The 50 metres butterfly is an event in competitive swimming. World records are ratified by World Aquatics (formerly FINA). The current long course world record holders are Ukraine's Andriy Govorov and Sweden's Sarah Sjöström, while the current short course world record holders are Switzerland's Noè Ponti and the US' Gretchen Walsh.
The men's and women's events have been contested at the World Aquatics Championships since 2001; the current world champions (long course) are France's Maxime Grousset, and Walsh. The men's and women's events have been contested at the World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) since 1999; the current world champions (short course) are Ponti and Walsh.
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 50 m butterfly times and the top 25 athletes:- denotes top performance for athletes in the top 25 50 m butterfly times- denotes lesser performances, still in the top 25 50 m butterfly times, by repeat athletes- denotes top performance (only) for other top 25 athletes who fall outside the top 25 50 m butterfly times
Men long course
Correct as of August 2026 Time Athlete Nation Date Place 1 1 22.27 Andriy Govorov 1 July 2018 Rome 2 2 22.35 Caeleb Dressel 22 July 2019 Gwangju 3 3 22.36 Egor Kornev 10 August 2026 Paris 4 4 22.43 Rafael Muñoz 5 April 2009 Málaga 5 22.45Muñoz #2 5 April 2009 Málaga 6 22.48Muñoz #3 22 April 2009 Montpellier Govorov #2 7 August 2018 Glasgow 5 6 22.48 Maxime Grousset 28 July 2025 Singapore 9 22.49Muñoz #4 22 April 2009 Montpellier Grousset #2 10 August 2026 Paris Grousset #3 10 August 2026 Paris 6 12 22.51 Noè Ponti 28 July 2025 Singapore 13 22.52Kornev #2 11 August 2026 Paris 14 22.53Govorov #3 16 June 2018 Monaco Ponti #2 10 August 2026 Paris 16 22.54Grousset #4 11 August 2026 Paris 17 22.57Dressel #2 21 July 2019 Gwangju Dressel #3 19 June 2022 Budapest 19 22.59Kornev #3 10 June 2026 Kazan 7 19 22.59 Ilya Kharun 29 July 2026 Irvine 8 21 22.60 Nicholas Santos 11 May 2019 Budapest 22 22.61Santos #2 3 May 2017 Rio de Janeiro Grousset #5 27 July 2025 Singapore 9 24 22.62 Oleg Kostin 19 April 2023 Kazan 25 22.64Kharun #2 24 May 2026 Monaco 10 22.67 Milorad Čavić 27 July 2009 Rome Thomas Ceccon 28 July 2025 Singapore 12 22.68 Diogo Ribeiro 10 August 2026 Paris Hryhory Pekarski 11 August 2026 Paris 14 22.69 Sean Niewold 2 July 2026 Eindhoven 15 22.70 Henrique Martins 26 June 2017 Belo Horizonte 16 22.71 Luca Armbruster 10 August 2026 Paris 17 22.72 Nyls Korstanje 26 May 2025 London 18 22.73 Matt Targett 27 July 2009 Rome Ben Armbruster 29 July 2026 Glasgow Kyle Chalmers 29 July 2026 Glasgow 21 22.74 Ben Proud 27 July 2025 Singapore 22 22.75 Kristóf Milák 10 August 2026 Paris 23 22.76 César Cielo 24 April 2012 Rio de Janeiro 24 22.79 Michael Andrew 19 June 2022 Budapest Dare Rose 23 July 2023 Fukuoka Stergios Bilas 10 August 2026 Paris
Men short course
Correct as of October 2026 Time Athlete Nation Date Place 1 1 21.32 Noè Ponti 11 December 2024 Budapest 2 21.43Ponti #2 10 December 2024 Budapest 3 21.50Ponti #3 2 November 2024 Singapore 4 21.51Ponti #4 2 December 2025 Lublin 5 21.53Ponti #5 10 December 2024 Budapest 6 21.54Ponti #6 3 December 2025 Lublin 2 7 21.62 Nyls Korstanje 10 December 2024 Budapest 8 21.64Ponti #7 2 November 2024 Singapore 3 8 21.64 Egor Kornev 3 October 2026 Baku 10 21.65Ponti #8 12 April 2025 Uster 11 21.67Ponti #9 20 October 2024 Shanghai 4 11 21.67 Ilya Kharun 11 December 2024 Budapest 13 21.68Ponti #10 20 October 2024 Shanghai Korstanje #2 11 December 2024 Budapest 15 21.69Kharun #2 19 October 2025 Westmont 16 21.73Kornev #2 7 November 2025 Kazan 17 21.74Korstanje #3 2 November 2024 Singapore 5 18 21.75 Nicholas Santos 6 October 2018 Budapest Szebasztián Szabó 6 November 2021 Kazan 20 21.76Ponti #11 26 October 2024 Incheon 21 21.78Santos #2 10 November 2020 Budapest Santos #3 14 December 2022 Melbourne 23 21.79Ponti #12 9 December 2023 Otopeni 7 24 21.80 Steffen Deibler 14 November 2009 Berlin 24 21.80Santos #4 16 November 2020 Budapest Ponti #13 19 October 2025 Westmont Kharun #3 25 October 2025 Toronto 8 21.86 Guilherme Caribé 3 September 2026 São Paulo 9 21.87 Roland Schoeman 14 November 2009 Berlin 10 21.90 Ben Armbruster 29 September 2025 Sydney 11 21.91 Joshua Liendo 25 October 2025 Toronto 12 21.93 Teong Tzen Wei 25 October 2025 Toronto 13 21.95 Chad le Clos 6 December 2014 Doha Maxime Grousset 2 December 2025 Lublin 15 21.96 Sun Jiajun 24 September 2024 Wuhan 16 21.98 Dylan Carter 20 December 2021 Abu Dhabi 17 21.99 Tom Shields 9 October 2021 Budapest Marius Kusch 10 December 2024 Budapest 19 22.01 Michele Busa 11 December 2024 Budapest 20 22.02 Matteo Rivolta 20 December 2021 Abu Dhabi 21 22.04 Caeleb Dressel 16 November 2020 Budapest 22 22.05 Hryhory Pekarski 10 December 2024 Budapest 23 22.06 Daniel Zaitsev 2 December 2025 Lublin 24 22.07 Johannes Dietrich 13 December 2009 Istanbul Oleg Kostin 9 November 2019 Kazan
Women long course
Correct as of August 2026 Time Athlete Nation Date Place 1 1 24.43 Sarah Sjöström 5 July 2014 Borås 2 2 24.51 Gretchen Walsh 26 June 2026 Rome 3 24.60Sjöström #2 29 July 2017 Budapest 4 24.63Sjöström #3 17 February 2024 Doha 5 24.65Walsh #2 12 August 2026 Irvine 6 24.66Walsh #3 4 June 2025 Indianapolis 7 24.69Sjöström #4 5 April 2015 Eindhoven 8 24.73Sjöström #5 21 June 2024 Rome 9 24.74Sjöström #6 28 July 2023 Fukuoka 10 24.76Sjöström #7 14 June 2017 Barcelona 11 24.77Sjöström #8 29 July 2023 Fukuoka 12 24.79Sjöström #9 26 July 2019 Gwangju 13 24.83 Walsh #4 2 August 2025 Singapore 14 24.87Sjöström #10 18 August 2014 Berlin 15 24.88Sjöström #11 16 February 2024 Doha 16 24.89Sjöström #12 21 May 2023 Monaco 17 24.90Sjöström #13 11 June 2017 Monaco 18 24.91Walsh #5 26 June 2026 Rome Walsh #6 12 August 2026 Irvine 20 24.92Sjöström #14 25 April 2024 Stockholm 21 24.93Walsh #7 2 May 2025 Fort Lauderdale 22 24.95Sjöström #15 18 June 2017 Canet-en-Roussillon Sjöström #16 24 June 2022 Budapest Sjöström #17 2 June 2024 Monaco 25 24.96Sjöström #18 8 August 2015 Kazan Sjöström #19 8 April 2017 Stockholm Sjöström #20 13 August 2022 Rome 3 24.99 Kate Douglass 12 August 2026 Irvine 4 25.05 Zhang Yufei 29 July 2023 Fukuoka 5 25.07 Therese Alshammar 31 July 2009 Rome 6 25.11 Rikako Ikee 10 June 2018 Canet-en-Roussillon 7 25.12 Roos Vanotterdijk 12 August 2026 Paris 8 25.17 Mélanie Henique 19 June 2021 Chartres 9 25.20 Fran Halsall 24 July 2014 Glasgow 10 25.23 Taylor Ruck 12 August 2026 Irvine 11 25.24 Jeanette Ottesen 3 August 2013 Barcelona Ranomi Kromowidjojo 13 March 2021 Amsterdam 13 25.28 Marleen Veldhuis 31 July 2009 Rome 14 25.30 Arina Surkova 19 April 2023 Kazan 15 25.31 Holly Barratt 16 August 2019 Singapore Alexandria Perkins 2 August 2025 Singapore 17 25.33 Marie Wattel 13 August 2022 Rome Torri Huske 28 June 2023 Indianapolis 19 25.37 Lu Ying 8 August 2015 Kazan 20 25.38 Farida Osman 24 June 2022 Budapest 21 25.39 Erin Gallagher 1 August 2025 Singapore 22 25.43 Claire Curzan 24 June 2022 Budapest Hazel Ouwehand 23 May 2025 Auckland 24 25.47 Cate Campbell 1 March 2018 Gold Coast 25 25.48 Marieke Guehrer 1 August 2009 Rome Kelsi Dahlia 29 July 2017 Budapest 26 July 2018 Irvine 27 July 2019 Gwangju Wu Qingfeng 20 June 2026 Hangzhou
Women short course
Correct as of December 2025 Time Athlete Nation Date Place 1 1 23.72 Gretchen Walsh 11 October 2025 Carmel 2 23.90Walsh #2 18 October 2025 Westmont 3 23.91Walsh #3 24 October 2025 Toronto 4 23.94Walsh #4 10 December 2024 Budapest 5 24.01Walsh #5 11 December 2024 Budapest 6 24.02Walsh #6 10 December 2024 Budapest 7 24.13Walsh #7 11 October 2025 Carmel 8 24.18Walsh #8 14 December 2024 Budapest 9 24.19Walsh #9 24 October 2025 Toronto 10 24.26Walsh #10 18 October 2025 Westmont 11 24.37Walsh #11 13 December 2024 Budapest 2 12 24.38 Therese Alshammar 22 November 2009 Singapore 3 13 24.42 Kate Douglass 1 November 2024 Singapore 4 14 24.43 Béryl Gastaldello 11 December 2024 Budapest 5 15 24.44 Ranomi Kromowidjojo 19 December 2021 Abu Dhabi 16 24.46Alshammar #2 11 November 2009 Stockholm 17 24.47Kromowidjojo #2 14 December 2018 Hangzhou 18 24.49Kromowidjojo #3 12 December 2020 Eindhoven Walsh #12 25 October 2025 Toronto 6 20 24.50 Sarah Sjöström 7 November 2021 Kazan 21 24.51Kromowidjojo #4 10 November 2018 Tokyo Sjöström #2 19 December 2021 Abu Dhabi Walsh #13 19 October 2025 Westmont 24 24.52Sjöström #3 6 August 2017 Berlin 25 24.53Kromowidjojo #5 20 October 2017 Amsterdam 7 24.55 Claire Curzan 19 December 2021 Abu Dhabi 8 24.56 Mélanie Henique 5 December 2019 Glasgow 9 24.58 Arina Surkova 22 November 2023 Saint Petersburg 10 24.59 Inge Dekker 1 September 2014 Dubai 11 24.60 Alexandria Perkins 18 October 2025 Westmont 12 24.61 Martine Damborg 3 December 2025 Lublin 13 24.64 Torri Huske 14 December 2022 Melbourne Maggie Mac Neil 14 December 2022 Melbourne 15 24.68 Tessa Giele 10 December 2024 Budapest 16 24.69 Marieke Guehrer 15 November 2009 Berlin 17 24.71 Jeanette Ottesen 5 December 2014 Doha Rikako Ikee 13 January 2018 Tokyo Zhang Yufei 14 December 2022 Melbourne 20 24.75 Holly Barratt 29 October 2021 Kazan 21 24.76 Maaike de Waard 10 December 2024 Budapest 22 24.80 Madeline Banic 22 November 2020 Budapest 23 24.84 Roos Vanotterdijk 3 December 2025 Lublin 24 24.86 Kelsi Dahlia 21 November 2021 Eindhoven 25 24.90 Felicity Galvez 17 December 2010 Dubai
World champions (long course) Men
Edition Winner Time Notes Fukuoka 2001 23.50 Barcelona 2003 23.43 Montreal 2005 22.96 Melbourne 2007 23.18 Rome 2009 22.67 CR Shanghai 2011 23.10 Barcelona 2013 23.01 Kazan 2015 22.97 Budapest 2017 22.75 Gwangju 2019 22.35 CR Budapest 2022 22.57 Fukuoka 2023 22.68 Doha 2024 22.97 Singapore 2025 22.48
Women
Edition Winner Time Notes Fukuoka 2001 25.90 CR Barcelona 2003 25.84 CR Montreal 2005 26.11 Melbourne 2007 25.91 Rome 2009 25.48 Shanghai 2011 25.71 Barcelona 2013 25.24 Kazan 2015 24.96 CR Budapest 2017 24.60 CR Gwangju 2019 25.02 Budapest 2022 24.95 Fukuoka 2023 24.77 Doha 2024 24.63 Singapore 2025 24.83
World champions (short course) Men
Edition Winner Time Notes Hong Kong 1999 23.61 CR Athens 2000 23.30 Moscow 2002 22.89 CR Indianapolis 2004 22.71 Shanghai 2006 23.05 Manchester 2008 22.78 Dubai 2010 22.40 CR Istanbul 2012 22.22 CR Doha 2014 21.95 CR Windsor 2016 21.98 Hangzhou 2018 21.81 CR Abu Dhabi 2021 21.93 Melbourne 2022 21.78 CR Budapest 2024 21.32
Women
Edition Winner Time Notes Hong Kong 1999 26.18 Athens 2000 26.13 CR Moscow 2002 25.55 CR Indianapolis 2004 25.89 Shanghai 2006 25.76 Manchester 2008 25.32 Dubai 2010 24.87 CR Istanbul 2012 25.14 Doha 2014 24.58 CR Windsor 2016 24.92 Hangzhou 2018 24.47 CR Abu Dhabi 2021 24.44 CR Melbourne 2022 24.64 Budapest 2024 24.01
Notes
References