The 50 metres breaststroke is an event in competitive swimming. World records are ratified by World Aquatics (formerly FINA). The current long course world record holders are Great Britain's Adam Peaty and Lithuania's Rūta Meilutytė, while the current short course world record holders are Turkey's Emre Sakçı, and Meilutytė.
The men's and women's events have been contested at the World Aquatics Championships since 2001; the current world champions (long course) are Italy's Simone Cerasuolo, and Meilutytė. 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 China's Qin Haiyang, and Meilutytė.
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 breaststroke times and the top 25 athletes:- denotes top performance for athletes in the top 25 50 m breaststroke times- denotes lesser performances, still in the top 25 50 m breaststroke times, by repeat athletes- denotes top performance (only) for other top 25 athletes who fall outside the top 25 50 m breaststroke times
Men long course
Correct as of August 2026 Time Athlete Nation Date Place 1 1 25.95 Adam Peaty 25 July 2017 Budapest 2 25.99 Peaty #2 26 July 2017 Budapest 3 26.06 Peaty #3 24 July 2019 Gwangju 4 26.09 Peaty #4 8 August 2018 Glasgow 5 26.10 Peaty #5 25 July 2017 Budapest 6 26.11 Peaty #623 July 2019 Gwangju 2 7 26.20 Qin Haiyang 25 July 2023 Fukuoka Simone Cerasuolo 14 August 2026 Paris 9 26.21 Peaty #7 22 May 2021 Budapest 10 26.23 Peaty #8 7 August 2018 Glasgow Cerasuolo #2 14 August 2026 Paris 12 26.25 Qin #229 September 2023 Hangzhou Qin #3 12 December 2023 Jinan 3 14 26.27 Ludovico Viberti 27 June 2025 Rome 15 26.28 Peaty #9 23 July 2019 Gwangju 4 15 26.28 Ilya Shymanovich 6 April 2023 Brest 17 26.29 Qin #4 26 July 2023 Fukuoka Qin #5 7 October 2023 Berlin 19 26.30 Qin #6 7 October 2023 Berlin Qin #7 21 October 2023 Budapest 5 19 26.30 Van Mathias 17 June 2026 Indianapolis 22 26.32 Shymanovich #2 20 April 2023 Kazan 6 22 26.32 Samuel Williamson 14 February 2024 Doha 7 24 26.33 Felipe Lima 9 June 2019 Monaco Nicolò Martinenghi 16 August 2022 Rome 9 26.38 Michael Houlie 24 July 2026 Glasgow 10 26.42 João Gomes Júnior 21 April 2019 Rio de Janeiro 12 26.45 Nic Fink 21 June 2022 Budapest 13 26.46 Ivan Kozhakin 17 April 2025 Kazan 14 26.52 Michael Andrew 28 April 2022 Greensboro 15 26.54 Cameron van der Burgh 25 July 2017 Budapest 16 26.57 Melvin Imoudu 25 April 2026 Berlin 17 26.61 Sun Jiajun 6 May 2023 Hangzhou 18 26.62 Kirill Prigoda 30 July 2025 Singapore Koen de Groot 15 August 2026 Paris 20 26.64 Chris Smith 11 December 2025 Pretoria 21 26.65 Taku Taniguchi 29 July 2025 Singapore Watson Nguyen 30 July 2026 Irvine 23 26.66 Andrey Nikolaev 29 April 2022 Kazan 24 26.70 Damir Dugonjič 4 August 2015 Kazan Fabio Scozzoli 23 July 2019 Gwangju
Men short course Correct as of December 2025 Time Athlete Nation Date Place 1 1 24.95 Emre Sakçı 27 December 2021 Gaziantep 2 2 25.25 Cameron van der Burgh 14 November 2009 Berlin Ilya Shymanovich 7 November 2021 Kazan 4 25.29 Sakçı #2 5 November 2020 Budapest 4 5 25.37 Nicolò Martinenghi 6 November 2021 Kazan 6 25.38 Sakçı #3 6 November 2021 Kazan 5 6 25.38 Nic Fink 18 December 2022 Melbourne Qin Haiyang 19 October 2024 Shanghai 9 25.39 Shymanovich #2 18 December 2020 Brest Sakçı #4 7 November 2021 Kazan 11 25.41 van der Burgh #2 16 December 2018 Hangzhou 7 11 25.41 Adam Peaty 22 November 2020 Budapest 11 25.41 Shymanovich #3 18 December 2020 Brest Shymanovich #4 2 September 2021 Naples 15 25.42 Martinenghi #2 18 December 2022 Melbourne Qin #2 15 December 2024 Budapest 17 25.43 van der Burgh #3 8 August 2009 Pietermaritzburg Sakçı #5 9 November 2020 Budapest Shymanovich #5 6 November 2021 Kazan 8 20 25.45 Roland Schoeman 14 November 2009 Berlin 21 25.47 Shymanovich #6 25 November 2021 Eindhoven Qin #3 1 November 2024 Singapore 23 25.48 Peaty #2 15 November 2020 Budapest Shymanovich #7 21 November 2020 Budapest 9 23 25.48 Kirill Prigoda 14 December 2024 Budapest 10 25.51 Vladimir Morozov 4 December 2019 Glasgow LEN (4 December 2019). "2019 European Short Course Swimming Championships Glasgow (GBR): Results Men's 50m Breaststroke Final". Microplus Informatica. Retrieved 28 March 2022. 11 25.52 Caspar Corbeau 18 October 2025 Westmont Simone Cerasuolo 6 December 2025 Lublin 13 25.61 Oleg Kostin 19 December 2024 Saint Petersburg 14 25.62 Fabio Scozzoli 13 December 2017 Copenhagen 13 December 2017 Copenhagen 15 25.63 Felipe França Silva 7 December 2014 Doha 16 25.66 Chris Smith 14 December 2024 Budapest 17 25.69 Michael Houlie 14 December 2024 Budapest 18 25.71 Ludovico Viberti 15 December 2024 Budapest 19 25.72 Sun Jiajun 28 September 2024 Wuhan 20 25.75 Finlay Brooks 18 October 2025 Westmont 21 25.80 Felipe Lima 16 December 2018 Hangzhou João Gomes Júnior 21 December 2021 Abu Dhabi Yan Zibei 17 December 2022 Melbourne 24 25.81 Michael Andrew 17 December 2022 Melbourne 25 25.84 Arno Kamminga 4 December 2019 Glasgow
Women long course
Correct as of September 2026 Time Athlete Nation Date Place 1 1 29.16 Rūta Meilutytė 30 July 2023 Fukuoka 2 2 29.30 Benedetta Pilato 22 May 2021 Budapest 2 29.30Meilutytė #2 29 July 2023 Fukuoka 4 29.35Pilato #2 23 May 2021 Budapest 3 5 29.40 Lilly King 30 July 2017 Budapest 5 29.40Meilutytė #3 18 February 2024 Doha 7 29.42Meilutytė #4 17 February 2024 Doha 8 29.44Meilutytė #5 16 August 2022 Rome 4 8 29.44 Tang Qianting 19 March 2026 Shenzhen 10 29.45Tang #2 20 September 2026 Tokyo 11 29.48Meilutytė #6 3 August 2013 Barcelona 12 29.49Tang #3 19 March 2026 Shenzhen 13 29.50Pilato #3 22 May 2021 Budapest Tang #4 20 September 2026 Tokyo 15 29.51Tang #5 18 February 2024 Doha 5 16 29.52 Yulia Yefimova 4 August 2013 Barcelona 17 29.54Meilutytė #7 2 August 2025 Singapore 18 29.55Meilutytė #8 3 August 2025 Singapore 19 29.56Meilutytė #9 8 October 2023 Berlin 20 29.57Yefimova #2 30 July 2017 Budapest 21 29.58Pilato #4 13 April 2022 Riccione Pilato #5 30 November 2023 Riccione 23 29.59Meilutytė #10 4 August 2013 Barcelona Meilutytė #11 17 August 2022 Rome Pilato #6 9 March 2024 Riccione Tang #6 14 August 2026 Irvine 6 29.64 McKenzie Siroky 23 May 2026 Monaco 7 29.71 Molly Hannis 13 January 2018 Austin 8 29.72 Lara van Niekerk 6 April 2022 Gqeberha 9 29.80 Jessica Hardy 7 August 2009 Federal Way 4 August 2013 Barcelona 10 29.81 Lydia Jacoby 29 June 2023 Indianapolis 11 29.83 Eneli Jefimova 21 April 2025 Helsinki 12 29.86 Arianna Castiglioni 28 May 2022 Naples 13 29.90 Skyler Smith 14 August 2026 Irvine 14 29.91 Satomi Suzuki 20 September 2026 Tokyo 15 29.95 Breeja Larson 4 August 2013 Barcelona Mona McSharry 16 August 2026 Paris 17 29.99 Katie Meili 30 July 2017 Budapest 18 30.02 Imogen Clark 30 July 2022 Birmingham Anita Bottazzo 29 July 2023 Fukuoka 20 30.05 Jennie Johansson 9 August 2015 Kazan Chelsea Hodges 30 July 2022 Birmingham 22 30.09 Tatjana Smith 9 April 2024 Gqeberha 23 30.10 Anna Elendt 26 May 2022 Barcelona 24 30.11 Rebecca Soni 2 August 2009 Rome Alia Atkinson 9 August 2015 Kazan Yang Chang 17 November 2025 Shenzhen
Women short course Correct as of December 2025 Time Athlete Nation Date Place 1 1 28.37 Rūta Meilutytė 17 December 2022 Melbourne 2 28.39Meilutytė #2 14 December 2024 Budapest 3 28.50Meilutytė #3 18 December 2022 Melbourne 4 28.54Meilutytė #4 15 December 2024 Budapest 2 5 28.56 Alia Atkinson 6 October 2018 Budapest 6 28.60Meilutytė #5 23 October 2022 Berlin 7 28.64Atkinson #2 26 October 2016 Tokyo 8 28.70Meilutytė #6 5 November 2022 Indianapolis 3 9 28.71 Yulia Yefimova 10 November 2013 Tokyo 4 10 28.76 Tang Qianting 20 October 2024 Shanghai 5 11 28.77 Lilly King 21 November 2020 Budapest 6 12 28.80 Jessica Hardy 14 November 2009 Berlin 13 28.81Meilutytė #7 3 December 2014 Doha 7 13 28.81 Benedetta Pilato 21 November 2020 Budapest Eneli Jefimova 7 December 2025 Lublin 16 28.82Tang #2 29 September 2024 Wuhan 17 28.84Meilutytė #8 4 December 2014 Doha Atkinson #3 12 August 2017 Eindhoven 19 28.86King #2 16 October 2020 Budapest Pilato #2 14 November 2020 Budapest King #3 17 December 2022 Melbourne Pilato #3 10 December 2023 Otopeni Tang #3 14 December 2024 Budapest Tang #4 15 December 2024 Budapest 25 28.87Tang #5 2 November 2024 Singapore 9 29.04 Molly Hannis 16 October 2020 Budapest 10 29.09 Arianna Castiglioni 25 September 2021 Naples Lara van Niekerk 18 December 2022 Melbourne 12 29.17 Imogen Clark 16 December 2023 Sheffield 13 29.22 Dominika Sztandera 14 December 2024 Budapest 14 29.30 Anna Elendt 18 December 2022 Melbourne 15 29.31 Jasmine Nocentini 9 December 2023 Otopeni 16 29.33 Ida Hulkko 5 November 2020 Budapest 17 29.34 Anastasia Gorbenko 17 December 2021 Abu Dhabi Nika Godun 17 November 2021 Kazan Florine Gaspard 7 December 2025 Lublin 20 29.37 Katie Meili 31 August 2016 Berlin 21 29.44 Veera Kivirinta 14 December 2024 Budapest 22 29.49 Alina Zmushka 21 November 2022 Kazan 23 29.50 Sarah Katsoulis 22 November 2009 Singapore 24 29.51 Martina Carraro 18 October 2020 Budapest 25 29.53 Sophie Hansson 18 November 2023 Sheffield
World champions (long course) Men
Edition Winner Time Notes Fukuoka 2001 27.52 CR Barcelona 2003 27.56 Montreal 2005 27.63 Melbourne 2007 27.66 Rome 2009 26.67 Shanghai 2011 27.01 Barcelona 2013 26.77 Kazan 2015 26.51 Budapest 2017 25.99 Gwangju 2019 26.06 Budapest 2022 26.45 Fukuoka 2023 26.29 Doha 2024 26.32 Singapore 2025 26.54
Women
Edition Winner Time Notes Fukuoka 2001 30.84 CR Barcelona 2003 30.67 Montreal 2005 30.45 Melbourne 2007 30.63 Rome 2009 30.09 Shanghai 2011 30.19 Barcelona 2013 29.52 Kazan 2015 30.05 Budapest 2017 29.40 Gwangju 2019 29.84 Budapest 2022 29.70 Fukuoka 2023 29.16 Doha 2024 29.40 Singapore 2025 29.55
World champions (short course) Men
Edition Winner Time Notes Hong Kong 1999 27.40 Athens 2000 27.22 Moscow 2002 26.42 CR Indianapolis 2004 26.86 Shanghai 2006 26.39 CR Manchester 2008 26.46 Dubai 2010 25.95 CR Istanbul 2012 26.30 Doha 2014 25.63 CR Windsor 2016 25.64 Hangzhou 2018 25.41 CR Abu Dhabi 2021 25.53 Melbourne 2022 25.38 CR Budapest 2024 25.42
Women
Edition Winner Time Notes Hong Kong 1999 30.80 =CR Athens 2000 30.66 CR Moscow 2002 29.96 Indianapolis 2004 30.20 Shanghai 2006 30.22 Manchester 2008 29.58 Dubai 2010 29.83 Istanbul 2012 29.44 CR Doha 2014 28.84 Windsor 2016 28.92 Hangzhou 2018 29.05 Abu Dhabi 2021 29.34 Melbourne 2022 28.50 Budapest 2024 28.54
Notes
References