The women's 400 metre freestyle was a swimming event held as part of the swimming at the 1932 Summer Olympics programme.
Fourteen swimmers from nine nations competed.
In the third heat Lenore Kight set a new Olympic record with 5:40.9 minutes.
Helene Madison set a new world record in the final with 5:28.5 minutes.
She had to stay in hospital due to blood poisoning after an infection officially caused by a mosquito bite.