Spain's defending bronze medallist Mireia Belmonte (4:35.13) could not repeat her podium efforts from Rio five years earlier and settled for fourth.

In the hunt for a medal, Hungary's defending champion Katinka Hosszú faded down the stretch to take fifth in 4:35.98, almost 10 seconds off her world record set at the last Games.

Hosszú's teammate Viktória Mihályvári-Farkas (4:37.75) took sixth, while Great Britain's Aimee Willmott (4:38.30) repeated her seventh-place finish from Rio five years earlier.

Up to two swimmers per National Olympic Committee (NOC) can automatically qualify by swimming that time at an approved qualification event.

Up to one swimmer per NOC meeting that time is eligible for selection, allocated by world ranking until the maximum quota for all swimming events is reached.