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.
Freestyle: 50m , 100m , 200m , 400m , 800m , 1500m
Backstroke: 50m , 100m , 200m
Breaststroke: 50m , 100m , 200m
Butterfly: 50m , 100m , 200m
Individual medley: 100m (short course only), 200m , 400m
Relays: 4 × 50 m freestyle relay (short course only), 4 × 100 m freestyle , 4 × 200 m freestyle , 4 × 50 m medley relay (short course only), 4 × 100 m medley
Mixed relays: 4 × 50 m mixed freestyle (short course only), 4 × 100 m mixed freestyle (long course only), 4 × 50 m mixed medley (short course only), 4 × 100 m mixed medley (long course only)
Caeleb Dressel holds the most world swimming records in men's swimming with six (four individual and two relays).
Katie Ledecky holds the most individual world records in women's swimming with four.
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 metres: 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]
Men
More information Event, Time ...
Event
Time
Name Nationality Date Meet Location
Ref
50m freestyle
20.91
ss César Cielo
Brazil
18 December 2009 Brazilian Championships
São Paulo , Brazil
[9] [10] [11] [12]
100m freestyle
46.40
Pan Zhanle
China
31 July 2024 Olympic Games
Paris , France
[13]
200m freestyle
1:42.00
ss Paul Biedermann
Germany
28 July 2009 World Championships
Rome , Italy
[14] [15] [16]
400m freestyle
3:40.07
ss Paul Biedermann
Germany
26 July 2009 World Championships
Rome , Italy
[17] [18] [19]
800m freestyle
7:32.12
ss Zhang Lin
China
29 July 2009 World Championships
Rome , Italy
[20] [21]
1500m freestyle
14:30.67
Bobby Finke
United States
4 August 2024 Olympic Games
Paris , France
[22] [23]
50m backstroke
23.55
sf Kliment Kolesnikov
Russia
27 July 2023 Russian Cup
Kazan , Russia
[24]
100m backstroke
51.60
Thomas Ceccon
Italy
20 June 2022 World Championships
Budapest , Hungary
[25] [26]
200m backstroke
1:51.92
ss Aaron Peirsol
United States
31 July 2009 World Championships
Rome , Italy
[27] [28] [29]
50m breaststroke
25.95
sf Adam Peaty
Great Britain
25 July 2017 World Championships
Budapest , Hungary
[30] [31]
100m breaststroke
56.88
sf Adam Peaty
Great Britain
21 July 2019 World Championships
Gwangju , South Korea
[32] [33]
200m breaststroke
2:05.48
Qin Haiyang
China
28 July 2023 World Championships
Fukuoka , Japan
[34] [35]
50m butterfly
22.27
Andriy Govorov
Ukraine
1 July 2018 Sette Colli Trophy
Rome , Italy
[36] [37]
100m butterfly
49.45
Caeleb Dressel
United States
31 July 2021 Olympic Games
Tokyo , Japan
[38] [39]
200m butterfly
1:50.34
Kristóf Milák
Hungary
21 June 2022 World Championships
Budapest , Hungary
[40] [41]
200m individual medley
1:54.00
Ryan Lochte
United States
28 July 2011 World Championships
Shanghai , China
[42] [43] [44]
400m individual medley
4:02.50
Léon Marchand
France
23 July 2023 World 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
Name Nationality Date Meet Location
Ref
50m freestyle
23.61
sf Sarah Sjöström
Sweden
29 July 2023 World Championships
Fukuoka , Japan
[54] [55]
100m freestyle
51.71
r Sarah Sjöström
Sweden
23 July 2017 World Championships
Budapest , Hungary
[56] [57]
200m freestyle
1:52.23
Ariarne Titmus
Australia
12 June 2024 Australian Olympic Trials
Brisbane , Australia
[58]
400m freestyle
3:55.38
Ariarne Titmus
Australia
23 July 2023 World Championships
Fukuoka , Japan
[59] [60]
800m freestyle
8:04.79
Katie Ledecky
United States
12 August 2016 Olympic Games
Rio de Janeiro , Brazil
[61] [62]
1500m freestyle
15:20.48
Katie Ledecky
United States
16 May 2018 TYR Pro Swim Series
Indianapolis , United States
[63] [64]
50m backstroke
26.86
Kaylee McKeown
Australia
20 October 2023 World Cup
Budapest , Hungary
[65]
100m backstroke
57.13
Regan Smith
United States
18 June 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials
Indianapolis , United States
[66] [67]
200m backstroke
2:03.14
Kaylee McKeown
Australia
10 March 2023 NSW State Championships
Sydney , Australia
[68] [69]
50m breaststroke
29.16
Rūta Meilutytė
Lithuania
30 July 2023 World Championships
Fukuoka , Japan
[70] [71]
100m breaststroke
1:04.13
Lilly King
United States
25 July 2017 World Championships
Budapest , Hungary
[72] [73]
200m breaststroke
2:17.55
Evgeniia Chikunova
Russia
21 April 2023 Russian Championships
Kazan , Russia
[74] [75] [76]
50m butterfly
24.43
Sarah Sjöström Sweden
5 July 2014 Swedish Championships
Borås , Sweden
[77] [78]
100m butterfly
55.18
sf Gretchen Walsh
United States
15 June 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials
Indianapolis , United States
[79] [80]
200m butterfly
2:01.81
ss Liu Zige China
21 October 2009 Chinese National Games
Jinan , China
[81] [82]
200m individual medley
2:06.12
Katinka Hosszú
Hungary
3 August 2015 World Championships
Kazan , Russia
[83] [84]
400m individual medley
4:24.38
Summer McIntosh
Canada
16 May 2024 Canadian 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 ...
Close
Legend:
# – Record awaiting ratification by World Aquatics ; Records not set in finals: h – heat
Men
More information Event, Time ...
Event
Time
Name Nationality Date Meet Location
Ref
50m freestyle
20.16
Caeleb Dressel
United States
21 November 2020 International Swimming League
Budapest , Hungary
[94] [95]
100m freestyle
44.84
Kyle Chalmers
Australia
29 October 2021 World Cup
Kazan , Russia
[96] [97] [98]
200m freestyle
1:39.37
ss Paul Biedermann Germany
15 November 2009 World Cup
Berlin , Germany
[99]
400m freestyle
3:32.25
Yannick Agnel France
15 November 2012 French Nationals
Angers , France
[100] [101]
800m freestyle
7:20.46
Daniel Wiffen
Ireland
10 December 2023 European Championships
Otopeni , Romania
[102] [103]
1500m freestyle
14:06.88
Florian Wellbrock
Germany
21 December 2021 World Championships
Abu Dhabi , United Arab Emirates
[104] [105]
50m backstroke
22.11
Kliment Kolesnikov
Russia
23 November 2022 Solidarity Games
Kazan , Russia
[106] [107] [108]
100m backstroke
48.33
Coleman Stewart
United States
29 August 2021 International Swimming League
Naples , Italy
[109] [110]
200m backstroke
1:45.63
Mitch Larkin
Australia
27 November 2015 Australian Championships
Sydney , Australia
[111] [112]
50m breaststroke
24.95
Emre Sakçı
Turkey
27 December 2021 Turkish Championships
Gaziantep , Turkey
[113] [114]
100m breaststroke
55.28
Ilya Shymanovich
Belarus
26 November 2021 International Swimming League
Eindhoven , Netherlands
[115]
200m breaststroke
2:00.16
Kirill Prigoda
Russia
13 December 2018 World Championships
Hangzhou , China
[116] [117]
50m butterfly
21.50
h Noè Ponti
Switzerland
2 November 2024 World Cup
Singapore , Singapore
[118]
100m butterfly
47.78
Caeleb Dressel
United States
21 November 2020 International Swimming League
Budapest , Hungary
[119] [120]
200m butterfly
1:46.85
Tomoru Honda
Japan
22 October 2022 Japanese Championships
Tokyo , Japan
[121] [122]
100m individual medley
49.28
Caeleb Dressel
United States
22 November 2020 International Swimming League
Budapest , Hungary
[123] [124]
200m individual medley
1:48.88
Léon Marchand
France
1 November 2024 World Cup
Singapore , Singapore
[125]
400m individual medley
3:54.81
Daiya Seto
Japan
20 December 2019 International Swimming League
Las Vegas , United States
[126] [127]
4 × 50 m freestyle relay
1:21.80
United States
14 December 2018
World Championships
Hangzhou , China
[128]
4 × 50 m freestyle relay
1:20.77
WB[129] ss
France
14 December 2008
European Championships
Rijeka , Croatia
[130]
4 × 100 m freestyle relay
3:02.75
Italy
13 December 2022
World Championships
Melbourne , Australia
[131]
4 × 200 m freestyle relay
6:44.12
United States
16 December 2022
World Championships
Melbourne , Australia
[132] [133]
4 × 50 m medley relay
1:29.72
Italy
17 December 2022
World Championships
Melbourne , Australia
[134]
4 × 100 m medley relay
3:18.98
=
Australia
18 December 2022
World Championships
Melbourne , Australia
[135]
4 × 100 m medley relay
3:18.98
=
United States
18 December 2022
World Championships
Melbourne , Australia
[136]
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
Name Nationality Date Meet Location
Ref
50m freestyle
22.93
Ranomi Kromowidjojo
Netherlands
7 August 2017 World Cup
Berlin , Germany
[137]
100m freestyle
50.25
Cate Campbell
Australia
26 October 2017 Australian Championships
Adelaide , Australia
[138] [139]
200m freestyle
1:50.31
Siobhán Haughey
Hong Kong
16 December 2021 World Championships
Abu Dhabi , United Arab Emirates
[140]
400m freestyle
3:51.30
Li Bingjie
China
27 October 2022 Chinese Championships
Beijing , China
[141]
800m freestyle
7:57.42
Katie Ledecky
United States
5 November 2022 World Cup
Indianapolis , United States
[142] [143]
1500m freestyle
15:08.24
Katie Ledecky
United States
29 October 2022 World Cup
Toronto , Canada
[144] [145]
50m backstroke
25.25
Maggie Mac Neil
Canada
16 December 2022 World Championships
Melbourne , Australia
[146]
100m backstroke
54.27
Regan Smith
United States
1 November 2024 World Cup
Singapore , Singapore
[147]
200m backstroke
1:58.94
Kaylee McKeown
Australia
28 November 2020 Australian Championships
Brisbane , Australia
[148]
50m breaststroke
28.37
sf Rūta Meilutytė
Lithuania
17 December 2022 World Championships
Melbourne , Australia
[149]
100m breaststroke
1:02.36
= Rūta Meilutytė Lithuania
12 October 2013 World Cup
Moscow , Russia
[150]
100m breaststroke
1:02.36
= Alia Atkinson
Jamaica
6 December 2014 World Championships
Doha , Qatar
[151] [152]
100m breaststroke
1:02.36
= Alia Atkinson
Jamaica
26 August 2016 World Cup
Chartres , France
[153]
200m breaststroke
2:12.72
Kate Douglass
United States
31 October 2024 World Cup
Singapore , Singapore
[154] [155]
50m butterfly
24.38
ss Therese Alshammar Sweden
22 November 2009 World Cup
Singapore , Singapore
[156]
100m butterfly
54.05
Maggie Mac Neil
Canada
18 December 2022 World Championships
Melbourne , Australia
[157]
200m butterfly
1:59.61
Mireia Belmonte Spain
3 December 2014 World Championships
Doha , Qatar
[158] [159]
100m individual medley
55.98
tt Gretchen Walsh
United States
18 October 2024 Virginia vs Florida Dual Meet
Charlottesville , United States
[160]
200m individual medley
2:01.86
Katinka Hosszú Hungary
6 December 2014 World Championships
Doha , Qatar
[161] [162]
400m individual medley
4:18.94
Mireia Belmonte
Spain
12 August 2017 World Cup
Eindhoven , Netherlands
[163] [164]
4 × 50 m freestyle relay
1:32.50
tt
Netherlands
12 December 2020
Wouda Cup
Eindhoven , Netherlands
[165]
4 × 100 m freestyle relay
3:25.43
Australia
13 December 2022
World Championships
Melbourne , Australia
[166] [167]
4 × 200 m freestyle relay
7:30.87
Australia
14 December 2022
World Championships
Melbourne , Australia
[168]
4 × 50 m medley relay
1:42.35
Australia
17 December 2022
World Championships
Melbourne , Australia
[169]
4 × 100 m medley relay
3:44.35
United States
18 December 2022
World Championships
Melbourne , Australia
[170]
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 ...
Close
Legend:
# – Record awaiting ratification by World Aquatics ; Records not set in finals: h – heat