Swimming at the 1936 Summer Olympics – Men's 400 metre freestyle
The men's 400 metre freestyle was a swimming event held as part of the swimming at the 1936 Summer Olympics programme. It was the seventh appearance of the event, which was established in 1908. The competition was held from Monday to Wednesday, 10 to 12 August 1936.
Thirty-four swimmers from 16 nations competed.Medalists
Records
These were the standing world and Olympic records prior to the 1936 Summer Olympics.
In the fifth heat Shunpei Uto set a new Olympic record with 4:45.5 minutes. In the final Jack Medica bettered the Olympic record with 4:44.5 minutes.Results
Heats
Monday 10 August 1936: The fastest two in each heat and the next two fastest from across the heats advanced to the semi-finals.
Heat 1
| Place | Swimmer | Time | Qual. |
| 1 | | 4:52.6 | QQ |
| 2 | | 4:57.1 | QQ |
| 3 | | 4:57.2 | qq |
| 4 | | 4:57.7 | |
| 5 | | 5:16.9 | |
| 6 | | 5:17.2 | |
Heat 2
| Place | Swimmer | Time | Qual. |
| 1 | | 4:57.2 | QQ |
| 2 | | 5:11.7 | QQ |
| 3 | | 5:18.2 | |
| 4 | | 5:31.5 | |
Heat 3
| Place | Swimmer | Time | Qual. |
| 1 | | 4:51.3 | QQ |
| 2 | | 4:54.7 | QQ |
| 3 | | 5:03.6 | |
| 4 | | 5:13.3 | |
| 5 | | 5:17.8 | |
| 6 | | 5:20.9 | |
| 7 | | 5:36.8 | |
Heat 4
| Place | Swimmer | Time | Qual. |
| 1 | | 4:59.4 | QQ |
| 2 | | 5:03.1 | QQ |
| 3 | | 5:08.9 | |
| 4 | | 5:12.7 | |
| 5 | | 5:18.3 | |
| 6 | | 5:19.1 | |
| 7 | | 5:38.3 | |
Heat 5
| Place | Swimmer | Time | Qual. |
| 1 | | 4:45.5 | QQ OR |
| 2 | | 4:53.9 | QQ |
| 3 | | 4:56.0 | qq |
| 4 | | 5:20.3 | |
| 5 | | 5:53.8 | |
Heat 6
| Place | Swimmer | Time | Qual. |
| 1 | | 4:55.9 | QQ |
| 2 | | 5:05.5 | QQ |
| 3 | | 5:07.8 | |
| 4 | | 5:18.2 | |
| 5 | | 5:33.8 | |
Semifinals
Tuesday 11 August 1936: The fastest three in each semi-final and the fastest fourth-placed advanced to the final.
Semifinal 1
| Place | Swimmer | Time | Qual. |
| 1 | | 4:48.4 | QQ |
| 2 | | 4:49.9 | QQ |
| 3 | | 4:55.4 | QQ |
| 4 | | 4:56.4 | |
| 5 | | 4:58.5 | |
| 6 | | 4:58.7 | |
| 7 | | 5:01.9 | |
Semifinal 2
| Place | Swimmer | Time | Qual. |
| 1 | | 4:48.2 | QQ |
| 1 | | 4:48.2 | QQ |
| 3 | | 4:53.6 | QQ |
| 4 | | 4:55.7 | qq |
| 5 | | 5:13.4 | |
| 6 | | 5:14.9 | |
Final
Wednesday 12 August 1936:
| Place | Swimmer | Time |
| 1 | | 4:44.5 OR |
| 2 | | 4:45.6 |
| 3 | | 4:48.1 |
| 4 | | 4:52.7 |
| 5 | | 4:53.6 |
| 6 | | 4:53.8 |
| 7 | | 5:00.9 |
Jack Medica