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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 holds many world swimming records for men.
Kazan 2015 - Sjöström WR award cropped
Sarah Sjöström holds many individual world records for women.

World records in swimming are the fastest times ever recorded by swimmers in different events. These records are officially approved by World Aquatics, which is the main international group for swimming. Swimmers can set records in two types of pools:

  • Long course pools are 50 meters long.
  • Short course pools are 25 meters long.

World Aquatics keeps track of world records for both men and women in many events. There are also "mixed" relay races where teams have two men and two women.

Here are the main types of swimming events where records are set:

  • Freestyle: 50m, 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m
  • Backstroke: 50m, 100m, 200m
  • Breaststroke: 50m, 100m, 200m
  • Butterfly: 50m, 100m, 200m
  • Individual Medley: 100m (only in short course pools), 200m, 400m
  • Relays: Teams of four swimmers race together.
    • Freestyle relays: 4 × 50m (short course only), 4 × 100m, 4 × 200m
    • Medley relays: 4 × 50m (short course only), 4 × 100m
  • Mixed Relays: These teams have two men and two women.
    • Freestyle: 4 × 50m mixed (short course only), 4 × 100m mixed (long course only)
    • Medley: 4 × 50m mixed (short course only), 4 × 100m mixed (long course only)

To make a record official, a lot of paperwork is needed. This paperwork proves that the timing system was correct and the pool was the right length. Swimmers must also follow rules about their swimsuits and pass a drug test. Sometimes, a record can be set during a longer race or by the first swimmer in a relay team.

For a while, from 2008 to 2009, swimmers could wear special high-tech swimsuits. These suits were made of materials like polyurethane, not regular fabric. They seemed to help some swimmers go faster. But in 2010, these suits were banned. Since then, many world records have been broken again by swimmers wearing regular fabric swimsuits.

In 2013, World Aquatics decided to add new world record events. These included mixed relays in long course pools and several new events in short course pools.

Long Course (50m Pool) Records

Men's Records

Event Time Name Nationality Date Meet Location Ref
50m freestyle 20.91 ss Cielo, CésarCésar Cielo  Brazil 18 December 2009 Brazilian Championships São Paulo, Brazil
100m freestyle 46.86 Popovici, DavidDavid Popovici  Romania 13 August 2022 European Championships Rome, Italy
200m freestyle 1:42.00 ss Biedermann, PaulPaul Biedermann  Germany 28 July 2009 World Championships Rome, Italy
400m freestyle 3:40.07 ss Biedermann, PaulPaul Biedermann  Germany 26 July 2009 World Championships Rome, Italy
800m freestyle 7:32.12 ss Zhang Lin  China 29 July 2009 World Championships Rome, Italy
1500m freestyle 14:31.02 Sun Yang  China 4 August 2012 Olympic Games London, United Kingdom
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 1:54.00 Lochte, RyanRyan Lochte  United States 28 July 2011 World Championships Shanghai, China
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

Men's Records by Race Distance

Women's Records

Event Time Name Nationality Date Meet Location Ref
50m freestyle 23.61 sf Sjöström, SarahSarah Sjöström  Sweden 29 July 2023 World Championships Fukuoka, Japan
100m freestyle 51.71 r Sjöström, SarahSarah Sjöström  Sweden 23 July 2017 World Championships Budapest, Hungary
200m freestyle 1:52.85 O'Callaghan, MollieMollie O'Callaghan  Australia 26 July 2023 World Championships Fukuoka, Japan
400m freestyle 3:55.38 Titmus, AriarneAriarne Titmus  Australia 23 July 2023 World Championships Fukuoka, Japan
800m freestyle 8:04.79 Ledecky, KatieKatie Ledecky  United States 12 August 2016 Olympic Games Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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 57.33 McKeown, KayleeKaylee McKeown  Australia 21 October 2023 World Cup Budapest, Hungary
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 55.48 Sjöström, SarahSarah Sjöström  Sweden 7 August 2016 Olympic Games Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
200m butterfly 2:01.81 ss Liu Zige  China 21 October 2009 Chinese National Games Jinan, China
200m individual medley 2:06.12 Hosszú, KatinkaKatinka Hosszú  Hungary 3 August 2015 World Championships Kazan, Russia
400m individual medley 4:25.87 McIntosh, SummerSummer McIntosh  Canada 1 April 2023 Canadian Trials Toronto, 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 3:50.40
 United States 28 July 2019 World Championships Gwangju, South Korea
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 Records

Event Time Name Nationality Date Meet Location Ref
4 × 100 m freestyle relay 3:18.83
  • Jack Cartwright
     (48.14)
  • Kyle Chalmers
     (47.25)
  • Shayna Jack
     (51.73)
  • Mollie O'Callaghan
     (51.71)
  Australia 29 July 2023 World Championships Fukuoka, Japan
4 × 100 m medley relay 3:37.58
  • Kathleen Dawson
     (58.80)
  • Adam Peaty
     (56.78)
  • James Guy
     (50.00)
  • Anna Hopkin
     (52.00)
  Great Britain 31 July 2021 Olympic Games Tokyo, Japan
Legend: # – Record awaiting ratification by World Aquatics;
Records not set in finals: h – heat

Short Course (25m Pool) Records

Men's Records

Event Time Name Nationality Date Meet Location Ref
50m freestyle 20.16 Dressel, CaelebCaeleb Dressel  United States 21 November 2020 International Swimming League Budapest, Hungary
100m freestyle 44.84 Chalmers, KyleKyle Chalmers  Australia 29 October 2021 World Cup Kazan, Russia
200m freestyle 1:39.37 ss Biedermann, PaulPaul Biedermann  Germany 15 November 2009 World Cup Berlin, Germany
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 48.33 Stewart, ColemanColeman Stewart  United States 29 August 2021 International Swimming League Naples, Italy
200m backstroke 1:45.63 Larkin, MitchMitch Larkin  Australia 27 November 2015 Australian Championships Sydney, Australia
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 2:00.16 Prigoda, KirillKirill Prigoda  Russia 13 December 2018 World Championships Hangzhou, China
50m butterfly 21.75 = Santos, NicholasNicholas Santos  Brazil 6 October 2018 World Cup Budapest, Hungary
50m butterfly 21.75 = Szabó, SzebasztiánSzebasztián Szabó  Hungary 6 November 2021 European Championships Kazan, Russia
100m butterfly 47.78 Dressel, CaelebCaeleb Dressel  United States 21 November 2020 International Swimming League Budapest, Hungary
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 1:49.63 Lochte, RyanRyan Lochte  United States 14 December 2012 World Championships Istanbul, Turkey
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 3:02.75
  • Alessandro Miressi
     (46.15)
  • Paolo Conte Bonin
     (45.93)
  • Leonardo Deplano
     (45.54)
  • Thomas Ceccon
     (45.13)
  Italy 13 December 2022 World Championships Melbourne, Australia
4 × 200 m freestyle relay 6:44.12
  • Kieran Smith
     (1:41.04)
  • Carson Foster
     (1:40.48)
  • Trenton Julian
     (1:41.44)
  • Drew Kibler
     (1:41.16)
  United States 16 December 2022 World Championships Melbourne, Australia
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 3:18.98 =
  • Isaac Cooper
     (49.46)
  • Joshua Yong
     (56.55)
  • Matthew Temple
     (48.34)
  • Kyle Chalmers
     (44.63)
  Australia 18 December 2022 World Championships Melbourne, Australia
4 × 100 m medley relay 3:18.98 =
  • Ryan Murphy
     (48.96)
  • Nic Fink
     (54.88)
  • Trenton Julian
     (49.19)
  • Kieran Smith
     (45.95)
  United States 18 December 2022 World Championships Melbourne, Australia
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.

Women's Records

Event Time Name Nationality Date Meet Location Ref
50m freestyle 22.93 Kromowidjojo, RanomiRanomi Kromowidjojo  Netherlands 7 August 2017 World Cup Berlin, Germany
100m freestyle 50.25 Campbell, CateCate Campbell  Australia 26 October 2017 Australian Championships Adelaide, Australia
200m freestyle 1:50.31 Haughey, SiobhánSiobhán Haughey  Hong Kong 16 December 2021 World Championships Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
400m freestyle 3:51.30 Li Bingjie  China 27 October 2022 Chinese Championships Beijing, China
800m freestyle 7:57.42 Ledecky, KatieKatie Ledecky  United States 5 November 2022 World Cup Indianapolis, United States
1500m freestyle 15:08.24 Ledecky, KatieKatie Ledecky  United States 29 October 2022 World Cup Toronto, Canada
50m backstroke 25.25 Mac Neil, MaggieMaggie Mac Neil  Canada 16 December 2022 World Championships Melbourne, Australia
100m backstroke 54.89 Atherton, MinnaMinna Atherton  Australia 27 October 2019 International Swimming League Budapest, Hungary
200m backstroke 1:58.94 McKeown, KayleeKaylee McKeown  Australia 28 November 2020 Australian Championships Brisbane, Australia
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 2:14.57 ss Soni, RebeccaRebecca Soni  United States 18 December 2009 Duel in the Pool Manchester, United Kingdom
50m butterfly 24.38 ss Alshammar, ThereseTherese Alshammar  Sweden 22 November 2009 World Cup Singapore, Singapore
100m butterfly 54.05 Mac Neil, MaggieMaggie Mac Neil  Canada 18 December 2022 World Championships Melbourne, Australia
200m butterfly 1:59.61 Belmonte, MireiaMireia Belmonte  Spain 3 December 2014 World Championships Doha, Qatar
100m individual medley 56.51 Hosszú, KatinkaKatinka Hosszú  Hungary 7 August 2017 World Cup Berlin, Germany
200m individual medley 2:01.86 Hosszú, KatinkaKatinka Hosszú  Hungary 6 December 2014 World Championships Doha, Qatar
400m individual medley 4:18.94 Belmonte, MireiaMireia Belmonte  Spain 12 August 2017 World Cup Eindhoven, Netherlands
4 × 50 m freestyle relay 1:32.50 tt
 Netherlands 12 December 2020 Wouda Cup Eindhoven, Netherlands
4 × 100 m freestyle relay 3:25.43
  • Mollie O'Callaghan
     (52.19)
  • Madison Wilson
     (51.28)
  • Meg Harris
     (52.00)
  • Emma McKeon
     (49.96)
  Australia 13 December 2022 World Championships Melbourne, Australia
4 × 200 m freestyle relay 7:30.87
 Australia 14 December 2022 World Championships Melbourne, Australia
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 3:44.35
  • Claire Curzan
     (56.47)
  • Lilly King
     (1:02.88)
  • Torri Huske
     (54.53)
  • Kate Douglass
     (50.47)
  United States 18 December 2022 World Championships Melbourne, Australia
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 Records

Event Time Name Nationality Date Meet Location Ref
4 × 50 m freestyle relay 1:27.33
  • Maxime Grousset
     (20.92)
  • Florent Manaudou
     (20.26)
  • Béryl Gastaldello
     (23.00)
  • Mélanie Henique
     (23.15)
  France 16 December 2022 World Championships Melbourne, Australia
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
Legend: # – Record awaiting ratification by World Aquatics;
Records not set in finals: h – heat

Record Holders by Nation

Nation Record
tally		 LC SC Total LC SC Total LC SC Total
Men Women Mixed
 United States 22 6 7 13 4 4 8 1 1
 Australia 17 3 3 7 6 13 1 1
 China 5 3 3 1 1 2
 Hungary 5 1 1 2 1 2 3
 Sweden 5 4 1 5
 France 4 1 2 3 1 1
 Germany 4 2 2 4
 Russia 4 1 2 3 1 1
 Canada 3 1 2 3
 Great Britain 3 2 2 1 1
 Italy 3 1 2 3
 Lithuania 3 1 2 3
 Brazil 2 1 1 2
 Japan 2 2 2
 Netherlands 2 2 2
 Spain 2 2 2
 Belarus 1 1 1
 Hong Kong 1 1 1
 Ireland 1 1 1
 Jamaica 1 1 1
 Romania 1 1 1
 Turkey 1 1 1
 Ukraine 1 1 1
Total 93 20 25 45 21 24 44 2 2 4
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List of world records in swimming Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.