List of African records in swimming

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The African records in swimming are the fastest times ever by a swimmer representing an African country. These records are ratified by Africa Aquatics (previously CANA) the African Aquatic Confederation

All records were set in finals unless noted otherwise.

Long Course (50 m)

Men

Event Time Name Nationality Date Meet Location Ref
50 m freestyle 21.67 = Roland Schoeman  South Africa 16 August 2008 Olympic Games Beijing, China
50 m freestyle 21.67 =, sf Roland Schoeman  South Africa 2 August 2013 World Championships Barcelona, Spain
100 m freestyle 47.79 h Lyndon Ferns  South Africa 29 July 2009 World Championships Rome, Italy
200 m freestyle 1:45.20 Chad le Clos  South Africa 8 August 2016 Olympic Games Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
400 m freestyle 3:40.70 Ahmed Hafnaoui  Tunisia 23 July 2023 World Championships Fukuoka, Japan
800 m freestyle 7:35.27 Oussama Mellouli  Tunisia 29 July 2009 World Championships Rome, Italy
1500 m freestyle 14:31.54 Ahmed Hafnaoui  Tunisia 30 July 2023 World Championships Fukuoka, Japan
50 m backstroke 24.17 Pieter Coetze  South Africa 3 August 2025 World Championships Singapore, Singapore
100 m backstroke 51.85 CR Pieter Coetze  South Africa 29 July 2025 World Championships Singapore, Singapore
200 m backstroke 1:53.36 Pieter Coetze  South Africa 1 August 2025 World Championships Singapore, Singapore
50 m breaststroke 26.54 h Cameron van der Burgh  South Africa 25 July 2017 World Championships Budapest, Hungary
100 m breaststroke 58.46 Cameron van der Burgh  South Africa 29 July 2012 Olympic Games London, United Kingdom
200 m breaststroke 2:09.61 sf Neil Versfeld  South Africa 30 July 2009 World Championships Rome, Italy
50m butterfly 22.80 Abdelrahman Sameh  Egypt 18 May 2025 Mare Nostrum Monte Carlo, Monaco
100m butterfly 50.56 Chad le Clos  South Africa 8 August 2015 World Championships Kazan, Russia
200m butterfly 1:52.96 Chad le Clos  South Africa 31 July 2012 Olympic Games London, United Kingdom
200m individual medley 1:57.03 sf Darian Townsend  South Africa 25 April 2009 French Championships Montpellier, France
400m individual medley 4:10.53 Oussama Mellouli  Tunisia 29 June 2009 Mediterranean Games Pescara, Italy
4×50m freestyle relay 1:28.78
  • Lyndon Ferns
  • Roland Schoeman
  • Gerhard Zandberg
  • Ryk Neethling
  South Africa 2 April 2003 -
4×100m freestyle relay 3:11.93
  • Lyndon Ferns
     (48.32)
  • Graeme Moore
     (48.05)
  • Darian Townsend
     (48.05)
  • Roland Schoeman
     (47.51)
 South Africa 26 July 2009 World Championships Rome, Italy
4×200m freestyle relay 7:08.01 h
  • Jean Basson
     (1:45.99)
  • Darian Townsend
     (1:46.22)
  • Jan Venter
     (1:47.78)
  • Sebastien Rousseau
     (1:48.02)
 South Africa 31 July 2009 World Championships Rome, Italy
4×100m medley relay 3:31.53 h
  • George Du Rand
     (53.90)
  • Cameron van der Burgh
     (58.32)
  • Lyndon Ferns
     (52.06)
  • Graeme Moore
     (47.25)
 South Africa 2 August 2009 World Championships Rome, Italy
Legend: # – Record awaiting ratification by CANA; WR – World record; CR – Commonwealth record;
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

Women

Event Time Name Nationality Date Meet Location Ref
50m freestyle 24.62 sf Farida Osman  Egypt 29 July 2017 World Championships Budapest, Hungary
100m freestyle 54.23 Erin Gallagher  South Africa 9 April 2018 Commonwealth Games Gold Coast, Australia
200m freestyle 1:56.80 r Aimee Canny  South Africa 12 April 2024 South African Championships Port Elizabeth, South Africa
400m freestyle 4:07.92 Karin Prinsloo  South Africa 31 January 2014 Aquatic Super Series Perth, Australia
800m freestyle 8:25.71 Wendy Trott  South Africa 14 June 2012 Trofeo Sette Colli Rome, Italy
1500m freestyle 16:05.63 h Wendy Trott  South Africa 25 July 2011 World Championships Shanghai, China
50m backstroke 27.91 Olivia Nel  South Africa 22 July 2025 World University Games Berlin, Germany
100m backstroke 58.77 sf Kirsty Coventry  Zimbabwe 11 August 2008 Olympic Games Beijing, China
200m backstroke 2:04.81 Kirsty Coventry  Zimbabwe 1 August 2009 World Championships Rome, Italy
50m breaststroke 29.72 h, CR Lara van Niekerk  South Africa 6 April 2022 South African Championships Port Elizabeth, South Africa
100m breaststroke 1:04.82 h, CR Tatjana Schoenmaker  South Africa 25 July 2021 Olympic Games Tokyo, Japan
200m breaststroke 2:18.95 CR Tatjana Schoenmaker  South Africa 30 July 2021 Olympic Games Tokyo, Japan
50m butterfly 25.38 Farida Osman  Egypt 24 June 2022 World Championships Budapest, Hungary
100m butterfly 57.32 Erin Gallagher  South Africa 12 April 2024 South African Championships Port Elizabeth, South Africa
200m butterfly 2:09.41 h Katheryn Meaklim  South Africa 12 August 2008 Olympic Games Beijing, China
200m individual medley 2:08.59 Kirsty Coventry  Zimbabwe 13 August 2008 Olympic Games Beijing, China
400m individual medley 4:29.89 Kirsty Coventry  Zimbabwe 9 August 2008 Olympic Games Beijing, China
4×50m freestyle relay 1:45.66
  • L. Kemp
  • K. Ross
  • A. Peens
  • V. Mohr
 Tuks 10 April 2014 South African Championships South Africa
4×100m freestyle relay 3:40.29
  • Aimee Canny
     (55.27)
  • Emma Chelius
     (54.94)
  • Erin Gallagher
     (54.34)
  • Rebecca Meder
     (55.74)
  South Africa 10 April 2021 South African Championships Port Elizabeth, South Africa
4×200m freestyle relay 8:01.56 h
  • Aimee Canny
     (1:58.41)
  • Rebecca Meder
     (2:00.53)
  • Dune Coetzee
     (1:59.75)
  • Erin Gallagher
     (2:02.87)
  South Africa 28 July 2021 Olympic Games Tokyo, Japan
4×100m medley relay 3:59.47 h
  • Olivia Nel
     (1:00.33)
  • Rebecca Meder
     (1:07.63)
  • Erin Gallagher
     (57.31)
  • Aimee Canny
     (54.20)
  South Africa 3 August 2025 World Championships Singapore, Singapore
Legend: # – Record awaiting ratification by CANA; WR – World record; CR – Commonwealth record;
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

Event Time Name Nationality Date Meet Location Ref
4×100 m freestyle relay 3:28.51
  • Guy Brooks
     (49.55)
  • Ruard Van Renen
     (49.20)
  • Olivia Nel
     (54.72)
  • Michaela De Villiers
     (55.04)
  South Africa 21 July 2025 World University Games Berlin, Germany
4×100 m medley relay 3:44.38
  • Pieter Coetze
     (53.42)
  • Lara van Niekerk
     (1:05.41)
  • Chad le Clos
     (50.94)
  • Aimee Canny
     (54.61)
  South Africa 2 August 2022 Commonwealth Games Birmingham, United Kingdom
Legend: # – Record awaiting ratification by CANA; WR – World record;
Records not set in finals: h – heat

Short Course (25 m)

Men

Event Time Name Nationality Date Meet Location Ref
50m freestyle 20.30 Roland Schoeman  South Africa 8 August 2009 South African Championships Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
100m freestyle 45.78 Chad le Clos  South Africa 6 August 2017 World Cup Berlin, Germany
200m freestyle 1:40.65 Matthew Sates  South Africa 3 October 2021 World Cup Berlin, Germany
400m freestyle 3:36.30 Matthew Sates  South Africa 21 October 2022 World Cup Berlin, Germany
800m freestyle 7:31.93 Ahmed Jaouadi  Tunisia 14 December 2024 World Championships Budapest, Hungary
1500m freestyle 14:10.94 Ahmed Hafnaoui  Tunisia 21 December 2021 World Championships Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
50m backstroke 22.75 Pieter Coetze  South Africa 1 November 2024 World Cup Singapore, Singapore
100m backstroke 49.35 Pieter Coetze  South Africa 20 October 2024 World Cup Shanghai, China
200m backstroke 1:47.08 George Du Rand  South Africa 7 November 2009 World Cup Moscow, Russia
50m breaststroke 25.25 CR Cameron van der Burgh  South Africa 14 November 2009 World Cup Berlin, Germany
100m breaststroke 55.61 Cameron van der Burgh  South Africa 15 November 2009 World Cup Berlin, Germany
200m breaststroke 2:02.56 Neil Versfeld  South Africa 14 November 2009 World Cup Berlin, Germany
50m butterfly 21.87 Roland Schoeman  South Africa 14 November 2009 World Cup Berlin, Germany
100m butterfly 48.08 CR Chad le Clos  South Africa 8 December 2016 World Championships Windsor, Canada
200m butterfly 1:48.27 Chad le Clos  South Africa 15 December 2022 World Championships Melbourne, Australia
100m individual medley 51.05 CR Gerhard Zandberg  South Africa 14 November 2009 World Cup Berlin, Germany
200m individual medley 1:50.15 CR Matthew Sates  South Africa 13 December 2022 World Championships Melbourne, Australia
400m individual medley 3:57.40 Oussama Mellouli  Tunisia 16 December 2010 World Championships Dubai, United Arab Emirates
4×50m freestyle relay 1:24.14
  • Brad Tandy
     (21.22)
  • Chad le Clos
     (20.31)
  • Douglas Erasmus
     (21.29)
  • Ryan Coetzee
     (21.32)
  South Africa 14 December 2018 World Championships Hangzhou, China
4×100m freestyle relay 3:12.87 h
  • Leith Shankland
     (48.05)
  • Clayton Jimmie
     (47.89)
  • Calvyn Justus
     (48.32)
  • Myles Brown
     (48.61)
 South Africa 3 December 2014 World Championships Doha, Qatar
4×200m freestyle relay 6:52.13
  • Myles Brown
     (1:43.45)
  • Sebastien Rousseau
     (1:43.96)
  • Chad le Clos
     (1:40.61)
  • Leith Shankland
     (1:44.31)
 South Africa 4 December 2014 World Championships Doha, Qatar
4×50m medley relay 1:32.56
  • Mohamed Samy
     (23.68)
  • Youssef Elkamash
     (26.32)
  • Youssef Ramadan
     (22.12)
  • Abdelrahman Sameh
     (20.44)
  Egypt 20 December 2021 World Championships Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
4×100m medley relay 3:30.83 h
  • Mohamed Samy
     (52.55)
  • Youssef Elkamash
     (59.71)
  • Youssef Ramadan
     (50.89)
  • Abdelrahman Sameh
     (47.68)
  Egypt 21 December 2021 World Championships Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Legend: # – Record awaiting ratification by CANA; WR – World record; CR – Commonwealth record;
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

Women

Event Time Name Nationality Date Meet Location Ref
50 m freestyle 24.14 h Caitlin De Lange  South Africa 14 December 2024 World Championships Budapest, Hungary
100 m freestyle 52.70 sf Erin Gallagher  South Africa 12 December 2018 World Championships Hangzhou, China
200 m freestyle 1:54.13 Aimee Canny  South Africa 18 October 2024 Virginia vs Florida Dual Meet Charlottesville, United States
400 m freestyle 4:03.50 Melissa Corfe  South Africa 11 April 2008 World Championships Manchester, United Kingdom
800 m freestyle 8:22.05 Jessica Pengelly  South Africa 4 November 2011 World Cup Singapore, Singapore
1500 m freestyle 16:09.12 Stephanie Houtman  South Africa 13 December 2024 World Championships Budapest, Hungary
50m backstroke 26.85 = Kirsty Coventry  Zimbabwe 13 April 2008 World Championships Manchester, United Kingdom
50m backstroke 26.85 = Jessica Thompson  South Africa 26 September 2025 South African Championships Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
100m backstroke 56.56 Chanelle Van Wyk  South Africa 15 November 2009 World Cup Berlin, Germany
200m backstroke 2:00.91 Kirsty Coventry  Zimbabwe 11 April 2008 World Championships Manchester, United Kingdom
50m breaststroke 29.09 Lara van Niekerk  South Africa 18 December 2022 World Championships Melbourne, Australia
100m breaststroke 1:03.89 Tatjana Schoenmaker  South Africa 25 October 2020 South African Championships Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
200m breaststroke 2:18.02 Tatjana Schoenmaker  South Africa 26 October 2020 South African Championships Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
50m butterfly 25.31 Farida Osman  Egypt 17 November 2019 International Swimming League College Park, United States
100m butterfly 56.46 Farida Osman  Egypt 20 December 2019 International Swimming League Las Vegas, United States
200m butterfly 2:04.24 Mandy Loots  South Africa 21 November 2009 World Cup Singapore, Singapore
100m individual medley 57.69 sf Rebecca Meder  South Africa 12 December 2024 World Championships Budapest, Hungary
200m individual medley 2:05.56 Rebecca Meder  South Africa 12 October 2025 World Cup Carmel, United States
400m individual medley 4:22.88 Katheryn Meaklim  South Africa 21 November 2009 World Cup Singapore, Singapore
4×50m freestyle relay 1:40.80 h
  • Caitlin De Lange
     (24.33)
  • Rebecca Meder
     (25.14)
  • Emily Visagie
     (26.08)
  • Milla Drakopoulos
     (25.25)
  South Africa 15 December 2022 World Championships Melbourne, Australia
4×100m freestyle relay 3:41.57 h
  • Milla Drakopoulos
     (56.97)
  • Caitlin De Lange
     (53.33)
  • Emily Visagie
     (57.08)
  • Rebecca Meder
     (54.19)
  South Africa 13 December 2022 World Championships Melbourne, Australia
4×200m freestyle relay 8:02.49 h
  • Karin Prinsloo
     (1:58.41)
  • Michelle Weber
     (2:02.84)
  • Kyna Pereira
     (2:00.99)
  • Jessica Pengelly
     (2:00.25)
 South Africa 12 December 2012 World Championships Istanbul, Turkey
4×50m medley relay 1:52.16 h
  • Erin Gallagher
     (28.26)
  • Tatjana Schoenmaker
     (32.06)
  • Trudi Maree
     (27.04)
  • Lehesta Kemp
     (24.80)
 South Africa 5 December 2014 World Championships Doha, Qatar
4×100m medley relay 3:57.68 h
  • Milla Drakopoulos
     (59.32)
  • Lara van Niekerk
     (1:06.13)
  • Rebecca Meder
     (57.20)
  • Jessica Thompson
     (55.03)
  South Africa 15 December 2024 World Championships Budapest, Hungary
Legend: # – Record awaiting ratification by CANA; WR – World record; CR – Commonwealth record;
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

Event Time Name Nationality Date Meet Location Ref
4×50 m freestyle relay 1:33.19
  • Luke Pendock
     (22.01)
  • Clayton Jimmie
     (21.30)
  • Lehesta Kemp
     (24.90)
  • Trudi Maree
     (24.98)
 South Africa 6 December 2014 World Championships Doha, Qatar
4×50 m medley relay 1:41.32 h
  • Jessica Thompson
     (27.16)
  • Michael Houlie
     (25.67)
  • Caitlin de Lange
     (26.40)
  • Kris Mihaylov
     (22.09)
  South Africa 11 December 2024 World Championships Budapest, Hungary
4×100 m medley relay 3:37.71 h
  • Ruard van Renen
     (50.07)
  • Rebecca Meder
     (1:04.81)
  • Chad le Clos
     (49.57)
  • Caitlin de Lange
     (53.26)
  South Africa 14 December 2024 World Championships Budapest, Hungary
Legend: # – Record awaiting ratification by CANA; WR – World record;
Records not set in finals: h – heat

Record holders' rankings

By nation

Nation Record
tally 		LC SC Total LC SC Total LC SC Total
Men Women Mixed
 South Africa 71 17 18 34 14 18 32 2 3 5
 Zimbabwe 9 6 2 8
 Tunisia 7 4 3 7
 Egypt 7 1 2 2 1 3 4
Total 91 20 23 43 20 23 43 2 3 5

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