The 100 metres backstroke is an event in competitive swimming. World records are ratified by World Aquatics (formerly FINA). The current long course world record holders are Italy's Thomas Ceccon and the US' Regan Smith, while the current short course world record holders are Hungary's Hubert Kós, and Smith.
The men's event was first contested at the Olympic Games in 1908; it was removed from the 1964 program and was reinstated at the 1968 games. The women's event has been contested since 1924. The current Olympic champions are Ceccon, and Australia's Kaylee McKeown. The men's and women's events have been contested at the World Aquatics Championships since the inaugural edition in 1973; the current world champions (long course) are South Africa's Pieter Coetze, and McKeown. The men's and women's events have been contested at the World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) since the inaugural edition in 1993; the current world champions (short course) are Miron Lifintsev and Smith.
World record progression
Men long course
Men short course
Women long course
Women short course
All-time top 25 Tables show data for two definitions of "Top 25" - the top 25 100 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 September 2026 Time Athlete Nation Date Place 1 1 51.60 Thomas Ceccon 20 June 2022 Budapest 2 2 51.71 Pieter Coetze 29 July 2026 Glasgow 3 51.77Coetze #2 29 July 2026 Glasgow 4 51.80Ceccon #2 3 August 2025 Singapore 3 5 51.82 Kliment Kolesnikov 26 July 2023 Kazan 4 6 51.85 Ryan Murphy 13 August 2016 Rio de Janeiro 6 51.85Coetze #3 29 July 2025 Singapore 5 8 51.86 Xu Jiayu 12 April 2017 Qingdao 9 51.90Ceccon #3 29 July 2025 Singapore 6 10 51.92 Yohann Ndoye Brouard 29 July 2025 Singapore 11 51.93Ceccon #4 25 June 2022 Budapest 7 12 51.94 Aaron Peirsol 8 July 2009 Indianapolis 12 51.94Murphy #2 10 August 2018 Tokyo 14 51.97Murphy #3 8 August 2016 Rio de Janeiro Murphy #4 20 June 2022 Budapest 8 16 51.98 Evgeny Rylov 27 July 2021 Tokyo Hunter Armstrong 20 June 2022 Budapest 16 51.98Coetze #4 28 July 2026 Glasgow Xu #2 20 September 2026 Tokyo 20 51.99Coetze #5 19 July 2025 Berlin 21 52.00Kolesnikov #2 27 July 2021 Tokyo Ceccon #5 29 July 2024 Paris 23 52.02Xu #3 28 July 2024 Paris 24 52.04Murphy #5 30 July 2023 Fukuoka Kolesnikov #3 14 April 2025 Kazan 10 52.08 Matt Grevers 25 June 2012 Omaha Miron Lifintsev 28 July 2024 Yekaterinburg 12 52.09 Apostolos Christou 19 June 2022 Budapest 13 52.11 Camille Lacourt 10 August 2010 Budapest Mitch Larkin 6 November 2015 Dubai 15 52.12 David Plummer 27 June 2016 Omaha Oliver Morgan 17 April 2025 London 17 52.20 Hubert Kós 29 July 2025 Singapore 18 52.24 Ryosuke Irie 4 September 2009 Kumamoto 19 52.26 Junya Koga 28 July 2009 Rome 20 52.27 Helge Meeuw 2 August 2009 Rome 21 52.38 Aschwin Wildeboer 1 July 2009 Pescara 22 52.40 Pavel Samusenko 14 April 2025 Kazan 23 52.51 Nick Thoman 7 August 2009 Federal Way Shaine Casas 8 July 2022 Austin 25 52.54 Will Modglin 19 July 2025 Berlin
Men short course Correct as of October 2026 Time Athlete Nation Date Place 1 1 48.16 Hubert Kós 25 October 2025 Toronto 2 2 48.33 Coleman Stewart 29 August 2021 Naples 3 3 48.50 Ryan Murphy 14 December 2022 Melbourne 4 4 48.58 Kliment Kolesnikov 21 November 2020 Budapest 5 48.59Kolesnikov #2 12 November 2025 Kazan 6 48.63Kolesnikov #3 14 December 2020 Saint Petersburg Kolesnikov #4 18 December 2023 Saint Petersburg 8 48.71Kolesnikov #5 15 December 2020 Saint Petersburg 5 9 48.76 Miron Lifintsev 11 December 2024 Budapest 10 48.78Kós #2 19 October 2025 Westmont 6 10 48.78 Pavel Samusenko / 19 December 2025 Saint Petersburg 12 48.79Kós #3 11 December 2024 Budapest 13 48.82Kolesnikov #6 22 November 2020 Budapest Kolesnikov #7 21 November 2022 Kazan 7 15 48.84 Shaine Casas 30 October 2022 Toronto 8 16 48.88 Xu Jiayu 11 November 2018 Tokyo Evgeny Rylov 15 December 2020 Saint Petersburg 18 48.90Kolesnikov #8 22 December 2017 Saint Petersburg 19 48.91Stewart #2 28 August 2021 Naples 10 20 48.92 Matt Grevers 12 December 2015 Indianapolis 20 48.92Casas #2 15 December 2024 Budapest 11 22 48.94 Nick Thoman 18 December 2009 Manchester 22 48.94Rylov #2 4 December 2021 Eindhoven 12 24 48.95 Stanislav Donets 19 December 2010 Dubai Guilherme Guido 3 September 2021 Naples 14 48.97 Arkady Vyatchanin 13 December 2009 Istanbul 15 49.03 Mitch Larkin 28 November 2015 Sydney 16 49.04 Lorenzo Mora 14 December 2022 Melbourne 17 49.05 Aschwin Wildeboer 13 December 2009 Istanbul 18 49.10 Kacper Stokowski 15 December 2024 Budapest 19 49.11 Pieter Coetze 3 October 2026 Baku 20 49.23 Radosław Kawęcki 20 December 2015 Lublin 21 49.25 Mark Nikolaev 12 November 2021 Eindhoven 22 49.29 Peter Marshall 10 November 2009 Stockholm Thomas Ceccon 5 December 2025 Lublin 24 49.31 Robert Glință 5 November 2021 Kazan 25 49.39 Blake Tierney 11 December 2024 Budapest
Women long course
Correct as of August 2026 Time Athlete Nation Date Place 1 1 57.13 Regan Smith 18 June 2024 Indianapolis 2 2 57.16 Kaylee McKeown 29 July 2025 Singapore 3 57.28Smith #2 4 August 2024 Paris 4 57.33McKeown #2 21 October 2023 Budapest McKeown #3 30 July 2024 Paris 6 57.35Smith #3 29 July 2025 Singapore 7 57.41McKeown #4 11 June 2024 Brisbane 8 57.45McKeown #5 13 June 2021 Adelaide 9 57.46Smith #4 3 May 2025 Fort Lauderdale 10 57.47McKeown #6 27 July 2021 Tokyo Smith #5 17 June 2024 Indianapolis 12 57.49Smith #6 2 May 2026 Fort Lauderdale 13 57.50McKeown #7 14 June 2023 Melbourne 14 57.51Smith #7 26 May 2024 Irvine 15 57.53McKeown #8 25 July 2023 Fukuoka 3 16 57.55 Isabelle Stadden 2 May 2026 Fort Lauderdale 17 57.57Smith #8 28 July 2019 Gwangju McKeown #9 16 March 2024 Sydney Smith #9 3 August 2025 Singapore 20 57.63McKeown #10 15 May 2021 Sydney McKeown #11 14 October 2023 Athens 22 57.64Smith #10 8 March 2024 Westmont 23 57.65Smith #11 19 June 2022 Budapest McKeown #12 22 April 2025 Gold Coast 25 57.66Smith #12 30 July 2024 Paris 4 57.70 Kylie Masse 19 June 2021 Toronto 5 57.83 Katharine Berkoff 17 June 2024 Indianapolis 6 57.88 Mollie O'Callaghan 11 June 2024 Brisbane 7 57.94 Mary-Ambre Moluh 15 August 2026 Paris 8 58.00 Kathleen Baker 28 July 2018 Irvine 9 58.08 Kathleen Dawson 23 May 2021 Budapest 10 58.12 Gemma Spofforth 28 July 2009 Rome 11 58.18 Anastasia Fesikova 28 July 2009 Rome 12 58.21 Claire Curzan 12 August 2026 Irvine 13 58.23 Emily Seebohm 29 July 2012 London 14 58.31 Olivia Smoliga 15 May 2021 Atlanta 15 58.33 Missy Franklin 30 July 2012 London Marrit Steenbergen 2 July 2026 Eindhoven 17 58.37 Taylor Ruck 5 July 2026 Montreal 18 58.43 Rhyan White 15 May 2021 Atlanta 27 July 2021 Tokyo Iona Anderson 11 June 2024 Brisbane Sara Curtis 16 August 2026 Paris 21 58.45 Katinka Hosszú 8 August 2016 Rio de Janeiro 22 58.53 Leah Shackley 17 May 2025 Charlotte 23 58.55 Kennedy Noble 17 June 2024 Indianapolis 24 58.60 Minna Atherton 22 July 2019 Gwangju 25 58.63 Phoebe Bacon 6 December 2019 Atlanta
Women short course
Correct as of October 2025 Time Athlete Nation Date Place 1 1 54.02 Regan Smith 15 December 2024 Budapest 18 October 2025 Westmont 3 54.27Smith #3 1 November 2024 Singapore 4 54.41Smith #4 25 October 2024 Incheon 2 5 54.49 Kaylee McKeown 24 October 2025 Toronto 6 54.55Smith #5 11 December 2024 Budapest 7 54.56McKeown #2 26 September 2024 Adelaide 8 54.57Smith #6 24 October 2025 Toronto 3 9 54.89 Minna Atherton 27 October 2019 Budapest Gretchen Walsh 18 October 2024 Charlottesville 9 54.89Smith #7 19 October 2024 Shanghai 12 54.92Smith #8 11 October 2025 Carmel 5 13 54.93 Katharine Berkoff 11 December 2024 Budapest 6 14 55.03 Katinka Hosszú 4 December 2014 Doha 7 15 55.04 Olivia Smoliga 22 November 2020 Budapest 15 55.04McKeown #3 18 October 2025 Westmont 17 55.05Smith #9 10 December 2024 Budapest McKeown #4 11 October 2025 Carmel 19 55.09Atherton #2 21 December 2019 Las Vegas 20 55.10Berkoff #2 24 October 2025 Toronto 21 55.12Atherton #3 27 October 2019 Budapest 8 22 55.17 Kira Toussaint 4 December 2019 Glasgow Marrit Steenbergen 2 October 2026 Baku 10 24 55.20 Louise Hansson 17 December 2021 Abu Dhabi 11 25 55.22 Kylie Masse 17 December 2021 Abu Dhabi 12 55.23 Shiho Sakai 15 November 2009 Berlin 13 55.25 Bella Sims 11 October 2025 Carmel 14 55.31 Emily Seebohm 4 December 2014 Doha 15 55.36 Ingrid Wilm 18 December 2022 Melbourne 16 55.48 Gao Chang 28 February 2010 Tokyo 17 55.54 Daryna Zevina 4 December 2014 Doha 18 55.57 Iona Anderson 29 September 2026 Sydney 19 55.62 Mollie O'Callaghan 14 December 2022 Melbourne 20 55.72 Beata Nelson 1 November 2024 Singapore 21 55.74 Claire Curzan 14 December 2022 Melbourne 22 55.76 Aya Terakawa 23 February 2013 Sagamihara 23 55.83 Maria Kameneva 18 December 2022 Saint Petersburg 24 55.86 Maaike de Waard 6 November 2021 Kazan 25 55.87 Rhyan White 17 December 2021 Abu Dhabi
Olympic champions Men
Edition Winner Time Notes London 1908 1:24.6 Stockholm 1912 1:21.2 Antwerp 1920 1:15.2 Paris 1924 1:13.2 Amsterdam 1928 1:08.2 Los Angeles 1932 1:08.6 Berlin 1936 1:05.9 London 1948 1:06.4 Helsinki 1952 1:05.4 Melbourne 1956 1:02.2 Rome 1960 1:01.9 1964not included in the program Mexico City 1968 58.7 Munich 1972 56.58 Montreal 1976 55.49 Moscow 1980 56.53 Los Angeles 1984 55.79 Seoul 1988 55.05 Barcelona 1992 53.98 Atlanta 1996 54.10 Sydney 2000 53.72 Athens 2004 54.06 Beijing 2008 52.54 London 2012 52.16 Rio de Janeiro 2016 51.97 Tokyo 2020 51.98 Paris 2024 52.00
Women
Edition Winner Time Notes Paris 1924 1:23.2 Amsterdam 1928 1:22.0 Los Angeles 1932 1:19.4 Berlin 1936 1:18.9 London 1948 1:14.4 Helsinki 1952 1:14.3 Melbourne 1956 1:12.9 Rome 1960 1:09.3 Tokyo 1964 1:07.7 Mexico City 1968 1:06.2 Munich 1972 1:05.78 Montreal 1976 1:01.83 Moscow 1980 1:00.86 Los Angeles 1984 1:02.55 Seoul 1988 1:00.89 Barcelona 1992 1:00.68 Atlanta 1996 1:01.19 Sydney 2000 1:00.21 Athens 2004 1:00.37 Beijing 2008 58.96 London 2012 58.33 Rio de Janeiro 2016 58.45 Tokyo 2020 57.47 Paris 2024 57.33
World champions (long course) Men
Edition Winner Time Notes Belgrade 1973 57.47 CR Cali 1975 58.15 West Berlin 1978 56.36 CR Guayaquil 1982 55.95 CR Madrid 1986 55.58 CR Perth 1991 55.23 CR Rome 1994 55.17 CR Perth 1998 55.00 CR Fukuoka 2001 54.31 CR Barcelona 2003 53.61 CR Montreal 2005 53.62 Melbourne 2007 52.98 Rome 2009 52.26 CR Shanghai 2011 52.76 Barcelona 2013 52.93 Kazan 2015 52.40 Budapest 2017 52.44 Gwangju 2019 52.43 Budapest 2022 51.60 Fukuoka 2023 52.22 Doha 2024 52.68 Singapore 2025 51.85
Women
Edition Winner Time Notes Belgrade 1973 1:05.42 CR Cali 1975 1:03.30 CR West Berlin 1978 1:02.55 CR Guayaquil 1982 1:01.30 CR Madrid 1986 1:01.74 Perth 1991 1:01.78 Rome 1994 1:00.57 CR Perth 1998 1:01.16 Fukuoka 2001 1:00.37 Barcelona 2003 1:00.50 Montreal 2005 1:00.24 Melbourne 2007 59.44 Rome 2009 58.12 Shanghai 2011 59.05 Barcelona 2013 58.42 Kazan 2015 58.26 Budapest 2017 58.12 Gwangju 2019 58.60 Budapest 2022 58.22 Fukuoka 2023 57.53 CR Doha 2024 58.29 Singapore 2025 57.16 CR
World champions (short course) Men
Edition Winner Time Notes Palma de Mallorca 1993 52.98 CR Rio de Janeiro 1995 53.12 Gothenburg 1997 52.77 Hong Kong 1999 52.44 CR Athens 2000 50.75 Moscow 2002 51.26 Indianapolis 2004 50.72 CR Shanghai 2006 51.09 Manchester 2008 50.14 Dubai 2010 49.07 CR Istanbul 2012 49.89 Doha 2014 49.57 Windsor 2016 49.65 Hangzhou 2018 49.23 Abu Dhabi 2021 49.23 Melbourne 2022 48.50 CR Budapest 2024 Miron Lifintsev () 48.74
Women