Dates July 13–16 Start date 1908 Venue White City Stadium | Competitors 25 from 10 nations Location White City Stadium | |
The men's 400 metre freestyle was one of six swimming events on the swimming at the 1908 Summer Olympics programme. Its distance was the median of the 3 individual freestyle event distances. It was the first time an event over 400 metres was held at the Olympics (after a 440-yard contest was held in 1904). The competition was held from Monday July 13, 1908 to Thursday July 16, 1908.
Contents
Twenty-five swimmers from ten nations competed.
Records
These were the standing world and Olympic records (in minutes) prior to the 1908 Summer Olympics.
(*) 440 yards (= 402.34 m)
In the final Henry Taylor set the first official world record for this distance in 5:36.8 minutes.
First round
The fastest swimmer in each heat and the fastest loser advanced, qualifying 10 swimmers for the semifinals.
Heat 1
Heat 2
Heat 3
Tartakover had no competition in the third heat.
Heat 4
Heat 5
Heat 6
Heat 7
Heat 8
Zachár had no competition in the eighth heat.
Heat 9
Semifinals
The fastest two swimmers from each semifinal advanced to the final.
Semifinal 1
Semifinal 2