Janet Evans – Ahead of Her Time
These days, Janet Evans is a driving force behind the Olympic Games returning to American soil, serving as the Chief Athlete Officer for LA28. Before she shifted into that role, Evans – of course – established herself as a distance-swimming legend. Here is a look back at her excellence in the 400 freestyle at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul.
When Janet Evans stepped onto the blocks for the final of the 400 freestyle at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, the American star already had a gold medal in her grasp. A few days earlier, the 17-year-old bested the field in the 400 individual medley, an event that was the weakest of her three entries. As a result, Evans had to feel good heading into freestyle action, which was her strength.
As the world-record holder, Evans was the favorite in the 400 freestyle, but she was expected to be challenged by East Germany’s Heike Friedrich and Anke Mohring. Although they may not have tested positive for doping, it was widely understood that Evans wasn’t just racing against Friedrich and Mohring, but also against the systematic-doping program of East Germany.
Friedrich was riding the momentum of a title the previous night in the 200 freestyle and through the first half of the race, she was with Evans, who made the turn in 2:02.14. Evans turned at the 300-meter mark with a slight advantage, but she blew away Friedrich in the last 100 meters and clocked a world record of 4:03.85, with Friedrich earning the silver medal in 4:05.94. Mohring picked up the bronze in 4:06.64.
Evans produced a split of 1:00.40 for the last two laps and covered the back half of her race in 2:01.71 for an impressive negative split. Her world record endured for more than 17 years and wasn’t wiped out until France’s Laure Manaudou posted a time of 4:03.03 at the 2006 French Championships. Add in the 800 freestyle and the 1500 freestyle, and Evans owned three world records that lasted at least 17 years, a statistic that speaks to her ahead-of-her-era talent.
“I wasn’t worrying about my time,” Evans said. “When I saw 4:03, I was really surprised. I knew I was going to have to bring it home really hard that last 100, but I felt really good. I felt really easy. I didn’t think I was going that fast.”
Evans’ time would have won every men’s 400 freestyle in Olympic competition through the 1968 Games in Mexico City.
How many laps are in a 400?
8 lengths in a Olympic size (50M) pool
That’s my girl!!! Love you Janet!! ?
Her stroke rate on the first 50 of her last hundred was unbelievable. I remember watching her swim at this Olympics. She was incredible!
She had a great feel for negative splitting. Brian Goodell was great at it.
But this was actually the first time that she had ever swum the 400 freestyle and negative split it. And just one year after the former world record holder, Tracy Wickham of Australia had said that the only way to break it was by negative splitting that race. That was good insight on Tracy wickham’s part.
Excellent
Incredible!
Phenomenal … especially that last 100 ?
Like Katie Ledecky today, the mens distance swimmers hated swimming against her in practice. Janet Evans never slowed down and the men had to struggle to keep up. Janet had the amazing ability to expand her chest and lungs to a greater amount than any Olympian measured before to now. Janet was also a great IMer, winning Gold by almost two body lengths.