Swimming at the 1984 Summer Olympics – Women's 400 metre individual medley
The final of the women's 400 metre individual medley event at the 1984 Summer Olympics was held in the McDonald's Olympic Swim Stadium in Los Angeles, California, on July 29, 1984. 20 athletes competed in the heats, with the eight fastest qualifying for the final.Records
Prior to this competition, the existing world and Olympic records were as follows.Results
Heats
Rule: The eight fastest swimmers advance to final A, while the next eight to final B.
| Rank | Heat | Lane | Name | Nationality | Time | Notes |
| 1 | 3 | 4 | Tracy Caulkins | | 4:44.42 | Q |
| 2 | 2 | 4 | Sue Heon | | 4:51.32 | Q |
| 3 | 2 | 3 | Nathalie Gingras | | 4:51.77 | Q |
| 4 | 1 | 4 | Petra Zindler | | 4:52.49 | Q |
| 5 | 2 | 5 | Kathrine Bomstad | | 4:52.74 | Q |
| 6 | 1 | 5 | Donna McGinnis | | 4:53.30 | Q |
| 7 | 1 | 3 | Gaynor Stanley | | 4:53.70 | Q |
| 8 | 3 | 5 | Suzie Landells | | 4:54.13 | Q |
| 9 | 3 | 6 | Roberta Felotti | | 4:54.14 | q |
| 10 | 3 | 7 | Karen Phillips | | 4:54.28 | q |
| 11 | 1 | 6 | Sofia Kraft | | 4:55.10 | q |
| 12 | 3 | 3 | Sarah Hardcastle | | 4:55.78 | q |
| 13 | 2 | 2 | Sonja Hausladen | | 4:58.68 | q |
| 14 | 1 | 2 | Hideka Koshimizu | | 4:59.18 | q |
| 15 | 3 | 2 | Gail Jonson | | 4:59.92 | q |
| 16 | 2 | 6 | Anca Pătrășcoiu | | 5:03.97 | q, NR |
| 17 | 2 | 7 | Monika Bayer | | 5:05.61 | |
| 18 | 2 | 1 | Karin Brandes | | 5:11.92 | |
| 1 | 7 | Beda Leirvaag | | | |
| 4 | 1 | Faten Ghattas | | | |
Finals
Final B
Final A
