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List of world records in swimming facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Caeleb Dressel before winning 100 fly (42769914221)
Caeleb Dressel (pictured) holds the most world records in men's swimming with four (two individual and two relays). Léon Marchand holds the most individual world records, with three.
Katie Ledecky Olympics 2016b
Katie Ledecky (pictured) holds two long course world records (three total). Summer McIntosh holds the most individual records, with six. Gretchen Walsh (five individual and four relays) and Kate Douglass (four individual and five relays) hold the most total records with nine.

World records in swimming are the fastest times ever achieved in swimming races. These amazing achievements are officially recognized by World Aquatics, which used to be called FINA. World Aquatics is the main organization that oversees swimming competitions around the globe. Swimmers can set records in two types of pools: a long course pool, which is 50 meters long, or a short course pool, which is 25 meters long. World Aquatics keeps track of world records for many different swimming events for both boys and girls. There are also special mixed relay races where teams have two boys and two girls swimming together.

Here are the different types of swimming events where world records are recognized:

  • 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

To make sure a new world record is fair and accurate, World Aquatics has a special process. They check that the timing system was perfect and that the pool was the correct length. They also make sure swimmers followed all rules about their swimsuits and passed a test to show they didn't use any banned substances. Sometimes, a record can be set during part of a longer race, like the first leg of a relay. If a record hasn't been fully approved yet, you might see a '#' symbol next to it in the lists.

For a short time, from 2008 to 2009, some swimmers wore special high-tech swimsuits. These suits were made of materials like polyurethane, not regular fabric. They seemed to help swimmers go faster. However, before the 2009 World Championships, the rules changed. World Aquatics decided to ban these special suits starting in 2010. Now, all swimmers must wear suits made only of textile (fabric) materials. Since then, many new records have been set by swimmers wearing these standard fabric suits, showing how amazing their natural talent is!

In 2013, World Aquatics made some exciting changes! They decided to start recognizing world records for new types of relay races. This included mixed relays (teams with boys and girls) in long course pools, and several new relay events in short course pools for both boys and girls, and mixed teams. At first, they wanted to set some starting times for these new records. But soon after, in 2014, they officially approved the first world records set in these new events by swimmers from Indiana University.

Long Course Pool Records (50m)

Boys' Long Course Records

Event Time Name Nationality Date Meet Location Ref
50m freestyle 20.88 McEvoy, CameronCameron McEvoy  Australia 20 March 2026 China Open Shenzhen, China
100m freestyle 46.40 Pan Zhanle  China 31 July 2024 Olympic Games Paris, France
200m freestyle 1:42.00 ss Biedermann, PaulPaul Biedermann  Germany 28 July 2009 World Championships Rome, Italy
400m freestyle 3:39.96 Märtens, LukasLukas Märtens  Germany 12 April 2025 Swim Open Stockholm Stockholm, Sweden
800m freestyle 7:32.12 ss Zhang Lin  China 29 July 2009 World Championships Rome, Italy
1500m freestyle 14:30.67 Finke, BobbyBobby Finke  United States 4 August 2024 Olympic Games Paris, France
50m backstroke 23.55 sf Kolesnikov, KlimentKliment Kolesnikov  Russia 27 July 2023 Russian Cup Kazan, Russia
100m backstroke 51.60 Ceccon, ThomasThomas Ceccon  Italy 20 June 2022 World Championships Budapest, Hungary
200m backstroke 1:51.92 ss Peirsol, AaronAaron Peirsol  United States 31 July 2009 World Championships Rome, Italy
50m breaststroke 25.95 sf Peaty, AdamAdam Peaty  Great Britain 25 July 2017 World Championships Budapest, Hungary
100m breaststroke 56.88 sf Peaty, AdamAdam Peaty  Great Britain 21 July 2019 World Championships Gwangju, South Korea
200m breaststroke 2:05.48 Qin Haiyang  China 28 July 2023 World Championships Fukuoka, Japan
50m butterfly 22.27 Govorov, AndriyAndriy Govorov  Ukraine 1 July 2018 Sette Colli Trophy Rome, Italy
100m butterfly 49.45 Dressel, CaelebCaeleb Dressel  United States 31 July 2021 Olympic Games Tokyo, Japan
200m butterfly 1:50.34 Milák, KristófKristóf Milák  Hungary 21 June 2022 World Championships Budapest, Hungary
200m individual medley 1:52.69 sf Marchand, LéonLéon Marchand  France 30 July 2025 World Championships Singapore, Singapore
400m individual medley 4:02.50 Marchand, LéonLéon Marchand  France 23 July 2023 World Championships Fukuoka, Japan
4 × 100 m freestyle relay 3:08.24 ss
 United States 11 August 2008 Olympic Games Beijing, China
4 × 200 m freestyle relay 6:58.55 ss
 United States 31 July 2009 World Championships Rome, Italy
4 × 100 m medley relay 3:26.78
  • Ryan Murphy
     (52.31)
  • Michael Andrew
     (58.49)
  • Caeleb Dressel
     (49.03)
  • Zach Apple
     (46.95)
  United States 1 August 2021 Olympic Games Tokyo, Japan
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

Girls' Long Course Records

Event Time Name Nationality Date Meet Location Ref
50m freestyle 23.59 Douglass, KateKate Douglass  United States 19 June 2026 TYR Pro Swim Series Indianapolis, United States
100m freestyle 51.71 r Sjöström, SarahSarah Sjöström  Sweden 23 July 2017 World Championships Budapest, Hungary
200m freestyle 1:52.23 Titmus, AriarneAriarne Titmus  Australia 12 June 2024 Australian Olympic Trials Brisbane, Australia
400m freestyle 3:54.18 McIntosh, SummerSummer McIntosh  Canada 7 June 2025 Canadian Trials Victoria, Canada
800m freestyle 8:04.12 Ledecky, KatieKatie Ledecky  United States 3 May 2025 TYR Pro Swim Series Fort Lauderdale, United States
1500m freestyle 15:20.48 Ledecky, KatieKatie Ledecky  United States 16 May 2018 TYR Pro Swim Series Indianapolis, United States
50m backstroke 26.86 McKeown, KayleeKaylee McKeown  Australia 20 October 2023 World Cup Budapest, Hungary
100m backstroke 57.13 Smith, ReganRegan Smith  United States 18 June 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials Indianapolis, United States
200m backstroke 2:03.14 McKeown, KayleeKaylee McKeown  Australia 10 March 2023 NSW State Championships Sydney, Australia
50m breaststroke 29.16 Meilutytė, RūtaRūta Meilutytė  Lithuania 30 July 2023 World Championships Fukuoka, Japan
100m breaststroke 1:04.13 King, LillyLilly King  United States 25 July 2017 World Championships Budapest, Hungary
200m breaststroke 2:17.55 Chikunova, EvgeniiaEvgeniia Chikunova  Russia 21 April 2023 Russian Championships Kazan, Russia
50m butterfly 24.43 Sjöström, SarahSarah Sjöström  Sweden 5 July 2014 Swedish Championships Borås, Sweden
100m butterfly 54.60 Walsh, GretchenGretchen Walsh  United States 3 May 2025 TYR Pro Swim Series Fort Lauderdale, United States
100m butterfly 54.33 # Walsh, GretchenGretchen Walsh  United States 2 May 2026 Fort Lauderdale Open Fort Lauderdale, United States
200m butterfly 2:01.81 ss Liu Zige  China 21 October 2009 Chinese National Games Jinan, China
200m individual medley 2:05.70 McIntosh, SummerSummer McIntosh  Canada 9 June 2025 Canadian Trials Victoria, Canada
400m individual medley 4:23.65 McIntosh, SummerSummer McIntosh  Canada 11 June 2025 Canadian Trials Victoria, Canada
4 × 100 m freestyle relay 3:27.96
  • Mollie O'Callaghan
     (52.08)
  • Shayna Jack
     (51.69)
  • Meg Harris
     (52.29)
  • Emma McKeon
     (51.90)
  Australia 23 July 2023 World Championships Fukuoka, Japan
4 × 200 m freestyle relay 7:37.50
  • Mollie O'Callaghan
     (1:53.66)
  • Shayna Jack
     (1:55.63)
  • Brianna Throssell
     (1:55.80)
  • Ariarne Titmus
     (1:52.41)
  Australia 27 July 2023 World Championships Fukuoka, Japan
4 × 100 m medley relay 3:49.34
 United States 3 August 2025 World Championships Singapore, Singapore
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

Mixed Relay Long Course Records

Event Time Name Nationality Date Meet Location Ref
4 × 100 m freestyle relay 3:18.48
  • Jack Alexy
     (46.91)
  • Patrick Sammon
     (46.70)
  • Kate Douglass
     (52.43)
  • Torri Huske
     (52.44)
  United States 2 August 2025 World Championships Singapore, Singapore
4 × 100 m medley relay 3:37.43
  • Ryan Murphy
     (52.08)
  • Nic Fink
     (58.29)
  • Gretchen Walsh
     (55.18)
  • Torri Huske
     (51.88)
  United States 3 August 2024 Olympic Games Paris, France
Legend: # – Record awaiting ratification by World Aquatics;
Records not set in finals: h – heat

Short Course Pool Records (25m)

Boys' Short Course Records

Event Time Name Nationality Date Meet Location Ref
50m freestyle 19.90 sf Crooks, JordanJordan Crooks  Cayman Islands 14 December 2024 World Championships Budapest, Hungary
100m freestyle 44.84 Chalmers, KyleKyle Chalmers  Australia 29 October 2021 World Cup Kazan, Russia
200m freestyle 1:38.61 Hobson, LukeLuke Hobson  United States 15 December 2024 World Championships Budapest, Hungary
400m freestyle 3:32.25 Agnel, YannickYannick Agnel  France 15 November 2012 French Nationals Angers, France
800m freestyle 7:20.46 Wiffen, DanielDaniel Wiffen  Ireland 10 December 2023 European Championships Otopeni, Romania
1500m freestyle 14:06.88 Wellbrock, FlorianFlorian Wellbrock  Germany 21 December 2021 World Championships Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
50m backstroke 22.11 Kolesnikov, KlimentKliment Kolesnikov  Russia 23 November 2022 Solidarity Games Kazan, Russia
100m backstroke 48.16 Kós, HubertHubert Kós  Hungary 25 October 2025 World Cup Toronto, Canada
200m backstroke 1:45.12 Kós, HubertHubert Kós  Hungary 23 October 2025 World Cup Toronto, Canada
50m breaststroke 24.95 Sakçı, EmreEmre Sakçı  Turkey 27 December 2021 Turkish Championships Gaziantep, Turkey
100m breaststroke 55.28 Shymanovich, IlyaIlya Shymanovich  Belarus 26 November 2021 International Swimming League Eindhoven, Netherlands
200m breaststroke 1:59.52 Corbeau, CasparCaspar Corbeau  Netherlands 25 October 2025 World Cup Toronto, Canada
50m butterfly 21.32 Ponti, NoèNoè Ponti  Switzerland 11 December 2024 World Championships Budapest, Hungary
100m butterfly 47.68 Liendo, JoshuaJoshua Liendo  Canada 23 October 2025 World Cup Toronto, Canada
200m butterfly 1:46.85 Honda, TomoruTomoru Honda  Japan 22 October 2022 Japanese Championships Tokyo, Japan
100m individual medley 49.28 Dressel, CaelebCaeleb Dressel  United States 22 November 2020 International Swimming League Budapest, Hungary
200m individual medley 1:48.88 Marchand, LéonLéon Marchand  France 1 November 2024 World Cup Singapore, Singapore
400m individual medley 3:54.81 Seto, DaiyaDaiya Seto  Japan 20 December 2019 International Swimming League Las Vegas, United States
4 × 50 m freestyle relay 1:21.80
  • Caeleb Dressel
     (20.43)
  • Ryan Held
     (20.25)
  • Jack Conger
     (20.59)
  • Michael Chadwick
     (20.53)
  United States 14 December 2018 World Championships Hangzhou, China
4 × 50 m freestyle relay 1:20.77 WB ss
  • Alain Bernard
     (20.64)
  • Fabien Gilot
     (20.33)
  • Amaury Leveaux
     (19.93)
  • Frédérick Bousquet
     (19.87)
  France 14 December 2008 European Championships Rijeka, Croatia
4 × 100 m freestyle relay 3:01.66
  • Jack Alexy
     (45.05)
  • Luke Hobson
     (45.18)
  • Kieran Smith
     (46.01)
  • Chris Guiliano
     (45.42)
  United States 10 December 2024 World Championships Budapest, Hungary
4 × 200 m freestyle relay 6:40.51
  • Luke Hobson
     (1:38.91)
  • Carson Foster
     (1:40.77)
  • Shaine Casas
     (1:40.34)
  • Kieran Smith
     (1:40.49)
  United States 13 December 2024 World Championships Budapest, Hungary
4 × 50 m medley relay 1:29.72
  • Lorenzo Mora
     (22.65)
  • Nicolò Martinenghi
     (24.95)
  • Matteo Rivolta
     (21.60)
  • Leonardo Deplano
     (20.52)
  Italy 17 December 2022 World Championships Melbourne, Australia
4 × 100 m medley relay 3:18.68
  • Miron Lifintsev
     (49.31)
  • Kirill Prigoda
     (55.15)
  • Andrei Minakov
     (48.80)
  • Egor Kornev
     (45.42)
  Russia 15 December 2024 World Championships Budapest, Hungary
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 WB – world best time swam that will not be ratified by FINA

Girls' Short Course Records

Event Time Name Nationality Date Meet Location Ref
50m freestyle 22.83 Walsh, GretchenGretchen Walsh  United States 15 December 2024 World Championships Budapest, Hungary
100m freestyle 49.93 Douglass, KateKate Douglass  United States 25 October 2025 World Cup Toronto, Canada
200m freestyle 1:49.36 O'Callaghan, MollieMollie O'Callaghan  Australia 24 October 2025 World Cup Toronto, Canada
400m freestyle 3:50.25 McIntosh, SummerSummer McIntosh  Canada 10 December 2024 World Championships Budapest, Hungary
800m freestyle 7:54.00 Pallister, LaniLani Pallister  Australia 25 October 2025 World Cup Toronto, Canada
1500m freestyle 15:08.24 Ledecky, KatieKatie Ledecky  United States 29 October 2022 World Cup Toronto, Canada
50m backstroke 25.23 Smith, ReganRegan Smith  United States 13 December 2024 World Championships Budapest, Hungary
100m backstroke 54.02 r, = Smith, ReganRegan Smith  United States 15 December 2024 World Championships Budapest, Hungary
100m backstroke 54.02 = Smith, ReganRegan Smith  United States 18 October 2025 World Cup Westmont, United States
200m backstroke 1:57.33 McKeown, KayleeKaylee McKeown  Australia 25 October 2025 World Cup Toronto, Canada
50m breaststroke 28.37 sf Meilutytė, RūtaRūta Meilutytė  Lithuania 17 December 2022 World Championships Melbourne, Australia
100m breaststroke 1:02.36 = Meilutytė, RūtaRūta Meilutytė  Lithuania 12 October 2013 World Cup Moscow, Russia
100m breaststroke 1:02.36 = Atkinson, AliaAlia Atkinson  Jamaica 6 December 2014 World Championships Doha, Qatar
100m breaststroke 1:02.36 = Atkinson, AliaAlia Atkinson  Jamaica 26 August 2016 World Cup Chartres, France
200m breaststroke 2:12.50 Douglass, KateKate Douglass  United States 13 December 2024 World Championships Budapest, Hungary
50m butterfly 23.72 Walsh, GretchenGretchen Walsh  United States 11 October 2025 World Cup Carmel, United States
100m butterfly 52.71 Walsh, GretchenGretchen Walsh  United States 14 December 2024 World Championships Budapest, Hungary
200m butterfly 1:59.32 McIntosh, SummerSummer McIntosh  Canada 12 December 2024 World Championships Budapest, Hungary
100m individual medley 55.11 Walsh, GretchenGretchen Walsh  United States 13 December 2024 World Championships Budapest, Hungary
200m individual medley 2:01.63 Douglass, KateKate Douglass  United States 10 December 2024 World Championships Budapest, Hungary
400m individual medley 4:15.48 McIntosh, SummerSummer McIntosh  Canada 14 December 2024 World Championships Budapest, Hungary
4 × 50 m freestyle relay 1:32.50 tt
 Netherlands 12 December 2020 Wouda Cup Eindhoven, Netherlands
4 × 100 m freestyle relay 3:25.01
  • Kate Douglass
     (50.95)
  • Katharine Berkoff
     (51.38)
  • Alex Shackell
     (52.01)
  • Gretchen Walsh
     (50.67)
  United States 10 December 2024 World Championships Budapest, Hungary
4 × 200 m freestyle relay 7:30.13
  • Alex Walsh
     (1:53.25)
  • Paige Madden
     (1:53.18)
  • Katie Grimes
     (1:53.39)
  • Claire Weinstein
     (1:50.31)
  United States 12 December 2024 World Championships Budapest, Hungary
4 × 50 m medley relay 1:42.35
  • Mollie O'Callaghan
     (25.49)
  • Chelsea Hodges
     (29.11)
  • Emma McKeon
     (24.43)
  • Madison Wilson
     (23.32)
  Australia 17 December 2022 World Championships Melbourne, Australia
4 × 100 m medley relay 3:40.41
 United States 15 December 2024 World Championships Budapest, Hungary
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

Mixed Relay Short Course Records

Event Time Name Nationality Date Meet Location Ref
4 × 50 m freestyle relay 1:27.26
  • Leonardo Deplano
     (20.97)
  • Lorenzo Zazzeri
     (20.51)
  • Silvia Di Pietro
     (23.07)
  • Sara Curtis
     (22.71)
  Italy 4 December 2025 European Championships Lublin, Poland
4 × 50 m medley relay 1:35.15
  • Ryan Murphy
     (22.37)
  • Nic Fink
     (24.96)
  • Kate Douglass
     (24.09)
  • Torri Huske
     (23.73)
  United States 14 December 2022 World Championships Melbourne, Australia
4 × 100 m medley relay 3:30.47
  • Miron Lifintsev
     (48.90)
  • Kirill Prigoda
     (54.86)
  • Arina Surkova
     (55.63)
  • Daria Klepikova
     (51.08)
  Russia 14 December 2024 World Championships Budapest, Hungary
Legend: # – Record awaiting ratification by World Aquatics;
Records not set in finals: h – heat

Top Swimmers and Countries

Countries with the Most Records

Nation Record
tally		 LC SC Total LC SC Total LC SC Total
Men Women Mixed
 United States 34 6 5 11 7 13 20 2 1 3
 Australia 11 1 1 2 5 4 9
 Canada 7 1 1 3 3 6
 Russia 5 1 2 3 1 1 1 1
 China 4 3 3 1 1
 France 4 2 2 4
 Germany 3 2 1 3
 Hungary 3 1 2 3
 Italy 3 1 1 2 1 1
 Lithuania 3 1 2 3
 Great Britain 2 2 2
 Japan 2 2 2
 Netherlands 2 1 1 1 1
 Sweden 2 2 2
 Belarus 1 1 1
 Cayman Islands 1 1 1
 Ireland 1 1 1
 Jamaica 1 1 1
 Switzerland 1 1 1
 Turkey 1 1 1
 Ukraine 1 1 1
Total 93 20 24 44 20 24 44 2 3 5
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List of world records in swimming Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.