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, 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
The ratification process is described in FINA Rule SW12, 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. 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. 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. In October 2013, FINA decided to establish "standards" before something can be recognized as the first World Record in these events. 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.
Long course (50m pool)
Men
| Event | Time | Name | Nationality | Date | Meet | Location | Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50m freestyle | 20.91 | ss | César Cielo | Brazil | 18 December 2009 | Brazilian Championships | São Paulo, Brazil | |
| 100m freestyle | 46.40 | Pan Zhanle | China | 31 July 2024 | Olympic Games | Paris, France | ||
| 200m freestyle | 1:42.00 | ss | Paul Biedermann | Germany | 28 July 2009 | World Championships | Rome, Italy | |
| 400m freestyle | 3:39.96 | Lukas 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 | Bobby Finke | United States | 4 August 2024 | Olympic Games | Paris, France | ||
| 50m backstroke | 23.55 | sf | Kliment Kolesnikov | Russia | 27 July 2023 | Russian Cup | Kazan, Russia | |
| 100m backstroke | 51.60 | Thomas Ceccon | Italy | 20 June 2022 | World Championships | Budapest, Hungary | ||
| 200m backstroke | 1:51.92 | ss | Aaron Peirsol | United States | 31 July 2009 | World Championships | Rome, Italy | |
| 50m breaststroke | 25.95 | sf | Adam Peaty | Great Britain | 25 July 2017 | World Championships | Budapest, Hungary | |
| 100m breaststroke | 56.88 | sf | Adam 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 | Andriy Govorov | Ukraine | 1 July 2018 | Sette Colli Trophy | Rome, Italy | ||
| 100m butterfly | 49.45 | Caeleb Dressel | United States | 31 July 2021 | Olympic Games | Tokyo, Japan | ||
| 200m butterfly | 1:50.34 | Kristóf Milák | Hungary | 21 June 2022 | World Championships | Budapest, Hungary | ||
| 200m individual medley | 1:52.69 | sf | Léon Marchand | France | 30 July 2025 | World Championships | Singapore, Singapore | |
| 400m individual medley | 4:02.50 | Léon 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 |
| United States | 1 August 2021 | Olympic Games | Tokyo, Japan |
Legend: # – Record awaiting ratification by World Aquatics;
Records not set in finals: h – heat;
Records not set in finals: h – heat;
ss – supersuited/non-textile world record
Women
| Event | Time | Name | Nationality | Date | Meet | Location | Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50m freestyle | 23.61 | sf | Sarah Sjöström | Sweden | 29 July 2023 | World Championships | Fukuoka, Japan | |
| 100m freestyle | 51.71 | r | Sarah Sjöström | Sweden | 23 July 2017 | World Championships | Budapest, Hungary | |
| 200m freestyle | 1:52.23 | Ariarne Titmus | Australia | 12 June 2024 | Australian Olympic Trials | Brisbane, Australia | ||
| 400m freestyle | 3:54.18 | Summer McIntosh | Canada | 7 June 2025 | Canadian Trials | Victoria, Canada | ||
| 800m freestyle | 8:04.12 | Katie Ledecky | United States | 3 May 2025 | TYR Pro Swim Series | Fort Lauderdale, United States | ||
| 1500m freestyle | 15:20.48 | Katie Ledecky | United States | 16 May 2018 | TYR Pro Swim Series | Indianapolis, United States | ||
| 50m backstroke | 26.86 | Kaylee McKeown | Australia | 20 October 2023 | World Cup | Budapest, Hungary | ||
| 100m backstroke | 57.13 | Regan Smith | United States | 18 June 2024 | U.S. Olympic Trials | Indianapolis, United States | ||
| 200m backstroke | 2:03.14 | Kaylee McKeown | Australia | 10 March 2023 | NSW State Championships | Sydney, Australia | ||
| 50m breaststroke | 29.16 | Rūta Meilutytė | Lithuania | 30 July 2023 | World Championships | Fukuoka, Japan | ||
| 100m breaststroke | 1:04.13 | Lilly King | United States | 25 July 2017 | World Championships | Budapest, Hungary | ||
| 200m breaststroke | 2:17.55 | Evgeniia Chikunova | Russia | 21 April 2023 | Russian Championships | Kazan, Russia | ||
| 50m butterfly | 24.43 | Sarah Sjöström | Sweden | 5 July 2014 | Swedish Championships | Borås, Sweden | ||
| 100m butterfly | 54.60 | Gretchen Walsh | United States | 3 May 2025 | TYR Pro Swim Series | 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 | Summer McIntosh | Canada | 9 June 2025 | Canadian Trials | Victoria, Canada | ||
| 400m individual medley | 4:23.65 | Summer McIntosh | Canada | 11 June 2025 | Canadian Trials | Victoria, Canada | ||
| 4 × 100 m freestyle relay | 3:27.96 |
| Australia | 23 July 2023 | World Championships | Fukuoka, Japan | ||
| 4 × 200 m freestyle relay | 7:37.50 |
| 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;
Records not set in finals: h – heat;
ss – supersuited/non-textile world record
Mixed relay
| Event | Time | Name | Nationality | Date | Meet | Location | Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 × 100 m freestyle relay | 3:18.48 |
| United States | 2 August 2025 | World Championships | Singapore, Singapore | ||
| 4 × 100 m medley relay | 3:37.43 |
| United States | 3 August 2024 | Olympic Games | Paris, France |
Legend: # – Record awaiting ratification by World Aquatics;
Records not set in finals: h – heat
Records not set in finals: h – heat
Short course (25m pool)
Men
| Event | Time | Name | Nationality | Date | Meet | Location | Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50m freestyle | 19.90 | sf | Jordan Crooks | Cayman Islands | 14 December 2024 | World Championships | Budapest, Hungary | |
| 100m freestyle | 44.84 | Kyle Chalmers | Australia | 29 October 2021 | World Cup | Kazan, Russia | ||
| 200m freestyle | 1:38.61 | Luke Hobson | United States | 15 December 2024 | World Championships | Budapest, Hungary | ||
| 400m freestyle | 3:32.25 | Yannick Agnel | France | 15 November 2012 | French Nationals | Angers, France | ||
| 800m freestyle | 7:20.46 | Daniel Wiffen | Ireland | 10 December 2023 | European Championships | Otopeni, Romania | ||
| 1500m freestyle | 14:06.88 | Florian Wellbrock | Germany | 21 December 2021 | World Championships | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | ||
| 50m backstroke | 22.11 | Kliment Kolesnikov | Russia | 23 November 2022 | Solidarity Games | Kazan, Russia | ||
| 100m backstroke | 48.16 | Hubert Kós | Hungary | 25 October 2025 | World Cup | Toronto, Canada | ||
| 200m backstroke | 1:45.12 | Hubert Kós | Hungary | 23 October 2025 | World Cup | Toronto, Canada | ||
| 50m breaststroke | 24.95 | Emre Sakçı | Turkey | 27 December 2021 | Turkish Championships | Gaziantep, Turkey | ||
| 100m breaststroke | 55.28 | Ilya Shymanovich | Belarus | 26 November 2021 | International Swimming League | Eindhoven, Netherlands | ||
| 200m breaststroke | 1:59.52 | Caspar Corbeau | Netherlands | 25 October 2025 | World Cup | Toronto, Canada | ||
| 50m butterfly | 21.32 | Noè Ponti | Switzerland | 11 December 2024 | World Championships | Budapest, Hungary | ||
| 100m butterfly | 47.68 | Joshua Liendo | Canada | 23 October 2025 | World Cup | Toronto, Canada | ||
| 200m butterfly | 1:46.85 | Tomoru Honda | Japan | 22 October 2022 | Japanese Championships | Tokyo, Japan | ||
| 100m individual medley | 49.28 | Caeleb Dressel | United States | 22 November 2020 | International Swimming League | Budapest, Hungary | ||
| 200m individual medley | 1:48.88 | Léon Marchand | France | 1 November 2024 | World Cup | Singapore, Singapore | ||
| 400m individual medley | 3:54.81 | Daiya Seto | Japan | 20 December 2019 | International Swimming League | Las Vegas, United States | ||
| 4 × 50 m freestyle relay | 1:21.80 |
| United States | 14 December 2018 | World Championships | Hangzhou, China | ||
| 4 × 50 m freestyle relay | 1:20.77 | WB ss |
| France | 14 December 2008 | European Championships | Rijeka, Croatia | |
| 4 × 100 m freestyle relay | 3:01.66 |
| United States | 10 December 2024 | World Championships | Budapest, Hungary | ||
| 4 × 200 m freestyle relay | 6:40.51 |
| United States | 13 December 2024 | World Championships | Budapest, Hungary | ||
| 4 × 50 m medley relay | 1:29.72 |
| Italy | 17 December 2022 | World Championships | Melbourne, Australia | ||
| 4 × 100 m medley relay | 3:18.68 |
| Russia | 15 December 2024 | World Championships | Budapest, Hungary |
Legend: # – Record awaiting ratification by World Aquatics;
Records not set in finals: h – heat;
Records not set in finals: h – heat;
ss – supersuited/non-textile world record
WB – world best time swam that will not be ratified by FINA
Women
| Event | Time | Name | Nationality | Date | Meet | Location | Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50m freestyle | 22.83 | Gretchen Walsh | United States | 15 December 2024 | World Championships | Budapest, Hungary | ||
| 100m freestyle | 49.93 | Kate Douglass | United States | 25 October 2025 | World Cup | Toronto, Canada | ||
| 200m freestyle | 1:49.36 | Mollie O'Callaghan | Australia | 24 October 2025 | World Cup | Toronto, Canada | ||
| 400m freestyle | 3:50.25 | Summer McIntosh | Canada | 10 December 2024 | World Championships | Budapest, Hungary | ||
| 800m freestyle | 7:54.00 | Lani Pallister | Australia | 25 October 2025 | World Cup | Toronto, Canada | ||
| 1500m freestyle | 15:08.24 | Katie Ledecky | United States | 29 October 2022 | World Cup | Toronto, Canada | ||
| 50m backstroke | 25.23 | Regan Smith | United States | 13 December 2024 | World Championships | Budapest, Hungary | ||
| 100m backstroke | 54.02 | r, = | Regan Smith | United States | 15 December 2024 | World Championships | Budapest, Hungary | |
| 100m backstroke | 54.02 | = | Regan Smith | United States | 18 October 2025 | World Cup | Westmont, United States | |
| 200m backstroke | 1:57.33 | Kaylee McKeown | Australia | 25 October 2025 | World Cup | Toronto, Canada | ||
| 50m breaststroke | 28.37 | sf | Rūta Meilutytė | Lithuania | 17 December 2022 | World Championships | Melbourne, Australia | |
| 100m breaststroke | 1:02.36 | = | Rūta Meilutytė | Lithuania | 12 October 2013 | World Cup | Moscow, Russia | |
| 100m breaststroke | 1:02.36 | = | Alia Atkinson | Jamaica | 6 December 2014 | World Championships | Doha, Qatar | |
| 100m breaststroke | 1:02.36 | = | Alia Atkinson | Jamaica | 26 August 2016 | World Cup | Chartres, France | |
| 200m breaststroke | 2:12.50 | Kate Douglass | United States | 13 December 2024 | World Championships | Budapest, Hungary | ||
| 50m butterfly | 23.72 | Gretchen Walsh | United States | 11 October 2025 | World Cup | Carmel, United States | ||
| 100m butterfly | 52.71 | Gretchen Walsh | United States | 14 December 2024 | World Championships | Budapest, Hungary | ||
| 200m butterfly | 1:59.32 | Summer McIntosh | Canada | 12 December 2024 | World Championships | Budapest, Hungary | ||
| 100m individual medley | 55.11 | Gretchen Walsh | United States | 13 December 2024 | World Championships | Budapest, Hungary | ||
| 200m individual medley | 2:01.63 | Kate Douglass | United States | 10 December 2024 | World Championships | Budapest, Hungary | ||
| 400m individual medley | 4:15.48 | Summer 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 |
| United States | 10 December 2024 | World Championships | Budapest, Hungary | ||
| 4 × 200 m freestyle relay | 7:30.13 |
| United States | 12 December 2024 | World Championships | Budapest, Hungary | ||
| 4 × 50 m medley relay | 1:42.35 |
| 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;
Records not set in finals: h – heat;
Mixed relay
| Event | Time | Name | Nationality | Date | Meet | Location | Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 × 50 m freestyle relay | 1:27.26 |
| Italy | 4 December 2025 | European Championships | Lublin, Poland | ||
| 4 × 50 m medley relay | 1:35.15 |
| United States | 14 December 2022 | World Championships | Melbourne, Australia | ||
| 4 × 100 m medley relay | 3:30.47 |
| Russia | 14 December 2024 | World Championships | Budapest, Hungary |
Legend: # – Record awaiting ratification by World Aquatics;
Records not set in finals: h – heat
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 | ||||||||
| United States | 33 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 6 | 13 | 19 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Australia | 10 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 9 | ||||
| Canada | 7 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 6 | ||||
| France | 5 | 2 | 3 | 5 | ||||||
| Russia | 5 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||
| China | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | |||||
| Germany | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | ||||||
| Hungary | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | ||||||
| Italy | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | ||||
| Lithuania | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | ||||||
| Sweden | 3 | 3 | 3 | |||||||
| Great Britain | 2 | 2 | 2 | |||||||
| Japan | 2 | 2 | 2 | |||||||
| Netherlands | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||||
| Belarus | 1 | 1 | 1 | |||||||
| Brazil | 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 |
By athlete (men)
| By athlete (women)
|
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