Gross Swims to Record in 400-Meter Freestyle

Michael Gross set a world record of 3 minutes 47.80 seconds in the 400-meter freestyle at the West German swimming championships Thursday.

The previous mark of 3:48.32 was set by Vladimir Salnikov of the Soviet Union in 1983 at Moscow.

In the 1984 Olympic Games at Los Angeles, Gross, 21, won the Olympic 200-meter freestyle in 1:47.44 and the 100-meter butterfly in 53.08, setting world records in both races. He also gained silver medals in the 200-meter butterfly and with the West German team in the 800-meter freestyle relay.