| | 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)	–	–
DNS	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	4	Noëmi Lung	ROU	4:41.96	Q
2	5	Kathleen Nord	GDR	4:42.92	Q
3	4	Janet Evans	USA	4:43.04	Q
4	3	Jodie Clatworthy	AUS	4:44.26	Q
5	5	Daniela Hunger	GDR	4:44.85	Q
6	6	Yelena Dendeberova	URS	4:46.63	Q
7	5	Donna Procter	AUS	4:47.57	Q
8	2	Lin Li	CHN	4:48.89	Q
9	3	Yan Ming	CHN	4:49.04	q
10	6	Roberta Felotti	ITA	4:49.20	q
11	4	Erika Hansen	USA	4:50.03	q
12	1	Antoaneta Strumenlieva	BUL	4:51.58	q
13	6	Christine Magnier	FRA	4:51.91	q
14	1	Birgit Lohberg-Schulz	FRG	4:52.05	q
15	7	Anette Philipsson	SWE	4:53.58	q
16	8	Annette Poulsen	DEN	4:54.01	q
17	3	Anamarija Petričević	YUG	4:54.17
18	8	Suki Brownsdon	GBR	4:54.66
19	7	Yoshie Nishioka	JPN	4:55.31
20	7	Marianne Muis	NED	4:56.31
21	8	Mildred Muis	NED	4:56.89
22	1	Irene Dalby	NOR	4:58.14
23	4	Hiroyo Harada	JPN	5:00.92
24	2	Tracey Atkin	GBR	5:01.34
25	3	Michelle Smith	IRL	5:01.84
26	5	Marlene Bruten	MEX	5:03.69
27	7	Chang Hui-Chien	TPE	5:13.20
28	6	Valentina Aracil	ARG	5:19.17
29	1	Annemarie Munk	HKG	5:24.11
30	2	Kim Chen	TPE	5:28.15
DNS	2	Yuliya Bogachova	URS	–

Heat #1

Pos	Lane	Competitor	NOC	Time	100 m	200 m	300 m	100-200 m	200-300 m	300-400 m
1	4	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	3	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	5	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	7	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	6	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	1	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	2	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	200-300 m	300-400 m
1	5	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)	Q
2	3	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)	q
3	4	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)	q
4	1	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)	q
5	6	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)	q
6	7	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)	q
7	8	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)	q
8	2	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	200-300 m	300-400 m
1	4	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)	Q
2	5	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)	Q
3	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)	Q
4	6	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)	Q
5	2	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)	Q
6	1	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)	q
7	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	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	200-300 m	300-400 m
1	4	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)	Q
2	5	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)	Q
3	6	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)	q
4	3	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	8	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	7	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	1	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)
DNS	2	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	200-300 m	300-400 m
1	5	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	7	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	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	6	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	1	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	2	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	8	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	4	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	200-300 m	300-400 m
1	3	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	4	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	2	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	7	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	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	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	8	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	1	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)