| Final | | time | | | 1. Theresia Kiesl |  Austria | 4:13.62 | | | 2. Lidia Chojecka |  Poland | 4:14.93 | | | 3. Violeta Szekely |  Romania | 4:15.54 | | | 4. Sylvia Kühnemund |  Germany | 4:15.64 | | | 5. Luminita Gogîrlea | Romania | 4:16.68 | | | 6. Maite Zúñiga |  Spain | 4:18.41 | | | 7. Brigitta Tusai |  Hungary | 4:18.44 | | | 8. Frédérique Quentin |  France | 4:18.94 | | | 9. Freda Davoren |  Ireland | 4:19.79 | |
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| | | First - from each Heat and next Best - advanced to Final. |
| Heat 1 | | time | | | 5. Theresia Kiesl | Austria | 4:17.59 | Q | | 6. Frédérique Quentin | France | 4:17.90 | Q | | 7. Violeta Szekely | Romania | 4:18.05 | Q | | 9. Brigitta Tusai | Hungary | 4:18.42 | q | | 10.Olga Komyagina |  Russia | 4:18.60 | | | 12.Ljiljana Ćulibrk |  Croatia | 4:35.03 | |
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| Heat 2 | | time | | | 1. Luminita Gogîrlea | Romania | 4:17.12 | Q | | 2. Lidia Chojecka | Poland | 4:17.17 | Q | | 3. Sylvia Kühnemund | Germany | 4:17.27 | Q | | 4. Maite Zúñiga | Spain | 4:17.56 | q | | 8. Freda Davoren | Ireland | 4:18.21 | q | | 11.Lale Ŷ"ztürk |  Turkey | 4:25.21 | |
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