Swimming at the 1932 Summer Olympics – Women's 400 metre freestyle

The women's 400 metre freestyle was a swimming event held as part of the swimming at the 1932 Summer Olympics programme.[1] It was the third appearance of the event, which was established in 1924 after 1920 a 300 metre event was held. The competition was held on Thursday August 11, 1932 and on Saturday August 13, 1932.

Fourteen swimmers from nine nations competed.

Medalists

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Gold Silver Bronze
Helene Madison
  United States
Lenore Kight
  United States
Jenny Maakal
  South Africa

Records

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These were the standing world and Olympic records (in minutes) prior to the 1932 Summer Olympics.

World Record 5:31.0   Helene Madison Seattle (USA) February 3, 1931
Olympic Record 5:42.8   Martha Norelius Amsterdam (NED) August 6, 1928

In the third heat Lenore Kight set a new Olympic record with 5:40.9 minutes. Helene Madison set a new world record in the final with 5:28.5 minutes.

Results

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Heats

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Thursday August 11, 1932: The fastest two in each heat and the fastest third-placed from across the heats advanced to the final.

Heat 1

Place Swimmer Time Qual.
1   Joyce Cooper (GBR) 5:56.7 QQ
2   Norene Forbes (USA) 5:57.8 QQ
3   Yvonne Godard (FRA) 5:57.8 qq
4   Irene Pirie (CAN) 6:22.2

Heat 2

Place Swimmer Time Qual.
1   Helene Madison (USA) 5:44.5 QQ
2   Marie Braun (NED) 5:50.5 QQ
3   Betty Edwards (CAN) 6:27.2

Heat 3

Place Swimmer Time Qual.
1   Lenore Kight (USA) 5:40.9 QQ OR
2   Puck Oversloot (NED) 5:50.3 QQ
3   Frances Bult (AUS) 6:03.0

Heat 4

Place Swimmer Time Qual.
1   Jenny Maakal (RSA) 5:53.9 QQ
2   Lilli Andersen (DEN) 6:05.1 QQ
3   Hatsuko Morioka (JPN) 6:07.4
4   Ruth Kerr (CAN) 6:25.7

Semifinals

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Friday August 12, 1932: The fastest three in each semi-final advanced to the final. Marie Braun was not able to compete in the semi-finals. She had to stay in hospital due to blood poisoning after an infection officially caused by a mosquito bite.

Semifinal 1

Place Swimmer Time Qual.
1   Helene Madison (USA) 5:48.7 QQ
2   Jenny Maakal (RSA) 6:00.6 QQ
3   Norene Forbes (USA) 6:22.1 QQ
  Puck Oversloot (NED) DNS

Semifinal 2

Place Swimmer Time Qual.
1   Lenore Kight (USA) 5:50.8 QQ
2   Yvonne Godard (FRA) 6:00.1 QQ
3   Joyce Cooper (GBR) 6:00.4 QQ
4   Lilli Andersen (DEN) 6:05.5
  Marie Braun (NED) DNS

Final

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Saturday August 13, 1932:

Place Swimmer Time
1   Helene Madison (USA) 5:28.5 WR
2   Lenore Kight (USA) 5:28.6
3   Jenny Maakal (RSA) 5:47.3
4   Joyce Cooper (GBR) 5:49.7
5   Yvonne Godard (FRA) 5:54.4
6   Norene Forbes (USA) 6:06.0

References

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  1. ^ "Swimming at the 1932 Los Angeles Summer Games: Women's 400 metres Freestyle". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
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