The world records in swimming are ratified by World Aquatics (formerly known as FINA), the international governing body of swimming. Records can be set in long course (50 metres) or short course (25 metres) swimming pools. World Aquatics recognizes world records in the following events for both men and women,[1][2] except for the mixed relays, where teams consist of two men and two women, in any order.

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Caeleb Dressel holds the most world swimming records in men's swimming with six (four individual and two relays).
Thumb
Katie Ledecky holds the most individual world records in women's swimming with four. She shares this record with Kaylee McKeown.

The ratification process is described in FINA Rule SW12,[1] and involves submission of paperwork certifying the accuracy of the timing system and the length of the pool, satisfaction of FINA rules regarding swimwear and a negative doping test by the swimmer(s) involved. Records can be set at intermediate distances in an individual race and for the first leg of a relay race. Records which have not yet been fully ratified are marked with a '#' symbol in these lists.

Some of the records below were established by swimmers wearing bodysuits or suits made of polyurethane or other non-textile materials allowed in the race pool from February 2008 until December 2009. On the eve of the 2009 FINA World Championships in Rome, the international governing body for five Olympic aquatic sports voted to ban the use of bodysuits and all suits made of non-textile materials starting 1 January 2010.[3][4] The suits seemed to improve the performance in those with larger physiques, boosting performance in some athletes more than others,[who?] depending on morphology and physiology.[5] Since then, best times set by swimmers wearing textile materials have once again overtaken more than half of the world records recognized by World Aquatics.

On 25 July 2013, FINA Technical Swimming Congress voted to allow world records in the long course mixed 400 free relay and mixed 400 medley relay, as well as in six events in short course meters: the mixed 200 medley and 200 free relays, as well as the men's and women's 200 free relays and the men's and women's 200 medley relays.[6] In October 2013, FINA decided to establish "standards" before something can be recognized as the first World Record in these events.[7] But later on 13 March 2014 FINA has officially ratified the eight world records set by Indiana University swimmers at the IU Relay Rally held on 26 September 2013 in Bloomington.[8]

Long course (50m pool)

Men

More information Event, Time ...
Event Time NameNationalityDateMeetLocation Ref
50m freestyle 20.91 ssCésar Cielo  Brazil 18 December 2009Brazilian Championships São Paulo, Brazil [9][10][11][12]
100m freestyle 46.40 Pan Zhanle  China 31 July 2024Olympic Games Paris, France [13]
200m freestyle 1:42.00 ssPaul Biedermann  Germany 28 July 2009World Championships Rome, Italy [14][15][16]
400m freestyle 3:40.07 ssPaul Biedermann  Germany 26 July 2009World Championships Rome, Italy [17][18][19]
800m freestyle 7:32.12 ssZhang Lin  China 29 July 2009World Championships Rome, Italy [20][21]
1500m freestyle 14:30.67 Bobby Finke  United States 4 August 2024Olympic Games Paris, France [22] [23]
50m backstroke 23.55 sfKliment Kolesnikov  Russia 27 July 2023Russian Cup Kazan, Russia [24]
100m backstroke 51.60 Thomas Ceccon  Italy 20 June 2022World Championships Budapest, Hungary [25][26]
200m backstroke 1:51.92 ssAaron Peirsol  United States 31 July 2009World Championships Rome, Italy [27][28][29]
50m breaststroke 25.95 sfAdam Peaty  Great Britain 25 July 2017World Championships Budapest, Hungary [30][31]
100m breaststroke 56.88 sfAdam Peaty  Great Britain 21 July 2019World Championships Gwangju, South Korea [32][33]
200m breaststroke 2:05.48 Qin Haiyang  China 28 July 2023World Championships Fukuoka, Japan [34] [35]
50m butterfly 22.27 Andriy Govorov  Ukraine 1 July 2018Sette Colli Trophy Rome, Italy [36][37]
100m butterfly 49.45 Caeleb Dressel  United States 31 July 2021Olympic Games Tokyo, Japan [38][39]
200m butterfly 1:50.34 Kristóf Milák  Hungary 21 June 2022World Championships Budapest, Hungary [40][41]
200m individual medley 1:54.00 Ryan Lochte  United States 28 July 2011World Championships Shanghai, China [42][43][44]
400m individual medley 4:02.50 Léon Marchand  France 23 July 2023World Championships Fukuoka, Japan [45] [46]
4 × 100 m freestyle relay 3:08.24 ss  United States 11 August 2008 Olympic Games Beijing, China [47][48][49]
4 × 200 m freestyle relay 6:58.55 ss
 United States 31 July 2009 World Championships Rome, Italy [50][51]
4 × 100 m medley relay 3:26.78
 United States 1 August 2021 Olympic Games Tokyo, Japan [52] [53]
Close
Legend: # – Record awaiting ratification by World Aquatics;
Records not set in finals: h – heat; sf – semifinal; r – relay 1st leg; rh – relay heat 1st leg; b – B final; – en route to final mark; tt – time trial

ss – supersuited/non-textile world record[clarification needed]

Men's records by race distance

Women

More information Event, Time ...
Event Time NameNationalityDateMeetLocation Ref
50m freestyle 23.61 sfSarah Sjöström  Sweden 29 July 2023World Championships Fukuoka, Japan [54] [55]
100m freestyle 51.71 rSarah Sjöström  Sweden 23 July 2017World Championships Budapest, Hungary [56][57]
200m freestyle 1:52.23 Ariarne Titmus  Australia 12 June 2024Australian Olympic Trials Brisbane, Australia [58]
400m freestyle 3:55.38 Ariarne Titmus  Australia 23 July 2023World Championships Fukuoka, Japan [59] [60]
800m freestyle 8:04.79 Katie Ledecky  United States 12 August 2016Olympic Games Rio de Janeiro, Brazil [61][62]
1500m freestyle 15:20.48 Katie Ledecky  United States 16 May 2018TYR Pro Swim Series Indianapolis, United States [63][64]
50m backstroke 26.86 Kaylee McKeown  Australia 20 October 2023World Cup Budapest, Hungary [65]
100m backstroke 57.13 Regan Smith  United States 18 June 2024U.S. Olympic Trials Indianapolis, United States [66][67]
200m backstroke 2:03.14 Kaylee McKeown  Australia 10 March 2023NSW State Championships Sydney, Australia [68] [69]
50m breaststroke 29.16 Rūta Meilutytė  Lithuania 30 July 2023World Championships Fukuoka, Japan [70][71]
100m breaststroke 1:04.13 Lilly King  United States 25 July 2017World Championships Budapest, Hungary [72][73]
200m breaststroke 2:17.55 Evgeniia Chikunova  Russia 21 April 2023Russian Championships Kazan, Russia [74][75] [76]
50m butterfly 24.43 Sarah Sjöström Sweden 5 July 2014Swedish Championships Borås, Sweden [77][78]
100m butterfly 55.18 sfGretchen Walsh  United States 15 June 2024U.S. Olympic Trials Indianapolis, United States [79][80]
200m butterfly 2:01.81 ssLiu Zige China 21 October 2009Chinese National Games Jinan, China [81][82]
200m individual medley 2:06.12 Katinka Hosszú  Hungary 3 August 2015World Championships Kazan, Russia [83][84]
400m individual medley 4:24.38 Summer McIntosh  Canada 16 May 2024Canadian Trials Toronto, Canada [85]
4 × 100 m freestyle relay 3:27.96
 Australia 23 July 2023 World Championships Fukuoka, Japan [86] [87]
4 × 200 m freestyle relay 7:37.50
 Australia 27 July 2023 World Championships Fukuoka, Japan [88] [89]
4 × 100 m medley relay 3:49.63
 United States 4 August 2024 Olympic Games Paris, France [90]
Close
Legend: # – Record awaiting ratification by World Aquatics;
Records not set in finals: h – heat; sf – semifinal; r – relay 1st leg; rh – relay heat 1st leg; b – B final; – en route to final mark; tt – time trial

ss – supersuited/non-textile world record[clarification needed]

Mixed relay

More information Event, Time ...
Event Time NameNationalityDateMeetLocation Ref
4 × 100 m freestyle relay 3:18.83  Australia 29 July 2023 World Championships Fukuoka, Japan [91] [92]
4 × 100 m medley relay 3:37.43
 United States 3 August 2024 Olympic Games Paris, France [93]
Close
Legend: # – Record awaiting ratification by World Aquatics;
Records not set in finals: h – heat

Short course (25m pool)

Men

More information Event, Time ...
Event Time NameNationalityDateMeetLocation Ref
50m freestyle 20.16 Caeleb Dressel  United States 21 November 2020International Swimming League Budapest, Hungary [94][95]
100m freestyle 44.84 Kyle Chalmers  Australia 29 October 2021World Cup Kazan, Russia [96][97][98]
200m freestyle 1:39.37 ssPaul Biedermann Germany 15 November 2009World Cup Berlin, Germany [99]
400m freestyle 3:32.25 Yannick Agnel France 15 November 2012French Nationals Angers, France [100][101]
800m freestyle 7:20.46 Daniel Wiffen  Ireland 10 December 2023European Championships Otopeni, Romania [102][103]
1500m freestyle 14:06.88 Florian Wellbrock  Germany 21 December 2021World Championships Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates [104][105]
50m backstroke 22.11 Kliment Kolesnikov  Russia 23 November 2022Solidarity Games Kazan, Russia [106][107] [108]
100m backstroke 48.33 Coleman Stewart  United States 29 August 2021International Swimming League Naples, Italy [109] [110]
200m backstroke 1:45.63 Mitch Larkin  Australia 27 November 2015Australian Championships Sydney, Australia [111][112]
50m breaststroke 24.95 Emre Sakçı  Turkey 27 December 2021Turkish Championships Gaziantep, Turkey [113] [114]
100m breaststroke 55.28 Ilya Shymanovich  Belarus 26 November 2021International Swimming League Eindhoven, Netherlands [115]
200m breaststroke 2:00.16 Kirill Prigoda  Russia 13 December 2018World Championships Hangzhou, China [116][117]
50m butterfly 21.75 =Nicholas Santos  Brazil 6 October 2018World Cup Budapest, Hungary [118][119]
50m butterfly 21.75 =Szebasztián Szabó  Hungary 6 November 2021European Championships Kazan, Russia [120]
100m butterfly 47.78 Caeleb Dressel  United States 21 November 2020International Swimming League Budapest, Hungary [121][122]
200m butterfly 1:46.85 Tomoru Honda  Japan 22 October 2022Japanese Championships Tokyo, Japan [123][124]
100m individual medley 49.28 Caeleb Dressel  United States 22 November 2020International Swimming League Budapest, Hungary [125][126]
200m individual medley 1:49.63 Ryan Lochte  United States 14 December 2012World Championships Istanbul, Turkey [127][128]
400m individual medley 3:54.81 Daiya Seto  Japan 20 December 2019International Swimming League Las Vegas, United States [129][130]
4 × 50 m freestyle relay 1:21.80
 United States 14 December 2018 World Championships Hangzhou, China [131]
4 × 50 m freestyle relay 1:20.77 WB[132] ss  France 14 December 2008 European Championships Rijeka, Croatia [133]
4 × 100 m freestyle relay 3:02.75  Italy 13 December 2022 World Championships Melbourne, Australia [134]
4 × 200 m freestyle relay 6:44.12
 United States 16 December 2022 World Championships Melbourne, Australia [135][136]
4 × 50 m medley relay 1:29.72  Italy 17 December 2022 World Championships Melbourne, Australia [137]
4 × 100 m medley relay 3:18.98 =
 Australia 18 December 2022 World Championships Melbourne, Australia [138]
4 × 100 m medley relay 3:18.98 =
 United States 18 December 2022 World Championships Melbourne, Australia [139]
Close
Legend: # – Record awaiting ratification by World Aquatics;
Records not set in finals: h – heat; sf – semifinal; r – relay 1st leg; rh – relay heat 1st leg; b – B final; – en route to final mark; tt – time trial

ss – supersuited/non-textile world record[clarification needed]

WB - world best time swam that will not be ratified by FINA.

Women

More information Event, Time ...
Event Time NameNationalityDateMeetLocation Ref
50m freestyle 22.93 Ranomi Kromowidjojo  Netherlands 7 August 2017World Cup Berlin, Germany [140]
100m freestyle 50.25 Cate Campbell  Australia 26 October 2017Australian Championships Adelaide, Australia [141][142]
200m freestyle 1:50.31 Siobhán Haughey  Hong Kong 16 December 2021World Championships Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates [143]
400m freestyle 3:51.30 Li Bingjie  China 27 October 2022Chinese Championships Beijing, China [144]
800m freestyle 7:57.42 Katie Ledecky  United States 5 November 2022World Cup Indianapolis, United States [145][146]
1500m freestyle 15:08.24 Katie Ledecky  United States 29 October 2022World Cup Toronto, Canada [147][148]
50m backstroke 25.25 Maggie Mac Neil  Canada 16 December 2022World Championships Melbourne, Australia [149]
100m backstroke 54.56 Kaylee McKeown  Australia 26 September 2024Australian Championships Adelaide, Australia [150]
200m backstroke 1:58.94 Kaylee McKeown  Australia 28 November 2020Australian Championships Brisbane, Australia [151]
50m breaststroke 28.37 sfRūta Meilutytė  Lithuania 17 December 2022World Championships Melbourne, Australia [152]
100m breaststroke 1:02.36 =Rūta Meilutytė Lithuania 12 October 2013World Cup Moscow, Russia [153]
100m breaststroke 1:02.36 =Alia Atkinson  Jamaica 6 December 2014World Championships Doha, Qatar [154][155]
100m breaststroke 1:02.36 =Alia Atkinson  Jamaica 26 August 2016World Cup Chartres, France [156]
200m breaststroke 2:14.57 ssRebecca Soni  United States 18 December 2009Duel in the Pool Manchester, United Kingdom [157]
50m butterfly 24.38 ssTherese Alshammar Sweden 22 November 2009World Cup Singapore, Singapore [158]
100m butterfly 54.05 Maggie Mac Neil  Canada 18 December 2022World Championships Melbourne, Australia [159]
200m butterfly 1:59.61 Mireia Belmonte Spain 3 December 2014World Championships Doha, Qatar [160][161]
100m individual medley 56.51 Katinka Hosszú  Hungary 7 August 2017World Cup Berlin, Germany [162][163]
200m individual medley 2:01.86 Katinka Hosszú Hungary 6 December 2014World Championships Doha, Qatar [164][165]
400m individual medley 4:18.94 Mireia Belmonte  Spain 12 August 2017World Cup Eindhoven, Netherlands [166][167]
4 × 50 m freestyle relay 1:32.50 tt  Netherlands 12 December 2020 Wouda Cup Eindhoven, Netherlands [168]
4 × 100 m freestyle relay 3:25.43
 Australia 13 December 2022 World Championships Melbourne, Australia [169][170]
4 × 200 m freestyle relay 7:30.87
 Australia 14 December 2022 World Championships Melbourne, Australia [171]
4 × 50 m medley relay 1:42.35  Australia 17 December 2022 World Championships Melbourne, Australia [172]
4 × 100 m medley relay 3:44.35
 United States 18 December 2022 World Championships Melbourne, Australia [173]
Close
Legend: # – Record awaiting ratification by World Aquatics;
Records not set in finals: h – heat; sf – semifinal; r – relay 1st leg; rh – relay heat 1st leg; b – B final; – en route to final mark; tt – time trial

ss – supersuited/non-textile world record[clarification needed]

Mixed relay

More information Event, Time ...
Event Time NameNationalityDateMeetLocation Ref
4 × 50 m freestyle relay 1:27.33  France 16 December 2022 World Championships Melbourne, Australia [174]
4 × 50 m medley relay 1:35.15
 United States 14 December 2022 World Championships Melbourne, Australia [175][176]
Close
Legend: # – Record awaiting ratification by World Aquatics;
Records not set in finals: h – heat

Record holders' rankings

By nation

More information Nation, Record tally ...
Nation Record
tally
LC SC Total LC SC Total LC SC Total
Men Women Mixed
 United States2677146410112
 Australia1633661211
 China533112
 Hungary5112123
 France412311
 Germany4224
 Russia412311
 Sweden4314
 Canada3123
 Italy3123
 Lithuania3123
 Brazil2112
 Great Britain222
 Japan222
 Netherlands222
 Spain222
 Belarus111
 Hong Kong111
 Ireland111
 Jamaica111
 Turkey111
 Ukraine111
Total93202545202444224
Close
More information Record count, Name (last record) ...
Close

References

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