World record progression 400 metres freestyle#Long course

{{Short description|none}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2015}}

{{main|List of world records in swimming}}

The first world record in the men's 400 metres freestyle in long course (50 metres) swimming was recognised by the International Swimming Federation (FINA) in 1908. In the short course (25 metres) swimming events the world's governing body recognizes world records since 3 March 1991.

Men

=Long course=

class="wikitable sortable" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 90%;"

!style="width: 1em"|#

!style="width: 3em"|Time

!align="left" style="width: 13em"|Swimmer

!Date

!# of days with record

!align="left" style="width: 18em"|Event

!align="left" style="width: 22em"|Location

!align="left" style="width: 1em"|

align="center" |011

|align="center" |5:36.85:36.8

|Taylor, Henry{{flagicon|GBR}} Henry Taylor

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1908|Jul|16}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=7 |day1=16 |year1=1908 |month2=9 |day2=21 | year2=1911 }}

|1908 Summer Olympics

| London, United Kingdom

|?

align="center" |022

|align="center" |5:35.85:35.8

|Battersby, Sydney{{flagicon|GBR}} Sydney Battersby

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1911|Sep|21}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=9 |day1=21 |year1=1911 |month2=4 |day2=21 | year2=1912 }}

|Local Meet (Kentish Town)

| London, United Kingdom

| {{cite news|title=General Cables|newspaper=The Age|page=13|date=23 September 1911}}

align="center" |033

|align="center" |5:29.05:29.0

|Kenyery, Alajos{{flagicon|HUN|1867}} Alajos Kenyery

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1912|Apr|21}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=9 |day1=21 |year1=1911 |month2=4 |day2=21 | year2=1912 }}

|?

| Magdeburg, Germany

|?

align="center" |044

|align="center" |5:28.45:28.4

|Las-Torres, Béla{{flagicon|HUN|1867}} Béla Las-Torres

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1912|Jun|05}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=4 |day1=21 |year1=1912 |month2=6 |day2=5 | year2=1912 }}

|?

| Budapest, Hungary

|?

align="center" |055

|align="center" |5:24.45:24.4

|Hodgson, George{{flagicon|CAN}} George Hodgson

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1912|Jul|14}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=6 |day1=5 |year1=1912 |month2=7 |day2=14 | year2=1912 }}

|1912 Summer Olympics

| Stockholm, Sweden

|?

align="center" |066

|align="center" |5:21.65:21.6

|Hatfield, Jack{{flagicon|GBR}} Jack Hatfield

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1912|Sep|26}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=9 |day1=26 |year1=1912 |month2=10 |day2=19 | year2=1919 }}

|Local Meet (Shoreditch)

| London, United Kingdom

|{{cite news|title=Other Sports|newspaper=Australian Town and Country Journal|page=13|date=2 October 1912}}

align="center" |077

|align="center" |5:14.65:14.6

|Ross, Norman{{flagicon|USA}} Norman Ross

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1919|Oct|09}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=10 |day1=9 |year1=1919 |month2=9 |day2=25 | year2=1921 }}

|?

| Los Angeles, USA

|?

align="center" |088

|align="center" |5:14.45:14.4

|Ross, Norman{{flagicon|USA}} Norman Ross

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1921|Sep|25}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=9 |day1=25 |year1=1921 |month2=4 |day2=9 | year2=1922 }}

|?

| Brighton Beach, USA

|{{cite news|title=3 Eight Swimming Records Are Set|newspaper=The New York Times|page=20|date=26 November 1921}}

align="center" |099

|align="center" |5:11.85:11.8

|Borg, Arne{{flagicon|SWE}} Arne Borg

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1922|Apr|09}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=4 |day1=9 |year1=1922 |month2=6 |day2=22 | year2=1922 }}

|Local Meet

| Stockholm, Sweden

|{{cite news|title=Swimming|newspaper=Sydney Sportsman|page=10|date=11 April 1922}}

align="center" |1010

|align="center" |5:06.65:06.6

|Weissmuller, Johnny{{flagicon|USA}} Johnny Weissmuller

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1922|Jun|22}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=6 |day1=22 |year1=1922 |month2=3 |day2=6 | year2=1923 }}

|?

| Honolulu, USA

|?

align="center" |1111

|align="center" |4:57.04:57.0

|Weissmuller, Johnny{{flagicon|USA}} Johnny Weissmuller

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1923|Mar|06}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=3 |day1=6 |year1=1923 |month2=12 |day2=9 | year2=1924 }}

|?

| New Haven, USA

|?

align="center" |1212

|align="center" |4:54.74:54.7

|Borg, Arne{{flagicon|SWE}} Arne Borg

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1924|Dec|09}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=12 |day1=9 |year1=1924 |month2=9 |day2=11 | year2=1925 }}

|Local Meet

| Stockholm, Sweden

|{{cite news|title=ARNE BORG BREAKS RECORD OVER 300 AND 400M|newspaper=Cairns Post|page=6|date=16 December 1924}}

align="center" |1313

|align="center" |4:50.34:50.3

|Borg, Arne{{flagicon|SWE}} Arne Borg

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1925|Sep|11}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=9 |day1=11 |year1=1925 |month2=4 |day2=16 | year2=1931 }}

|Local Meet

| Stockholm, Sweden

|{{cite news|title=SWIMMING'S ARNE BORN ON HIS OWN|newspaper=The News, Hobart, Tasmania|page=2|date=26 September 1925}}

align="center" |1414

|align="center" |4:47.04:47.0

|Taris, Jean{{flagicon|FRA}} Jean Taris

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1931|Apr|16}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=4 |day1=16 |year1=1931 |month2=8 |day2=14 | year2=1933 }}

|Local Meet

| Paris, France

|{{cite news|title=ARNE BORG'S RECORD BEATEN NEW WORLD'S CHAMPION|newspaper=Singleton Argus|page=1|date=17 April 1931}}

align="center" |1515

|align="center" |4:46.44:46.4

|Makino, Shozo{{flagicon|JPN}} Shozo Makino

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1933|Aug|14}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=8 |day1=14 |year1=1933 |month2=8 |day2=30 | year2=1934 }}

|?

| Tokyo, Japan

|?

align="center" |1616

|align="center" |4:38.74:38.7

|Medica, Jack{{flagicon|USA}} Jack Medica

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1934|Aug|30}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=8 |day1=30 |year1=1934 |month2=5 |day2=13 | year2=1941 }}

|?

| Honolulu, USA

|?

align="center" |1717

|align="center" |4:38.54:38.5

|Smith, Bill{{flagicon|USA}} Bill Smith

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1941|May|13}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=5 |day1=13 |year1=1941 |month2=9 |day2=12 | year2=1947 }}

|?

| Honolulu, USA

|?

align="center" |1818

|align="center" |4:35.24:35.2

|Jany, Alex{{flagicon|FRA}} Alex Jany

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1947|Sep|12}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=9 |day1=12 |year1=1947 |month2=7 |day2=24 | year2=1949 }}

|1947 European Aquatics Championships

| Monte Carlo, Monaco

|{{cite news|title=Jany Close to Record|newspaper=The Herald|page=29|date=13 September 1947}}

align="center" |1919

|align="center" |4:34.64:34.6

|Furuhashi, Hironoshin{{flagicon|JPN}} Hironoshin Furuhashi

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1949|Jul|24}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=7 |day1=24 |year1=1949 |month2=8 |day2=18 | year2=1949 }}

|Local Meet

| Tokyo, Japan

|{{cite news|title=JAP SWIMMER'S NEW RECORD|newspaper=Daily Mirror|page=16|date=25 July 1949}}

align="center" |2020

|align="center" |4:33.34:33.3

|Furuhashi, Hironoshin{{flagicon|JPN}} Hironoshin Furuhashi

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1949|Aug|18}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=8 |day1=18 |year1=1949 |month2=3 |day2=11 | year2=1950 }}

|1949 US National Championships

| Los Angeles, USA

|{{cite web | url=https://ishof.org/honoree/honoree-hironoshin-furuhashi | title=Hironoshin Furuhashi }}

align="center" |2121

|align="center" |4:33.14:33.1

|Marshall, John{{flagicon|AUS}} John Marshall

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1950|Mar|11}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=3 |day1=11 |year1=1950 |month2=4 |day2=1 | year2=1950 }}

|Intercollegiate Event

| New Haven, USA

|{{cite news|title=JOHN MARSHALL SMASHES MORE SWIMMING RECORDS|newspaper=Border Morning Mail|page=8|date=13 March 1950}}

align="center" |2222

|align="center" |4:29.54:29.5

|Marshall, John{{flagicon|AUS}} John Marshall

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1950|Apr|01}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=4 |day1=1 |year1=1950 |month2=3 |day2=24 | year2=1951 }}

|46th US National AAU Indoor Championships

| New Haven, USA

|{{cite web | url=https://sahof.org.au/hall-of-fame-member/john-marshall/ | title=John Marshall | Sport Australia Hall of Fame }}

align="center" |2323

|align="center" |4:26.94:26.9

|Marshall, John{{flagicon|AUS}} John Marshall

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1951|Mar|24}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=3 |day1=24 |year1=1951 |month2=4 |day2=3 | year2=1954 }}

|Sanctioned Time Trial

| New Haven, USA

|{{cite news|title=NEW RECORDS BY MARSHALL|newspaper=The Central Queensland Herald|page=19|date=29 March 1951}}

align="center" |2424

|align="center" |4:26.74:26.7

|Konno, Ford{{flagicon|USA}} Ford Konno

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1954|Apr|03}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=4 |day1=3 |year1=1954 |month2=10 |day2=27 | year2=1956 }}

|Intercollegiate Event

| New Haven, USA

|{{cite web | title=HickokSports.com Sports Biographies: Konno, Ford H. | url=http://www.hickoksports.com/biograph/konnoford.shtml | access-date=2007-10-08 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://archive.today/20120402044102/http://www.hickoksports.com/biograph/konnoford.shtml | archive-date=2012-04-02 }}

align="center" |2625

|align="center" |4:27.04:27.0

|Rose, Murray{{flagicon|AUS}} Murray Rose

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1956|Oct|27}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=10 |day1=27 |year1=1956 |month2=1 |day2=12 | year2=1957 }}

|Australian Olympic Trials

| Melbourne, Australia

|{{cite web | url=https://collection.australiansportsmuseum.org.au/objects/66197/programme-australian-olympic-swimming-trials-1956 | title=Programme, Australian Olympic Swimming Trials 1956 }}{{cite web | url=https://sahof.org.au/hall-of-fame-member/murray-rose/#:~:text=They%20won%20in%20world%20record,to%20win%20both%20individual%20events | title=Murray Rose | Sport Australia Hall of Fame }}

align="center" |2526

|align="center" |4:25.94:25.9*

|Rose, Murray{{flagicon|AUS}} Murray Rose

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1957|Jan|12}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=1 |day1=12 |year1=1957 |month2=1 |day2=15 | year2=1958 }}

|NSW Championships

| Sydney, Australia

|{{cite news|title=TWO WORLD RECORDS TO MURRAY ROSE|newspaper=The Canberra Times|page=8|date=14 January 1957}}

align="center" |2727

|align="center" |4:25.94:25.9

|Konrads, John{{flagicon|AUS}} John Konrads

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1958|Jan|15}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=1 |day1=15 |year1=1958 |month2=1 |day2=12 | year2=1959 }}

|NSW Championships

| Sydney, Australia

|{{cite news|title=Swimmers Smash Four More World Records|newspaper=The Canberra Times|page=20|date=16 January 1958}}

align="center" |2828

|align="center" |4:21.84:21.8

|Konrads, John{{flagicon|AUS}} John Konrads

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1959|Jan|12}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=1 |day1=12 |year1=1959 |month2=2 |day2=7 | year2=1959 }}

|Australian Swimming Championships

| Melbourne, Australia

|{{cite web | url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1958/03/03/a-worldwide-roundup-of-the-sports-information-of-the-week | title=A worldwide roundup of the sports information of the week }}

align="center" |2929

|align="center" |4:19.04:19.0

|Konrads, John{{flagicon|AUS}} John Konrads

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1959|Feb|07}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=2 |day1=7 |year1=1959 |month2=7 |day2=26 | year2=1959 }}

|International Swim Meet

| Sydney, Australia

|{{cite news|title=Five World Swimming Times Beaten|newspaper=The Canberra Times|page=12|date=9 February 1959}}

align="center" |3030

|align="center" |4:16.64:16.6

|Yamanaka, Tsuyoshi{{flagicon|JPN}} Tsuyoshi Yamanaka

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1959|Jul|26}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=7 |day1=26 |year1=1959 |month2=2 |day2=23 | year2=1960 }}

|5th Japan-USA Water Competition

| Osaka, Japan

|{{cite magazine | url=https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,811220,00.html | title=Sport: Fantastic! | magazine=Time | date=10 August 1959 }}

align="center" |3131

|align="center" |4:15.94:15.9

|Konrads, John{{flagicon|AUS}} John Konrads

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1960|Feb|23}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=2 |day1=23 |year1=1960 |month2=8 |day2=17 | year2=1962 }}

|Australian Swimming Championships

| Sydney, Australia

|{{cite news|title=Four World Swimming Records Smashed|newspaper=The Canberra Times|page=24|date=24 February 1960}}

align="center" |3232

|align="center" |4:13.44:13.4

|Rose, Murray{{flagicon|AUS}} Murray Rose

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1962|Aug|17}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=8 |day1=17 |year1=1962 |month2=7 |day2=31 | year2=1964 }}

|International Invitational Meet

| Chicago, USA

|{{cite web | url=https://historicimages.com/products/rse54039 | title=1962 Press Photo Chicago AAU Outdoor Swim Winners Carolyn House and Murray Rose }}

align="center" |3333

|align="center" |4:12.74:12.7

|Schollander, Don{{flagicon|USA}} Don Schollander

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1964|Jul|31}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=7 |day1=31 |year1=1964 |month2=10 |day2=15 | year2=1964 }}

|USA Summer Nationals

| Los Altos, USA

|{{Cite web |url=http://www.usaswimming.org/USASWeb/_Rainbow/Documents/ad74cff4-ef53-4906-b3a0-4ef381369454/64_sumnats.pdf |title=Results from 1964 US Summer Nationals |access-date=5 April 2007 |archive-date=30 September 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930185142/http://www.usaswimming.org/USASWeb/_Rainbow/Documents/ad74cff4-ef53-4906-b3a0-4ef381369454/64_sumnats.pdf |url-status=dead }}

align="center" |3434

|align="center" |4:12.24:12.2

|Schollander, Don{{flagicon|USA}} Don Schollander

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1964|Oct|15}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=10 |day1=15 |year1=1964 |month2=8 |day2=18 | year2=1966 }}

|1964 Summer Olympics

| Tokyo, Japan

|?

align="center" |3535

|align="center" |4:11.84:11.8

|Nelson, John{{flagicon|USA}} John Nelson

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1966|Aug|18}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=8 |day1=18 |year1=1966 |month2=8 |day2=18 | year2=1966 }}

|1966 AAU Swimming and Diving Championships

| Lincoln, USA

|{{cite news|title=1966 AAU National Swimming Championship report|newspaper=The Terre Haute Star|page=19|date=19 August 1966}}

align="center" |3636

|align="center" |4:11.64:11.6

|Schollander, Don{{flagicon|USA}} Don Schollander

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1966|Aug|18}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=8 |day1=18 |year1=1966 |month2=8 |day2=25 | year2=1966 }}

|1966 National Championships

| Lincoln, USA

|{{cite web | url=https://www.usaswimming.org/times/data-hub/record-progressions | title=Record Progressions }}

align="center" |3737

|align="center" |4:11.14:11.1

|Wiegand, Frank{{flagicon|GDR}} Frank Wiegand

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1966|Aug|25}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=8 |day1=25 |year1=1966 |month2=6 |day2=25 | year2=1967 }}

|1966 European Aquatics Championships

| Utrecht, The Netherlands

|{{cite web | url=https://www.the-sports.org/swimming-european-championships-results-1966-men-epm22947.html | title=European Championships de Swimming 1966 - Results Men }}

align="center" |3838

|align="center" |4:10.64:10.6

|Spitz, Mark{{flagicon|USA}} Mark Spitz

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1967|Jun|25}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=6 |day1=25 |year1=1967 |month2=7 |day2=2 | year2=1967 }}

|Local Event

| Haywood, USA

|{{cite web | url=https://swimswam.com/dolfin-swim-of-the-week-mark-spitzs-first-world-record-on-this-day-in-1967/ | title=Dolfin Swim of the Week: Mark Spitz's First World Record on This Day in 1967 | date=25 June 2020 }}

align="center" |3938=

|align="center" |4:09.24:10.6

|Mosconi, Alain{{flagicon|FRA}} Alain Mosconi

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1967|Jul|02}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=7 |day1=2 |year1=1967 |month2=7 |day2=4 | year2=1967 }}

|Local Event

| Monte Carlo, Monaco

|{{cite news | url=https://www.lemonde.fr/archives/article/1967/07/04/alain-mosconi-egale-le-record-du-monde-du-400-metres_2629623_1819218.html | title=Alain Mosconi égale le record du monde du 400 mètres | newspaper=Le Monde.fr | date=4 July 1967 }}

align="center" |3939

|align="center" |4:09.24:09.2

|Mosconi, Alain{{flagicon|FRA}} Alain Mosconi

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1967|Jul|04}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=7 |day1=4 |year1=1967 |month2=7 |day2=7 | year2=1967 }}

|Local Event

| Monte Carlo, Monaco

|{{cite news|title=Another record swim|newspaper=The Canberra Times|page=16|date=7 July 1967}}

align="center" |4040

|align="center" |4:08.84:08.8

|Spitz, Mark{{flagicon|USA}} Mark Spitz

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1967|Jul|07}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=7 |day1=7 |year1=1967 |month2=8 |day2=28 | year2=1967 }}

|Santa Clara International Invitation Swim Meet

| Santa Clara, USA

|{{cite news|title=3 World Records Set in Coast Swim|newspaper=The New York Times|page=S20|date=8 July 1967}}

align="center" |4141

|align="center" |4:08.24:08.2

|Charlton, Greg{{flagicon|USA}} Greg Charlton

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1967|Aug|28}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=8 |day1=28 |year1=1967 |month2=6 |day2=23 | year2=1968 }}

|1967 Summer Universiade

| Tokyo, Japan

|{{cite news|title=Record in Swimming|newspaper=The Canberra Times|page=19|date=29 August 1967}}

align="center" |4242

|align="center" |4:07.74:07.7

|Spitz, Mark{{flagicon|USA}} Mark Spitz

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1968|Jun|23}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=6 |day1=23 |year1=1968 |month2=8 |day2=1 | year2=1968 }}

|16th Annual Swimming Relays

| Haywood, USA

|?

align="center" |4343

|align="center" |4:06.54:06.5

|Hutton, Ralph{{flagicon|CAN}} Ralph Hutton

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1968|Aug|01}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=8 |day1=1 |year1=1968 |month2=8 |day2=14 | year2=1969 }}

|AAU National Swimming Championships

| Lincoln, USA

|?

align="center" |4444

|align="center" |4:04.04:04.0

|Fassnacht, Hans-Joachim{{flagicon|FRG}} Hans-Joachim Fassnacht

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1969|Aug|14}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=8 |day1=14 |year1=1969 |month2=8 |day2=20 | year2=1970 }}

|AAU National Swimming Championships

| Louisville, USA

|?

align="center" |4545

|align="center" |4:02.84:02.8

|Kinsella, John{{flagicon|USA}} John Kinsella

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1970|Aug|20}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=8 |day1=20 |year1=1970 |month2=9 |day2=7 | year2=1970 }}

|AAU National Swimming Championships (elec. 4:02.81)

| Los Angeles, USA

|?

align="center" |4646

|align="center" |4:02.64:02.6

|Larsson, Gunnar{{flagicon|SWE}} Gunnar Larsson

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1970|Sep|07}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=9 |day1=7 |year1=1970 |month2=8 |day2=25 | year2=1971 }}

|European Swimming Championships

| Barcelona, Spain

|?

align="center" |4747

|align="center" |4:02.14:02.1

|McBreen, Tom{{flagicon|USA}} Tom McBreen

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1971|Aug|25}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=8 |day1=25 |year1=1971 |month2=2 |day2=12 | year2=1972 }}

|AAU Nationals (elec. 4:02.08)

| Houston, USA

|?

align="center" |4848

|align="center" |4:01.74:01.7

|Cooper, Brad{{flagicon|AUS}} Brad Cooper

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1972|Feb|12}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=2 |day1=12 |year1=1972 |month2=8 |day2=4 | year2=1972 }}

|AUS Nationals & Olympic Trials

| Brisbane, Australia

|?

align="center" |4949

|align="center" |4:00.114:00.11

|Krumpholz, Kurt{{flagicon|USA}} Kurt Krumpholz

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1972|Aug|04}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=8 |day1=4 |year1=1972 |month2=9 |day2=9 | year2=1973 }}

|USA Olympic Trials

| Chicago, USA

|?

align="center" |5050

|align="center" |3:58.183:58.18

|DeMont, Rick{{flagicon|USA}} Rick DeMont

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1973|Sep|09}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=9 |day1=9 |year1=1973 |month2=8 |day2=22 | year2=1974 }}

|FINA World Championships

| Belgrade, SFR Yugoslavia

|?

align="center" |5151

|align="center" |3:56.963:56.96

|Shaw, Tim{{flagicon|USA}} Tim Shaw

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1974|Aug|22}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=8 |day1=22 |year1=1974 |month2=8 |day2=22 | year2=1974 }}

|AAU National Swimming Championships

| Concord, USA

|{{cite news|title=3 Swim Marks Set By Shaw, Babashoff|newspaper=The New York Times|page=26|date=23 August 1974}}

align="center" |5252

|align="center" |3:54.693:54.69

|Shaw, Tim{{flagicon|USA}} Tim Shaw

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1974|Aug|22}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=8 |day1=22 |year1=1974 |month2=6 |day2=19 | year2=1975 }}

|AAU National Swimming Championships

| Concord, USA

|

align="center" |5353

|align="center" |3:53.953:53.95

|Shaw, Tim{{flagicon|USA}} Tim Shaw

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1975|Jun|19}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=6 |day1=19 |year1=1975 |month2=8 |day2=20 | year2=1975 }}

|USA World Championship Trials

| Long Beach, USA

|?

align="center" |5454

|align="center" |3:53.313:53.31

|Shaw, Tim{{flagicon|USA}} Tim Shaw

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1975|Aug|20}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=8 |day1=20 |year1=1975 |month2=6 |day2=18 | year2=1976 }}

|AAU National Swimming Championships

| Kansas City, USA

|?

align="center" |5555

|align="center" |3:53.083:53.08

|Goodell, Brian{{flagicon|USA}} Brian Goodell

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1976|Jun|18}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=6 |day1=18 |year1=1976 |month2=7 |day2=22 | year2=1976 }}

|USA Olympic Trials

| Long Beach, USA

|{{Cite web |url=http://www.usaswimming.org/USASWeb/_Rainbow/Documents/bd767bc4-1cef-48ae-8373-7e8e73e2b1d5/76_otrials.pdf |title=Results from 1976 US Olympic Trials |access-date=5 April 2007 |archive-date=28 September 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928020156/http://www.usaswimming.org/USASWeb/_Rainbow/Documents/bd767bc4-1cef-48ae-8373-7e8e73e2b1d5/76_otrials.pdf |url-status=dead }}

align="center" |5656

|align="center" |3:51.933:51.93

|Goodell, Brian{{flagicon|USA}} Brian Goodell

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1976|Jul|22}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=7 |day1=22 |year1=1976 |month2=8 |day2=27 | year2=1977 }}

|1976 Summer Olympics

| Montreal, Canada

|?

align="center" |5757

|align="center" |3:51.563:51.56

|Goodell, Brian{{flagicon|USA}} Brian Goodell

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1977|Aug|27}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=8 |day1=27 |year1=1977 |month2=4 |day2=6 | year2=1979 }}

|USAvGDR Dual Meet

| West Berlin

|?

align="center" |5858

|align="center" |3:51.413:51.41

|Salnikov, Vladimir{{flagicon|URS}} Vladimir Salnikov

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1979|Apr|06}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=4 |day1=6 |year1=1979 |month2=8 |day2=19 | year2=1979 }}

|URSvGDR Junior meet

| Potsdam, East Germany

|?

align="center" |5959

|align="center" |3:51.403:51.40

|Salnikov, Vladimir{{flagicon|URS}} Vladimir Salnikov

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1979|Aug|19}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=8 |day1=19 |year1=1979 |month2=2 |day2=29 | year2=1980 }}

|URSvCAN Duel

| Moscow, Soviet Union

|?

align="center" |6060

|align="center" |3:51.203:51.20

|Salnikov, Vladimir{{flagicon|URS}} Vladimir Salnikov

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1980|Feb|29}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=2 |day1=29 |year1=1980 |month2=7 |day2=16 | year2=1980 }}

|URS Winter Nationals

| Potsdam, East Germany

|?

align="center" |6161

|align="center" |3:50.493:50.49

|Szmidt, Peter{{flagicon|CAN}} Peter Szmidt

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1980|Jul|16}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=7 |day1=16 |year1=1980 |month2=3 |day2=12 | year2=1982 }}

|Canadian Nationals & Olympic Trials (Esso Cup)

| Etobicoke, Canada

|{{Cite news |date=August 1980 |title=The Esso Cup 1980 Olympic Trials and Summer Nationals |pages=5 |work=Swim Canada |url=https://discoverarchives.library.utoronto.ca/index.php/swim-canada-august-1980-no-66 }}

align="center" |6262

|align="center" |3:49.573:49.57

|Salnikov, Vladimir{{flagicon|URS}} Vladimir Salnikov

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1982|Mar|12}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=3 |day1=12 |year1=1982 |month2=7 |day2=14 | year2=1982 }}

|URSvGDR Duel

| Moscow, Soviet Union

|?

align="center" |6262=

|align="center" |3:49.573:49.57

|Salnikov, Vladimir{{flagicon|URS}} Vladimir Salnikov

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1982|Jul|14}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=7 |day1=14 |year1=1982 |month2=2 |day2=19 | year2=1983 }}

|URS Nationals

| Kiev, Soviet Union

|?

align="center" |6363

|align="center" |3:48.323:48.32

|Salnikov, Vladimir{{flagicon|URS}} Vladimir Salnikov

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1983|Feb|19}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=2 |day1=19 |year1=1983 |month2=6 |day2=27 | year2=1985 }}

|URS Winter Nationals

| Moscow, Soviet Union

|?

align="center" |6464

|align="center" |3:47.803:47.80

|Gross, Michael{{flagicon|FRG}} Michael Gross

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1985|Jun|27}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=6 |day1=27 |year1=1985 |month2=3 |day2=25 | year2=1988 }}

|FRG Nationals & European Championship Trials

| Wuppertal, West Germany

|?

align="center" |6565

|align="center" |3:47.383:47.38

|Wojdat, Artur{{flagicon|POL}} Artur Wojdat

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1988|Mar|25}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=3 |day1=25 |year1=1988 |month2=9 |day2=23 | year2=1988 }}

|USA Spring Nationals

| Orlando, USA

|{{Cite web |url=http://www.usaswimming.org/USASWeb/_Rainbow/Documents/8d3701ac-f0be-46f7-b022-2eb07c17deb7/88_springnats.pdf |title=Results from 1988 US Spring Nationals |access-date=5 April 2007 |archive-date=28 September 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928020441/http://www.usaswimming.org/USASWeb/_Rainbow/Documents/8d3701ac-f0be-46f7-b022-2eb07c17deb7/88_springnats.pdf |url-status=dead }}

align="center" |6666

|align="center" |3:46.953:46.95

|Dassler, Uwe{{flagicon|GDR}} Uwe Dassler

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1988|Sep|23}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=9 |day1=23 |year1=1988 |month2=4 |day2=3 | year2=1992 }}

|1988 Summer Olympics

| Seoul, South Korea

|?

align="center" |6767

|align="center" |3:46.473:46.47

|Perkins, Kieren{{flagicon|AUS}} Kieren Perkins

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1992|Apr|03}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=4 |day1=3 |year1=1992 |month2=7 |day2=29 | year2=1992 }}

|Australian Olympic Trials

| Canberra, Australia

|?

align="center" |6868

|align="center" |3:45.003:45.00

|Sadovyi, Yevgeny File:Olympic flag.svg Yevgeny Sadovyi

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1992|Jul|29}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=7 |day1=29 |year1=1992 |month2=9 |day2=11 | year2=1994 }}

|1992 Summer Olympics

| Barcelona, Spain

|?

align="center" |6969

|align="center" |3:43.803:43.80

|Perkins, Kieren{{flagicon|AUS}} Kieren Perkins

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1994|Sep|5}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=9 |day1=11 |year1=1994 |month2=8 |day2=22 | year2=1999 }}

|1994 World Championships

| Rome, Italy

|?

align="center" |7070

|align="center" |3:41.833:41.83

|Thorpe, Ian{{flagicon|AUS}} Ian Thorpe

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1999|Aug|22}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=8 |day1=22 |year1=1999 |month2=5 |day2=13 | year2=2000 }}

|1999 Pan Pacific Championships

| Sydney, Australia

|?

align="center" |7171

|align="center" |3:41.333:41.33

|Thorpe, Ian{{flagicon|AUS}} Ian Thorpe

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|2000|May|13}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=5 |day1=13 |year1=2000 |month2=9 |day2=16 | year2=2000 }}

|Australian Olympic Trials

| Sydney, Australia

| {{cite web|title=2000 Australian Championships - Men's 400m Freestyle Final Results|url=https://www.omegatiming.com/File/0001000D000B000000FFFFFFFFFFFF01.pdf|work=Omega Timing|date=13 May 2000|access-date=29 March 2025}}

align="center" |7272

|align="center" |3:40.593:40.59

|Thorpe, Ian{{flagicon|AUS}} Ian Thorpe

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|2000|Sep|16}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=9 |day1=16 |year1=2000 |month2=7 |day2=22 | year2=2001 }}

|2000 Summer Olympics

| Sydney, Australia

|{{cite news|last=Whitten|first=Phillip|title=Olympic Day 1 Finals (Complete)|url=http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/1784.asp|publisher=Swimming World Magazine|date=16 September 2000|access-date=23 May 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927200607/http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/1784.asp|archive-date=27 September 2007}}

align="center" |7373

|align="center" |3:40.173:40.17

|Thorpe, Ian{{flagicon|AUS}} Ian Thorpe

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|2001|Jul|22}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=7 |day1=22 |year1=2001 |month2=7 |day2=30 | year2=2002 }}

|2001 World Championships

| Fukuoka, Japan

| {{cite web |url=http://www.fina.org/fukuoka_SwimmingResultsM400free.html |title=Final Results |accessdate=2023-08-06 |publisher=FINA|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041019125416/http://www.fina.org/fukuoka_SwimmingResultsM400free.html |archive-date=19 October 2004 }}

align="center" |7474

|align="center" |3:40.083:40.08

|Thorpe, Ian{{flagicon|AUS}} Ian Thorpe

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|2002|Jul|30}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=7 |day1=30 |year1=2002 |month2=7 |day2=26 | year2=2009 }}

|2002 Commonwealth Games

| Manchester, United Kingdom

|{{cite news|title=Double joy for Thorpe|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport3/commonwealthgames2002/hi/swimming/newsid_2160000/2160865.stm|newspaper=BBC News|date=30 July 2002|access-date=11 April 2008}}

align="center" |7575

|align="center" |3:40.073:40.07ss

|Biedermann, Paul{{flagicon|GER}} Paul Biedermann

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|2009|Jul|26}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|26 July 2009}}

|2009 World Aquatics Championships

| Rome, Italy

|{{cite web|title=Men's 400m Freestyle Final Results|url=https://www.omegatiming.com/File/0001090B0009000000FFFFFFFFFFFF01.pdf|work=Omega Timing|date=26 July 2009|access-date=26 July 2009}}

align="center" |7676

|align="center" |3:39.963:39.96

|Märtens, Lukas{{flagicon|GER}} Lukas Märtens

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|2025|April|12}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|12 April 2025}}

|Stockholm Open

| Stockholm, Sweden

|{{Cite web |last=Griffin |first=Sean |date=2025-04-12 |title=Lukas Märtens Throws Down 3:39.96 WORLD RECORD In 400 Free, Breaking 2009 Super-Suited Mark |url=https://swimswam.com/lukas-martens-throws-down-339-96-world-record-in-400-free-breaking-2009-super-suited-mark/ |access-date=2025-04-12 |website=SwimSwam |language=en-US}}

  • Murray Rose's 4:25.9 set in a 25-metre pool on 12 Jan 1957 was only valid until 1 May the same year. Due to the new rule that records must be set in a 50-metre pool, and the fact that neither John Marshall's 4:26.9 from 1951, nor Ford Konno's 4:26.7 from 1954 were set in 50-metre pools, the WR reverted to Rose's 4:27.0 from 1956.{{Cite web|url=http://en.espn.co.uk/onthisday/sport/story/316.html|title=Boardman goes out with a bang}}
  • Paul Biedermann's 3:40.07 set at the 2009 World Aquatics Championships was swum utilising the Arena X-Glide suit. A style of suit that was introduced in 2008 and banned by FINA in January 2010.{{Cite web|url=https://swimswam.com/are-super-suit-era-swims-still-ahead-of-their-time/|title=ARE SUPER-SUIT ERA SWIMS STILL AHEAD OF THEIR TIME?|date=24 August 2023 }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.floswimming.com/articles/5067095-the-most-dominant-world-records-of-the-suit-era|title=The Most Dominant World Records Of The 'Suit Era'|date=21 June 2017 }}

=Short course=

class="wikitable sortable" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 90%;"

!style="width: 1em"|#

!style="width: 3em"|Time

!align="left" style="width: 13em"|Swimmer

!Date

!align="left" style="width: 18em"|Event

!align="left" style="width: 22em"|Location

!align="left" style="width: 1em"|

align="center" |011

|align="center" |3:40.463:41.74

|Lamberti, Giorgio{{flagicon|ITA}} Giorgio Lamberti

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1988|Feb|13}}

|German Invitational

| Bonn, West Germany

|?

align="center" |012

|align="center" |3:40.463:40.81

|Holmertz, Anders{{flagicon|SWE}} Anders Holmertz

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1990|Feb|4}}

|Paris Open, FINA Swimming World Cup

| Paris, France

|?

align="center" |013

|align="center" |3:40.463:40.46

|Loader, Danyon{{flagicon|NZL}} Danyon Loader

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1995|Feb|11}}

|World Cup

| Sheffield, United Kingdom

|?

align="center" |024

|align="center" |3:39.823:39.82

|Thorpe, Ian{{flagicon|AUS}} Ian Thorpe

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1998|Sep|25}}

|AUS SC Nationals

| Perth, WA, Australia

|?

align="center" |035

|align="center" |3:35.013:35.01

|Hackett, Grant{{flagicon|AUS}} Grant Hackett

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1999|Apr|2}}

|World SC Championships

| Hong Kong

|?

align="center" |046

|align="center" |3:34.583:34.58

|Hackett, Grant{{flagicon|AUS}} Grant Hackett

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|2002|Jul|18}}

|Grand Prix

| Sydney, Australia

|?

align="center" |057

|align="center" |3:34.583:32.77

|Biedermann, Paul{{flagicon|GER}} Paul Biedermann

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|2009|Nov|14}}

|World Cup

| Berlin, Germany

|{{cite news|url=http://www.omegatiming.com/swimming/racearchives/2009/Berlin/C73A1_Res1Heat_112_Finals_1_Men_400_Free.pdf|title=World Cup 2009 Berlin Results Men's 400m Freestyle|date=14 November 2009|work=omegatiming.com|access-date=2009-11-14}}

align="center" |068

|align="center" |3:32.773:32.25

|Agnel, Yannick{{flagicon|FRA}} Yannick Agnel

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|2012|Nov|15}}

|French Nationals

| Angers, France

|{{cite magazine|title=Flash! Yannick Agnel Downs World Record in 400 Free at French Nationals|url=http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/World/32653.asp|magazine=Swimming World Magazine|date=15 November 2012|access-date=15 November 2012}}

Women

=Long course=

class="wikitable sortable" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 90%;"

!style="width: 1em"|#

!style="width: 3em"|TIME

!align="left" style="width: 13em"|SWIMMER

!DATE

!align="left" style="width: 18em"|EVENT

!align="left" style="width: 22em"|PLACE

!align="left" style="width: 1em"|

align="center" |011

|align="center" |6:30.26:30.2

|Bleibtrey, Ethelda{{flagicon|USA}} Ethelda Bleibtrey

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1919|Aug|16}}

|?

| New York City

|?

align="center" |022

|align="center" |6:16.66:16.6

|James, Hilda{{flagicon|GBR}} Hilda James

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1921|Jul|29}}

|?

| Leeds, United Kingdom

|?

align="center" |033

|align="center" |5:53.25:53.2

|Ederle, Gertrude{{flagicon|USA}} Gertrude Ederle

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1922|Aug|04}}

|?

| Indianapolis, USA

|?

align="center" |044

|align="center" |5:51.45:51.4

|Norelius, Martha{{flagicon|USA}} Martha Norelius

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1927|Jan|23}}

|?

| Coral Gables, USA

|?

align="center" |055

|align="center" |5:49.65:49.6

|Norelius, Martha{{flagicon|USA}} Martha Norelius

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1928|Jun|30}}

|?

| New York City

|?

align="center" |066

|align="center" |5:42.85:42.8

|Norelius, Martha{{flagicon|USA}} Martha Norelius

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1928|Aug|06}}

|Olympic Games

| Amsterdam, The Netherlands

|?

align="center" |077

|align="center" |5:39.25:39.2

|Norelius, Martha{{flagicon|USA}} Martha Norelius

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1928|Aug|27}}

|?

| Vienna, Austria

|?

align="center" |088

|align="center" |5:31.05:31.0

|Madison, Helene{{flagicon|USA}} Helene Madison

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1931|Feb|03}}

|?

| Seattle, USA

|?

align="center" |099

|align="center" |5:28.55:28.5

|Madison, Helene{{flagicon|USA}} Helene Madison

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1932|Aug|13}}

|?

| Los Angeles, USA

|?

align="center" |1010

|align="center" |5:16.05:16.0

|den Ouden, Willy{{flagicon|NED}} Willy den Ouden

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1934|Jul|12}}

|?

| Rotterdam, The Netherlands

|?

align="center" |1111

|align="center" |5:14.25:14.2

|Hveger, Ragnhild{{flagicon|DEN}} Ragnhild Hveger

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1937|Feb|10}}

|?

| Copenhagen, Denmark

|?

align="center" |1212

|align="center" |5:14.05:14.0

|Hveger, Ragnhild{{flagicon|DEN}} Ragnhild Hveger

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1937|Oct|03}}

|?

| Ghent, Belgium

|?

align="center" |1313

|align="center" |5:12.45:12.4

|Hveger, Ragnhild{{flagicon|DEN}} Ragnhild Hveger

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1937|Nov|14}}

|?

| Magdeburg, Germany

|?

align="center" |1414

|align="center" |5:11.05:11.0

|Hveger, Ragnhild{{flagicon|DEN}} Ragnhild Hveger

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1937|Dec|12}}

|?

| Copenhagen, Denmark

|?

align="center" |1515

|align="center" |5:08.25:08.2

|Hveger, Ragnhild{{flagicon|DEN}} Ragnhild Hveger

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1938|Jan|16}}

|?

| Copenhagen, Denmark

|?

align="center" |1616

|align="center" |5:06.15:06.1

|Hveger, Ragnhild{{flagicon|DEN}} Ragnhild Hveger

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1938|Aug|01}}

|?

| Copenhagen, Denmark

|?

align="center" |1717

|align="center" |5:05.45:05.4

|Hveger, Ragnhild{{flagicon|DEN}} Ragnhild Hveger

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1940|Sep|08}}

|?

| Svendborg, Denmark

|?

align="center" |1818

|align="center" |5:00.15:00.1

|Hveger, Ragnhild{{flagicon|DEN}} Ragnhild Hveger

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1940|Sep|15}}

|?

| Copenhagen, Denmark

|?

align="center" |1919

|align="center" |4:50.84:50.8

|Crapp, Lorraine{{flagicon|AUS}} Lorraine Crapp

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1956|Aug|25}}

|?

| Townsville, Australia

|?

align="center" |2020

|align="center" |4:47.24:47.2

|Crapp, Lorraine{{flagicon|AUS}} Lorraine Crapp

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1956|Oct|20}}

|?

| Sydney, Australia

|?

align="center" |2121

|align="center" |4:45.44:45.4

|Konrads, Ilsa{{flagicon|AUS}} Ilsa Konrads

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1960|Jan|09}}

|?

| Sydney, Australia

|?

align="center" |2222

|align="center" |4:44.54:44.5

|von Saltza, Chris{{flagicon|USA}} Chris von Saltza

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1960|Aug|05}}

|USA Olympic Trials

| Detroit, USA

|{{Cite web |url=http://www.usaswimming.org/USASWeb/_Rainbow/Documents/bfb10832-de81-4dd3-96e8-5c942d99d350/1960.pdf |title=Results from 1960 US Olympic Trials |access-date=5 April 2007 |archive-date=30 September 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930201439/http://www.usaswimming.org/USASWeb/_Rainbow/Documents/bfb10832-de81-4dd3-96e8-5c942d99d350/1960.pdf |url-status=dead }}

align="center" |2323

|align="center" |4:42.04:42.0

|Ramenofsky, Marilyn{{flagicon|USA}} Marilyn Ramenofsky

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1964|Jul|11}}

|?

| Los Altos, USA

|?

align="center" |2424

|align="center" |4:41.74:41.7

|Ramenofsky, Marilyn{{flagicon|USA}} Marilyn Ramenofsky

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1964|Aug|01}}

|USA Summer Nationals

| Los Altos, USA

|

align="center" |2525

|align="center" |4:39.54:39.5

|Ramenofsky, Marilyn{{flagicon|USA}} Marilyn Ramenofsky

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1964|Aug|31}}

|?

| New York City

|?

align="center" |2626

|align="center" |4:39.24:39.2

|Randall, Martha{{flagicon|USA}} Martha Randall

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1965|Aug|14}}

|?

| Maumee, USA

|?

align="center" |2727

|align="center" |4:38.04:38.0

|Randall, Martha{{flagicon|USA}} Martha Randall

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1965|Aug|26}}

|?

| Monaco, Monaco

|?

align="center" |2828

|align="center" |4:36.84:36.8

|Kruse, Pam{{flagicon|USA}} Pam Kruse

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1967|Jun|30}}

|?

| Fort Lauderdale, USA

|?

align="center" |2929

|align="center" |4:36.44:36.4

|Kruse, Pam{{flagicon|USA}} Pam Kruse

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1967|Jul|07}}

|Santa Clara International

| Santa Clara, USA

|

align="center" |3030

|align="center" |4:32.64:32.6

|Meyer, Debbie{{flagicon|USA}} Debbie Meyer

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1967|Jul|27}}

|Pan American Games

| Winnipeg, Canada

|?

align="center" |3131

|align="center" |4:29.04:29.0

|Meyer, Debbie{{flagicon|USA}} Debbie Meyer

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1967|Aug|18}}

|USA Nationals

| Philadelphia, USA

|?

align="center" |3232

|align="center" |4:26.74:26.7

|Meyer, Debbie{{flagicon|USA}} Debbie Meyer

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1968|Aug|01}}

|USA Nationals

| Lincoln, USA

|?

align="center" |3333

|align="center" |4:24.54:24.5

|Meyer, Debbie{{flagicon|USA}} Debbie Meyer

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1968|Aug|25}}

|USA Olympic Trials (elec. 4:24.55)

| Los Angeles, USA

|{{Cite web |url=http://www.usaswimming.org/USASWeb/_Rainbow/Documents/0378c653-b1b5-45fe-afbc-1a00a57c3f16/1968.pdf |title=Results from 1968 US Olympic Trials |access-date=5 April 2007 |archive-date=30 September 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930201541/http://www.usaswimming.org/USASWeb/_Rainbow/Documents/0378c653-b1b5-45fe-afbc-1a00a57c3f16/1968.pdf |url-status=dead }}

align="center" |3434

|align="center" |4:24.34:24.3

|Meyer, Debbie{{flagicon|USA}} Debbie Meyer

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1970|Aug|20}}

|USA Nationals (elec. 4:24.24)

| Los Angeles, USA

|?

align="center" |3535

|align="center" |4:22.64:22.6

|Moras, Karen{{flagicon|AUS}} Karen Moras

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1971|Apr|30}}

|Coca-Cola International

| London, United Kingdom

|?

align="center" |3636

|align="center" |4:21.24:21.2

|Gould, Shane{{flagicon|AUS}} Shane Gould

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1971|Jul|09}}

|Santa Clara Invitational

| Santa Clara, USA

|?

align="center" |3737

|align="center" |4:19.044:19.04

|Gould, Shane{{flagicon|AUS}} Shane Gould

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1972|Aug|30}}

|Olympic Games

| Munich, West Germany

|?

align="center" |3838

|align="center" |4:18.074:18.07

|Rothhammer, Keena{{flagicon|USA}} Keena Rothhammer

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1973|Aug|22}}

|USA Nationals

| Louisville, USA

|?

align="center" |3939

|align="center" |4:17.334:17.33

|Greenwood, Heather{{flagicon|USA}} Heather Greenwood

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1974|Jun|28}}

|Santa Clara Invitational

| Santa Clara, USA

|?

align="center" |4040

|align="center" |4:15.774:15.77

|Babashoff, Shirley{{flagicon|USA}} Shirley Babashoff

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1974|Aug|22}}

|USA Nationals

| Concord, USA

|?

align="center" |4141

|align="center" |4:14.764:14.76

|Babashoff, Shirley{{flagicon|USA}} Shirley Babashoff

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1975|Jun|20}}

|USA World Championships Trials

| Long Beach, USA

|?

align="center" |4242

|align="center" |4:11.694:11.69

|Krause, Barbara{{flagicon|GDR}} Barbara Krause

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1976|Jun|03}}

|GDR Olympic Trials

| East Berlin, East Germany

|?

align="center" |4343

|align="center" |4:09.894:09.89

|Thümer, Petra{{flagicon|GDR}} Petra Thümer

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1976|Jul|20}}

|Olympic Games

| Montreal, Canada

|?

align="center" |4444

|align="center" |4:08.914:08.91

|Thümer, Petra{{flagicon|GDR}} Petra Thümer

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1977|Aug|17}}

|European Championships

| Jönköping, Sweden

|?

align="center" |4545

|align="center" |4:07.664:07.66

|Linehan, Kim{{flagicon|USA}} Kim Linehan

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1978|Aug|02}}

|USA Summer Nationals

| The Woodlands, USA

|{{Cite web |url=http://www.usaswimming.org/USASWeb/_Rainbow/doc%204/30d77bb4-563e-40d8-b71f-61d1248c3da9/97_sumnats.pdf |title=Results from 1978 US Summer Nationals |access-date=5 April 2007 |archive-date=30 September 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930184909/http://www.usaswimming.org/USASWeb/_Rainbow/doc%204/30d77bb4-563e-40d8-b71f-61d1248c3da9/97_sumnats.pdf |url-status=dead }}

align="center" |4646

|align="center" |4:06.284:06.28

|Wickham, Tracey{{flagicon|AUS}} Tracey Wickham

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1978|Aug|24}}

|World Championships

| West Berlin

|?

align="center" |4747

|align="center" |4:05.454:05.45

|Evans, Janet{{flagicon|USA}} Janet Evans

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1987|Dec|20}}

|US Open

| Orlando, USA

|?

align="center" |4848

|align="center" |4:03.854:03.85

|Evans, Janet{{flagicon|USA}} Janet Evans

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1988|Sep|22}}

|Olympic Games

| Seoul, South Korea

|?

align="center" |4949

|align="center" |4:03.034:03.03

|Manaudou, Laure{{flagicon|FRA}} Laure Manaudou

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|2006|May|12}}

|French Championships

| Tours, France

|?

align="center" |5050

|align="center" |4:02.134:02.13

|Manaudou, Laure{{flagicon|FRA}} Laure Manaudou

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|2006|Aug|06}}

|European Championships

| Budapest, Hungary

|{{cite news|title=Flash! Manaudou Becomes First 4:02 Woman with World Record in 400 Free|url=https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/flash-manaudou-becomes-first-402-woman-with-world-record-in-400-free/|date=6 August 2006|access-date=22 April 2025|website=Swimming World}}

align="center" |5151

|align="center" |4:01.534:01.53

| Pellegrini, Federica {{flagicon|ITA}} Federica Pellegrini

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|2008|Mar|24}}

|European Championships

| Eindhoven, Netherlands

|?

align="center" |5252

|align="center" |4:00.664:00.66

| Jackson, Joanne {{flagicon|GBR}} Joanne Jackson

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|2009|Mar|16}}

|British Championships

| Sheffield, United Kingdom

|{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/olympic_games/7942809.stm | publisher=BBC News | title=Jackson claims new world record | date=16 March 2009}}

align="center" |5353

|align="center" |4:00.414:00.41

| Pellegrini, Federica {{flagicon|ITA}} Federica Pellegrini

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|2009|Jun|27}}

|Mediterranean Games

| Pescara, Italy

|[http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/21514.asp?q=Mediterranean%20Games:%20Flash!%20Federica%20Pellegrini%20Edges%20World%20Record%20in%20400%20Free;%20Ous%20Mellouli%20Doubles%20With%20African%20Record Federica Pellegrini Edges World Record in 400 Free]

align="center" |5454

|align="center" |3:59.153:59.15

| Pellegrini, Federica {{flagicon|ITA}} Federica Pellegrini

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|2009|Jul|26}}

|World Championships

| Rome, Italy

|{{cite web|title=Women's 400m Freestyle Final Results|url=https://www.omegatiming.com/File/0001090B000C000000FFFFFFFFFFFF01.pdf|work=Omega Timing|date=26 July 2009|access-date=14 July 2024}}

align="center" |5555

|align="center" |3:58.863:58.86

| Ledecky, Katie {{flagicon|USA}} Katie Ledecky

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|2014|Aug|9}}

|USA Championships

| Irvine, United States

|{{cite web|title=2014 US National Championships - Women's 400m Freestyle Final Results|url=https://www.omegatiming.com/File/00010E010301001702FFFFFFFFFFFF02.pdf|work=Omega Timing|date=9 August 2014|access-date=22 April 2025}}

align="center" |5656

|align="center" |3:58.373:58.37

| Ledecky, Katie {{flagicon|USA}} Katie Ledecky

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|2014|Aug|23}}

|Pan Pacific Championships

| Gold Coast, Australia

|{{cite web | title = 2014 Pan Pacific Championships - Women's 400m Freestyle Final Results| work = Australia Swimming | date = August 23, 2014 | url = http://liveresults.swimming.org.au/sal/2014PP/140821F019.htm | accessdate = October 8, 2014 | archive-date = October 14, 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141014234521/http://liveresults.swimming.org.au/sal/2014PP/140821F019.htm | url-status = dead }}

align="center" |5757

|align="center" |3:56.463:56.46

| Ledecky, Katie {{flagicon|USA}} Katie Ledecky

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|2016|Aug|7}}

|Olympic Games

| Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

| {{cite web|url=https://www.rio2016.com/en/swimming-standings-sw-womens-400m-freestyle|title=2016 Olympic Games - Women's 400m Freestyle Final Results|publisher=Rio 2016|accessdate=5 August 2016|archive-date=22 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160922173212/https://www.rio2016.com/en/swimming-standings-sw-womens-400m-freestyle|url-status=dead}}

align="center" |5858

|align="center" |3:56.403:56.40

| Titmus, Ariarne {{flagicon|AUS}} Ariarne Titmus

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|2022|May|22}}

|Australian Championships

| Adelaide, Australia

|{{cite web|title=2022 Australian Championships - Women's 400m Freestyle Final Results|url=https://liveresults.swimming.org.au/sal/2022AUS/220518F038.htm|publisher=swimming.org.au|date=22 May 2022|access-date=22 April 2025}}

align="center" |5959

|align="center" |3:56.083:56.08

| McIntosh, Summer {{flagicon|CAN}} Summer McIntosh

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|2023|March|28}}

|Canadian Trials

| Toronto, Canada

|{{cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/amateur/2023/03/28/torontos-summer-mcintosh-sets-world-record-in-400-metre-freestyle-at-canadian-swimming-trials.html|title=Toronto's Summer McIntosh sets world record in 400-metre freestyle at Canadian swimming trials|last=Gillespie|first=Kerry|newspaper=Toronto Star|date=28 March 2023|access-date=29 March 2023}}

align="center" |6060

|align="center" |3:55.383:55.38

| Titmus, Ariarne {{flagicon|AUS}} Ariarne Titmus

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|2023|July|23}}

|World Championships

|Fukuoka, Japan

|{{cite web|title=Women's 400m Freestyle Final Results|url=https://www.omegatiming.com/File/00011600010201EF0104FFFFFFFFFF01.pdf|work=Omega Timing|date=23 July 2023|access-date=23 July 2023}}

=Short course=

class="wikitable sortable" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 90%;"

!style="width: 1em"|#

!style="width: 3em"|TIME

!align="left" style="width: 13em"|SWIMMER

!DATE

!align="left" style="width: 10em"|# of days with record

!align="left" style="width: 18em"|EVENT

!align="left" style="width: 22em"|PLACE

!align="left" style="width: 1em"|

align="center" |011

|align="center" |4:02.594:02.59

|Woodhead, Cynthia{{flagicon|USA}} Cynthia Woodhead

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1979|Apr

}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=4 |day1=1 |year1=1979 |month2=2 |day2=8 | year2=1987 }}

|?

| Austin, Texas, USA

|

|-

|align="center" |012

|align="center" |4:02.054:02.05

|Strauss, Astrid{{flagicon|GDR}} Astrid Strauss

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1987|Feb|8}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=2 |day1=8 |year1=1987 |month2=4 |day2=18 | year2=1997 }}

|Bonn Arena Festival

| Bonn, West Germany

|[https://www.chicagotribune.com/1997/04/20/more-records-fall-in-short-course-swimn/ More Records Fall In Short-course Swimn] by Jim Harding, 1997-04-20.{{cite news|title=Davis leads record setters at swim meet|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2194&dat=19870209&id=G68yAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ku8FAAAAIBAJ&pg=1338,4104717&hl=en|work=The Ottawa Citizen|date=9 February 1987|location=Section C|page=5}}

|-

|align="center" |023

|align="center" |4:00.034:00.03

|Poll, Claudia{{flagicon|CRC}} Claudia Poll

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|1997|Apr|18}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=4 |day1=18 |year1=1997 |month2=1 |day2=26 | year2=2003 }}

|World Championships

| Gothenburg, Sweden

|

|-

|align="center" |034

|align="center" |3.59.533:59.53

|Benko, Lindsay{{flagicon|USA}} Lindsay Benko

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|2003|Jan|26}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=1 |day1=26 |year1=2003 |month2=12 |day2=10 | year2=2005 }}

|World Cup

| Berlin, Germany

|{{cite web|title=World Cup 2003.Women's 400m Freestyle Results. |url=https://www.omegatiming.com/File/0001030C003F000000FFFFFFFFFFFF01.pdf|date=26 January 2003 |access-date=14 May 2021}}

|-

|align="center" |045

|align="center" |3.56.793:56.79

|Manaudou, Laure{{flagicon|FRA}} Laure Manaudou

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|2005|Dec|10}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=12 |day1=10 |year1=2005 |month2=12 |day2=9 | year2=2006 }}

|European Championships

| Trieste, Italy

|{{cite web|title=European Short Course Swimming Championships 2005. Women's 400m Freestyle Results.|url=https://www.omegatiming.com/File/000105000040000000FFFFFFFFFFFF01.pdf|date=10 December 2005 |access-date=14 May 2021}}

|-

|align="center" |056

|align="center" |3.56.093:56.09

|Manaudou, Laure{{flagicon|FRA}} Laure Manaudou

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|2006|Dec|9}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=12 |day1=9 |year1=2006 |month2=8 |day2=8 | year2=2009 }}

|European Championships

| Helsinki, Finland

|

|-

|align="center" |067

|align="center" |3.54.923:54.92

|Jackson, Joanne{{flagicon|GBR}} Joanne Jackson

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|2009|Aug|8}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=8 |day1=8 |year1=2009 |month2=11 |day2=24 | year2=2012 }}

|British Grand Prix

| Leeds, UK

|

|-

|align="center" |078

|align="center" |3:54.85 3:54.85

|Muffat, Camille{{flagicon|FRA}} Camille Muffat

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|2012|Nov|24}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=11 |day1=24 |year1=2012 |month2=8 |day2=11 | year2=2013 }}

|European Championships

| Chartres, France

|{{cite magazine|title=Flash! Camille Muffat Downs 400 Free World Record; Vlad Morozov Posts Textile Best|url=http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/World/32733.asp?q=|magazine=Swimming World Magazine|date=24 November 2012|access-date=24 November 2012}}

|-

|align="center" |089

|align="center" |3:54.52 3:54.52

|Belmonte, Mireia{{flagicon|ESP}} Mireia Belmonte

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|2013|Aug|11}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=8 |day1=11 |year1=2013 |month2=10 |day2=4 | year2=2018 }}

|World Cup

| Berlin, Germany

|{{cite web|title=Women's 400m Freestyle Result|url=http://www.omegatiming.com/File/Download?id=00010D020601001702FFFFFFFFFFFF02|publisher=Omega Timing|date=11 August 2013|access-date=11 August 2013}}

|-

|align="center" |0910

|align="center" |3:53.97 3:53.97

|Jianjiahe, Wang{{flagicon|CHN}} Wang Jianjiahe

|align="center" |{{dts|format=dmy|2018|Oct|4}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=10 |day1=4 |year1=2018 |month2=12 |day2=14 | year2=2018 }}

|World Cup

| Budapest, Hungary

|{{cite web|title=Women's 400m Freestyle Result|url=http://www.omegatiming.com/File/Download?id=00011201080201EF04FFFFFFFFFFFF01|publisher=Omega Timing|date=4 October 2018|access-date=4 October 2018}}

|-

|align="center" |11

|align="center" |3:53.92

|{{flagicon|AUS}} Ariarne Titmus

|{{dts|format=dmy|2018|Dec|14}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=12 |day1=14 |year1=2018 |month2=10 |day2=27 | year2=2022 }}

|World Championships

|Hangzhou, China

|{{cite web|title=Women's 400m Freestyle Final Results|url=http://www.omegatiming.com/File/Download?id=000112010C0201EF04FFFFFFFFFFFF01|publisher=Omega Timing|date=14 December 2018|access-date=14 December 2018}}

|-

|align="center" |12

|align="center" |3:51.30

|{{flagicon|CHN}} Li Bingjie

|{{dts|format=dmy|2022|Oct|27}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=10 |day1=27 |year1=2022 |month2=12 |day2=10 | year2=2024}}

|Chinese Championships

|Beijing, China

|Reindel, Jim (28 October 2022). [https://www.infobae.com/aroundtherings/articles/2022/10/28/li-bingjie-crushes-400m-freestyle-world-record/ "Li Bingjie crushes 400m freestyle world record"]. Infobae. Retrieved 28 October 2022.

|-

|align="center" |13

|align="center" |3:50.25

|{{flagicon|CAN}} Summer McIntosh

|{{dts|format=dmy|2024|Dec|10}}

|align="center" |{{age in days|month1=12 |day1=10 |year1=2024}}

|World Championships

|Budapest, Hungary

|{{cite web|url=https://www.omegatiming.com/File/00011800080201EF0104FFFFFFFFFF01.pdf|title=2024 World Aquatics Championships (25m) - Women's 400m Freestyle Final Results|publisher=Omega Timing|date=10 December 2024|access-date=10 December 2024}}

|}

All-time top 25

style="wikitable"
Tables show data for two definitions of "Top 25" - the top 25 400 m freestyle times and the top 25 athletes:
style="background: #f6F5CE" |- denotes top performance for athletes in the top 25 400 m freestyle times
- denotes lesser performances, still in the top 25 400 m freestyle times, by repeat athletes
style="background: #CCFFCC" |- denotes top performance (only) for other top 25 athletes who fall outside the top 25 400 m freestyle times

=Men long course=

  • Correct as of April 2025{{cite web|title=Men's 400m Freestyle Long Course All-Time Ranking|url=https://www.worldaquatics.com/swimming/rankings?gender=M&distance=400&stroke=FREESTYLE&poolConfiguration=LCM&year=all&startDate=&endDate=×Mode=ALL_TIMES®ionId=all&countryId=|publisher=World Aquatics|access-date=15 April 2025}}

class="wikitable sortable"

! {{abbr|Ath.#|Athlete rank}}

! {{abbr|Perf.#|Performance rank}}

! Time

! Athlete

! Nation

! Date

! Place

! class="unsortable" | {{refh}}

bgcolor=f6F5CE

| align=center | 1

| align=center | 1

| 3:39.96

| Lukas Märtens

| {{GER}}

| 12 April 2025

| Stockholm

|

bgcolor=f6F5CE

| align=center | 2

| align=center | 2

| 3:40.07

| Paul Biedermann

| {{GER}}

| 26 July 2009

| Rome

|

bgcolor=f6F5CE

| align=center | 3

| align=center | 3

| 3:40.08

| Ian Thorpe

| {{AUS}}

| 30 July 2002

| Manchester

|

bgcolor=f6F5CE

| align=center | 4

| align=center | 4

| 3:40.14

| Sun Yang

| {{CHN}}

| 28 July 2012

| London

| {{cite magazine|title=2012 London Olympics: Sun Yang Lowers Asian, Olympic Record; Rattles World Record in 400 Freestyle Victory|url=http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/World/31414.asp?q=2012-London-Olympics:-Sun-Yang-Lowers-Asian,-Olympic-Record;-Rattles-World-Record-in-400-Freestyle-Victory|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130203065744/http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/World/31414.asp?q=2012-London-Olympics:-Sun-Yang-Lowers-Asian,-Olympic-Record;-Rattles-World-Record-in-400-Freestyle-Victory|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 February 2013|magazine=Swimming World Magazine|date=28 July 2012|access-date=29 July 2012}}

rowspan="5" |

| align=center | 5

| 3:40.17

|Thorpe #2

| rowspan="5" |

| 22 July 2001

| Fukuoka

|

align=center | 6

| 3:40.29

|Sun #2

| 23 September 2011

| Rizhao

|

align=center | 7

| 3:40.33

|Märtens #2

| 25 April 2024

| Berlin

| {{cite magazine|title=Lukas Maertens Posts World Leading 3:40.33 400 Freestyle To Open German Championships|url=https://swimswam.com/lukas-maertens-posts-world-leading-340-33-400-freestyle-to-open-german-championships/|magazine=SwimSwam|author=Anya Pelshaw|date=25 April 2024|access-date=25 April 2024}}

align=center | 8

| 3:40.54

|Thorpe #3

| 18 March 2002

| Brisbane

| {{cite web|title=2002 Australian Swimming Championships full results|url=https://assets.clubsonline.com.au/assets/console/customitem/attachments/2002AustralianChamps.pdf#page=54|format=PDF|publisher=Swimming Australia|date=March 2002|access-date=13 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425161657/https://assets.clubsonline.com.au/assets/console/customitem/attachments/2002AustralianChamps.pdf#page=54|archive-date=25 April 2012|url-status=dead}}

align=center | 9

| 3:40.59

|Thorpe #4

| 16 September 2000

| Sydney

|

bgcolor=f6F5CE

| align=center | 5

| align=center | 10

| 3:40.68

| Samuel Short

| {{AUS}}

| 23 July 2023

| Fukuoka

| {{cite web|title=Men's 400m Freestyle Final Results|url=https://www.omegatiming.com/File/00011600010101EF0104FFFFFFFFFF01.pdf|work=Omega Timing|date=23 July 2023|access-date=23 July 2023}}

bgcolor=f6F5CE

| align=center | 6

| align=center | 11

| 3:40.70

| Ahmed Hafnaoui

| {{TUN}}

| 23 July 2023

| Fukuoka

|

| align=center | 12

| 3:40.76

|Thorpe #5

|

| 24 March 2001

| Hobart

|

bgcolor=f6F5CE

| align=center | 7

| align=center | 13

| 3:41.11

| Oussama Mellouli

| {{TUN}}

| 26 July 2009

| Rome

|

bgcolor=f6F5CE

| align=center | 8

| align=center | 14

| 3:41.22

| Elijah Winnington

| {{AUS}}

| 18 June 2022

| Budapest

| {{cite web|title=Men's 400m Freestyle Final Results|url=https://www.omegatiming.com/File/00011700000101EF0104FFFFFFFFFF01.pdf|work=Omega Timing|date=18 June 2022|access-date=13 July 2022}}

| align=center | 15

| 3:41.33

|Thorpe #6

|

| 13 May 2000

| Sydney

|

bgcolor=f6F5CE

| align=center | 9

| align=center | 16

| 3:41.35

| Zhang Lin

| {{CHN}}

| 26 July 2009

| Rome

|

rowspan="3" |

| align=center | 17

| 3:41.38

|Sun #3

| rowspan="3" |

| 23 July 2017

| Budapest

| {{cite web|title=17th FINA World Championships - Men's 400m Freestyle Final Results|url=https://www.omegatiming.com/File/000111010A0101EF04FFFFFFFFFFFF01.pdf|work=Omega Timing|date=23 July 2017|access-date=29 March 2025}}

align=center | 18

| 3:41.41

|Winnington #2

| 17 April 2024

| Gold Coast

|

align=center | 19

| 3:41.48

|Sun #4

| 5 April 2011

| Wuhan

|

bgcolor=f6F5CE

| align=center | 10

| align=center | 20

| 3:41.53

| Park Tae-hwan

| {{KOR}}

| 16 November 2010

| Guangzhou

|

bgcolor=f6F5CE

| align=center | 11

| align=center | 21

| 3:41.55

| Mack Horton

| {{AUS}}

| 6 August 2016

| Rio de Janeiro

| {{cite web|title=2016 Olympic Games - Men's 400m Freestyle Final Results|url=https://smsprio2016-a.akamaihd.net/_odf-documents/S/W/SWM014101_Results_2016_08_06.pdf|publisher=Rio 2016|date=6 August 2016|access-date=7 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160807150902/https://smsprio2016-a.akamaihd.net/_odf-documents/S/W/SWM014101_Results_2016_08_06.pdf|archive-date=7 August 2016|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}

rowspan="4" |

| align=center | 22

| 3:41.59

|Sun #5

| rowspan="4" |

| 28 July 2013

| Barcelona

|

align=center | 23

| 3:41.60

|Märtens #3

| 9 April 2022

| Stockholm

| {{cite magazine|title=German Lukas Martens Swims A 3:41.60 400 Free, #8 Performer Of All Time|url=https://swimswam.com/german-lukas-martens-swims-a-341-60-400-free-8-performer-of-all-time/|magazine=SwimSwam|author=Yanyan Li|date=9 April 2022|access-date=9 April 2022}}

align=center | 24

| 3:41.64

|Short #2

| 17 April 2024

| Gold Coast

|

align=center | 25

| 3:41.65

|Horton #2

| 6 April 2016

| Adelaide

|

bgcolor=CCFFCC

| align=center | 12

| rowspan="14" |

| 3:42.42

| Kim Woo-min

| {{KOR}}

| 1 June 2024

| Monte Carlo

| {{cite web|title=2024 Mare Nostrum - Men's 400m Freestyle Final Results|url=https://marenostrumswimtour.com/results_files/resultats_85446_54_400-nl-mes-finale-a.pdf|publisher=marenostrumswimtour.com|date=1 June 2024|access-date=2 June 2024}}

bgcolor=CCFFCC

| align=center | 13

| 3:42.51

| Grant Hackett

| {{AUS}}

| 22 July 2001

| Fukuoka

|

bgcolor=CCFFCC

| align=center | 14

| 3:42.76

| Guilherme Costa

| {{BRA}}

| 27 July 2024

| Paris

| {{cite web|title=2024 Olympic Games - Men's 400m Freestyle Final Results|url=https://olympics.com/OG2024/pdf/OG2024/SWM/OG2024_SWM_C73A1_SWMM400MFR------------FNL-000100--.pdf|publisher=olympics.com|date=27 July 2024|access-date=28 July 2024}}

bgcolor=CCFFCC

| align=center | 15

| 3:42.78

| Larsen Jensen

| {{USA}}

| 10 August 2008

| Beijing

|

bgcolor=CCFFCC

| align=center | 16

| 3:42.81

| Oliver Klemet

| {{GER}}

| 19 April 2024

| Magdeburg

| {{cite magazine|title=Märtens Throws Down 3:41.98 400 Free, Klemet 3:42.81 At Magdeburg Gothaer & Friends Meet|url=https://swimswam.com/martens-throws-down-341-98-400-free-klemet-342-81-at-magdeburg-gothaer-friends-meet/|magazine=SwimSwam|author=Sean Griffin|date=19 April 2024|access-date=21 April 2024}}

bgcolor=CCFFCC

| align=center | 17

| 3:43.11

| Peter Vanderkaay

| {{USA}}

| 10 August 2008

| Beijing

|

bgcolor=CCFFCC

| align=center | 18

| 3:43.23

| Gabriele Detti

| {{ITA}}

| 19 July 2019

| Gwangju

| {{cite web|title=18th FINA World Championships - Men's 400m Freestyle Final Results|url=https://www.omegatiming.com/File/00011301070101EF04FFFFFFFFFFFF01.pdf|work=Omega Timing|date=23 July 2023|access-date=23 July 2023}}

bgcolor=CCFFCC

| align=center | 19

| 3:43.24

| Felix Auböck

| {{AUT}}

| 23 June 2024

| Belgrade

| {{cite web|title=2024 European Championships - Men's 400m Freestyle Final Results|url=https://www.omegatiming.com/File/00011800040101EF0104FFFFFFFFFF01.pdf|work=Omega Timing|date=23 June 2024|access-date=23 June 2024}}

bgcolor=CCFFCC

| align=center | 20

| 3:43.27

| Jack McLoughlin

| {{AUS}}

| 12 June 2021

| Adelaide

| {{cite news|title=Elijah Winnington Moves to #9 All-Time With 3:42.65 400 Free At Aussie Trials|url=https://swimswam.com/elijah-winnington-moves-to-9-all-time-with-342-65-400-free-at-aussie-trials/|website=swimswam.com|author=Robert Gibbs|date=12 June 2021|access-date=30 June 2021}}

bgcolor=CCFFCC

| align=center | 21

| 3:43.36

| Danas Rapsys

| {{LTU}}

| 12 May 2019

| Budapest

| {{cite web|title=FINA Champions Series - Men's 400m Freestyle Results|url=http://www.omegatiming.com/File/Download?id=000113010F0101EF04FFFFFFFFFFFF01|publisher=omegatiming.com|date=12 May 2019|access-date=12 May 2019}}

bgcolor=CCFFCC

| align=center | 22

| 3:43.40

| Massimiliano Rosolino

| {{ITA}}

| 16 September 2000

| Sydney

|

bgcolor=CCFFCC

| align=center | 23

| 3:43.42

| Conor Dwyer

| {{USA}}

| 6 August 2016

| Rio de Janeiro

| {{cite web|title=2016 Olympic Games - Men's 400m Freestyle Heats Results|url=https://smsprio2016-a.akamaihd.net/_odf-documents/S/W/SWM014900_ResultsSummary_2016_08_06.pdf|publisher=Rio 2016|date=6 August 2016|access-date=7 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160807150900/https://smsprio2016-a.akamaihd.net/_odf-documents/S/W/SWM014900_ResultsSummary_2016_08_06.pdf|archive-date=7 August 2016|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}

bgcolor=CCFFCC

| align=center | 24

| 3:43.45

| Nikita Lobintsev

| {{RUS}}

| 9 August 2008

| Beijing

|

bgcolor=CCFFCC

| align=center | 25

| 3:43.46

| Ryan Cochrane

| {{CAN}}

| 24 July 2014

| Glasgow

|

=Men short course=

  • Correct as of December 2024{{cite web|title=Men's 400m Freestyle Short Course All-Time Ranking|url=https://api.worldaquatics.com/fina/rankings/swimming/report/pdf?gender=M&distance=400&stroke=FREESTYLE&poolConfiguration=SCM&year=&startDate=&endDate=×Mode=ALL_TIMES®ionId=&countryId=&pageSize=200|publisher=World Aquatics|access-date=6 December 2023}}

class="wikitable sortable"

! {{abbr|Ath.#|Athlete rank}}

! {{abbr|Perf.#|Performance rank}}

! Time

! Athlete

! Nation

! Date

! Place

! class="unsortable" | {{refh}}

bgcolor=f6F5CE

| align=center | 1

| align=center | 1

| 3:32.25

| Yannick Agnel

| {{FRA}}

| 15 November 2012

| Angers

|

bgcolor=f6F5CE

| align=center | 2

| align=center | 2

| 3:32.77

| Paul Biedermann

| {{GER}}

| 14 November 2009

| Berlin

|

bgcolor=f6F5CE

| align=center | 3

| align=center | 3

| 3:33.20

| Danas Rapšys

| {{LTU}}

| 4 December 2019

| Glasgow

|

align=center |

| align=center | 4

| 3:34.01

|Rapšys #2

|

| 11 December 2018

| Hangzhou

|

bgcolor=f6F5CE

| align=center | 4

| align=center | 5

| 3:34.32

| Péter Bernek

| {{HUN}}

| 5 December 2014

| Doha

|

bgcolor=f6F5CE

| align=center | 5

| align=center | 6

| 3:34.38

| Kieran Smith

| {{USA}}

| 15 December 2022

| Melbourne

| {{cite web|title=Men's 400m Freestyle Final Results|url=https://www.omegatiming.com/File/00011700030101EF0104FFFFFFFFFF01.pdf|work=Omega Timing|date=15 December 2022|access-date=18 December 2022}}

bgcolor=f6F5CE

| align=center | 6

| align=center | 7

| 3:34.46

| Duncan Scott

| {{GBR2}}

| 31 October 2024

| Singapore

| {{cite web|title=Men's 400m Freestyle Final Results|url=https://www.omegatiming.com/File/00011800070101EF0104FFFFFFFFFF01.pdf|work=Omega Timing|date=31 October 2024|access-date=12 November 2024}}

align=center |

| align=center | 8

| 3:34.55

|Biedermann #2

|

| 10 December 2009

| Istanbul

|

bgcolor=f6F5CE

| align=center | 7

| align=center | 9

| 3:34.58

| Grant Hackett

| {{AUS}}

| 18 July 2002

| Sydney

|

bgcolor=f6F5CE

| align=center | 8

| align=center | 10

| 3:34.59

| Park Tae-hwan

| {{KOR}}

| 6 December 2016

| Windsor

|

bgcolor=f6F5CE

| align=center | 9

| align=center | 11

| 3:34.63

| Ian Thorpe

| {{AUS}}

| 21 January 2003

| Stockholm

|

bgcolor=f6F5CE

| align=center | 10

| align=center | 12

| 3:34.66

| Zhang Lin

| {{CHN}}

| 22 February 2009

| Tokyo

| {{cite web|title=Men's 400m Freestyle Final Results|url=http://swim.seiko.co.jp/2008/S70702/ranking/22R094.pdf|publisher=swim.seiko.co.jp|date=22 February 2009|access-date=27 December 2021}}

bgcolor=f6F5CE

| align=center | 11

| align=center | 13

| 3:34.81

| Peter Vanderkaay

| {{USA}}

| 22 February 2009

| Tokyo

|

| align=center | 14

| 3:35.01

|Hackett #2

|

| 2 April 1999

| Hong Kong

|

bgcolor=f6F5CE

| align=center | 12

| align=center | 15

| 3:35.05

| Thomas Neill

| {{AUS}}

| 15 December 2022

| Melbourne

|

bgcolor=f6F5CE

| align=center | 13

| align=center | 16

| 3:35.30

| Aleksandr Krasnykh

| {{RUS}}

| 13 December 2017

| Herning

|

| align=center | 17

| 3:35.46

|Bernek #2

|

| 2 December 2015

| Netanya

|

bgcolor=f6F5CE

| align=center | 14

| align=center | 18

| 3:35.47

| Daniel Wiffen

| {{IRL}}

| 5 December 2023

| Otopeni

| {{cite web|title=Men's 400m Freestyle Final Results|url=https://www.omegatiming.com/File/00011600090101EF0104FFFFFFFFFF01.pdf|work=Omega Timing|date=5 December 2023|access-date=6 December 2023}}

rowspan="3" |

| align=center | 19

| 3:35.49

|Rapšys #3

| rowspan="3" |

| 1 November 2020

| Budapest

|

align=center | 20

| 3:35.51

|Krasnykh #2

| 13 December 2017

| Copenhagen

|

align=center | 21

| 3:35.64

|Thorpe #2

| 2 April 1999

| Hong Kong

|

bgcolor=f6F5CE

| align=center | 15

| align=center | 22

| 3:35.67

| Luke Hobson

| {{USA}}

| 26 August 2022

| Sydney

| {{cite magazine|title=LUKE HOBSON RIPS 3:35.67 400 FREE TO SCARE AMERICAN RECORD (US@AUSTRALIAN CHAMPS)|url=https://swimswam.com/luke-hobson-rips-335-67-400-free-to-scare-american-record-usaustralian-champs/|magazine=SwimSwam|author=Sophie Kaufman|date=26 August 2022|access-date=19 September 2022}}

| align=center | 23

| 3:35.75

|Thorpe #3

|

| 17 January 2000

| Sydney

|

bgcolor=f6F5CE

| align=center | 16

| align=center | 23

| 3:35.75

| Nikita Lobintsev

| {{RUS}}

| 10 December 2009

| Istanbul

|

bgcolor=f6F5CE

| align=center | 17

| align=center | 25

| 3:35.89

| Elijah Winnington

| {{AUS}}

| 12 December 2024

| Budapest

| {{cite web|title=Men's 400m Freestyle Final Results|url=https://www.omegatiming.com/File/00011800080101EF0104FFFFFFFFFF01.pdf|publisher=Omega Timing|date=12 December 2024|access-date=28 December 2024}}

bgcolor=CCFFCC

| align=center | 18

| rowspan="8" align=center |

| 3:35.90

| Felix Auböck

| {{AUT}}

| 16 December 2021

| Abu Dhabi

| {{cite web|title=Men's 400m Freestyle Final Results|url=https://www.omegatiming.com/File/00011500190101EF0104FFFFFFFFFF01.pdf|publisher=Omega Timing|date=16 December 2021|access-date=16 December 2021}}

bgcolor=CCFFCC

| align=center | 19

| 3:36.30

| Matthew Sates

| {{RSA}}

| 21 October 2022

| Berlin

| {{cite web|title=Men's 400m Freestyle Final Results|url=https://www.omegatiming.com/File/00011700070101EF0104FFFFFFFFFF01.pdf|work=Omega Timing|date=21 October 2022|access-date=22 October 2022}}

bgcolor=CCFFCC

| align=center | 20

| 3:36.31

| Carson Foster

| {{USA}}

| 12 December 2024

| Budapest

|

bgcolor=CCFFCC

| align=center | 21

| 3:36.35

| James Guy

| {{GBR2}}

| 5 December 2014

| Doha

|

bgcolor=CCFFCC

| align=center | 22

| 3:36.43

| Pan Zhanle

| {{CHN}}

| 24 October 2024

| Incheon

| {{cite web|title=Men's 400m Freestyle Results|url=https://www.omegatiming.com/File/00011800060101EF0104FFFFFFFFFF01.pdf|work=Omega Timing|date=24 October 2024|access-date=26 October 2024}}

bgcolor=CCFFCC

| align=center | 23

| 3:36.56

| Tom Dean

| {{GBR2}}

| 21 November 2020

| Budapest

|

bgcolor=CCFFCC

| align=center | 24

| 3:36.63

| Gabriele Detti

| {{ITA}}

| 7 April 2019

| Riccione

|

bgcolor=CCFFCC

| align=center | 25

| 3:36.64

| Henrik Christiansen

| {{NOR}}

| 11 December 2018

| Hangzhou

|

=Women long course=

  • Correct as of March 2025{{cite web|title=Women's 400m Freestyle Long Course All-Time Ranking|url=https://www.worldaquatics.com/swimming/rankings?gender=F&distance=400&stroke=FREESTYLE&poolConfiguration=LCM&year=all&startDate=&endDate=×Mode=ALL_TIMES®ionId=all&countryId=|website=worldaquatics.com|date=18 October 2021|access-date=19 October 2021}}

class="wikitable sortable"

! {{abbr|Ath.#|Athlete rank}}

! {{abbr|Perf.#|Performance rank}}

! Time

! Athlete

! Nation

! Date

! Place

! class="unsortable" | {{refh}}

bgcolor=f6F5CE

| align=center | 1

| align=center | 1

| 3:55.38

| Ariarne Titmus

| {{AUS}}

| 23 July 2023

| Fukuoka

|

align=center |

| align=center | 2

| 3:55.44

|Titmus #2

|

| 10 June 2024

| Brisbane

|

bgcolor=f6F5CE

| align=center | 2

| align=center | 3

| 3:56.08

| Summer McIntosh

| {{CAN}}

| 28 March 2023

| Toronto

|

| align=center | 4

| 3:56.40

| Titmus #3

|

| 22 May 2022

| Adelaide

|

bgcolor=f6F5CE

| align=center | 3

| align=center | 5

| 3:56.46

| Katie Ledecky

| {{USA}}

| 7 August 2016

| Rio de Janeiro

|

rowspan="20" |

| align=center | 6

| 3:56.69

| Titmus #4

| rowspan="20" |

| 26 July 2021

| Tokyo

| {{Cite web|url=https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/olympic-games/resOG2020-/pdf/OG2020-/SWM/OG2020-_SWM_C73A1_SWMW400MFR------------FNL-000100--.pdf |title=2020 Olympic Games - Women's 400m Freestyle Final Results|access-date=30 July 2021|archive-date=2 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210802224126/https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/olympic-games/resOG2020-/pdf/OG2020-/SWM/OG2020-_SWM_C73A1_SWMW400MFR------------FNL-000100--.pdf |url-status=dead }}

align=center | 7

| 3:56.90

| Titmus #5

| 13 June 2021

| Adelaide

|

align=center | 8

| 3:57.36

| Ledecky #2

| 26 July 2021

| Tokyo

|

align=center | 9

| 3:57.49

| Titmus #6

| 27 July 2024

| Paris

| {{cite web|title=Women's 400m Freestyle Final Results|url=https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/results/swimming/women-s-400m-freestyle/fnl-000100--|publisher=olympics.com|date=27 July 2024|access-date=29 July 2024}}

align=center | 10

| 3:57.94

| Ledecky #3

| 27 May 2018

| Indianapolis

|

align=center | 11

| 3:58.06

| Titmus #7

| 3 August 2022

| Birmingham

|

align=center | 12

| 3:58.15

| Ledecky #4

| 18 June 2022

| Budapest

|

align=center | 13

| 3:58.34

| Ledecky #5

| 23 July 2017

| Budapest

|

align=center | 14

| 3:58.35

| Ledecky #6

| 15 June 2024

| Indianapolis

| {{cite web|title=2024 US Olympic Trials - Women's 400m Freestyle Results|url=https://www.omegatiming.com/File/00011800030201EF0104FFFFFFFFFF01.pdf|work=Omega Timing|date=15 June 2024|access-date=17 June 2024}}

rowspan="2" align=center | 15

| rowspan="2" | 3:58.37

| Ledecky #7

| 23 August 2014

| Gold Coast

|

McIntosh #2

| 27 July 2024

| Paris

|

align=center | 17

| 3:58.44

| Ledecky #8

| 30 June 2017

| Indianapolis

|

align=center | 18

| 3:58.47

| Titmus #8

| 13 June 2023

| Melbourne

|

align=center | 19

| 3:58.50

| Ledecky #9

| 11 August 2018

| Tokyo

|

align=center | 20

| 3:58.71

| Ledecky #10

| 7 August 2016

| Rio de Janeiro

| {{cite web|title=2016 Olympic Games - Women's 400m Freestyle Heats Results|url=https://smsprio2016-a.akamaihd.net/_odf-documents/S/W/SWW014900_ResultsSummary_2016_08_07.pdf|publisher=Rio 2016|accessdate=7 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160808054410/https://smsprio2016-a.akamaihd.net/_odf-documents/S/W/SWW014900_ResultsSummary_2016_08_07.pdf|archive-date=8 August 2016|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}

align=center | 21

| 3:58.73

| Ledecky #11

| 23 July 2023

| Fukuoka

|

align=center | 22

| 3:58.76

| Titmus #9

| 21 July 2019

| Gwangju

| {{cite web|title=18th FINA World Championships - Women's 400m Freestyle Final Results|url=https://www.omegatiming.com/File/00011301070201EF04FFFFFFFFFFFF01.pdf|work=Omega Timing|date=21 July 2019|access-date=22 April 2025}}

align=center | 23

| 3:58.84

| Ledecky #12

| 13 May 2023

| Atlanta

|

align=center | 24

| 3:58.86

| Ledecky #13

| 9 August 2014

| Irvine

|

align=center | 25

| 3:58.98

| Ledecky #14

| 27 June 2016

| Omaha

| {{cite web|title=2016 US Olympic Trials - Women's 400m Freestyle Results|url=https://www.omegatiming.com/File/000110000301001702FFFFFFFFFFFF02.pdf|work=Omega Timing|date=27 June 2016|access-date=22 April 2025}}

bgcolor=CCFFCC

| align=center | 4

| rowspan="23" align=center |

| 3:59.15

| Federica Pellegrini

| {{ITA}}

| 26 July 2009

| Rome

|

bgcolor=CCFFCC

| align=center | 5

| 3:59.44

| Erika Fairweather

| {{NZL}}

| 11 February 2024

| Doha

| {{cite web|title=Women's 400m Freestyle Final Results|url=https://www.omegatiming.com/File/00011800000201EF0104FFFFFFFFFF01.pdf|work=Omega Timing|date=11 February 2024|access-date=11 February 2024}}

bgcolor=CCFFCC

| align=center | 6

| 4:00.60

| Joanne Jackson

| {{GBR2}}

| 26 July 2009

| Rome

|

bgcolor=CCFFCC

| align=center | 7

| 4:00.65

| Leah Smith

| {{USA}}

| 27 June 2016

| Omaha

|

bgcolor=CCFFCC

| align=center | 8

| 4:00.79

| Rebecca Adlington

| {{GBR2}}

| 26 July 2009

| Rome

|

bgcolor=CCFFCC

| rowspan="2" align=center|9

| rowspan="2" align=left|4:01.08

| rowspan="2" align=left|Li Bingjie

| rowspan="2" align=left |{{CHN}}

| 26 July 2021

| Tokyo

|

bgcolor=CCFFCC

| 3 May 2023

| Hangzhou

| {{cite magazine|title=Li Bingjie Ties Asian Record In 400 Free, Fei Liwei Scores 14:46.59 1500 Free|url=https://swimswam.com/li-bingjie-ties-asian-record-in-400free-fei-liwei-scores-1446591500free/|magazine=SwimSwam|author=Retta Race|date=3 May 2023|access-date=8 May 2023}}

bgcolor=CCFFCC

| align=center | 10

| 4:01.13

| Camille Muffat

| {{FRA}}

| 18 March 2012

| Dunkirk

| {{cite magazine|title=French Olympic Trials: Camille Muffat Blasts 400 Free Textile Best, French Record|url=http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/french-olympic-trials-camille-muffat-blasts-400-free-textile-best-french-record/|magazine=Swimming World Magazine|date=19 March 2012|access-date=20 March 2012}}

bgcolor=CCFFCC

| align=center | 11

| 4:01.23

| Jazmin Carlin

| {{GBR2}}

| 7 August 2016

| Rio de Janeiro

|

bgcolor=CCFFCC

| align=center | 12

| 4:01.31

| Ajna Késely

| {{HUN}}

| 21 July 2019

| Gwangju

|

bgcolor=CCFFCC

| align=center | 13

| 4:01.75

| Lani Pallister

| {{AUS}}

| 19 April 2024

| Gold Coast

|

bgcolor=CCFFCC

| align=center | 14

| 4:01.77

| Allison Schmitt

| {{USA}}

| 29 July 2012

| London

|

bgcolor=CCFFCC

| align=center | 15

| 4:01.95

| Tang Muhan

| {{CHN}}

| 20 September 2021

| Xi'an

|

bgcolor=CCFFCC

| align=center | 16

| 4:02.08

| Paige Madden

| {{USA}}

| 15 June 2024

| Indianapolis

|

bgcolor=CCFFCC

| align=center | 17

| 4:02.13

| Laure Manaudou

| {{FRA}}

| 31 July 2006

| Budapest

|

bgcolor=CCFFCC

| align=center | 18

| 4:02.14

| Isabel Gose

| {{GER}}

| 27 July 2024

| Paris

|

bgcolor=CCFFCC

| align=center | 19

| 4:02.20

| Katie Hoff

| {{USA}}

| 16 February 2008

| Columbia

|

bgcolor=CCFFCC

| align=center | 20

| 4:02.35

| Chen Qian

| {{CHN}}

| 17 October 2009

| Jinan

| {{cite news|url=http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/22379.asp |title=Chinese National Games: Liu Zige Scares World Record in 100 Fly|publisher=SwimmingWorldMagazine | date=2009-10-18 | accessdate=2010-04-23}}

bgcolor=CCFFCC

| align=center | 21

| 4:02.37

| Boglárka Kapás

| {{HUN}}

| 7 August 2016

| Rio de Janeiro

|

bgcolor=CCFFCC

| align=center | 22

| 4:02.47

| Melani Costa

| {{ESP}}

| 28 July 2013

| Barcelona

|

bgcolor=CCFFCC

| align=center | 23

| 4:02.86

| Maria Fernanda Costa

| {{BRA}}

| 11 February 2024

| Doha

|

bgcolor=CCFFCC

| rowspan="2" align=center | 24

| rowspan="2" | 4:03.02

| Sharon van Rouwendaal

| {{NED}}

| 2 August 2015

| Kazan

|

bgcolor=CCFFCC

| Wang Jianjiahe

| {{CHN}}

| 31 December 2020

| Shijiazhuang

|

=Women short course=

  • Correct as of December 2024{{cite web|title=Women's 400m Freestyle Short Course All-Time Ranking|url=https://api.worldaquatics.com/fina/rankings/swimming/report/pdf?gender=F&distance=400&stroke=FREESTYLE&poolConfiguration=SCM&year=&startDate=&endDate=×Mode=ALL_TIMES®ionId=&countryId=&pageSize=200|publisher=World Aquatics|access-date=12 December 2023}}

class="wikitable sortable"

! {{abbr|Ath.#|Athlete rank}}

! {{abbr|Perf.#|Performance rank}}

! Time

! Athlete

! Nation

! Date

! Place

! class="unsortable" | {{refh}}

bgcolor=f6F5CE

| align=center | 1

| align=center | 1

| 3:50.25

| Summer McIntosh

| {{CAN}}

| 10 December 2024

| Budapest

|

bgcolor=f6F5CE

| align=center | 2

| align=center | 2

| 3:51.30

| Li Bingjie

| {{CHN}}

| 27 October 2022

| Beijing

|

align=center |

| align=center | 3

| 3:52.80

|McIntosh #2

|

| 28 October 2022

| Toronto

| {{cite web|title=Women's 400m Freestyle Final Results|url=https://www.omegatiming.com/File/00011700080201EF0104FFFFFFFFFF01.pdf|work=Omega Timing|date=28 October 2022|access-date=30 October 2022}}

bgcolor=f6F5CE

| align=center | 3

| align=center | 4

| 3:52.88

| Katie Ledecky

| {{USA}}

| 28 October 2022

| Toronto

|

bgcolor=f6F5CE

| align=center | 4

| align=center | 5

| 3:53.73

| Lani Pallister

| {{AUS}}

| 10 December 2024

| Budapest

|

bgcolor=f6F5CE

| align=center | 5

| align=center | 6

| 3:53.92

| Ariarne Titmus

| {{AUS}}

| 14 December 2018

| Hangzhou

|

bgcolor=f6F5CE

| align=center | 6

| align=center | 7

| 3:53.97

| Wang Jianjiahe

| {{CHN}}

| 4 October 2018

| Budapest

|

rowspan="2" |

| align=center | 8

| 3:54.04

|Ledecky #2

| rowspan="2" |

| 3 November 2022

| Indianapolis

|

align=center | 9

| 3:54.06

|Ledecky #3

| 6 October 2019

| Indianapolis

|

bgcolor=f6F5CE

| align=center | 7

| align=center | 10

| 3:54.52

| Mireia Belmonte

| {{ESP}}

| 11 August 2013

| Berlin

|

rowspan="3" |

| align=center | 11

| 3:54.56

|Wang #2

| rowspan="3" |

| 14 December 2018

| Hangzhou

|

align=center | 12

| 3:54.58

|Titmus #2

| 27 October 2020

| Brisbane

|

align=center | 13

| 3:54.63

|Wang #3

| 28 September 2018

| Eindhoven

|

bgcolor=f6F5CE

| align=center | 8

| align=center | 14

| 3:54.85

| Camille Muffat

| {{FRA}}

| 24 November 2012

| Chartres

|

bgcolor=f6F5CE

| align=center | 9

| align=center | 15

| 3:54.88

| Mary-Sophie Harvey

| {{CAN}}

| 10 December 2024

| Budapest

|

bgcolor=f6F5CE

| align=center | 10

| align=center | 16

| 3:54.92

| Joanne Jackson

| {{GBR2}}

| 8 August 2009

| Leeds

|

rowspan="2" |

| align=center | 17

| 3:54.93

|Muffat #2

| rowspan="2" |

| 21 October 2012

| Berlin

|

align=center | 18

| 3:55.04

|Pallister #2

| 13 December 2022

| Melbourne

| {{cite web|title=Women's 400m Freestyle Final Results|url=https://www.omegatiming.com/File/00011700030201EF0104FFFFFFFFFF01.pdf|work=Omega Timing|date=13 December 2022|access-date=18 December 2022}}

bgcolor=f6F5CE

| align=center | 11

| align=center | 19

| 3:55.12

| Paige Madden

| {{USA}}

| 10 December 2024

| Budapest

|

bgcolor=f6F5CE

| align=center | 12

| align=center | 20

| 3:55.16

| Lauren Boyle

| {{NZL}}

| 8 August 2013

| Eindhoven

|

rowspan="4" |

| align=center | 21

| 3:55.31

|Boyle #2

| rowspan="4" |

| 11 August 2013

| Berlin

|

align=center | 22

| 3:55.36

|Belmonte #2

| 13 December 2014

| Barcelona

|

align=center | 23

| 3:55.76

|Belmonte #3

| 5 December 2014

| Doha

|

align=center | 24

| 3:55.83

|Li #2

| 19 December 2021

| Abu Dhabi

|

bgcolor=f6F5CE

| align=center | 13

| align=center | 25

| 3:55.89

| Allison Schmitt

| {{USA}}

| 18 December 2009

| Manchester

|

bgcolor=CCFFCC

| align=center | 14

| rowspan="12" |

| 3:56.00

| Erika Fairweather

| {{NZL}}

| 13 December 2022

| Melbourne

|

bgcolor=CCFFCC

| align=center | 15

| 3:56.09

| Laure Manaudou

| {{FRA}}

| 9 December 2006

| Helsinki

|

bgcolor=CCFFCC

| align=center | 16

| 3:56.12

| Claire Weinstein

| {{USA}}

| 10 December 2024

| Budapest

|

bgcolor=CCFFCC

| align=center | 17

| 3:56.24

| Coralie Balmy

| {{FRA}}

| 16 November 2008

| Berlin

|

bgcolor=CCFFCC

| align=center | 18

| 3:56.52

| Siobhán Haughey

| {{HKG}}

| 21 October 2022

| Berlin

| {{cite web|title=Women's 400m Freestyle Final Results|url=https://www.omegatiming.com/File/00011700070201EF0104FFFFFFFFFF01.pdf|work=Omega Timing|date=21 October 2022|access-date=22 October 2022}}

bgcolor=CCFFCC

| rowspan="2" align=center | 19

| rowspan="2" | 3:56.84

| Melani Costa

| {{ESP}}

| 8 August 2013

| Eindhoven

|

bgcolor=CCFFCC

| Isabel Gose

| {{GER}}

| 10 December 2024

| Budapest

|

bgcolor=CCFFCC

| align=center | 21

| 3:57.07

| Katie Hoff

| {{USA}}

| 17 December 2010

| Dubai

|

bgcolor=CCFFCC

| align=center | 22

| 3:57.45

| Holly Hibbott

| {{GBR2}}

| 21 December 2019

| Las Vegas

|

bgcolor=CCFFCC

| align=center | 23

| 3:57.59

| Federica Pellegrini

| {{ITA}}

| 6 March 2011

| Ostia

|

bgcolor=CCFFCC

| align=center | 24

| 3:57.61

| Katie Grimes

| {{USA}}

| 31 October 2024

| Singapore

| {{cite web|title=Women's 400m Freestyle Final Results|url=https://www.omegatiming.com/File/00011800070201EF0104FFFFFFFFFF01.pdf|work=Omega Timing|date=31 October 2024|access-date=12 November 2024}}

bgcolor=CCFFCC

| align=center | 25

| 3:57.76

| Sharon van Rouwendaal

| {{NED}}

| 5 December 2014

| Doha

|

References

{{Reflist|2}}