4:10.3 | ||
| 2 | 4 | United States | USA | 4:11.1 | ||
| 3 | 6 | Australia | AUS | 4:12.0 | ||
| 4 | 5 | Hungary | HUN | 4:13.6 | ||
| 5 | 5 | Canada | CAN | 4:14.1 | ||
| 6 | 3 | Japan | JPN | 4:14.5 | ||
| 7 | 3 | France | FRA | 4:15.4 | ||
| 8 | 3 | Great Britain | GBR | 4:16.3 | ||
| 9 | 2 | Netherlands | NED | 4:16.7 | ||
| 10 | 4 | Soviet Union | URS | 4:17.1 | ||
| 11 | 7 | Sweden | SWE | 4:18.2 | ||
| 12 | 2 | West Germany | FRG | 4:19.4 | ||
| 13 | 5 | Mexico | MEX | 4:21.9 | ||
| 14 | 4 | Uruguay | URU | 4:33.4 | ||
| 15 | 6 | El Salvador | ESA | 4:39.8 |
| Pos | Lane | Competitors | NOC | Time | Split | Exchange | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 | Australia | AUS | 4:12.0 | – (–) | – (–) | ||
| Lead-off | – | Lyn Bell | – | 1:02.2 (1) | – (–) | |||
| 2nd Leg | – | Julie McDonald | – | 1:04.4 (3) | 2:06.6 (1) | |||
| 3rd Leg | – | Lynne Watson | – | 1:03.2 (2) | 3:09.8 (1) | |||
| Anchor | – | Jenny Steinbeck | – | 1:02.2 (1) | – (–) | |||
| 2 | 3 | France | FRA | 4:15.4 | – (–) | – (–) | ||
| Lead-off | – | Marie-José Kersaudy | – | 1:05.1 (=5) | – (–) | |||
| 2nd Leg | – | Simone Hanner | – | 1:03.7 (1) | 2:08.8 (2) | |||
| 3rd Leg | – | Danièle Dorléans | – | 1:01.0 (1) | 3:09.8 (1) | |||
| Anchor | – | Claude Mandonnaud | – | 1:05.6 (5) | – (–) | |||
| 3 | 4 | Soviet Union | URS | 4:17.1 | – (–) | – (–) | ||
| Lead-off | – | Zoya Dus | – | 1:03.7 (4) | – (–) | |||
| 2nd Leg | – | Tamara Sosnova | – | 1:06.0 (=4) | 2:09.7 (5) | |||
| 3rd Leg | – | Nataliya Ustinova | – | 1:03.9 (4) | 3:13.6 (4) | |||
| Anchor | – | Lidiya Grebets | – | 1:03.5 (2) | – (–) | |||
| 4 | 7 | Sweden | SWE | 4:18.2 | – (–) | – (–) | ||
| Lead-off | – | Elisabeth Berglund | – | 1:03.6 (3) | – (–) | |||
| 2nd Leg | – | Elisabeth Morris | – | 1:06.2 (6) | 2:09.8 (6) | |||
| 3rd Leg | – | Lotten Andersson | – | 1:03.6 (3) | 3:13.4 (3) | |||
| Anchor | – | Ingrid Gustavsson | – | 1:04.8 (=3) | – (–) | |||
| 5 | 2 | West Germany | FRG | 4:19.4 | – (–) | – (–) | ||
| Lead-off | – | Heidi Reineck | – | 1:05.1 (=5) | – (–) | |||
| 2nd Leg | – | Aloisia Bauer | – | 1:04.2 (2) | 2:09.3 (3) | |||
| 3rd Leg | – | Ingeborg Renner | – | 1:05.3 (5) | 3:14.6 (5) | |||
| Anchor | – | Helmi Boxberger | – | 1:04.8 (=3) | – (–) | |||
| 6 | 5 | Mexico | MEX | 4:21.9 | – (–) | – (–) | ||
| Lead-off | – | María Teresa Ramírez | – | 1:03.5 (2) | – (–) | |||
| 2nd Leg | – | Laura Vaca | – | 1:06.0 (=4) | 2:09.5 (4) | |||
| 3rd Leg | – | Marcia Arriaga | – | 1:05.4 (6) | 3:14.9 (6) | |||
| Anchor | – | Norma Amezcua | – | 1:07.0 (6) | – (–) |
| Pos | Lane | Competitors | NOC | Time | Split | Exchange | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | United States | USA | 4:11.1 | – (–) | – (–) | ||
| Lead-off | – | Jane Barkman | – | 1:01.9 (1) | – (–) | |||
| 2nd Leg | – | Linda Gustavson | – | 1:02.2 (1) | 2:04.1 (1) | |||
| 3rd Leg | – | Jan Henne | – | 1:01.0 (1) | 3:05.1 (1) | |||
| Anchor | – | Sue Pedersen | – | 1:06.0 (4) | – (–) | |||
| 2 | 5 | Hungary | HUN | 4:13.6 | – (–) | – (–) | ||
| Lead-off | – | Edit Kovács | – | 1:04.2 (3) | – (–) | |||
| 2nd Leg | – | Magdolna Patóh | – | 1:02.7 (2) | 2:06.9 (3) | |||
| 3rd Leg | – | Andrea Gyarmati | – | 1:04.2 (3) | 3:11.1 (2) | |||
| Anchor | – | Judit Turóczy | – | 1:02.5 (2) | – (–) | |||
| 3 | 3 | Japan | JPN | 4:14.5 | – (–) | – (–) | ||
| Lead-off | – | Shigeko Kawanishi | – | 1:03.1 (2) | – (–) | |||
| 2nd Leg | – | Yoshimi Nishigawa | – | 1:03.7 (3) | 2:06.8 (2) | |||
| 3rd Leg | – | Yumiko Ono | – | 1:04.8 (4) | 3:11.6 (3) | |||
| Anchor | – | Miwako Kobayashi | – | 1:02.9 (3) | – (–) | |||
| 4 | 2 | Netherlands | NED | 4:16.7 | – (–) | – (–) | ||
| Lead-off | – | Hella Rentema | – | 1:05.1 (4) | – (–) | |||
| 2nd Leg | – | Bep Weeteling | – | 1:05.8 (4) | 2:10.9 (4) | |||
| 3rd Leg | – | Mirjam van Hemert | – | 1:03.6 (2) | 3:14.5 (4) | |||
| Anchor | – | Nel Bos | – | 1:02.2 (1) | – (–) | |||
| 5 | 6 | El Salvador | ESA | 4:39.8 | – (–) | – (–) | ||
| Lead-off | – | María Moreno | – | 1:09.2 (5) | – (–) | |||
| 2nd Leg | – | Rosa Hasbún | – | 1:11.0 (5) | 2:20.2 (5) | |||
| 3rd Leg | – | Donatella Ferracuti | – | 1:10.3 (5) | 3:30.5 (5) | |||
| Anchor | – | Carmen Ferracuti | – | 1:09.3 (5) | – (–) |
| Pos | Lane | Competitors | NOC | Time | Split | Exchange | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 | East Germany | GDR | 4:10.3 | – (–) | – (–) | ||
| Lead-off | – | Gabriele Wetzko | – | 1:02.3 (1) | – (–) | |||
| 2nd Leg | – | Roswitha Krause | – | 1:03.3 (1) | 2:05.6 (1) | |||
| 3rd Leg | – | Uta Schmuck | – | 1:01.4 (1) | 3:07.0 (1) | |||
| Anchor | – | Gabriele Perthes | – | 1:03.3 (3) | – (–) | |||
| 2 | 5 | Canada | CAN | 4:14.1 | – (–) | – (–) | ||
| Lead-off | – | Angela Coughlan | – | 1:04.0 (2) | – (–) | |||
| 2nd Leg | – | Marilyn Corson | – | 1:04.8 (=2) | 2:08.8 (2) | |||
| 3rd Leg | – | Elaine Tanner | – | 1:03.3 (2) | 3:12.1 (2) | |||
| Anchor | – | Marion Lay | – | 1:02.0 (=1) | – (–) | |||
| 3 | 3 | Great Britain | GBR | 4:16.3 | – (–) | – (–) | ||
| Lead-off | – | Shelagh Ratcliffe | – | 1:04.7 (3) | – (–) | |||
| 2nd Leg | – | Fiona Kellock | – | 1:04.8 (=2) | 2:09.5 (3) | |||
| 3rd Leg | – | Sue Williams | – | 1:04.8 (3) | 3:14.3 (3) | |||
| Anchor | – | Alex Jackson | – | 1:02.0 (=1) | – (–) | |||
| 4 | 4 | Uruguay | URU | 4:33.4 | – (–) | – (–) | ||
| Lead-off | – | Mónica E. Figueroa | – | 1:06.7 (4) | – (–) | |||
| 2nd Leg | – | Ruth Apt | – | 1:06.9 (4) | 2:13.6 (4) | |||
| 3rd Leg | – | Felicia Ospitaletche | – | 1:09.8 (4) | 3:23.4 (4) | |||
| Anchor | – | Lylián Castillo | – | 1:10.0 (4) | – (–) |
| Date | 26 October 1968 — 17:00 |
|---|
| Pos | Lane | Competitors | NOC | Time | Split | Exchange | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | United States | USA | 4:02.5 | – (–) | – (–) | ||
| Lead-off | – | Jane Barkman | – | 1:01.2 (1) | – (–) | |||
| 2nd Leg | – | Linda Gustavson | – | 1:00.5 (1) | 2:01.7 (1) | |||
| 3rd Leg | – | Sue Pedersen | – | 1:01.3 (1) | 3:03.0 (1) | |||
| Anchor | – | Jan Henne | – | 59.5 (=1) | – (–) | |||
| 2 | 4 | East Germany | GDR | 4:05.7 | – (–) | – (–) | ||
| Lead-off | – | Gabriele Wetzko | – | 1:01.5 (2) | – (–) | |||
| 2nd Leg | – | Roswitha Krause | – | 1:01.6 (2) | 2:03.1 (2) | |||
| 3rd Leg | – | Uta Schmuck | – | 1:02.2 (4) | 3:05.3 (2) | |||
| Anchor | – | Martina Grunert | – | 1:00.4 (3) | – (–) | 2 | ||
| 3 | 2 | Canada | CAN | 4:07.2 | – (–) | – (–) | ||
| Lead-off | – | Angela Coughlan | – | 1:02.4 (3) | – (–) | |||
| 2nd Leg | – | Marilyn Corson | – | 1:03.6 (7) | 2:06.0 (4) | |||
| 3rd Leg | – | Elaine Tanner | – | 1:01.7 (3) | 3:07.7 (3) | |||
| Anchor | – | Marion Lay | – | 59.5 (=1) | – (–) | |||
| 4 | 3 | Australia | AUS | 4:08.7 | – (–) | – (–) | ||
| Lead-off | – | Jenny Steinbeck | – | 1:02.7 (5) | – (–) | |||
| 2nd Leg | – | Sue Eddy | – | 1:03.5 (6) | 2:06.2 (5) | |||
| 3rd Leg | – | Lynne Watson | – | 1:01.6 (2) | 3:07.8 (4) | |||
| Anchor | – | Lyn Bell | – | 1:00.9 (4) | – (–) | |||
| 5 | 6 | Hungary | HUN | 4:11.0 | – (–) | – (–) | ||
| Lead-off | – | Edit Kovács | – | 1:03.8 (6) | – (–) | |||
| 2nd Leg | – | Magdolna Patóh | – | 1:02.7 (3) | 2:06.5 (6) | |||
| 3rd Leg | – | Andrea Gyarmati | – | 1:02.6 (5) | 3:09.1 (5) | |||
| Anchor | – | Judit Turóczy | – | 1:01.9 (6) | – (–) | |||
| 6 | 7 | Japan | JPN | 4:13.6 | – (–) | – (–) | ||
| Lead-off | – | Shigeko Kawanishi | – | 1:02.6 (4) | – (–) | |||
| 2nd Leg | – | Yoshimi Nishigawa | – | 1:03.3 (5) | 2:05.9 (3) | |||
| 3rd Leg | – | Yasuko Fujii | – | 1:05.1 (8) | 3:11.0 (6) | |||
| Anchor | – | Miwako Kobayashi | – | 1:02.6 (7) | – (–) | |||
| 7 | 8 | Great Britain | GBR | 4:18.0 | – (–) | – (–) | ||
| Lead-off | – | Shelagh Ratcliffe | – | 1:05.2 (7) | – (–) | |||
| 2nd Leg | – | Fiona Kellock | – | 1:04.8 (8) | 2:10.0 (7) | |||
| 3rd Leg | – | Sue Williams | – | 1:04.9 (7) | 3:14.9 (7) | |||
| Anchor | – | Alex Jackson | – | 1:03.1 (8) | – (–) | |||
| 1 | France | FRA | – | – (–) | – (–) | |||
| Lead-off | – | Marie-José Kersaudy | – | [1:05.3] ([8]) | – (–) | |||
| 2nd Leg | – | Simone Hanner | – | [1:03.1] ([4]) | [2:08.4] ([−]) | |||
| 3rd Leg | – | Danièle Dorléans | – | [1:04.3] ([6]) | [3:12.7] ([−]) | |||
| Anchor | – | Claude Mandonnaud | – | [1:01.6] ([5]) | – (–) |
