400 metres Freestyle, Men

Yevgeny Sadovy came into this event with great confidence. He had not lost the race in three years, and had already won gold in Barcelona in the 200 free, but he had to face Australia’s Kieren Perkins, the world record holder (3:46.47) and 1991 Pan Pac Champion. Perkins qualified first. In the final Anders Holmertz went out at world record pace, as he had in Seoul in 1988, but at 300 metres he, Perkins, and Sadovy were within 0.66 seconds. Holmertz could not hang on, as he was passed by both swimmers in the final 100. The finish was very close, with Sadovy outtouching Perkins to win in 3:45.00, well under the world record, Perkins finishing in 3:45.16. Even Holmertz finished in 3:46.77, just off the old world mark.

Sadovy would add another gold medal in the 4 x 200 free relay in Barcelona, finishing with three gold medals in his only Olympic appearance, and his only three events. Russian freestylers starred in 1992, winning the 50 and 100 free (Aleksandr Popov), and 200 and 400 free by Sadovy. Sadovy had a short career. He won relay gold medals at the 1993 European Championships, and then retired in 1996 after not making the Russian Olympic team for Atlanta.

Perkins would later win the 1,500 in Barcelona, defending that title in Atlanta, and add a 1,500 silver in Sydney. At the 1994 World Championships, he would win the title, bettering Sadovy’s world record with 3:43.80. Anders Holmertz competed at four Olympics (1984-96) but was never able to get to the top step of the podium, winning four silver and one bronze medal.