| | Event type
400 metres Individual Medley, Women
| Date | 18 – 19 September 1988 |
|---|---|
| Status | Olympic |
| Location | Su-yeong-jang, Ol-lim-pik Gong-won, Seoul |
| Participants | 30 from 22 countries |
Kathleen Nord (GDR) had won the 1986 World Championships, but the leader on the 1987 world list was young Romanian Nöemi Ildiko Lung. Lung was an unknown quantity, out much of early 1988 with a sinus infection. However the favorite was American Janet Evans, who was the leader on the 1988 world list, and had been World Swimmer of the Year in 1987, winning this event at the Pan Pacs.
The final began with a false start and then the opening butterfly leg was led by Nord, with Evans in almost a dead-heat for second. But Evans powered through the backstroke, opening up five full seconds on Nord, and leading second-placed Lung by over a second. She would increase her lead on the final two legs, winning over Lung by almost two seconds. Nord finished only fifth, as the bronze was won by her teammate, Daniela Hunger, who would later win the 200 IM in Seoul.
Evans would eventually win three gold medals in Seoul, adding the 400 and 800 freestyles. She would not repeat as World Swimmer of the Year, that honor going to Kristin Otto, based on her six gold medals, but Evans would win it again in 1989 and 1990.
| Pos | Number | Competitor | NOC | R1 | B Final | Final | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 318 | Janet Evans |  USA | 4:43.04 (1 h4) | – | 4:37.76 (1) | Gold | ||
| 2 | 273 | Noëmi Lung |  ROU | 4:41.96 (1 h3) | – | 4:39.46 (2) | Silver | ||
| 3 | 173 | Daniela Hunger |  GDR | 4:44.85 (2 h4) | – | 4:39.76 (3) | Bronze | ||
| 4 | 304 | Yelena Dendeberova |  URS | 4:46.63 (4 h3) | – | 4:40.44 (4) | |||
| 5 | 176 | Kathleen Nord | GDR | 4:42.92 (2 h3) | – | 4:41.64 (5) | |||
| 6 | 15 | Jodie Clatworthy |  AUS | 4:44.26 (3 h3) | – | 4:45.86 (6) | |||
| 7 | 75 | Lin Li |  CHN | 4:48.89 (5 h3) | – | 4:47.05 (7) | |||
| 8 | 25 | Donna Procter | AUS | 4:47.57 (1 h2) | – | 4:47.51 (8) | |||
| 9 | 215 | Roberta Felotti |  ITA | 4:49.20 (3 h4) | 4:49.53 (1) | – | |||
| 10 | 133 | Birgit Lohberg-Schulz |  FRG | 4:52.05 (6 h3) | 4:50.54 (2) | – | |||
| 11 | 320 | Erika Hansen | USA | 4:50.03 (3 h2) | 4:51.93 (3) | – | |||
| 12 | 50 | Antoaneta Strumenlieva |  BUL | 4:51.58 (4 h2) | 4:52.33 (4) | – | |||
| 13 | 292 | Anette Philipsson |  SWE | 4:53.58 (6 h2) | 4:52.77 (5) | – | |||
| 14 | 120 | Christine Magnier |  FRA | 4:51.91 (5 h2) | 4:53.29 (6) | – | |||
| 15 | 99 | Annette Poulsen |  DEN | 4:54.01 (7 h2) | 4:54.40 (7) | – | |||
| 16 | 85 | Yan Ming | CHN | 4:49.04 (2 h2) | 4:55.92 (8) | – | |||
| 17 | 345 | Anamarija Petričević |  YUG | 4:54.17 (4 h4) | – | – | |||
| 18 | 147 | Suki Brownsdon |  GBR | 4:54.66 (5 h4) | – | – | |||
| 19 | 233 | Yoshie Nishioka |  JPN | 4:55.31 (6 h4) | – | – | |||
| 20 | 196 | Marianne Muis |  NED | 4:56.31 (7 h3) | – | – | |||
| 21 | 197 | Mildred Muis | NED | 4:56.89 (8 h3) | – | – | |||
| 22 | 261 | Irene Dalby |  NOR | 4:58.14 (7 h4) | – | – | |||
| 23 | 223 | Hiroyo Harada | JPN | 5:00.92 (1 h1) | – | – | |||
| 24 | 144 | Tracey Atkin | GBR | 5:01.34 (8 h2) | – | – | |||
| 25 | 209 | Michelle Smith |  IRL | 5:01.84 (2 h1) | – | – | |||
| 26 | 253 | Marlene Bruten |  MEX | 5:03.69 (3 h1) | – | – | |||
| 27 | 294 | Chang Hui-Chien |  TPE | 5:13.20 (4 h1) | – | – | |||
| 28 | 7 | Valentina Aracil |  ARG | 5:19.17 (5 h1) | – | – | |||
| 29 | 189 | Annemarie Munk |  HKG | 5:24.11 (6 h1) | – | – | |||
| 30 | 295 | Kim Chen | TPE | 5:28.15 (7 h1) | – | – | |||
| 303 | Yuliya Bogachova | URS | – (DNS h4) | – | – |
Round One
| Date | 18 September 1988 — 9:00 |
|---|---|
| Format | Fastest eight advanced to the final. Places 9-16 advanced to the B Final. |
| Pos | Lane | Competitor | NOC | Time | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | – | Noëmi Lung | ROU | 4:41.96 | ||
| 2 | – | Kathleen Nord | GDR | 4:42.92 | ||
| 3 | – | Janet Evans | USA | 4:43.04 | ||
| 4 | – | Jodie Clatworthy | AUS | 4:44.26 | ||
| 5 | – | Daniela Hunger | GDR | 4:44.85 | ||
| 6 | – | Yelena Dendeberova | URS | 4:46.63 | ||
| 7 | – | Donna Procter | AUS | 4:47.57 | ||
| 8 | – | Lin Li | CHN | 4:48.89 | ||
| 9 | – | Yan Ming | CHN | 4:49.04 | ||
| 10 | – | Roberta Felotti | ITA | 4:49.20 | ||
| 11 | – | Erika Hansen | USA | 4:50.03 | ||
| 12 | – | Antoaneta Strumenlieva | BUL | 4:51.58 | ||
| 13 | – | Christine Magnier | FRA | 4:51.91 | ||
| 14 | – | Birgit Lohberg-Schulz | FRG | 4:52.05 | ||
| 15 | – | Anette Philipsson | SWE | 4:53.58 | ||
| 16 | – | Annette Poulsen | DEN | 4:54.01 | ||
| 17 | – | Anamarija Petričević | YUG | 4:54.17 | ||
| 18 | – | Suki Brownsdon | GBR | 4:54.66 | ||
| 19 | – | Yoshie Nishioka | JPN | 4:55.31 | ||
| 20 | – | Marianne Muis | NED | 4:56.31 | ||
| 21 | – | Mildred Muis | NED | 4:56.89 | ||
| 22 | – | Irene Dalby | NOR | 4:58.14 | ||
| 23 | – | Hiroyo Harada | JPN | 5:00.92 | ||
| 24 | – | Tracey Atkin | GBR | 5:01.34 | ||
| 25 | – | Michelle Smith | IRL | 5:01.84 | ||
| 26 | – | Marlene Bruten | MEX | 5:03.69 | ||
| 27 | – | Chang Hui-Chien | TPE | 5:13.20 | ||
| 28 | – | Valentina Aracil | ARG | 5:19.17 | ||
| 29 | – | Annemarie Munk | HKG | 5:24.11 | ||
| 30 | – | Kim Chen | TPE | 5:28.15 | ||
| – | Yuliya Bogachova | URS | – |
Heat #1
| Pos | Lane | Competitor | NOC | Time | 100 m | 200 m | 300 m | 100-200 m Time (Rank) | 200-300 m Time (Rank) | 300-400 m Time (Rank) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | – | Hiroyo Harada | JPN | 5:00.92 | 1:07.79 (3) | 2:21.42 (1) | 3:51.54 (1) | 1:13.63 (1) | 1:30.12 (2) | 1:09.38 (3) | ||
| 2 | – | Michelle Smith | IRL | 5:01.84 | 1:06.56 (2) | 2:21.62 (2) | 3:52.13 (2) | 1:15.06 (2) | 1:30.51 (4) | 1:09.71 (4) | ||
| 3 | – | Marlene Bruten | MEX | 5:03.69 | 1:06.14 (1) | 2:25.01 (3) | 3:55.85 (3) | 1:18.87 (3) | 1:30.84 (5) | 1:07.84 (1) | ||
| 4 | – | Chang Hui-Chien | TPE | 5:13.20 | 1:09.28 (4) | 2:34.65 (4) | 4:04.89 (5) | 1:25.37 (7) | 1:30.24 (3) | 1:08.31 (2) | ||
| 5 | – | Valentina Aracil | ARG | 5:19.17 | 1:12.44 (6) | 2:35.59 (5) | 4:04.72 (4) | 1:23.15 (4) | 1:29.13 (1) | 1:14.45 (6) | ||
| 6 | – | Annemarie Munk | HKG | 5:24.11 | 1:10.95 (5) | 2:35.63 (6) | 4:10.79 (6) | 1:24.68 (6) | 1:35.16 (6) | 1:13.32 (5) | ||
| 7 | – | Kim Chen | TPE | 5:28.15 | 1:13.12 (7) | 2:37.27 (7) | 4:12.47 (7) | 1:24.15 (5) | 1:35.20 (7) | 1:15.68 (7) |
Heat #2
| Pos | Lane | Competitor | NOC | Time | 100 m | 200 m | 300 m | 100-200 m Time (Rank) | 200-300 m Time (Rank) | 300-400 m Time (Rank) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | – | Donna Procter | AUS | 4:47.57 | 1:04.89 (2) | 2:18.21 (2) | 3:42.38 (1) | 1:13.32 (3) | 1:24.17 (2) | 1:05.19 (4) | ||
| 2 | – | Yan Ming | CHN | 4:49.04 | 1:06.11 (5) | 2:20.91 (6) | 3:43.97 (2) | 1:14.80 (7) | 1:23.06 (1) | 1:05.07 (2) | ||
| 3 | – | Erika Hansen | USA | 4:50.03 | 1:05.54 (3) | 2:16.77 (1) | 3:44.88 (3) | 1:11.23 (1) | 1:28.11 (6) | 1:05.15 (3) | ||
| 4 | – | Antoaneta Strumenlieva | BUL | 4:51.58 | 1:04.85 (1) | 2:19.26 (3) | 3:47.51 (6) | 1:14.41 (6) | 1:28.25 (7) | 1:04.07 (1) | ||
| 5 | – | Christine Magnier | FRA | 4:51.91 | 1:07.62 (8) | 2:20.45 (5) | 3:45.40 (4) | 1:12.83 (2) | 1:24.95 (4) | 1:06.51 (6) | ||
| 6 | – | Anette Philipsson | SWE | 4:53.58 | 1:07.35 (7) | 2:21.65 (7) | 3:46.46 (5) | 1:14.30 (5) | 1:24.81 (3) | 1:07.12 (7) | ||
| 7 | – | Annette Poulsen | DEN | 4:54.01 | 1:06.98 (6) | 2:22.58 (8) | 3:48.22 (7) | 1:15.60 (8) | 1:25.64 (5) | 1:05.79 (5) | ||
| 8 | – | Tracey Atkin | GBR | 5:01.34 | 1:05.69 (4) | 2:19.71 (4) | 3:50.95 (8) | 1:14.02 (4) | 1:31.24 (8) | 1:10.39 (8) |
Heat #3
| Pos | Lane | Competitor | NOC | Time | 100 m | 200 m | 300 m | 100-200 m Time (Rank) | 200-300 m Time (Rank) | 300-400 m Time (Rank) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | – | Noëmi Lung | ROU | 4:41.96 | 1:04.80 (3) | 2:14.90 (1) | 3:38.05 (1) | 1:10.10 (1) | 1:23.15 (5) | 1:03.91 (2) | ||
| 2 | – | Kathleen Nord | GDR | 4:42.92 | 1:04.19 (1) | 2:19.28 (5) | 3:39.62 (3) | 1:15.09 (6) | 1:20.34 (1) | 1:03.30 (1) | ||
| 3 | – | Jodie Clatworthy | AUS | 4:44.26 | 1:05.85 (6) | 2:17.13 (2) | 3:39.01 (2) | 1:11.28 (2) | 1:21.88 (2) | 1:05.25 (4) | ||
| 4 | – | Yelena Dendeberova | URS | 4:46.63 | 1:04.70 (2) | 2:17.83 (3) | 3:39.96 (4) | 1:13.13 (4) | 1:22.13 (3) | 1:06.67 (7) | ||
| 5 | – | Lin Li | CHN | 4:48.89 | 1:05.82 (5) | 2:18.93 (4) | 3:41.36 (5) | 1:13.11 (3) | 1:22.43 (4) | 1:07.53 (8) | ||
| 6 | – | Birgit Lohberg-Schulz | FRG | 4:52.05 | 1:05.30 (4) | 2:19.90 (6) | 3:46.31 (6) | 1:14.60 (5) | 1:26.41 (7) | 1:05.74 (6) | ||
| 7 | – | Marianne Muis | NED | 4:56.31 | 1:07.17 (7) | 2:24.10 (7) | 3:50.58 (7) | 1:16.93 (7) | 1:26.48 (8) | 1:05.73 (5) | ||
| 8 | – | Mildred Muis | NED | 4:56.89 | 1:07.27 (8) | 2:25.58 (8) | 3:51.81 (8) | 1:18.31 (8) | 1:26.23 (6) | 1:05.08 (3) |
Heat #4
| Pos | Lane | Competitor | NOC | Time | 100 m | 200 m | 300 m | 100-200 m Time (Rank) | 200-300 m Time (Rank) | 300-400 m Time (Rank) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | – | Janet Evans | USA | 4:43.04 | 1:05.34 (3) | 2:15.62 (1) | 3:39.26 (1) | 1:10.28 (1) | 1:23.64 (5) | 1:03.78 (1) | ||
| 2 | – | Daniela Hunger | GDR | 4:44.85 | 1:04.89 (2) | 2:17.12 (2) | 3:40.40 (2) | 1:12.23 (2) | 1:23.28 (3) | 1:04.45 (2) | ||
| 3 | – | Roberta Felotti | ITA | 4:49.20 | 1:06.49 (5) | 2:20.36 (3) | 3:43.78 (3) | 1:13.87 (3) | 1:23.42 (4) | 1:05.42 (3) | ||
| 4 | – | Anamarija Petričević | YUG | 4:54.17 | 1:05.95 (4) | 2:22.27 (=4) | 3:46.02 (5) | 1:16.32 (5) | 1:23.75 (6) | 1:08.15 (6) | ||
| 5 | – | Suki Brownsdon | GBR | 4:54.66 | 1:04.72 (1) | 2:24.40 (7) | 3:47.05 (6) | 1:19.68 (7) | 1:22.65 (2) | 1:07.61 (4) | ||
| 6 | – | Yoshie Nishioka | JPN | 4:55.31 | 1:06.57 (6) | 2:23.93 (6) | 3:45.35 (4) | 1:17.36 (6) | 1:21.42 (1) | 1:09.96 (7) | ||
| 7 | – | Irene Dalby | NOR | 4:58.14 | 1:06.83 (7) | 2:22.27 (=4) | 3:50.29 (7) | 1:15.44 (4) | 1:28.02 (7) | 1:07.85 (5) | ||
| – | Yuliya Bogachova | URS | – | – (–) | – (–) | – (–) | – | – | – |
B Final
| Date | 19 September 1988 — 12:00 |
|---|
| Pos | Lane | Competitor | NOC | Time | 100 m | 200 m | 300 m | 100-200 m Time (Rank) | 200-300 m Time (Rank) | 300-400 m Time (Rank) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | – | Roberta Felotti | ITA | 4:49.53 | 1:06.76 (6) | 2:20.54 (4) | 3:44.11 (1) | 1:13.78 (3) | 1:23.57 (1) | 1:05.42 (3) | ||
| 2 | – | Birgit Lohberg-Schulz | FRG | 4:50.54 | 1:05.84 (3) | 2:20.51 (3) | 3:46.48 (4) | 1:14.67 (5) | 1:25.97 (5) | 1:04.06 (2) | ||
| 3 | – | Erika Hansen | USA | 4:51.93 | 1:04.99 (1) | 2:15.53 (1) | 3:45.70 (2) | 1:10.54 (1) | 1:30.17 (8) | 1:06.23 (6) | ||
| 4 | – | Antoaneta Strumenlieva | BUL | 4:52.33 | 1:05.25 (2) | 2:19.51 (2) | 3:48.30 (7) | 1:14.26 (4) | 1:28.79 (7) | 1:04.03 (1) | ||
| 5 | – | Anette Philipsson | SWE | 4:52.77 | 1:07.77 (7) | 2:22.51 (8) | 3:47.15 (6) | 1:14.74 (6) | 1:24.64 (2) | 1:05.62 (4) | ||
| 6 | – | Christine Magnier | FRA | 4:53.29 | 1:08.08 (8) | 2:21.15 (5) | 3:46.38 (3) | 1:13.07 (2) | 1:25.23 (4) | 1:06.91 (7) | ||
| 7 | – | Annette Poulsen | DEN | 4:54.40 | 1:06.66 (5) | 2:22.47 (7) | 3:48.54 (8) | 1:15.81 (7) | 1:26.07 (6) | 1:05.86 (5) | ||
| 8 | – | Yan Ming | CHN | 4:55.92 | 1:06.16 (4) | 2:22.05 (6) | 3:47.14 (5) | 1:15.89 (8) | 1:25.09 (3) | 1:08.78 (8) |
Final Round
| Date | 19 September 1988 — 12:00 |
|---|
| Pos | Lane | Competitor | NOC | Time | 100 m | 200 m | 300 m | 100-200 m Time (Rank) | 200-300 m Time (Rank) | 300-400 m Time (Rank) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | – | Janet Evans | USA | 4:37.76 | 1:04.55 (4) | 2:12.79 (1) | 3:34.26 (1) | 1:08.24 (1) | 1:21.47 (5) | 1:03.50 (3) | ||
| 2 | – | Noëmi Lung | ROU | 4:39.46 | 1:04.75 (5) | 2:13.83 (2) | 3:35.97 (3) | 1:09.08 (2) | 1:22.14 (6) | 1:03.49 (2) | ||
| 3 | – | Daniela Hunger | GDR | 4:39.76 | 1:04.53 (3) | 2:16.01 (3) | 3:36.78 (4) | 1:11.48 (3) | 1:20.77 (3) | 1:02.98 (1) | ||
| 4 | – | Yelena Dendeberova | URS | 4:40.44 | 1:04.52 (2) | 2:17.84 (5) | 3:35.85 (2) | 1:13.32 (6) | 1:18.01 (1) | 1:04.59 (5) | ||
| 5 | – | Kathleen Nord | GDR | 4:41.64 | 1:03.43 (1) | 2:17.81 (4) | 3:37.46 (5) | 1:14.38 (8) | 1:19.65 (2) | 1:04.18 (4) | ||
| 6 | – | Jodie Clatworthy | AUS | 4:45.86 | 1:06.21 (8) | 2:18.02 (6) | 3:39.30 (6) | 1:11.81 (4) | 1:21.28 (4) | 1:06.56 (8) | ||
| 7 | – | Lin Li | CHN | 4:47.05 | 1:04.87 (6) | 2:18.25 (7) | 3:40.55 (7) | 1:13.38 (7) | 1:22.30 (7) | 1:06.50 (7) | ||
| 8 | – | Donna Procter | AUS | 4:47.51 | 1:05.63 (7) | 2:18.76 (8) | 3:42.63 (8) | 1:13.13 (5) | 1:23.87 (8) | 1:04.88 (6) |