400 metres Individual Medley, Men

The world record holder was American Jesse Vassallo, who had finished in 4:20.05 at the 1978 World Championships to win gold, a mark that bettered his own world record from the 1978 US Nationals. In his absence the favorite was Soviet Sergey Fesenko, silver medalist from the 1978 Worlds, and 1977 European Champion, who had recorded 4:22.10 earlier in the year. But he was upset by his teammate Oleksandr Sydorenko, bronze medalist in the 200 IM at the 1978 Worlds and the 1977 Europeans, with Fesenko taking silver behind Sydorenko’s 4:22.89. Sydorenko would later win gold in the 200 IM at the 1981 European meet and the 1982 Worlds. In Moscow he brazenly said that he did not think the 400 IM results would have been different if Vassallo had been present. Vassallo probably did not think much of this remark and three days after the Moscow final, won the US Nationals in 4:21.51