Two heats were held, each with six swimmers; the swimmers with the eight fastest times advanced to the final. The heats took place on 30 August starting at 10:03 BST.[2] Great Britain's Hannah Russell won the first heat in a time of 4 minutes 41.25 seconds and was the fastest qualifier for the final. The second heat was won by Deborah Font of Spain who finished in a time of 4 minutes 46.72 seconds.[2]
The final was held on 30 August at 17:57 BST. Russia's Oxana Savchenko, swimming in lane 3, won the gold medal in a time of 4 minutes 37.89 seconds, finishing less than a second ahead of the 16-year-old British silver medallist Hannah Russell. Spain's Deborah Font was a further 1.15 seconds back in the bronze medal position.[3][4]
^"Swimming - Classification". The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Limited. Archived from the original on 30 August 2012. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
^ ab"Women's 400m Freestyle - S12". The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Limited. Archived from the original on 31 August 2012. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
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