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The women’s 4×400 metres relay emerged later than the shorter sprint relay and developed into a record event only at the end of the 1960s, by which point women’s 400 metres running had already expanded rapidly at international level. Its progression reflects the growth of long sprint depth in women’s athletics, with strong national teams able to combine individual 400m quality with tactical relay running.

The earliest marks came in a mixed landscape of clubs, national teams and ad hoc representative quartets before the event was formally recognised for world-record purposes. Once ratification began, the 4×400 quickly became one of the key indicators of national strength in women’s track and field, especially in Europe and later in the United States and the Soviet system.

Because the event sits at the crossroads of sprinting and endurance, the record progression often mirrors broader changes in women’s 400m standards. It also differs from the 4×100 in that relay order, pacing and the ability to produce four sub-52 or sub-50 performers matter as much as baton efficiency, making it one of the clearest collective tests in women’s athletics.

4x400m Relay, women World Record Progression

Performance	Athletes	Country	Date	Location	Competition	Notes
3:15.17	Tatyana Ledovskaya Olga Nazarova Mariya Pinigina Olga Bryzgina	URS	1/10/1988	Seoul	XXIV Olympic Games
3:15.92	Gesine Wolther Sabine Busch Dagmar Rübsam Marita Koch	GDR	3/6/1984	Erfurt	GDR Championships
3:19.04	Kirsten Siemon Sabine Busch Dagmar Rübsam Marita Koch	GDR	11/9/1982	Athina	European Championships
3:29.1y	Svetlana Strykina Inta Klimovicha Natalya Sokolova Nadezhda Ilyina	URS	7/8/1976	College Park	International Match USA-URS
3:19.2 / 3:19.23	Doris Maletzki Brigitte Rohde Ellen Streidt Christina Brehmer	GDR	31/7/1976	Montreal	Meeting
3:30.3y	Christianne Krause Dagmar Jost Erika Weinstein Elke Barth	FRG	18/7/1975	Durham	Internationa Match USA-Africa_FRG
3:23.0	Dagmar Käsling Rita Kühne Helga Seidler Monika Zehrt	GDR	10/9/1972	München	The XX Olympic Games
3:28.5	Dagmar Käsling Rita Kühne Helga Saidler Monika Zehrt	GDR	9/9/1972	München	The XX Olympic Games
3:28.8	Dagmar Käsling Helga Seidler Monika Zehrt Brigitte Rohde	GDR	5/7/1972	Colombes	Invitational event during men's international match FRA-GDR
3:29.3	Rita Kühne Ingelore Lohse Helga Seidler Monika Zehrt	GDR	15/8/1971	Helsinki	European Championships
3:38.8y	Denise Hooten Lindy Reynolds Gail Fitzerald Cheryl Toussaint	USA	10/7/1971	Bakersfield	AAU Championships	New York Atoms TC
3:41.2y	Michelle McMillan Shelley Marshall Gail Fitzgerald Cheryl Toussaint	USA	4/7/1970	Los Angeles	AAU Championships	New York Atoms TC
3:30.8	Rosemary Stirling Patricia Lowe Janet Simpson Lillian Board	GBR	20/9/1969	Pireas	European Championships
3:30.8	Bernadette Martin Nicole Duclos Eliane Jacq Colette Besson	FRA	20/9/1969	Pireas	European Championships
3:33.9	Christa Czekay Antje Gleichfeld Inge Eckoff Christel Frese	FRG	19/9/1969	Pireas	European Championships
3:47.8y	Joan Pirie Debbie Newing Linda Iddings Janete Jaton	USA	6/7/1969	Dayton	Nattional Meeting	Angel Track Club
3:34.2	Michele Mombet Eliane Jacq Nicole Duclos Colette Besson	FRA	6/7/1969	Colombes	Invitational event during men's international match FRA-POL
3:37.6	Jenny Pawsey Pauline Attwood Janet Simpson Lillian Board	GBR	22/6/1969	London	International Meeting
3:43.2	Lilita Zagere Anna Dundare Ingrīda Verbele Sarmite Shtula	URS	1/6/1969	Minsk	Inter-area Contest	(Latvia)
3:47.4	Lyudmila Finogenova Tatyana Medvedeva Tamara Voitenko Olga Klein	URS	30/5/1969	Moskva	Inter-area Contest	Moskva Team

See also: [Women’s 4x100m Relay WR Progression][Men’s 4x400m Relay WR Progression]