Defending Champion: Laure Manaudou (France) – 4:05.34.
World-Record Holder: Federica Pellegrini (Italy) – 4:01.53.
Most Titles: United States (Nine) – Martha Norelius (1924/1928); Helene Madison
(1932); Ann Curtis (1948); Chris von Saltza (1960); Virginia Duenkel (1964); Tiffany
Cohen (1984); Janet Evans (1988); Brooke Bennett (2000).
Notable: The time of 4:03.85 that Janet Evans posted to win the 1988 crown in Seoul
still stands as the Olympic record. Of course, that standard is likely living on
borrowed time with the field that will gather in Beijing.
Here's a look at the leading contenders in the event:
Federica Pellegrini:
The Italian emerged as the favorite – at least temporarily – when she broke the world
record en route to gold at the European Championships in March. Pellegrini became
the first woman in history in crack the 4:02 barrier. The fifth-place finisher at last
year's World Championships, Pellegrini will be in the mix for gold, though the depth
of the event hardly makes her a lock for a medal.
Laure Manaudou:
The class of this event for a few years, Manaudou only finished second at the French
Championships, where she was four seconds off her personal best of 4:02.13. The
defending champion, though, can't be discounted because of one subpar performance.
She's an aggressive athlete who will push the pace early and could make it an
Olympic repeat.
Katie Hoff:
The American-record holder, Hoff clocked 4:02.20 at the Missouri Grand Prix in
February and a time in the 4:00-range this summer is not out of the question for an
athlete who can do it all. Hoff was fourth at the 2007 World Championships, but
seems to have grown significantly in this event. Look for Hoff to earn one of what
should be several medals in China.
Kate Ziegler:
Best known for her prowess in the 800 and 1500 freestyles, the longer not an Olympic
event for women, Ziegler is supremely talented in the 400 free, as well. She was sixth
at last year's World Championships and went 4:04.24 to win at U.S. Nationals last
summer. Her finish is among the best in the sport and could carry Ziegler to the
podium.
Otylia Jedrzejczak:
The Polish swimmer is the former world-record holder in the 200 butterfly, but she's
also a force in the 200 and 400 freestyles. Jedrzejczak was the silver medalist in the
400 free in Athens and also placed second in the event at the 2007 World
Championships. Count her as another member of a large group of medal contenders.
Linda Mackenzie/Bronte Barratt:
The Australians will bring an impressive one-two punch to the event this summer. At
the Aussie Trials, Mackenzie cracked 4:05 with a clocking of 4:04.73. That effort
followed an eighth-place effort at the 2007 World Champs. As for Barratt, the
teenager touched the wall in 4:05.19 at the Australian Trials and has the potential to
slice more time off that mark.
Rebecca Adlington/Jo Jackson:
At the British Olympic Trials, numerous swimmers produced career-best times that
vaulted them into the medal discussion for the Olympics. Adlington was one of those
individuals, as she went 4:04.50 in the eight-lap event. Meanwhile, Jackson
reaffirmed her status as one of her nation's premier middle-distance freestylers when
she went 4:05.38. Jackson was seventh at the 2007 World Championships.
Coralie Balmy:
When the French Championships started, Balmy figured to be the second
representative from her country. Instead, Balmy enters Beijing as the French champ.
At the European Champs in March, she had a breakthrough swim of 4:04.15 that
lifted her up the international ranks. She'll need another big drop to challenge for a
medal.
Camelia Potec:
The Romanian knows what it's like to win Olympic gold as she heard her national
anthem played in 2004 for her win in the 200 free. Potec is equally adept as a 400
freestyler and won the bronze medal at the European Champs in March. She's been
4:05.62 this year, but must be faster for an impact in the event in China.