400 metres Individual Medley, Women

At Tokyo, Claudia Kolb had won a surprise silver medal in the 200 metre breaststroke, even though she was only 14-years-old. In the ensuing four years she had become the world’s best all-around swimmer, setting six world records in the 200 IM and four in the 400. At the 1967 Pan American Games she won three individual gold medals, in both individual medleys and the 200 butterfly. In Mexico City she was entered only in her two best events, the IMs, and she came through, easily winning two gold medals. On 20 October she won gold in the 200 IM, with the 400 final set for 25 October. She had won the 200 by over four seconds but that paled in comparison to her dominance in this event. Winning by almost 14 seconds, the largest margin in Olympic women’s swimming since before World War II, at the finish Kolb was half-a-pool ahead of the silver medalist, her teammate Lynn Vidali. East German Sabine Steinbach, who had been touched out for bronze in the 200 IM, placed third over the fast closing American Sue Pedersen.