World record progression 100 metres backstroke

This is a history of the 100 m backstroke world record as swum in both long-course (50 m; Olympic) pools and short-course (25 m) pools—the two categories recognized/tracked by FINA.

Men

Long course

# Time Name Nationality Date Meet Location Ref
1 1:02.2 David Theile  Australia 6 December 1956 Olympic Games Melbourne, Australia
2 1:01.5 John Monckton  Australia 15 February 1958 Australian Championships Perth, Australia
3 1:01.3 Bob Bennett  United States 19 August 1961 Men’s NAAA Championships Los Angeles, United States
4 1:01.0 h Tom Stock  United States 11 August 1962 - Cuyahoga Falls, United States
5 1:00.9 Tom Stock  United States 12 August 1962 - Cuyahoga Falls, United States
6 1:00.8 Ernst-Joachim Küppers  West Germany 28 August 1964 - Dortmund, West Germany
7 1:00.0 Thompson Mann  United States 3 September 1964 - New York City, United States
8 59.6 r Thompson Mann  United States 16 October 1964 Olympic Games Tokyo, Japan
9 59.5 h Doug Russell  United States 28 August 1967 Summer Universiade Tokyo, Japan
10 59.3 Charlie Hickcox  United States 28 August 1967 Summer Universiade Tokyo, Japan
11 59.1 Charlie Hickcox  United States 31 August 1967 Summer Universiade Tokyo, Japan
12 58.4 Roland Matthes  East Germany 21 September 1967 - Leipzig, East Germany
13 58.0 Roland Matthes  East Germany 26 October 1968 Olympic Games Mexico City, Mexico
14 57.8 Roland Matthes  East Germany 23 August 1969 - Würzburg, West Germany
15 56.9 h Roland Matthes  East Germany 8 September 1970 European Championships Barcelona, Spain
16 56.7 Roland Matthes  East Germany 4 September 1971 - Leipzig, East Germany
17 56.3 Roland Matthes  East Germany 8 April 1972 - Moscow, Soviet Union
17 56.30 =, r Roland Matthes  East Germany 4 September 1972 Olympic Games Munich, West Germany
18 56.19 sf John Naber  United States 18 July 1976 Olympic Games Montreal, Canada
19 55.49 John Naber  United States 19 July 1976 Olympic Games Montreal, Canada
20 55.44 h Rick Carey  United States 6 August 1983 US National Championships Clovis, United States
21 55.38 Rick Carey  United States 6 August 1983 US National Championships Clovis, United States
22 55.19 Rick Carey  United States 21 August 1983 Pan American Games Caracas, Venezuela
23 55.17 h Igor Polyansky  Soviet Union 15 March 1988 - Tallinn, Soviet Union
24 55.16 Igor Polyansky  Soviet Union 16 March 1988 - Tallinn, Soviet Union
25 55.00 Igor Polyansky  Soviet Union 16 July 1988 Soviet Union Championships Moscow, Soviet Union
26 54.95 h David Berkoff  United States 12 August 1988 US Olympic Trials Austin, United States
27 54.91 David Berkoff  United States 12 August 1988 US Olympic Trials Austin, United States
28 54.51 h David Berkoff  United States 16 September 1988 Olympic Games Seoul, South Korea
29 53.93 r Jeff Rouse  United States 25 August 1991 Pan Pacific Championships Edmonton, Canada
30 53.86 r Jeff Rouse  United States 31 July 1992 Olympic Games Barcelona, Spain
31 53.60 Lenny Krayzelburg  United States 24 August 1999 Pan Pacific Championships Sydney, Australia
32 53.45 r Aaron Peirsol  United States 21 August 2004 Olympic Games Athens, Greece
33 53.17 Aaron Peirsol  United States 2 April 2005 US World Championships Trials Indianapolis, United States
34 52.98 Aaron Peirsol  United States 27 March 2007 World Championships Melbourne, Australia
35 52.89 Aaron Peirsol  United States 1 July 2008 US Olympic Trials Omaha, United States
36 52.54 Aaron Peirsol  United States 12 August 2008 Olympic Games Beijing, China
37 52.38 r Aschwin Wildeboer  Spain 1 July 2009 Mediterranean Games Pescara, Italy
38 51.94 Aaron Peirsol  United States 8 July 2009 US National Championships Indianapolis, United States
39 51.85 r Ryan Murphy  United States 13 August 2016 Olympic Games Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
40 51.60 Thomas Ceccon  Italy 20 June 2022 World Championships Budapest, Hungary

Short course

# Time Name Nationality Date Meet Location Ref
1 52.71 Mark Tewksbury  Canada 16 March 1991 World Cup Bonn, Germany
2 52.58 Mark Tewksbury  Canada 29 March 1991 World Cup Sheffield, United Kingdom
3 52.52 Mark Tewksbury  Canada 20 February 1992 - Winnipeg, Canada
4 52.50 r Mark Tewksbury  Canada 22 February 1992 - Winnipeg, Canada
5 51.43 Jeff Rouse  United States 12 April 1993 World Cup Sheffield, United Kingdom
6 51.28 Lenny Krayzelburg  United States 5 February 2000 World Cup Berlin, Germany
7 50.75 Neil Walker  United States 19 March 2000 World Cup Athens, Greece
8 50.58 Thomas Rupprath  Germany 8 December 2002 World Cup Melbourne, Australia
9 50.32 Peter Marshall  United States 26 March 2004 - New York City, United States
10 49.99 r Ryan Lochte  United States 9 April 2006 World Championships Shanghai, China
11 49.94 Peter Marshall  United States 11 November 2008 World Cup Stockholm, Sweden
12 49.63 Peter Marshall  United States 15 November 2008 World Cup Berlin, Germany
13 49.32 Stanislav Donets  Russia 14 December 2008 European Championships Rijeka, Croatia
14 49.20 r Aschwin Wildeboer  Spain 21 December 2008 Spanish Championships Madrid, Spain
15 49.17 sf Arkady Vyatchanin  Russia 12 December 2009 European Championships Istanbul, Turkey
16 48.97 = Arkady Vyatchanin  Russia 13 December 2009 European Championships Istanbul, Turkey
16 48.97 = Stanislav Donets  Russia 13 December 2009 European Championships Istanbul, Turkey
17 48.94 r Nick Thoman  United States 18 December 2009 Duel in the Pool Manchester, United Kingdom
18 48.92 Matt Grevers  United States 12 December 2015 Duel in the Pool Indianapolis, United States
19 48.90 Kliment Kolesnikov  Russia 22 December 2017 Vladimir Salnikov Cup Saint Petersburg, Russia
20 48.88 Xu Jiayu  China 11 November 2018 World Cup Tokyo, Japan
21 48.58 r Kliment Kolesnikov  Russia 21 November 2020 International Swimming League Budapest, Hungary
22 48.33 Coleman Stewart  United States 29 August 2021 International Swimming League Naples, Italy
23 48.16 Hubert Kós  Hungary 25 October 2025 World Cup Toronto, Canada

Women

Long course

# Time Name Nationality Date Meet Location Ref
1 1:07.7 Cathy Ferguson  United States 14 October 1964 Olympic Games Tokyo, Japan
2 1:07.4 Ann Farlie  South Africa 23 July 1966 - Béziers, France
3 1:07.3 h Elaine Tanner  Canada 27 July 1967 Pan American Games Winnipeg, Canada
4 1:07.1 Elaine Tanner  Canada 30 July 1967 Pan American Games Winnipeg, Canada
5 1:06.7 Karen Muir  South Africa 30 January 1968 - Kimberley, South Africa
6 1:06.4 Karen Muir  South Africa 6 April 1968 - Paris, France
7 1:06.2 Kaye Hall  United States 22 October 1968 Olympic Games Mexico City, Mexico
8 1:05.6 Karen Muir  South Africa 6 July 1969 - Utrecht, Netherlands
9 1:05.39 Ulrike Richter  East Germany 18 August 1973 - Utrecht, Netherlands
10 1:04.99 r Ulrike Richter  East Germany 4 September 1973 World Championships Belgrade, Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
11 1:04.78 r Wendy Cook  Canada 31 January 1974 Commonwealth Games Christchurch, New Zealand
12 1:04.43 Ulrike Richter  East Germany 8 July 1974 - Rostock, East Germany
13 1:04.09 h Ulrike Richter  East Germany 22 August 1974 European Championships Vienna, Austria
14 1:03.30 Ulrike Richter  East Germany 23 August 1974 European Championships Vienna, Austria
15 1:02.98 Ulrike Richter  East Germany 1 September 1974 USA Vs. GDR Dual Meet Concord, United States
16 1:02.60 Ulrike Richter  East Germany 14 March 1976 - Tallinn, Soviet Union
17 1:01.62 Kornelia Ender  East Germany 3 June 1976 - East Berlin, East Germany
18 1:01.51 r Ulrike Richter  East Germany 5 June 1976 - East Berlin, East Germany
18 1:01.51 r, = Rica Reinisch  East Germany 20 July 1980 Olympic Games Moscow, Soviet Union
20 1:01.50 h Rica Reinisch  East Germany 22 July 1980 Olympic Games Moscow, Soviet Union
21 1:00.86 Rica Reinisch  East Germany 23 July 1980 Olympic Games Moscow, Soviet Union
22 1:00.59 r Ina Kleber  East Germany 24 August 1984 Friendship Games Moscow, Soviet Union
23 1:00.31 Krisztina Egerszegi  Hungary 24 August 1991 European Championships Athens, Greece
24 1:00.16 r He Cihong  China 10 September 1994 World Championships Rome, Italy
25 59.58 Natalie Coughlin  United States 13 August 2002 US National Championships Fort Lauderdale, United States
26 59.44 Natalie Coughlin  United States 27 March 2007 World Championships Melbourne, Australia
27 59.21 Natalie Coughlin  United States 17 February 2008 US Grand Prix Columbia, United States
28 59.15 h Hayley McGregory  United States 30 June 2008 US Olympic Trials Omaha, United States
29 59.03 h Natalie Coughlin  United States 30 June 2008 US Olympic Trials Omaha, United States
30 58.97 Natalie Coughlin  United States 1 July 2008 US Olympic Trials Omaha, United States
31 58.77 sf Kirsty Coventry  Zimbabwe 11 August 2008 Olympic Games Beijing, China
32 58.48 sf Anastasia Zuyeva  Russia 27 July 2009 World Championships Rome, Italy
33 58.12 Gemma Spofforth  Great Britain 28 July 2009 World Championships Rome, Italy
34 58.10 Kylie Masse  Canada 25 July 2017 World Championships Budapest, Hungary
35 58.00 Kathleen Baker  United States 28 July 2018 US National Championships Irvine, United States
36 57.57 r Regan Smith  United States 28 July 2019 World Championships Gwangju, South Korea
37 57.45 Kaylee McKeown  Australia 13 June 2021 Australian Trials Adelaide, Australia
38 57.33 Kaylee McKeown  Australia 21 October 2023 World Cup Budapest, Hungary
39 57.13 Regan Smith  United States 18 June 2024 US Olympic Trials Indianapolis, United States

Short course

# Time Name Nationality Date Meet Location Ref
1 59.41 Angel Martino  United States 21 November 1993 - Stavanger, Norway
2 58.50 Angel Martino  United States 3 December 1993 World Championships Palma de Mallorca, Spain
3 58.45 Reiko Nakamura  Japan 4 March 2001 - Sagamihara, Japan
4 57.08 Natalie Coughlin  United States 29 November 2001 World Cup East Meadow, United States
5 56.71 Natalie Coughlin  United States 23 November 2002 World Cup East Meadow, United States
6 56.51 Natalie Coughlin  United States 28 October 2007 World Cup Singapore
7 56.15 Shiho Sakai  Japan 22 February 2009 Japan Open Tokyo, Japan
8 55.23 Shiho Sakai  Japan 15 November 2009 World Cup Berlin, Germany
9 55.03 Katinka Hosszú  Hungary 4 December 2014 World Championships Doha, Qatar
10 54.89 Minna Atherton  Australia 27 October 2019 International Swimming League Budapest, Hungary
11 54.56 Kaylee McKeown  Australia 26 September 2024 Australian Championships Adelaide, Australia
12 54.41 Regan Smith  United States 25 October 2024 World Cup Incheon, South Korea
13 54.27 Regan Smith  United States 1 November 2024 World Cup Singapore
14 54.02 r Regan Smith  United States 15 December 2024 World Championships Budapest, Hungary
14 54.02 = Regan Smith  United States 18 October 2025 World Cup Westmont, United States

All-time top 25

Tables show data for two definitions of "Top 25" - the top 25 100 m backstroke times and the top 25 athletes:
- denotes top performance for athletes in the top 25 100 m backstroke times
- denotes lesser performances, still in the top 25 100 m backstroke times, by repeat athletes
- denotes top performance (only) for other top 25 athletes who fall outside the top 25 100 m backstroke times

Men long course

  • Correct as of August 2025
Ath.# Perf.# Time Athlete Nation Date Place Ref.
1 1 51.60 Thomas Ceccon  Italy 20 June 2022 Budapest
2 51.80 Ceccon #2 3 August 2025 Singapore
2 3 51.82 Kliment Kolesnikov  Russia 26 July 2023 Kazan
3 4 51.85 Ryan Murphy  United States 13 August 2016 Rio de Janeiro
Pieter Coetze  South Africa 29 July 2025 Singapore
5 6 51.86 Xu Jiayu  China 12 April 2017 Qingdao
7 51.90 Ceccon #3 29 July 2025 Singapore
6 8 51.92 Yohann Ndoye Brouard  France 29 July 2025 Singapore
9 51.93 Ceccon #4 25 June 2022 Budapest
7 10 51.94 Aaron Peirsol  United States 8 July 2009 Indianapolis
10 51.94 Murphy #2 10 August 2018 Tokyo
12 51.97 Murphy #3 8 August 2016 Rio de Janeiro
Murphy #4 20 June 2022 Budapest
8 14 51.98 Evgeny Rylov  Russia 27 July 2021 Tokyo
Hunter Armstrong  United States 20 June 2022 Budapest
16 51.99 Coetze #2 19 July 2025 Berlin
17 52.00 Kolesnikov #2 27 July 2021 Tokyo
Ceccon #5 29 July 2024 Paris
19 52.02 Xu #2 28 July 2024 Paris
20 52.04 Murphy #5 30 July 2023 Fukuoka
Kolesnikov #3 14 April 2025 Kazan
22 52.05 Xu #3 26 September 2023 Hangzhou
10 23 52.08 Matt Grevers  United States 25 June 2012 Omaha
Miron Lifintsev  Russia 28 July 2024 Yekaterinburg
12 25 52.09 Apostolos Christou  Greece 19 June 2022 Budapest
13 52.11 Camille Lacourt  France 10 August 2010 Budapest
Mitch Larkin  Australia 6 November 2015 Dubai
15 52.12 David Plummer  United States 27 June 2016 Omaha
Oliver Morgan  Great Britain 17 April 2025 London
17 52.20 Hubert Kós  Hungary 29 July 2025 Singapore
18 52.24 Ryosuke Irie  Japan 4 September 2009 Kumamoto
19 52.26 Junya Koga  Japan 28 July 2009 Rome
20 52.27 Helge Meeuw  Germany 2 August 2009 Rome
21 52.38 Aschwin Wildeboer  Spain 1 July 2009 Pescara
22 52.40 Pavel Samusenko  Russia 14 April 2025 Kazan
23 52.51 Nick Thoman  United States 7 August 2009 Federal Way
Shaine Casas  United States 8 July 2022 Austin
25 52.54 Will Modglin  United States 19 July 2025 Berlin

Men short course

  • Correct as of December 2025
Ath.# Perf.# Time Athlete Nation Date Place Ref.
1 1 48.16 Hubert Kós  Hungary 25 October 2025 Toronto
2 2 48.33 Coleman Stewart  United States 29 August 2021 Naples
3 3 48.50 Ryan Murphy  United States 14 December 2022 Melbourne
4 4 48.58 Kliment Kolesnikov  Russia 21 November 2020 Budapest
5 48.59 Kolesnikov #2 12 November 2025 Kazan
6 48.63 Kolesnikov #3 14 December 2020 Saint Petersburg
Kolesnikov #4 18 December 2023 Saint Petersburg
8 48.71 Kolesnikov #5 15 December 2020 Saint Petersburg
5 9 48.76 Miron Lifintsev  Russia 11 December 2024 Budapest
10 48.78 Kós #2 19 October 2025 Westmont
6 10 48.78 Pavel Samusenko  Russia 19 December 2025 Saint Petersburg
12 48.79 Kós #3 11 December 2024 Budapest
13 48.82 Kolesnikov #6 22 November 2020 Budapest
Kolesnikov #7 21 November 2022 Kazan
7 15 48.84 Shaine Casas  United States 30 October 2022 Toronto
8 16 48.88 Xu Jiayu  China 11 November 2018 Tokyo
Evgeny Rylov  Russia 15 December 2020 Saint Petersburg
18 48.90 Kolesnikov #8 22 December 2017 Saint Petersburg
19 48.91 Stewart #2 28 August 2021 Naples
10 20 48.92 Matt Grevers  United States 12 December 2015 Indianapolis
20 48.92 Casas #2 15 December 2024 Budapest
11 22 48.94 Nick Thoman  United States 18 December 2009 Manchester
22 48.94 Rylov #2 4 December 2021 Eindhoven
12 24 48.95 Stanislav Donets  Russia 19 December 2010 Dubai
Guilherme Guido  Brazil 3 September 2021 Naples
14 48.97 Arkady Vyatchanin  Russia 13 December 2009 Istanbul
15 49.03 Mitch Larkin  Australia 28 November 2015 Sydney
16 49.04 Lorenzo Mora  Italy 14 December 2022 Melbourne
17 49.05 Aschwin Wildeboer  Spain 13 December 2009 Istanbul
18 49.10 Kacper Stokowski  Poland 15 December 2024 Budapest
19 49.23 Radosław Kawęcki  Poland 20 December 2015 Lublin
20 49.25 Mark Nikolaev  Russia 12 November 2021 Eindhoven
21 49.29 Peter Marshall  United States 10 November 2009 Stockholm
Thomas Ceccon  Italy 5 December 2025 Lublin
23 49.31 Robert Glință  Romania 5 November 2021 Kazan
24 49.35 Pieter Coetze  South Africa 20 October 2024 Shanghai
25 49.39 Blake Tierney  Canada 11 December 2024 Budapest

Women long course

  • Correct as of August 2025
Ath.# Perf.# Time Athlete Nation Date Place Ref.
1 1 57.13 Regan Smith  United States 18 June 2024 Indianapolis
2 2 57.16 Kaylee McKeown  Australia 29 July 2025 Singapore
3 57.28 Smith #2 4 August 2024 Paris
4 57.33 McKeown #2 21 October 2023 Budapest
McKeown #3 30 July 2024 Paris
6 57.35 Smith #3 29 July 2025 Singapore
7 57.41 McKeown #4 11 June 2024 Brisbane
8 57.45 McKeown #5 13 June 2021 Adelaide
9 57.46 Smith #4 3 May 2025 Fort Lauderdale
10 57.47 McKeown #6 27 July 2021 Tokyo
Smith #5 17 June 2024 Indianapolis
12 57.50 McKeown #7 14 June 2023 Melbourne
13 57.51 Smith #6 26 May 2024 Irvine
14 57.53 McKeown #8 25 July 2023 Fukuoka
15 57.57 Smith #7 28 July 2019 Gwangju
McKeown #9 16 March 2024 Sydney
Smith #8 3 August 2025 Singapore
18 57.63 McKeown #10 15 May 2021 Sydney
McKeown #11 14 October 2023 Athens
20 57.64 Smith #9 8 March 2024 Westmont
21 57.65 Smith #10 19 June 2022 Budapest
McKeown #12 22 April 2025 Gold Coast
23 57.66 Smith #11 30 July 2024 Paris
24 57.68 Smith #12 30 July 2023 Fukuoka
25 57.69 Smith #13 6 June 2025 Indianapolis
McKeown #13 3 August 2025 Singapore
3 57.70 Kylie Masse  Canada 19 June 2021 Toronto
4 57.83 Katharine Berkoff  United States 17 June 2024 Indianapolis
5 57.88 Mollie O'Callaghan  Australia 11 June 2024 Brisbane
6 58.00 Kathleen Baker  United States 28 July 2018 Irvine
7 58.08 Kathleen Dawson  Great Britain 23 May 2021 Budapest
8 58.12 Gemma Spofforth  Great Britain 28 July 2009 Rome
9 58.18 Anastasia Fesikova  Russia 28 July 2009 Rome
10 58.23 Emily Seebohm  Australia 29 July 2012 London
11 58.29 Claire Curzan  United States 13 February 2024 Doha
12 58.31 Olivia Smoliga  United States 15 May 2021 Atlanta
13 58.33 Missy Franklin  United States 30 July 2012 London
14 58.43 Rhyan White  United States 15 May 2021 Atlanta
27 July 2021 Tokyo
Iona Anderson  Australia 11 June 2024 Brisbane
16 58.45 Katinka Hosszú  Hungary 8 August 2016 Rio de Janeiro
17 58.53 Leah Shackley  United States 17 May 2025 Charlotte
18 58.55 Taylor Ruck  Canada 3 April 2019 Toronto
Kennedy Noble  United States 17 June 2024 Indianapolis
20 58.60 Minna Atherton  Australia 22 July 2019 Gwangju
21 58.63 Phoebe Bacon  United States 6 December 2019 Atlanta
22 58.65 Kira Toussaint  Netherlands 11 April 2021 Eindhoven
23 58.70 Aya Terakawa  Japan 4 August 2013 Barcelona
24 58.72 Fu Yuanhui  China 8 April 2017 Qingdao
25 58.73 Mie Nielsen  Denmark 19 May 2016 London

Women short course

  • Correct as of October 2025
Ath.# Perf.# Time Athlete Nation Date Place Ref.
1 1 54.02 Regan Smith  United States 15 December 2024 Budapest
18 October 2025 Westmont
3 54.27 Smith #3 1 November 2024 Singapore
4 54.41 Smith #4 25 October 2024 Incheon
2 5 54.49 Kaylee McKeown  Australia 24 October 2025 Toronto
6 54.55 Smith #5 11 December 2024 Budapest
7 54.56 McKeown #2 26 September 2024 Adelaide
8 54.57 Smith #6 24 October 2025 Toronto
3 9 54.89 Minna Atherton  Australia 27 October 2019 Budapest
Gretchen Walsh  United States 18 October 2024 Charlottesville
9 54.89 Smith #7 19 October 2024 Shanghai
12 54.92 Smith #8 11 October 2025 Carmel
5 13 54.93 Katharine Berkoff  United States 11 December 2024 Budapest
6 14 55.03 Katinka Hosszú  Hungary 4 December 2014 Doha
7 15 55.04 Olivia Smoliga  United States 22 November 2020 Budapest
15 55.04 McKeown #3 18 October 2024 Westmont
17 55.05 Smith #9 10 December 2024 Budapest
McKeown #4 11 October 2025 Carmel
19 55.09 Atherton #2 21 December 2019 Las Vegas
20 55.10 Berkoff #2 24 October 2025 Toronto
21 55.12 Atherton #3 27 October 2019 Budapest
8 22 55.17 Kira Toussaint  Netherlands 4 December 2019 Glasgow
9 23 55.20 Louise Hansson  Sweden 17 December 2021 Abu Dhabi
10 24 55.22 Kylie Masse  Canada 17 December 2021 Abu Dhabi
11 25 55.23 Shiho Sakai  Japan 15 November 2009 Berlin
12 55.25 Bella Sims  United States 11 October 2025 Carmel
13 55.31 Emily Seebohm  Australia 4 December 2014 Doha
14 55.36 Ingrid Wilm  Canada 18 December 2022 Melbourne
15 55.48 Gao Chang  China 28 February 2010 Tokyo
16 55.54 Daryna Zevina  Ukraine 4 December 2014 Doha
17 55.62 Mollie O'Callaghan  Australia 14 December 2022 Melbourne
18 55.72 Beata Nelson  United States 1 November 2024 Singapore
19 55.74 Claire Curzan  United States 14 December 2022 Melbourne
20 55.76 Aya Terakawa  Japan 23 February 2013 Sagamihara
21 55.79 Iona Anderson  Australia 26 September 2024 Adelaide
22 55.83 Maria Kameneva  Russia 18 December 2022 Saint Petersburg
23 55.86 Maaike de Waard  Netherlands 6 November 2021 Kazan
24 55.87 Rhyan White  United States 17 December 2021 Abu Dhabi
25 55.89 Ali DeLoof  United States 10 September 2021 Naples

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