Can the United States End Its Misery in the 400 Freestyle? There is Reason for Optimism
All countries experience droughts in specific events. There might be a downturn in a sprint discipline, or a dry spell in the 200 breaststroke. Maybe there is a lack of firepower and depth in a butterfly event. For power nations such as the United States, these lulls don’t typically last long, as rising talent emerges and high-level success is restored. But in the men’s 400-meter freestyle, the shortcomings have been unusually long – and ugly.
The American men have not won gold in the 400 freestyle at the Olympic Games since George DiCarlo prevailed in the event at the 1984 edition in Los Angeles. In the 10 Olympics since, the United States also has not captured a silver medal, although it has secured five bronze medals. More, the U.S. has not won gold at the World Championships since 1975, when Tim Shaw emerged on top. The last medal in the 400 freestyle at the World Champs? The bronze from Connor Jaeger in 2013.
A look at the all-time world rankings casts additional light on the United States’ woes in the 400 freestyle. The American record sits at 3:42.78, the time produced by Larsen Jensen for the bronze medal at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. That effort, however, makes Jensen the No. 15 performer in history, and nearly three seconds slower than the world record of Germany’s Lukas Maertens (3:39.96). Five Australians, two Germans, two Chinese, two Koreans and two Tunisians have been quicker than the American standard.
The United States once faced similar gloom in the 1500 freestyle, only to have Bobby Finke emerge as an Olympic champion and savior. Is a revival around the corner in the 400 freestyle? If nothing else, there is reason for hope – evident in recent results and the promise of youth. So, let’s take a glass-half-full approach to the 400 freestyle, and assess why the United States is capable of reversing its fortunes.
No Americans raced in the final of the 400 freestyle at last summer’s World Championships in Singapore, where Maertens backed up his Olympic title with a global crown. Doesn’t sound optimistic, does it? Well, it’s critical to remember that a significant stomach bug besieged Team USA during the World Champs, with 400 freestyle entries Rex Maurer and Luka Mijatovic affected by the illness.
Maurer finished 11th in prelims in Singapore, but he was 3:43.33 at the National Championships, a mark that elevated him to No. 3 on the all-time American list. Maurer has surged to another level since he made the move to the University of Texas ahead of his sophomore year and he has established himself as a future hope. His time from Nationals ranked No. 5 in the world for 2025 and his growth in the 500-yard freestyle, albeit in short course, represents an athlete who is on an upward trajectory. This summer, the Pan Pacific Championships will serve as Maurer’s opportunity to show where he rates among international foes.
Meanwhile, Mijatovic is the Red, White and Blue upstart, a 16-year-old with massive potential. Mijatovic has routinely rewritten the National Age Group (NAG) record book as a youth, and he was on a real hot streak during the last quarter of 2025. Most recently, Mijatovic set NAG marks in the 15-16 category in the 400 freestyle (3:45.30) and 800 free (7:48.28). Although 3:45 isn’t going to make a dent on the world stage, we’re looking at an athlete who has considerable upside and, as a commit to the University of Texas, will eventually practice with the best training group in the world.
At the U.S. Open last month, Carson Foster (3:45.73) and Luke Hobson (3:45.80) registered sub-3:46 outings to draw attention to their ability in the 400 free. Foster has dabbled with the event in the past, but his future as a global factor will hinge on how it fits into his schedule. As one of the world’s premier performers in the medley events, Foster must have an opening to contest the 400 freestyle, and not have it impact his primary focus. As for Hobson, he is one of the world’s best in the 200 freestyle, a medalist at the Olympics and World Champs. Can his training lead him to further develop in the 400 freestyle, but not jeopardize his working formula at half the distance? If so, Hobson’s potential is intriguing.
The United States’ standing in the 400 freestyle has been bleak for multiple decades, with the event hardly measuring up to the success enjoyed by Team USA in other disciplines. Yet, there is reason for optimism, and 2026 will provide a clearer picture of whether the U.S. is moving in the right direction and capable of sparking a turnaround.