400 metres Freestyle, Men

Tim Shaw had been the world’s top swimmer in 1975, winning the 200, 400, and 1,500 freestyles at the 1975 World Championships, but 1976 had been difficult for him. He had problems with his shoulders and a case of anemia and never again reached the form of 1975. He had set four world records in the event in 1974-75, but his mark was bettered at the US Trials in June 1976 by Brian Goodell, where he had out-dueled Shaw. The final in Montréal was more of the same, as the two matched stroke-for-stroke for 300 metres, going out at world record pace. On the penultimate lap, Goodell finally opened some water, leading Shaw by a stroke at the final turn. Shaw hung on for the next 25 metres, but then Goodell opened up further to win by half-a-bodylength in a world record 3:51.93, over a second ahead of the time he had set at the Trials. This was Goodell’s second gold medal in Montréal, having won the 1,500 metres two days before.

Soviet Volodymyr Raskatov placed third, well back in 3:55.76. Raskatov was the European record holder coming into the 1976 Games, but as David Wallechinsky has noted in his book The Complete Book of the Olympic Games, his European record would not have even qualified him for the final of the US Olympic Trials in 1976.