Laure Manaudou from France went 4:03.03.
Here's the stuff from swimmingworldmagazine.com:
TOURS, France. May, 12. IT'S all over. Janet Evans' long-standing mark of 4:03.85 in the 400-meter freestyle is no more after Laure Manaudou's performance of 4:03.03 at the French Championships. Evans' record had stood since 1988.
Since winning three medals at the Athens Olympics, including gold in the 400 free, Manaudou has been viewed as the favorite to take down Evans' standard. Her effort at the French Championships marked her third win of the meet, complementing gold in the 800 free and 400 individual medley.
Her splits:
28.03 58.30 (30.27)
1:28.90 (30.60) 2:00.00 (31.10)
2:30.85 (30.85) 3:02.07 (31.22)
3:33.05 (30.98) 4:03.03 (29.98)
Manaudou challenged the record in the Athens Olympics, but fell off the last 100. As much as I thought it could be broken by 2008, it still shocks me. That was th single greatest race in the history of swimming. Anyone who saw that race on TV, or on video or wherever, knows what I mean.
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Yes this is a monumental achievement. Perhaps to elaborate on what Jeff wrote before, in 1988 Seoul Olympics this race was broadcast live at 3 am CST--I set my alarm for it.
Janet went out quick with the East German Anke Möhring racing her for the initial 200, then Heike Freidrich made her move and Friedrich and Evans went tandem over the last 200. They were both even at the 350 turn and then Evans put Friedrich away in a scintillating final 50. Evans negative split the race--breaking her record of a 4:05.45. It was one of the most exciting races I have ever seen--especially since I'm rather certain the East German's sent out Morhing to be the "rabbit".
Cheers to Laure! What an effort. I can't wait to see her and Zeigler or Hoff go at it next year in Melbourne.
Yes this is a monumental achievement. Perhaps to elaborate on what Jeff wrote before, in 1988 Seoul Olympics this race was broadcast live at 3 am CST--I set my alarm for it.
Janet went out quick with the East German Anke Möhring racing her for the initial 200, then Heike Freidrich made her move and Friedrich and Evans went tandem over the last 200. They were both even at the 350 turn and then Evans put Friedrich away in a scintillating final 50. Evans negative split the race--breaking her record of a 4:05.45. It was one of the most exciting races I have ever seen--especially since I'm rather certain the East German's sent out Morhing to be the "rabbit".
Cheers to Laure! What an effort. I can't wait to see her and Zeigler or Hoff go at it next year in Melbourne.
