World record progression 50 metres freestyle

The first world record in the men's 50 metres freestyle in long course (50 metres) swimming was recognised by the International Swimming Federation (FINA) in 1976. In the short course (25 metres) swimming events the world's governing body recognizes world records since March 3, 1991.

Contents

Men

Long course

# Time Name Nationality Date Meet Location Ref
1  23.86  †
 Skinner , Jonty Jonty Skinner  South Africa 01976-08-14 August 14, 1976 AAU Nationals Philadelphia, PA, United States
2  23.74  Bottom , Joe Joe Bottom  United States 01977-07-03 July 3, 1977 - Etobicoke, Canada
3  23.72  Manganiello , Ron Ron Manganiello  United States 01978-07-29 July 29, 1978 - Miami, FL, United States
4  23.70  Steinbach , Klaus Klaus Steinbach  West Germany 01979-07-23 July 23, 1979 - Freiburg, West Germany
5  23.66  Cavanaugh , Chris Chris Cavanaugh  United States 01980-02-02 February 2, 1980 International Invitational Amersfoort, Netherlands
6  23.12  (h)
 Cavanaugh , Chris Chris Cavanaugh  United States 01980-04-10 April 10, 1980 USA Spring Nationals Austin, TX, United States
7  22.96  (h)
 Gaines , Rowdy Rowdy Gaines  United States 01980-04-10 April 10, 1980 USA Spring Nationals Austin, TX, United States
8  22.83  (h)
 Stahl , Bruce Bruce Stahl  United States 01980-04-10 April 10, 1980 USA Spring Nationals Austin, TX, United States
8=  22.83  (h)
 Bottom , Joe Joe Bottom  United States 01980-08-15 August 15, 1980 Hawaiian Invitational Honolulu, HI, United States
9  22.71  Bottom , Joe Joe Bottom  United States 01980-08-15 August 15, 1980 Hawaiian Invitational Honolulu, HI, United States
10  22.54  (h)
 Leamy , Robin Robin Leamy  United States 01981-08-15 August 15, 1981 USA Nationals Brown Deer, WI, United States
11  22.52  Halsall , Dano Dano Halsall  Switzerland 01985-07-21 July 21, 1985 SUI Nationals Bellinzona, Switzerland
12  22.40  Jager , Tom Tom Jager  United States 01985-12-06 December 6, 1985 USS Invitational Austin, TX, United States
13  22.33  Biondi , Matt Matt Biondi  United States 01986-06-26 June 26, 1986 USA World Championship Trials Orlando, FL, United States
13=  22.33  Biondi , Matt Matt Biondi  United States 01987-07-30 July 30, 1987 USA Nationals & Pan Pacific Trials Clovis, CA, United States
14  22.32  Jager , Tom Tom Jager  United States 01987-08-13 August 13, 1987 Pan Pacific Championships Brisbane, Australia
15  22.23  Jager , Tom Tom Jager  United States 01988-03-25 March 25, 1988 USA Spring Nationals Orlando, FL, United States
-[1]  22.18  Williams , Peter Peter Williams  South Africa 01988-04-10 April 10, 1988 CSCA Invitational Indianapolis, IN, United States
16  22.14  Biondi , Matt Matt Biondi  United States 01988-09-24 September 24, 1988 Olympic Games Seoul, South Korea
17  22.12  Jager , Tom Tom Jager  United States 01989-08-20 August 20, 1989 Pan Pacific Championships Tokyo, Japan
18  21.98  (sf)
 Jager , Tom Tom Jager  United States 01990-03-24 March 24, 1990 US Sprint Nashville, TN, United States
19  21.81  Jager , Tom Tom Jager  United States 01990-03-24 March 24, 1990 US Sprint Nashville, TN, United States
20  21.64  (tt)
 Popov , Alexander Alexander Popov  Russia 02000-06-01 June 1, 2000 Russian Olympic Trials Moscow, Russia
21  21.56  Sullivan , Eamon Eamon Sullivan  Australia 02008-02-17 February 17, 2008 New South Wales State Championships Sydney, Australia
22  21.50  (sf2)
 Bernard , Alain Alain Bernard  France 02008-03-23 March 23, 2008 European Championships Eindhoven, Netherlands
23  21.41  (sf2)
 Sullivan , Eamon Eamon Sullivan  Australia 02008-03-27 March 27, 2008 Australian Championships & Olympic Trials Sydney, Australia
24  21.28  Sullivan , Eamon Eamon Sullivan  Australia 02008-03-28 March 28, 2008 Australian Championships & Olympic Trials Sydney, Australia [2]
25  20.94  Bousquet , Frédérick Frédérick Bousquet  France 02009-04-26 April 26, 2009 French Championships Montpellier, France [3]
26  20.91  Cielo , César César Cielo  Brazil 02009-12-18 December 18, 2009 CBDA Open - Brazilian Championships São Paulo, Brazil [4]

Legend: # – Record awaiting ratification by FINA;
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

Short course

# Time Name Nationality Date Meet Location Ref
1  21.64  Crocker , Steve Steve Crocker  United States 21 March 1992 - Dallas, TX, United States
2  21.60  Foster , Mark Mark Foster  Great Britain 17 February 1993 World Cup Sheffield, United Kingdom
3  21.50  Popov , Alexander Alexander Popov  Russia 13 March 1994 World Cup Desenzano del Garda, Italy
4  21.48  (h)
 Foster , Mark Mark Foster  Great Britain 13 December 1998 European SC Championships Sheffield, United Kingdom
5  21.31  Foster , Mark Mark Foster  Great Britain 13 December 1998 European SC Championships Sheffield, United Kingdom
5=  21.31  (h)
 Schoeman , Roland Roland Schoeman  South Africa 23 March 2000 NCAA Men's Division 1 Championships Minneapolis, MN, United States
6  21.21  Ervin , Anthony Anthony Ervin  United States 23 March 2000 NCAA Men's Division 1 Championships Minneapolis, MN, United States
7  21.13  Foster , Mark Mark Foster  Great Britain 28 January 2001 World Cup Paris, France
8  21.10  Bousquet , Frédérick Frédérick Bousquet  France 25 Mar 2004 NCAA Men's Division 1 Championships East Meadow, NY, United States
9  20.98  (h)
 Schoeman , Roland Roland Schoeman  South Africa 12 Aug 2006 Invitational Hamburg, Germany
10  20.93  Nystrand , Stefan Stefan Nystrand  Sweden 18 November 2007 World Cup Berlin, Germany
11  20.81  Draganja , Duje Duje Draganja  Croatia 11 April 2008 World SC Championships Manchester, United Kingdom
12  20.64  Schoeman , Roland Roland Schoeman  South Africa 7 September 2008 South African SC Championships Germiston, South Africa [5]
13  20.48  Leveaux , Amaury Amaury Leveaux  France 11 December 2008 European SC Championships Rijeka, Croatia [6]
14  20.30  (sf)
 Schoeman , Roland Roland Schoeman  South Africa 8 August 2009 South African SC Championships Pietermaritzburg, South Africa [7]

Legend: # – Record awaiting ratification by FINA;
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

Long course

# Time Name Nationality Date Meet Location Ref
1  26.99  (r)†
 Ender , Kornelia Kornelia Ender  East Germany 01975-07-26 July 26, 1975 World Championships Cali, Colombia
2  26.95  Malloy , Johanna Johanna Malloy  Canada 01977-08-16 August 16, 1977 - St. John's, Antigua and Barbuda, Antigua and Barbuda
3  26.74  Jardin , Anne Anne Jardin  Canada 01978-08-19 August 19, 1978 - Etobicoke, Canada
4  26.61  (h)
 Woodhead , Cynthia Cynthia Woodhead  United States 01980-04-10 April 10, 1980 USA Spring Nationals Austin, TX, United States
5  26.53  (h)
 Asplund , Kelly Kelly Asplund  United States 01980-04-10 April 10, 1980 USA Spring Nationals Austin, TX, United States
6  26.32  (h)
 Sterkel , Jill Jill Sterkel  United States 01980-04-10 April 10, 1980 USA Spring Nationals Austin, TX, United States
7  25.96  Sterkel , Jill Jill Sterkel  United States 01980-04-10 April 10, 1980 USA Spring Nationals Austin, TX, United States
8  25.79  (tt)
 Sterkel , Jill Jill Sterkel  United States 01981-04-03 April 3, 1981 Longhorn Invitational Austin, TX, United States
9  25.69  (h)
 Torres , Dara Dara Torres  United States 01983-01-29 January 29, 1983 Speedo International Amersfoort, Netherlands
10  25.64  Verstappen , Annemarie Annemarie Verstappen  Netherlands 01983-07-09 July 9, 1983 NED Nationals Amersfoort, Netherlands
11  25.62  Torres , Dara Dara Torres  United States 01983-08-05 August 5, 1983 USA Nationals Clovis, CA, United States
12  25.61  (r)
 Torres , Dara Dara Torres  United States 01984-07-21 July 21, 1984 Pre-Olympic meet Mission Viejo, CA, United States
13  25.50  (h)
 Costache , Tamara Tamara Costache  Romania 01986-07-16 July 16, 1986 ROU Nationals & World Championship Trials Bucharest, Romania
14  25.34  Costache , Tamara Tamara Costache  Romania 01986-07-16 July 16, 1986 ROU Nationals & World Championship Trials Bucharest, Romania
15  25.31  Costache , Tamara Tamara Costache  Romania 01986-08-01 August 1, 1986 Balkan Games Sofia, Bulgaria
16  25.28  Costache , Tamara Tamara Costache  Romania 01986-08-23 August 23, 1986 World Championships Madrid, Spain
17  24.98  Yang Wenyi  China 01988-04-11 April 11, 1988 Asian Games Guangzhou, China
18  24.79  Yang Wenyi  China 01992-07-31 July 31, 1992 Olympic Games Barcelona, Spain
19  24.51  Le Jingyi  China 01994-09-11 September 11, 1994 World Championships Rome, Italy
19=  24.51  (h)
 Bruijn , Inge de Inge de Bruijn  Netherlands 02000-05-26 May 26, 2000 Super Speedo Grand Prix Sheffield, United Kingdom
20  24.48  Bruijn , Inge de Inge de Bruijn  Netherlands 02000-06-04 June 4, 2000 NED Olympic Trials Drachten, Netherlands
21  24.39  Bruijn , Inge de Inge de Bruijn  Netherlands 02000-06-10 June 10, 2000 Trofeu Jose Finkel & BRA Olympic Trials Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
22  24.13  (sf2)
 Bruijn , Inge de Inge de Bruijn  Netherlands 02000-09-22 September 22, 2000 Olympic Games Sydney, Australia
23  24.09  Veldhuis , Marleen Marleen Veldhuis  Netherlands 02008-03-24 March 24, 2008 European Championships Eindhoven, Netherlands
24  23.97  Trickett , Libby Libby Trickett  Australia 02008-03-29 March 29, 2008 Australian Championships & Olympic Trials Sydney, Australia [8]
25  23.96  Veldhuis , Marleen Marleen Veldhuis  Netherlands 02009-04-19 19 April 2009 Amsterdam Swim Cup Amsterdam, Netherlands [9]
26  23.73  Steffen , Britta Britta Steffen  Germany 02009-08-02 2 August 2009 World Championships Rome, Italy

Legend: # – Record awaiting ratification by FINA;
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

Short course

# Time Name Nationality Date Meet Location Ref
1  24.75  Almsick , Franziska van Franziska van Almsick  Germany 01992-11-04 November 4, 1992 - Schwäbisch Gmünd, Germany
2  24.62  (h)
 Le Jingyi  China 01993-12-03 December 3, 1993 World SC Championships Palma de Mallorca, Spain
3  24.23  Le Jingyi  China 01993-12-03 December 3, 1993 World SC Championships Palma de Mallorca, Spain
4  24.09  Alshammar , Therese Therese Alshammar  Sweden 01999-12-11 December 11, 1999 European SC Championships Lisbon, Portugal
5  23.59  Alshammar , Therese Therese Alshammar  Sweden 02000-03-18 March 18, 2000 World SC Championships Athens, Greece
6  23.58  Veldhuis , Marleen Marleen Veldhuis  Netherlands 02007-11-17 November 17, 2007 World Cup Berlin, Germany
7  23.25  Veldhuis , Marleen Marleen Veldhuis  Netherlands 02008-04-13 April 13, 2008 World SC Championships Manchester, United Kingdom [10]

Legend: # – Record awaiting ratification by FINA;
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

Notes

  1. ^ Peter Williams' 1988 time was officially recognised, but not as a world record, because South Africa was banned from international competition at the time. Performance on all time performance list
  2. ^ "Sullivan snaps 50m record again". ABC News. 2008-02-28. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/03/28/2202317.htm. Retrieved 2008-03-31. 
  3. ^ Craig Lord (2009-04-26). "Bousquet: 20.94 WR 50 Free". http://www.swimnews.com/news/view/6827. Retrieved 2009-04-26. 
  4. ^ Lydia Gismondi (2009-12-18). "Cielo: 20.91 WR 50 Free". http://globoesporte.globo.com/Esportes/Noticias/Esportes_Aquaticos/0,,MUL1419910-16315,00-APOS+BATER+DOIS+DIAS+NA+TRAVE+CESAR+CIELO+ESPANTA+TENSAO+E+QUEBRA+RECORDE+D.html. Retrieved 2009-12-18. 
  5. ^ "Schoeman breaks 50m freestyle world record". South Africa: The Good News. 2008-09-08. http://www.sagoodnews.co.za/sport/schoeman_breaks_50m_freestyle_world_record.html. Retrieved 2008-09-21. 
  6. ^ "Leveaux sets short-course record in 50 freestyle". http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/12/11/sports/SWM-World-Record-50-Short-Freestyle.php. 
  7. ^ "South African Short Course Championships: Roland Schoeman Lowers World Record". SwimInfo SwimmingWorldMagazine.com. http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/22010.asp. 
  8. ^ Cowley, Michael (2008-03-30). "Just the Trickett: Libby breaks the speed barrier". The Sydney Morning Herald. http://www.smh.com.au/news/beijing2008/trickett-breaks-the-speed-barrier/2008/03/29/1206207503283.html. Retrieved 2008-03-31. 
  9. ^ "Amsterdam Swim Cup result 50 freestyle women". amsterdamswimcup.nl. 2009-04-19. http://www.zwemkroniek.com/livetiming/asc09/ResultList_33F.pdf. Retrieved 2009-04-19. 
  10. ^ "WR: Veldhuis 50m Free 23.25". swimnews.com. 2008-04-13. http://www.swimnews.com/News/displayStory.jhtml?id=6064. Retrieved 2008-04-20. 

References

Freestyle
50 m • 100 m • 200 m • 400 m • 800 m • 1500 m
Backstroke
Breaststroke
Butterfly
Individual medley
Relays