2026 Mare Nostrum Tour – Barcelona
- May 30-31, 2026
- Barcelona, Spain — Club Natació Sant Andreu
- LCM (50 meters)
- Mare Nostrum Tour Central
- Results
- Livestream
- Psych Sheets
- Day 1 Prelims Recap
- Day 1 Finals Recap
Women’s 400 Freestyle
- World Record: 3:54.18 – Summer McIntosh (CAN), 2025
- European Record: 3:59.15 – Federica Pellegrini (ITA), 2009
Mare Nostrum Record: 4:01.80 – Erika Fairweather (NZL), 2026Barcelona Record: 4:04.03 – Jazz Carlin (GBR), 2014
- Erika Fairweather (NZL) — 4:01.75 **New Mare Nostrum Record
- Agostina Hein (ARG) — 4:02.99
- Simona Quadarella (ITA) — 4:06.27
Argentina’s Agostina Hein turned in a phenomenal performance in the women’s 400 free at the Mare Nostrum tour stop in Barcelona, smashing her own national record in the event en route to claiming silver.
Hein stopped the clock in 4:02.99, knocking almost three-and-a-half seconds off the record and her lifetime best, which previously stood at 4:06.25 from April 2026. The 18-year-old has been on a record-breaking streak, taking down four national records just this season.
Prior to Hein setting a new standard in May, the Argentine record in this event was held by Delfina Pignatiello for over six years, who posted a time of 4:06.61 in 2019.
Hein was out in 57.59 at the 100-meter mark before splitting 1:01.43 on the second 100 to post a time of 1:59.02 at the halfway point. She split 1:02.26/1:01.71 on the back half, snagging the runner-up spot behind New Zealand’s Erika Fairweather (4:01.75).
Locked in a close battle with Fairweather for the first 200 meters, Hein trailed mere tenths behind at the 100 mark and flipped just .67 back at the 200 mark. The pair were the only two in the field to be out in under two minutes at the halfway point.
In addition to blowing past the Argentine record, Hein’s performance in Barcelona ranks her 8th in the world in the 400 free so far this season.
2025-2026 LCM Women 400 FREE
McIntosh
3:55.37
| 2 | Katie Ledecky | USA | 3:59.02 | 04/30 |
| 3 | Lani PALLISTER | AUS | 3:59.36 | 04/07 |
| 4 | Li Bingjie | CHN | 4:01.17 | 11/10 |
| 5 | Erika FAIRWEATHER | NZL | 4:01.42 | 05/13 |
Hein’s time of 4:02.99 was also just .13 off of the South America continental record, held by Maria Costa of Brazil in 4:02.86.
Hein is a three-time World Junior Championships medalist, having picked up a bronze in the 800m free in 2023 followed by a gold in the 400m IM and a silver in the 800m free at the 2025 competition in Otopeni, Romania. She also represented Argentina at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, finishing 14th in the 800m free and 18th in the 400m free.
Hein is the second coming of Yana Klochkova.
Puhleaseee…
At the same age as Hein is now, Klochkova won 200/400 IM gold and 800 silver in Sydney 2000.
Or do you think Hein will win 200/400 IM gold and 800 silver in 2028 LA?
Teenage prodigy who stayed with the same coach from her age group years, medley swimmer with the same concentration on the 400/800 free, Yana had just turned 18 a month prior when she won in Sydney, and Hein just turned 18 last month. They draw some pretty interesting parallels, timing of the Olympics notwithstanding. I do think she will be pushing 4:30 soon in the 400 IM.
I honestly think the person McIntosh will have to worry most about in the 200 IM is Steenbergen if she wants it. Her run right now is feeling eerily similar to deBruijn’s before Sydney 2000.
200IM the main threat is not steenbergen, it is Zidi
Just to remind that Hein swam 4.05.31 at Montecarlo (her previous PB and national record) and 4.05.34 at Canet. .
Obviously she’s been demolishing records left and right but this feels like her best breakthrough on the international stage.
For sure. This is the one that makes it feel like she could really get there.
cant wait to see her go sub 4
It’s not mentioned in here either but that time is also only .13 off the South American record