World record progression 50 metres backstroke

This is a listing of the history of the World Record for the 50 backstroke swimming event. Swimming World Records are maintained by FINA, the international sports federation which oversees the sport. World Records are recognized only in meter-courses: long course (50m) and short course (25m). Like the other 50s of stroke (i.e. 50 breaststroke, 50 butterfly), World Record status/monitoring for this event first began in the 1990s.

Graphic data for World Record Progression in Men and Women Swimming 50m-100m-200m Long and Short Course Butterfly-Backstroke-Breaststroke-Freestyle

Men

Long course

#TimeNameNationalityDateMeetLocationRef
WBT25.13Jeff Rouse  United States15 Apr 1993Robert Burns Invitational Edinburgh, United Kingdom
124.99ttLenny Krayzelburg  United States28 Aug 1999Pan Pacific Championships Sydney, Australia
224.80Thomas Rupprath  Germany27 Jul 2003World Championships Barcelona, Spain
324.47h, †Liam Tancock  Great Britain2 Apr 2008British Championships Sheffield, United Kingdom[1]
424.33Randall Bal  United States5 Dec 2008Dutch Swimming Cup Eindhoven, Netherlands[2]
524.08sfLiam Tancock  Great Britain1 Aug 2009World Championships Rome, Italy
624.04Liam Tancock  Great Britain2 Aug 2009World Championships Rome, Italy
724.00Kliment Kolesnikov  Russia4 Aug 2018European Championships Glasgow, United Kingdom[3]
823.93sfKliment Kolesnikov  Russia17 May 2021European Championships Budapest, Hungary[4][5]
923.80Kliment Kolesnikov  Russia18 May 2021European Championships Budapest, Hungary
1023.71Hunter Armstrong  United States28 April 2022USA International Team Trials Greensboro, United States[6]
1123.55Kliment Kolesnikov  Russia27 July 2023Russian National Swimming Cup Final Kazan, Russia
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

#TimeNameNationalityDateMeetLocationRef
125.10Daichi Suzuki  Japan10 Feb 1990World Cup Bonn, West Germany[7]
#24.66Alexander Popov  Russia13 Mar 1994World Cup Desenzano, Italy
224.60Franck Schott  France26 Mar 1994World Cup Paris, France
324.37hJeff Rouse  United States12 Feb 1995World Cup Sheffield, United Kingdom
424.25Chris Renaud  Canada28 Feb 1997CIAU Championships St. Catharines, Canada
524.13Thomas Rupprath  Germany11 Dec 1998European 25m Championships Sheffield, United Kingdom
5=24.13Matt Welsh  Australia2 Sep 1999Australia 25m Nationals Canberra, Australia
624.12Neil Walker  United States18 Nov 1999World Cup College Park, United States
724.11Matt Welsh  Australia14 Jan 2000World Cup Hobart, Australia
824.04hNeil Walker  United States13 Mar 2000Short Course Worlds Athens, Greece
923.42sfNeil Walker  United States13 Mar 2000Short Course Worlds Athens, Greece
1023.31Matt Welsh  Australia2 Sep 2002Australia 25m Nationals Melbourne, Australia
1123.27Thomas Rupprath  Germany10 Dec 2004European 25m Championships Vienna, Austria[8]
1223.24Robert Hurley  Australia26 Oct 2008World Cup Sydney, Australia[citation needed]
1323.05Peter Marshall  United States12 Nov 2008World Cup Stockholm, Sweden[9]
1422.87Randall Bal  United States15 Nov 2008World Cup Berlin, Germany[10]
1522.75Peter Marshall  United States17 Oct 2009World Cup Durban, South Africa[11]
1622.73Peter Marshall  United States11 Nov 2009World Cup Stockholm, Sweden[12]
1722.61Peter Marshall  United States22 Nov 2009World Cup Singapore[13]
1822.22Florent Manaudou  France6 Dec 2014World Championships Doha, Qatar[14]
1922.11'#'Kliment Kolesnikov  Russia23 Nov 2022Solidarity Games Kazan, Russia[15]
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

#TimeNameNationalityDateMeetLocationRef
129.00Sandra Völker  Germany24 May 1997Mare Nostrum Monte Carlo, Monaco
228.78sfSandra Völker  Germany12 Jun 1999Mare Nostrum Monte Carlo, Monaco
328.71Sandra Völker  Germany1 Aug 1999European Championships Istanbul, Turkey
428.69Nina Zhivanevskaya  Spain8 Apr 2000Spain Spring Nationals Madrid, Spain
528.67Mai Nakamura  Japan25 Apr 2000Japan Championships Tokyo, Japan
628.25hSandra Völker  Germany17 Jun 2000Germany Championships Berlin, Germany
728.19Janine Pietsch  Germany25 May 2005Germany Championships Berlin, Germany
828.16sfLeila Vaziri  United States28 Mar 2007World Championships Melbourne, Australia
828.16=Leila Vaziri  United States29 Mar 2007World Championships Melbourne, Australia
928.09Li Yang  China19 Oct 2007World Military Games Hyderabad, India
1028.00rHayley McGregory  United States7 Mar 2008Texas Senior Circuit Championships Austin, United States
1127.95sfEmily Seebohm  Australia22 Mar 2008Australia Championships Sydney, Australia
1227.67Sophie Edington  Australia23 Mar 2008Australia Championships Sydney, Australia[16]
1227.67=Zhao Jing  China9 Apr 2009China Championships Shaoxing, China[17]
1327.61Daniela Samulski  Germany26 Jun 2009Germany Championships Berlin, Germany[18]
1427.39sfDaniela Samulski  Germany29 Jul 2009World Championships Rome, Italy
1527.38sfAnastasia Zuyeva  Russia29 Jul 2009World Championships Rome, Italy
1627.06Zhao Jing  China30 Jul 2009World Championships Rome, Italy
1726.98Liu Xiang  China21 Aug 2018Asian Games Jakarta, Indonesia[19]
1826.86Kaylee McKeown  Australia20 October 2023World Cup Budapest, Hungary[20]
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

#TimeNameNationalityDateMeetLocationRef
WBT28.47Lei Xue  China9 Jan 1993World Cup Beijing, China
128.33Sandra Völker  Germany16 Feb 1993World Cup Sheffield, United Kingdom
227.64Xiuyu Bai  China13 March 1994World Cup Desenzano, Italy
327.27Sandra Völker  Germany13 Dec 1998European Championships Sheffield, United Kingdom[21]
427.25rHaley Cope  United States18 Mar 2000NCAA Division I Championships Indianapolis, United States[22]
526.83Li Hui  China2 Dec 2001World Cup Shanghai, China[21]
626.50Sanja Jovanović  Croatia15 Dec 2007European Championships Debrecen, Hungary
726.37Sanja Jovanović  Croatia13 Apr 2008World Championships Manchester, United Kingdom[23]
826.23Sanja Jovanović  Croatia13 Dec 2008European Championships Rijeka, Croatia
926.17Marieke Guehrer  Australia6 Nov 2009World Cup Moscow, Russia
1026.08hZhao Jing  China10 Nov 2009World Cup Stockholm, Sweden[24]
1125.82Zhao Jing  China10 Nov 2009World Cup Stockholm, Sweden[25]
1225.70Sanja Jovanović  Croatia12 Dec 2009European Championships Istanbul, Turkey[26]
1325.67Etiene Medeiros  Brazil7 Dec 2014World Championships Doha, Qatar[27]
1425.60Kira Toussaint  Netherlands14 Nov 2020ISL Semifinal 1 Budapest, Hungary[28]
14=25.60Kira Toussaint  Netherlands18 Dec 2020Amsterdam Christmas Meet Amsterdam, Netherlands[29]
1525.27Maggie Mac Neil  Canada20 Dec 2021World Championships Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates[30]
1625.25Maggie Mac Neil  Canada16 December 2022World Championships Melbourne, Australia[31]
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

All-time top 25

Men long course

  • Correct as of June 2024[32]
PosTimeSwimmerDateVenueRef
123.55  Kliment Kolesnikov (RUS)27 July 2023Kazan[33]
223.71  Hunter Armstrong (USA)28 April 2022Greensboro[34]
323.92  Justin Ress (USA)28 April 2022Greensboro[35]
424.00  Shaine Casas (USA)28 April 2022Greensboro[36]
524.04  Liam Tancock (GBR)2 August 2009Rome
624.07  Camille Lacourt (FRA)12 August 2010Budapest
724.12  Robert Glință (ROU)3 August 2018Glasgow
 Isaac Cooper (AUS)17 February 2024Doha[37]
924.23  Mark Nikolaev (RUS)11 April 2019Kazan
1024.24  Junya Koga (JPN)2 August 2009Rome
 Ryan Murphy (USA)27 July 2018Irvine
1224.28  Pavel Samusenko (RUS)19 April 2023Kazan[38]
1324.29  Vladimir Morozov (RUS)3 August 2018Glasgow
1424.32  Shane Ryan (IRL)3 August 2018Glasgow
1524.33  Randall Bal (USA)5 December 2008Eindhoven
1624.34  Johannes Zandberg (RSA)2 August 2009Rome
1724.36  Apostolos Christou (GRE)15 August 2022Rome[39]
 Pieter Coetze (RSA)13 April 2023Gqeberha[40]
1924.38  Xu Jiayu (CHN)25 September 2023Hangzhou[41]
2024.39  Michael Andrew (USA)21 June 2019Rome
2124.40  Thomas Ceccon (ITA)15 August 2022Rome[39]
 Michele Lamberti (ITA)22 June 2024Rome[42]
2324.43  Zane Waddell (RSA)28 July 2019Gwangju
2424.44  Daniel Orzechowski (BRA)24 April 2012Rio de Janeiro
 Ksawery Masiuk (POL)2 September 2022Lima[43]
26 February 2023Lublin[44]
18 February 2024Doha[45]

Notes

Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 24.44:

  • Kliment Kolesnikov also swam 23.80 (2021), 23.93 (2021), 24.00 (2018), 24.08 (2021), 24.12 (2023), 24.23 (2021), 24.25 (2018, 2021), 24.35 (2019), 24.40 (2018), 24.42 (2023).
  • Hunter Armstrong also swam 24.01 (2022), 24.05 (2023), 24.14 (2022), 24.16 (2022, 2023), 24.20 (2023), 24.30 (2023), 24.33 (2024), 24.41 (2023), 24.43 (2024).
  • Justin Ress also swam 24.05 (2022), 24.10 (2023), 24.12 (2022), 24.14 (2022), 24.18 (2023), 24.21 (2023), 24.24 (2022, 2023), 24.31 (2018), 24.35 (2023), 24.41 (2017).
  • Liam Tancock also swam 24.08 (2009).
  • Isaac Cooper also swam 24.13 (2024), 24.38 (2023), 24.44 (2022).
  • Camille Lacourt also swam 24.23 (2015), 24.27 (2015), 24.30 (2017), 24.30 (2010), 24.35 (2017), 24.36 (2011), 24.37 (2014), 24.39 (2013), 24.42 (2013).
  • Junya Koga also swam 24.28 (2014), 24.29 (2009), 24.36 (2015), 24.44 (2017).
  • Vladimir Morozov also swam 24.35 (2018), 24.40 (2019), 24.43 (2018, 2019).
  • Apostolos Christou also swam 24.39 (2022, 2024).
  • Xu Jiayu also swam 24.41 (2023), 24.42 (2017).
  • Robert Glință also swam 24.42 (2021).

Men short course

  • Correct as of December 2023[46]
PosTimeSwimmerDateVenueRef
122.11  Kliment Kolesnikov (RUS)23 November 2022Kazan[47]
222.22  Florent Manaudou (FRA)6 December 2014Doha[48]
322.49  Mark Nikolaev (RUS)28 December 2021Saint Petersburg[49]
422.52  Isaac Cooper (AUS)15 December 2022Melbourne[50]
522.53  Ryan Murphy (USA)25 November 2021Eindhoven[51]
622.55  Guilherme Guido (BRA)26 October 2019Budapest
722.58  Evgeny Rylov (RUS)14 December 2018Hangzhou[52]
822.61  Coleman Stewart (USA)28 August 2021Naples[53]
 Peter Marshall (USA)22 November 2009Singapore
1022.62  Michele Lamberti (ITA)3 November 2021Kazan[54]
1122.65  Lorenzo Mora (ITA)17 December 2022Melbourne[55]
1222.70  Xu Jiayu (CHN)3 November 2018Hangzhou
1322.72  Dylan Carter (TRI)4 November 2022Indianapolis[56]
1422.74  Kacper Stokowski (POL)15 December 2022Melbourne[57]
16 December 2022Melbourne[58]
 Stanislav Donets (RUS)26 November 2010Netherlands
 Robert Glință (ROM)3 November 2021Kazan[59]
1722.75  Miron Lifintsev (RUS)17 December 2023Saint Petersburg[60]
1822.76  Christian Diener (GER)18 October 2020Budapest
 Shane Ryan (IRL)14 December 2018Hangzhou[52]
2022.78  Pavel Samusenko (RUS)17 December 2023Saint Petersburg[61]
2122.81  Junya Koga (JPN)8 December 2016Windsor
2222.82  Pavel Sankovich (BLR)19 November 2017Singapore
2322.84  Gabriel Fantoni (BRA)20 December 2021Abu Dhabi[62]
 Pieter Coetze (RSA)16 December 2022Melbourne[63]
 Mewen Tomac (FRA)6 December 2023Ostopeni[64]

Notes

Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 22.84:

  • Kliment Kolesnikov also swam 22.31 (2022), 22.42 (2023), 22.47 (2021), 22.57 (2021), 22.64 (2019), 22.75 (2019), 22.76 (2021), 22.77 (2018), 22.82 (2018), 22.83 (2017).
  • Ryan Murphy also swam 22.54 (2020), 22.56 (2021), 22.61 (2022), 22.63 (2018, 2021), 22.64 (2022), 22.73 (2018), 22.74 (2022), 22.75 (2020), 22.76 (2020), 22.79 (2021), 22.80 (2020), 22.83 (2020).
  • Evgeny Rylov also swam 22.59 (2021), 22.68 (2018), 22.76 (2020), 22.80 (2020).
  • Guilherme Guido also swam 22.60 (2021, 2021), 22.68 (2018), 22.73 (2021), 22.75 (2018), 22.77 (2019), 22.79 (2018), 22.82 (2019).
  • Michele Lamberti also swam 22.65 (2021), 22.79 (2021).
  • Mark Nikolaev also swam 22.70 (2021).
  • Jiayu Xu also swam 22.71 (2018).
  • Peter Marshall also swam 22.73 (2009), 22.75 (2009).
  • Isaac Cooper also swam 22.66 (2022), 22.73 (2022), 22.79 (2022).
  • Stanislav Donets also swam 22.76 (2009), 22.79 (2009), 22.80 (2009).
  • Coleman Stewart also swam 22.76 (2020), 22.84 (2020).
  • Kacper Stokowski also swam 22.78 (2022).
  • Lorenzo Mora also swam 22.81 (2022).
  • Pavel Samusenko also swam 22.81 (2021).
  • Shane Ryan also swam 22.82 (2021).
  • Pavel Sankovich also swam 22.84 (2017).
  • Christian Diener also swam 22.84 (2021).

Women long course

  • Correct as of April 2024[65]
PosTimeSwimmerDateVenueRef
126.86  Kaylee McKeown (AUS)20 October 2023Budapest[66]
226.98  Liu Xiang (CHN)21 August 2018Jakarta
327.06  Zhao Jing (CHN)30 July 2009Rome
427.10  Kira Toussaint (NED)10 April 2021Eindhoven
 Regan Smith (USA)26 July 2023Fukuoka[67]
627.11  Fu Yuanhui (CHN)6 August 2015Kazan
727.12  Katharine Berkoff (USA)28 April 2022Greensboro[68]
827.14  Etiene Medeiros (BRA)27 July 2017Budapest
927.16  Mollie O'Callaghan (AUS)18 April 2024Gold Coast[69]
1027.18  Kylie Masse (CAN)6 April 2022Victoria[70]
1127.19  Kathleen Dawson (GBR)18 May 2021Budapest[71]
1227.20  Lauren Cox (GBR)27 July 2023Fukuoka[72]
1327.21  Georgia Davies (GBR)4 August 2018Glasgow
1427.23  Daniela Samulski (GER)30 July 2009Rome
 Aliaksandra Herasimenia (BLR)27 July 2017Budapest
 Anastasia Fesikova (RUS)4 August 2018Glasgow
1727.27  Analia Pigrée (FRA)14 August 2022Rome[73]
1827.28  Gao Chang (CHN)30 July 2009Rome
1927.33  Olivia Smoliga (USA)25 July 2019Gwangju
28 April 2022Greensboro[74]
2027.35  Wang Xueer (CHN)25 September 2023Hangzhou[75]
2127.37  Emily Seebohm (AUS)27 July 2017Budapest
 Ingrid Wilm (CAN)21 May 2023Monaco[76]
2327.39  Silvia Scalia (ITA)13 August 2022Rome[77]
2427.41  Wan Letian (CHN)25 September 2023Hangzhou[78]
2527.42  Mimosa Jallow (FIN)4 August 2018Glasgow

Notes

Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 27.42:

  • Kaylee McKeown also swam 26.98 (2023), 27.02 (2023), 27.07 (2024), 27.08 (2023), 27.16 (2021), 27.24 (2023), 27.25 (2024), 27.26 (2023), 27.31 (2023), 27.32 (2024), 27.38 (2021), 27.41 (2021).
  • Regan Smith also swam 27.11 (2023), 27.14 (2023), 27.25 (2023), 27.29 (2022), 27.31 (2023), 27.40 (2022).
  • Katharine Berkoff also swam 27.13 (2023), 27.27 (2023), 27.38 (2023), 27.39 (2022), 27.40 (2022, 2023).
  • Fu Yuanhui also swam 27.15 (2017), 27.16 (2018), 27.18 (2015), 27.19 (2017), 27.21 (2017), 27.22 (2013), 27.36 (2017), 27.39 (2013), 27.40 (2013).
  • Kira Toussaint also swam 27.18 (2021), 27.22 (2021), 27.36 (2021), 27.37 (2020).
  • Etiene Medeiros also swam 27.18 (2017), 27.26 (2015), 27.36 (2019), 27.37 (2014), 27.38 (2015), 27.41 (2015).
  • Kylie Masse also swam 27.22 (2022), 27.23 (2024), 27.24 (2024), 27.26 (2022), 27.28 (2023), 27.31 (2022, 2022), 27.38 (2023), 27.41 (2023).
  • Georgia Davies also swam 27.23 (2018).
  • Analia Pigrée also swam 27.29 (2022), 27.40 (2022).
  • Zhao Jing also swam 27.29 (2013).
  • Kathleen Dawson also swam 27.29 (2021).
  • Lauren Cox also swam 27.29 (2023).
  • Anastasia Fesikova also swam 27.31 (2009, 2018), 27.37 (2018), 27.38 (2009).
  • Liu Xiang also swam 27.35 (2019), 27.36 (2020), 27.40 (2018).
  • Mollie O'Callaghan also swam 27.38 (2023), 27.42 (2023).
  • Gao Chang also swam 27.38 (2009).
  • Ingrid Wilm also swam 27.39 (2022), 27.41 (2023).
  • Daniela Samulski also swam 27.39 (2009).
  • Aliaksandra Herasimenia also swam 27.40 (2016).

Women short course

  • Correct as of December 2023[79]
PosTimeSwimmerDateVenueRef
125.25  Maggie Mac Neil (CAN)16 December 2022Melbourne[80]
225.49  Mollie O'Callaghan (AUS)17 December 2022Melbourne[81]
325.54  Claire Curzan (USA)16 December 2022Melbourne[82]
425.60  Kira Toussaint (NED)14 November 2020Budapest
18 December 2020Amsterdam
 Maria Kameneva (RUS)24 November 2022Kazan[83]
625.62  Kylie Masse (CAN)20 December 2021Abu Dhabi[84]
725.67  Etiene Medeiros (BRA)4 December 2014Doha
825.70  Sanja Jovanović (CRO)12 December 2009Istanbul
925.74  Olivia Smoliga (USA)16 October 2020Budapest
1025.81  Minna Atherton (AUS)26 October 2019Budapest
1125.82  Zhao Jing (CHN)10 November 2009Stockholm
1225.83  Emily Seebohm (AUS)7 December 2014Doha
 Louise Hansson (SWE)19 December 2021Abu Dhabi[85]
1425.85  Julie Kepp Jensen (DEN)15 December 2022Melbourne[86]
1525.88  Katharine Berkoff (USA)17 December 2021Abu Dhabi[87]
1625.92  Gao Chang (CHN)27 February 2010Tokyo
1725.95  Katinka Hosszú (HUN)16 December 2017Denmark
1825.96  Analia Pigrée (FRA)20 December 2021Abu Dhabi[88]
1925.97  Maaike de Waard (NED)19 December 2021Abu Dhabi[89]
2025.98  Ali DeLoof (USA)9 September 2021Naples
 Marieke Guehrer (AUS)10 November 2009Stockholm
2225.99  Caroline Pilhatsch (AUT)15 December 2018Hangzhou
 Holly Barratt (AUS)26 October 2019Budapest
2426.00  Béryl Gastaldello (FRA)7 December 2019United Kingdom
 Kaylee McKeown (AUS)27 November 2020Brisbane

Notes

Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 26.00:

  • Maggie MacNeil also swam 25.27 (2022), 25.64 (2022), 25.84 (2021), 25.92 (2021), 25.98 (2021).
  • Kira Toussaint also swam 25.62 (2020), 25.64 (2020), 25.73 (2020), 25.75 (2019, 2020), 25.79 (2020, 2021), 25.81 (2021), 25.82 (2023), 25.83 (2020), 25.84 (2019), 25.89 (2021), 25.91 (2021), 25.96 (2020), 25.99 (2021).
  • Claire Curzan also swam 25.60 (2022), 25.75 (2022).
  • Mollie O'Callaghan also swam 25.61 (2022), 25.69 (2022), 25.99 (2022).
  • Olivia Smoliga also swam 25.75 (2020), 25.83 (2020), 25.85 (2020), 25.88 (2018), 25.89 (2019, 2020), 25.93 (2020), 25.97 (2018).
  • Kylie Masse also swam 25.81 (2022), 25.84 (2021, 2022), 25.92 (2021), 25.94 (2022), 25.96 (2021), 25.97 (2021, 2022).
  • Etiene Medeiros also swam 25.82 (2016), 25.95 (2018), 25.99 (2014), 26.00 (2016).
  • Louise Hansson also swam 25.86 (2021, 2022), 25.91 (2021), 25.99 (2022), 26.00 (2022).
  • Emily Seebohm also swam 25.87 (2014).
  • Zhao Jing also swam 25.95 (2012).
  • Minna Atherton also swam 25.95 (2021), 25.99 (2019).
  • Katinka Hosszú also swam 25.96 (2014), 25.99 (2016).
  • Maaike de Waard also swam 25.99 (2021).
  • Gao Chang also swam 26.00 (2010).

References