| Final | | time | | | 1. Paula Ivan |  Romania | 4:07.16 | | | 2. Marina Yachmenyova |  Soviet Union | 4:07.77 | | | 3. Svetlana Kitova | Soviet Union | 4:08.36 | | | 4. Yvonne Mai |  East Germany | 4:09.40 | | | 5. Małgorzata Rydz |  Poland | 4:09.42 | | | 6. Laima Baikauskaitė | Soviet Union | 4:10.49 | | | 7. Karen Hutcheson |  Great Britain | 4:10.76 | | | 8. Malin Ewerlöf |  Sweden | 4:11.70 | |
|
|
|
Heats - Saturday, 18th February | | First 3 from each Heat advanced to Final. |
| Heat 1 | | time | | | 5. Karen Hutcheson | Great Britain | 4:13.47 | Q | | 7. Paula Ivan | Romania | 4:14.59 | Q | | 8. Laima Baikauskaitė | Soviet Union | 4:14.72 | Q | | 9. Rita Marquard |  West Germany | 4:15.52 | | | 10.Christien Toonstra |  Netherlands | 4:17.46 | |
|
|
| Heat 2 | | time | | | 1. Małgorzata Rydz | Poland | 4:11.15 | Q | | 2. Marina Yachmenyova | Soviet Union | 4:11.35 | Q | | 3. Svetlana Kitova | Soviet Union | 4:11.38 | Q | | 4. Yvonne Mai | East Germany | 4:11.38 | q | | 6. Malin Ewerlöf | Sweden | 4:14.05 | q |
|
| 