The 50 metres freestyle is an event in competitive swimming. World records are ratified by World Aquatics (formerly FINA). The current long course world record holders are Australia's Cameron McEvoy and the US' Kate Douglass, while the current short course world record holders are the Cayman Islands' Jordan Crooks and the US' Gretchen Walsh.
The event was first contested at the Olympic Games in 1988; the current Olympic champions are McEvoy, and Sweden's Sarah Sjöström. It was first contested at the World Aquatics Championships in 1986; the current world champions (long course) are McEvoy, and Australia's Meg Harris. It was first contested at the World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) in 1993; the current world champions (short course) are Crooks and Walsh.
World record progression
Men long course
See note for all the performance-enhanced records, not recognized or sanctioned by World Aquatics.
Men short course
Women long course
Women short course
All-time top 25 Tables show data for two definitions of "Top 25" - the top 25 50 m freestyle times and the top 25 athletes:- denotes top performance for athletes in the top 25 50 m freestyle times- denotes lesser performances, still in the top 25 50 m freestyle times, by repeat athletes- denotes top performance (only) for other top 25 athletes who fall outside the top 25 50 m freestyle times
Men long course Correct as of August 2026 Time Athlete Nation Date Place 1 1 20.88 Cameron McEvoy 20 March 2026 Shenzhen 2 2 20.91 César Cielo 18 December 2009 São Paulo 3 3 20.94 Frédérick Bousquet 26 April 2009 Montpellier 4 20.97 McEvoy #2 26 July 2026 Glasgow 5 21.02Cielo #2 17 December 2009 São Paulo 4 621.04Caeleb Dressel 27 July 2019 Gwangju 20 June 2021 Omaha 8 21.06 McEvoy #3 29 July 2023 Fukuoka 5 8 21.06 Egor Kornev 9 June 2026 Kazan 10 21.07 Dressel #3 1 August 2021 Tokyo 11 21.08 Cielo #3 1 August 2009 Rome 6 12 21.11 Ben Proud 8 August 2018 Glasgow 13 21.12 Kornev #2 8 June 2026 Kazan 14 21.13 McEvoy #4 16 February 2024 Doha 7 14 21.13 Nikita Sheremet 16 August 2026 Paris 16 21.14 Cielo #4 9 July 2009 Indianapolis McEvoy #5 2 August 2025 Singapore 18 21.15 Dressel #4 29 July 2017 Budapest 19 21.16 Proud #2 29 June 2018 Rome 20 21.17 Bousquet #2 28 June 2009 Pescara 21 21.18 Dressel #5 26 July 2019 Gwangju 8 22 21.19 Ashley Callus 26 November 2009 Canberra Florent Manaudou 8 August 2015 Kazan 10 24 21.20 George Bovell 31 July 2009 Rome 25 21.21 Bousquet #3 31 July 2009 Rome Bousquet #4 1 August 2009 Rome 11 21.23 Alain Bernard 26 April 2009 Montpellier 12 21.25 Amaury Leveaux 1 August 2009 Rome 13 21.27 Bruno Fratus 29 July 2017 Budapest Vladimir Morozov 15 August 2019 Singapore 15 21.28 Eamon Sullivan 28 March 2008 Sydney 16 21.29 Duje Draganja 31 July 2009 Rome 17 21.32 Jack Alexy 1 August 2025 Singapore 18 21.35 Jamie Jack 15 August 2026 Irvine 19 21.37 Nathan Adrian 7 August 2015 Kazan Andrea Vergani 8 August 2018 Glasgow Andrej Barna 16 August 2026 Paris 22 21.38 Vladyslav Bukhov 16 February 2024 Doha 23 21.40 Cullen Jones 31 July 2009 Rome Anthony Ervin 12 August 2016 Rio de Janeiro 25 21.41 Michael Andrew 24 June 2022 Budapest
Men short course Correct as of October 2026 Time Athlete Nation Date Place 1 1 19.90 Jordan Crooks 14 December 2024 Budapest 2 20.08Crooks #2 14 December 2024 Budapest 2 3 20.16 Caeleb Dressel 21 November 2020 Budapest 3 4 20.18 Ben Proud 7 December 2023 Otopeni 5 20.19Crooks #3 15 December 2024 Budapest 4 6 20.22 Cameron McEvoy 1 October 2026 Baku 7 20.24Dressel #2 20 December 2019 Las Vegas 5 8 20.26 Florent Manaudou 5 December 2014 Doha Egor Kornev 1 October 2026 Baku 10 20.28Dressel #3 15 November 2020 Budapest 7 11 20.30 Roland Schoeman 8 August 2009 Pietermaritzburg 8 12 20.31 Vladimir Morozov 15 December 2017 Copenhagen 12 20.31 Crooks #4 16 December 2022 Melbourne 8 12 20.31 Joshua Liendo 23 October 2025 Toronto 15 20.33 Morozov #2 14 December 2018 Hangzhou 16 20.36 Crooks #5 16 December 2022 Melbourne 17 20.39 Morozov #3 14 December 2018 Hangzhou Kornev #2 20 December 2025 Saint Petersburg 19 20.40 Morozov #4 6 December 2019 Glasgow Proud #2 3 December 2021 Eindhoven 21 20.43 Dressel #4 14 December 2018 Hangzhou 22 20.45 Morozov #5 15 December 2017 Copenhagen Proud #3 19 December 2021 Abu Dhabi 24 20.46 Crooks #6 17 December 2022 Melbourne 10 25 20.48 Amaury Leveaux 11 December 2008 Rijeka 25 20.48 Morozov #6 15 November 2018 Singapore 11 20.51 César Cielo 17 December 2010 Dubai Jack Alexy 14 December 2024 Budapest 13 20.53 Frédérick Bousquet 10 December 2009 Istanbul 14 20.54 Guilherme Caribé 4 September 2026 São Paulo 15 20.63 Nyls Korstanje 14 December 2024 Budapest 16 20.64 Alain Bernard 14 December 2008 Rijeka 17 20.68 Maxim Lobanovszkij 14 December 2019 Kaposvár Kyle Chalmers 28 October 2021 Kazan Isaac Cooper 2 October 2026 Sydney 20 20.69 Marco Orsi 5 December 2014 Doha 21 20.70 Stefan Nystrand 15 November 2009 Berlin Duje Draganja 10 December 2009 Istanbul Evgeny Sedov 6 December 2014 Doha Ryan Held 19 December 2021 Abu Dhabi Dylan Carter 16 December 2022 Melbourne Jere Hribar 2 December 2025 Lublin 7 December 2025 Lublin
Women long course
Correct as of September 2026 Time Athlete Nation Date Place 1 1 23.19 Kate Douglass 15 August 2026 Irvine 2 23.49 Douglass #2 15 August 2026 Irvine 2 3 23.55 Gretchen Walsh 27 June 2026 Rome 4 23.59Douglass #3 19 June 2026 Indianapolis 5 23.60Walsh #2 1 August 2026 Irvine 3 6 23.61 Sarah Sjöström 29 July 2023 Fukuoka 7 23.62Sjöström #2 30 July 2023 Fukuoka 8 23.66Sjöström #3 3 August 2024 Paris 9 23.67Sjöström #4 29 July 2017 Budapest 10 23.69Sjöström #5 30 July 2017 Budapest Sjöström #6 18 February 2024 Doha 12 23.71Sjöström #7 4 August 2024 Paris 4 13 23.73 Britta Steffen 2 August 2009 Rome 14 23.74Sjöström #8 4 August 2018 Glasgow Walsh #3 15 August 2026 Irvine 5 16 23.75 Pernille Blume 4 August 2018 Glasgow 16 23.75Sjöström #9 23 June 2024 Rome 6 18 23.78 Cate Campbell 7 April 2018 Gold Coast 18 23.78Sjöström #10 30 June 2019 Malmö Walsh #4 19 June 2026 Indianapolis Walsh #5 15 August 2026 Irvine 22 23.79Campbell #2 3 March 2018 Gold Coast 23 23.81Campbell #3 12 August 2018 Tokyo 7 23 23.81 Emma McKeon 1 August 2021 Tokyo 25 23.82Sjöström #11 21 May 2023 Monaco 8 23.84 Katarzyna Wasick 15 August 2026 Paris 9 23.85 Ranomi Kromowidjojo 30 July 2017 Budapest 10 23.88 Therese Alshammar 2 August 2009 Rome 11 23.89 Meg Harris 15 August 2026 Irvine 12 23.96 Marleen Veldhuis 16 April 2009 Amsterdam Fran Halsall 24 July 2014 Glasgow 14 23.97 Libby Trickett 22 March 2008 Sydney Simone Manuel 30 July 2017 Budapest Liu Xiang 26 September 2021 Xi'an 17 23.98 Torri Huske 7 June 2025 Indianapolis Wu Qingfeng 24 September 2026 Tokyo 19 23.99 Shayna Jack 15 June 2024 Brisbane Sara Curtis 15 August 2026 Paris 21 24.00 Abbey Weitzeil 1 July 2023 Indianapolis 22 24.05 Anna Moesch 1 August 2026 Irvine 23 24.07 Dara Torres 17 August 2008 Beijing 24 24.09 Marrit Steenbergen 5 July 2026 Eindhoven Milou van Wijk 15 August 2026 Paris
Women short course Correct as of October 2026 Time Athlete Nation Date Place 1 1 22.83 Gretchen Walsh 15 December 2024 Budapest 2 22.87Walsh #2 14 December 2024 Budapest 2 3 22.93 Ranomi Kromowidjojo 7 August 2017 Berlin 3 4 23.00 Sarah Sjöström 7 August 2017 Berlin 5 23.02Walsh #3 14 December 2024 Budapest 4 6 23.04 Emma McKeon 17 December 2022 Melbourne 7 23.05 Kromowidjojo #2 12 December 2020 Eindhoven 5 7 23.05 Kate Douglass 15 December 2024 Budapest 9 23.08 Sjöström #2 18 November 2021 Eindhoven Sjöström #3 21 December 2021 Abu Dhabi 11 23.10 Sjöström #4 2 August 2017 Moscow 6 11 23.10 Katarzyna Wasick 3 November 2022 Indianapolis 11 23.10 Walsh #4 18 October 2024 Charlottesville 14 23.12 Sjöström #5 2 September 2021 Naples Sjöström #6 3 November 2021 Kazan 16 23.17 Sjöström #7 25 November 2021 Eindhoven 7 17 23.19 Cate Campbell 27 October 2017 Adelaide 17 23.19 Kromowidjojo #3 16 December 2018 Hangzhou 19 23.20 Douglass #2 14 December 2024 Budapest Wasick #2 7 December 2025 Lublin 21 23.21 Sjöström #8 15 November 2018 Singapore Wasick #3 23 October 2025 Toronto 23 23.22 Sjöström #9 7 August 2017 Berlin 24 23.23 Kromowidjojo #4 4 October 2018 Budapest Wasick #4 31 October 2024 Singapore 8 23.25 Marleen Veldhuis 13 April 2008 Manchester 9 23.27 Therese Alshammar 21 November 2009 Singapore 10 23.32 Hinkelien Schreuder 13 December 2009 Istanbul 11 23.34 Maria Kameneva 16 December 2022 Saint Petersburg 1223.39Silvia Di Pietro2 December 2025Lublin 13 23.41 Sara Curtis 7 December 2025 Lublin Béryl Gastaldello 7 December 2025 Lublin 15 23.44 Fran Halsall 19 December 2009 Manchester Abbey Weitzeil 18 September 2021 Naples 17 23.45Alexandria Perkins 17 October 2025 Westmont 2 October 2026 Sydney 18 23.48 Siobhán Haughey 1 October 2026 Baku 19 23.49 Jeanette Ottesen 12 December 2015 Indianapolis Pernille Blume 17 December 2017 Copenhagen Taylor Ruck 23 October 2025 Toronto 22 23.52 Michelle Coleman 6 December 2023 Otopeni 23 23.53 Inge Dekker 11 December 2009 Istanbul 24 23.61 Mélanie Henique 10 November 2020 Budapest 25 23.62 Bronte Campbell 7 December 2014 Doha
Olympic champions Men
Edition Winner Time Notes Seoul 1988 22.14 Barcelona 1992 21.91 Atlanta 1996 22.13 Sydney 2000 21.98 Athens 2004 21.93 Beijing 2008 21.30 London 2012 21.34 Rio de Janeiro 2016 21.40 Tokyo 2020 21.07 Paris 2024 21.25
Women
Edition Winner Time Notes Seoul 1988 25.49 Barcelona 1992 24.79 Atlanta 1996 24.87 Sydney 2000 24.32 Athens 2004 24.58 Beijing 2008 24.06 London 2012 24.05 Rio de Janeiro 2016 24.07 Tokyo 2020 23.81 Paris 2024 23.71
World champions (long course) Men
Edition Winner Time Notes Madrid 1986 22.49 CR Perth 1991 22.16 CR Rome 1994 22.17 Perth 1998 22.29 Fukuoka 2001 22.09 Barcelona 2003 21.92 CR Montreal 2005 21.69 CR Melbourne 2007 21.88 Rome 2009 21.08 CR Shanghai 2011 21.52 Barcelona 2013 21.32 Kazan 2015 21.19 Budapest 2017 21.15 Gwangju 2019 21.04 CR Budapest 2022 21.32 Fukuoka 2023 21.06 Doha 2024 21.44 Singapore 2025 21.14
Women
Edition Winner Time Notes Madrid 1986 25.28 Perth 1991 25.47 Rome 1994 24.51 Perth 1998 25.15 Fukuoka 2001 24.47 Barcelona 2003 24.47 Montreal 2005 24.59 Melbourne 2007 24.53 Rome 2009 23.73 Shanghai 2011 24.14 Barcelona 2013 24.05 Kazan 2015 24.12 Budapest 2017 23.69 Gwangju 2019 24.05 Budapest 2022 23.98 Fukuoka 2023 23.62 Doha 2024 23.69 Singapore 2025 24.02
World champions (short course) Men
Edition Winner Time Notes Palma de Mallorca 1993 21.84 CR Rio de Janeiro 1995 21.80 CR Gothenburg 1997 21.80 Hong Kong 1999 21.81 Athens 2000 21.58 Moscow 2002 21.36 CR Indianapolis 2004 21.58 Shanghai 2006 21.38 Manchester 2008 20.81 Dubai 2010 20.51 CR Istanbul 2012 20.55 Doha 2014 20.26 Windsor 2016 21.10 Hangzhou 2018 20.33 Abu Dhabi 2021 20.45 Melbourne 2022 20.46 Budapest 2024 20.19
Women
Edition Winner Time Notes Palma de Mallorca 1993 24.23 Rio de Janeiro 1995 24.62 Gothenburg 1997 24.70 Hong Kong 1999 24.35 Athens 2000 23.59 Moscow 2002 24.16 Indianapolis 2004 24.41 Shanghai 2006 23.97 Manchester 2008 23.25 Dubai 2010 23.37 Istanbul 2012 23.64 Doha 2014 23.32 Windsor 2016 23.60 Hangzhou 2018 23.19 CR Abu Dhabi 2021 23.08 CR Melbourne 2022 23.04 CR Budapest 2024 22.83
Notes
References