4 × 100 metres freestyle relay

The 4 × 100 metres freestyle relay is an event in competitive swimming. World records are ratified by World Aquatics (formerly FINA). The current long course world record holders are the US (men and mixed) and Australia (women), while the men's and women's short course world records (men and women) are currently held by the US.

The men's event has been contested at the Olympic Games since 1964; it was removed 1976 program and was reinstated in 1984. The women's event has been contested since the 1912 games. The current Olympic champions are the US (men) and Australia (women). The men's and women's events have been contested at the World Aquatics Championships since the inaugural championships in 1973, while the mixed event was introduced in 2015 and removed from the 2027 program; the current world champions (long course) are Australia (men and women) and the US (mixed). The men's and women's events have been contested at the World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) since the inaugural championships in 1993; the US are the current world champions (short course) in both events.

The men's 4×100-metre freestyle is often considered "swimming’s indisputably best event at the Olympics", as "It is also the Alpha Dog moment in water. Our Country is faster than Your Country". Nathan Adrian was quoted as saying “Every American swimmer dreams of getting up there in the 4x100 free relay and winning a gold medal.” The Australians won the event at the 2000 Summer Olympics which they hosted and celebrated by playing air guitar, while the Australian relay team was dubbed "Weapons of Mass Destruction" after winning in the 2011 World Aquatics Championships. At the 2008 Summer Olympics, Frenchman Alain Bernard famously said he would "smash the Americans"; while the French team did beat the previous world record, they did it 0:00.08 after Jason Lezak had already edged out Bernard in the anchor leg, giving the Americans the gold and a new world record, which is still standing today.

World record progression

Men long course

Men short course TimeNationalityNameDatePlace3:14.00Tommy Werner (48.33)Anders Holmertz (49.07)Michael Söderlund (49.10)Joakim Holmqvist (47.50)March 19, 1989Malmö, Sweden3:13.97Gustavo Borges (48.19)Fernando Scherer (47.95)José Carlos Souza (49.37)Teófilo Ferreira (48.46)July 7, 1993Santos, Brazil3:12.11Fernando Scherer (48.27)Teófilo Ferreira (48.28)José Carlos Souza (48.90)Gustavo Borges (46.66)December 5, 1993Palma de Mallorca, Spain3:10.45Fernando Scherer (47.27)Carlos Jayme (48.49)Alexandre Massura (47.93)Gustavo Borges (46.76)December 20, 1998Rio de Janeiro, Brazil3:09.57Johan Nyström (49.04)Lars Frölander (45.69)Mattias Ohlin (47.87)Stefan Nystrand (46.97)March 16, 2000Athens, Greece3:08.44Ryan Lochte (47.09)Bryan Lundquist (46.64)Nathan Adrian (46.57)Doug Van Wie (48.14)April 9, 2008Manchester, United Kingdom3:04.98 CN MarseilleGrégory Mallet (47.41)Fabien Gilot (44.92)William Meynard (47.65)Frédérick Bousquet (45.00)December 20, 2008Istres, France3:03.30Nathan Adrian (45.08)Matt Grevers (44.68)Garrett Weber-Gale (47.43)Michael Phelps (46.11)December 19, 2009Manchester, United Kingdom3:03.03Caeleb Dressel (45.66)Blake Pieroni (45.75)Michael Chadwick (45.86)Ryan Held (45.76)December 11, 2018Hangzhou, China3:02.75Alessandro Miressi (46.15)Paolo Conte Bonin (45.93)Leonardo Deplano (45.54)Thomas Ceccon (45.13)December 13, 2022Melbourne, Australia3:01.66Jack Alexy (45.05)Luke Hobson (45.18)Kieran Smith (46.01)Chris Guiliano (45.42)December 14, 2024Budapest, Hungary

Women long course TimeNationalityNameDatePlace5:52.8Belle Moore (?)Jennie Fletcher (?)Annie Speirs (?)Irene Steer (?)July 15, 1912Stockholm, Sweden 5:11.6Margaret Woodbridge (?)Frances Schroth (?)Irene Guest (?)Ethelda Bleibtrey (?)August 29, 1920Antwerp, Belgium 4:58.8Gertrude Ederle (?)Euphrasia Donnelly (?)Ethel Lackie (?)Mariechen Wehselau (?)July 20, 1924Paris, France 4:55.6Adelaide Lambert (?)Josephine McKim (?)Susan Laird (?)Albina Osipowich (?)August 9, 1928Amsterdam, Netherlands 4:47.6Adelaide Lambert (?)Eleanor Garatti (?)Albina Osipowich (?)Martha Norelius (?)August 9, 1928Amsterdam, Netherlands 4:38.0Josephine McKim (?)Helen Johns (?)Eleanor Garatti (?)Helene Madison (?)August 12, 1932Los Angeles, United States 4:33.3Jopie Selbach (?)Annie Timmermans (?)Rie Mastenbroek (?)Willy den Ouden (?)April 14, 1934Rotterdam, Netherlands 4:32.8Jopie Selbach (?)Rie Mastenbroek (?)Catherina Wagner (?)Willy den Ouden (?)May 24, 1936Rotterdam, Netherlands 4:29.7Elvi Svendsen (?)Gunvor Kraft (?)Birte Ove-Petersen (?)Ragnhild Hveger (?)February 8, 1938Copenhagen, Denmark4:27.6Eva Arndt (?)Gunvor Kraft (?)Birte Ove-Petersen (?)Ragnhild Hveger (?)August 7, 1938Copenhagen, Denmark4:27.2Mária Littomeritzky (?)Éva Novák (?)Éva Székely (?)Katalin Szőke (?)April 27, 1952Moscow, Soviet Union4:24.4Ilona Novák (1:07.8)Judit Temes (1:05.8)Éva Novák (1:05.1)Katalin Szőke (1:05.7)August 1, 1952Helsinki, Finland4:22.3Lorraine Crapp (?)Dawn Fraser (?)Margaret Gibson (?)Barbara Jackson (?)October 20, 1956Sydney, Australia4:19.7Lorraine Crapp (?)Dawn Fraser (?)Faith Leech (?)Margaret Gibson (?)October 25, 1956Melbourne, Australia4:17.1Dawn Fraser (?)Faith Leech (?)Sandra Morgan (?)Lorraine Crapp (1:03.1)December 6, 1956Melbourne, Australia4:16.2Dawn Fraser (?)Alva Colquhoun (?)Ilsa Konrads (?)Lorraine Crapp (?)August 6, 1960Townsville, Australia4:08.9Joan Spillane (?)Shirley Stobs (?)Carolyn Wood (?)Chris von Saltza (?)September 3, 1960Rome, Italy4:08.5 Santa Clara Swim ClubTerri Stickles (?)Donna de Varona (?)Pokey Watson (?)Judy Haroun (?)July 31, 1964Los Altos, United States4:07.6Lynne Allsup (?)Terri Stickles (?)Kathy Seidel (?)Eleanor Bricker (?)September 28, 1964Los Angeles, United States4:03.8Sharon Stouder (?)Donna de Varona (?)Pokey Watson (?)Kathy Ellis (?)October 15, 1964Tokyo, Japan4:03.5 Santa Clara Swim ClubLinda Gustavson (?)Nancy Ryan (?)Laura Fritz (?)Pokey Watson (?)August 19, 1967Philadelphia, United States4:01.1 Santa Clara Swim ClubLinda Gustavson (?)Pokey Watson (?)Pam Carpinelli (?)Jan Henne (?)July 6, 1968Santa Clara, United States4:00.8Gabriele WetzkoIris KomarElke SehmischSabine SchulzeSeptember 11, 1970Barcelona, Spain4:00.7Shirley Babashoff (?)Kim Peyton (?)Linda Johnson (?)Deena Deardurff (?)September 9, 1971Minsk, Soviet Union3:58.11Kim Peyton (?)Sandy Neilson (?)Jane Barkman (?)Shirley Babashoff (?)August 18, 1972Knoxville, United States3:58.11Sylvia Eichner (?)Elke Sehmisch (?)Andrea Eife (?)Kornelia Ender (?)August 30, 1972Munich, West Germany3:55.19Sandy Neilson (?)Jenny Kemp (?)Jane Barkman (?)Shirley Babashoff (?)August 30, 1972Munich, West Germany3:52.45Andrea Eife (?)Andrea Hubner (?)Sylvia Eichner (?)Kornelia Ender (?)September 8, 1973Belgrade, Yugoslavia3:51.99Ann Marshall (?)Kim Peyton (?)Kathy Heddy (?)Shirley Babashoff (?)August 31, 1974Concord, United States3:49.37Kornelia Ender (56.22 WR)Barbara Krause (57.41)Claudia Hempel (57.97)Ute Bruckner (57.77)July 26, 1975Cali, Colombia3:48.80 SC Dynamo BerlinRosemarie Kother (?)Andrea Pollack (?)Monika Seltmann (?)Barbara Krause (?)June 2, 1976East Berlin, East Germany3:44.82Kim Peyton (56.95)Wendy Boglioli (55.81)Jill Sterkel (55.78)Shirley Babashoff (56.28)July 25, 1976Montreal, Canada3:43.43Tracy Caulkins (56.57)Stephanie Elkins (55.92)Jill Sterkel (55.70)Cynthia Woodhead (55.24)August 26, 1978West Berlin3:42.71Barbara Krause (54.90)Caren Metschuck (55.61)Ines Diers (55.90)Sarina Hülsenbeck (56.30)July 27, 1980Moscow, Soviet Union3:42.41Birgit Meineke (?)Kristin Otto (?)Karen König (?)Heike Friedrich (?)August 21, 1984Moscow, Soviet Union3:40.57Kristin Otto (54.73 WR)Manuela Stellmach (54.96)Sabina Schulze (55.52)Heike Friedrich (55.36)August 19, 1986Madrid, Spain3:39.46Nicole Haislett (55.33)Dara Torres (55.33)Angel Martino (54.79)Jenny Thompson (54.01)July 28, 1992Barcelona, Spain3:37.91Le Jingyi (54.31)Shan Ying (54.38)Le Ying (55.09)Lü Bin (54.13)September 7, 1994Rome, Italy3:36.61Amy Van Dyken (55.08)Dara Torres (53.51)Courtney Shealy (54.40)Jenny Thompson (53.62)September 16, 2000Sydney, Australia3:36.00Katrin Meissner (54.82)Petra Dallmann (53.95)Sandra Völker (53.59)Franziska van Almsick (53.64)July 29, 2002Berlin, Germany3:35.94Alice Mills (54.75)Libby Lenton (53.57)Petria Thomas (54.67)Jodie Henry (52.95)August 14, 2004Athens, Greece3:35.22Petra Dallmann (54.53)Daniela Götz (53.87)Britta Steffen (52.66)Annika Liebs (54.16)July 31, 2006Budapest, Hungary3:33.62Inge Dekker (53.77)Ranomi Kromowidjojo (53.61)Femke Heemskerk (53.62)Marleen Veldhuis (52.62)March 18, 2008Eindhoven, Netherlands3:31.72Inge Dekker (53.61)Ranomi Kromowidjojo (52.30)Femke Heemskerk (53.03)Marleen Veldhuis (52.78)July 26, 2009Rome, Italy3:30.98Bronte Campbell (53.15)Melanie Schlanger (52.76)Emma McKeon (52.91)Cate Campbell (52.16)July 24, 2014Glasgow, Scotland3:30.65Emma McKeon (53.41)Brittany Elmslie (53.12)Bronte Campbell (52.15)Cate Campbell (51.97)August 6, 2016Rio de Janeiro, Brazil3:30.05Shayna Jack (54.03)Bronte Campbell (52.03)Emma McKeon (52.99)Cate Campbell (51.00)April 5, 2018Gold Coast, Australia3:29.69Bronte Campbell (53.01)Meg Harris (53.09)Emma McKeon (51.35)Cate Campbell (52.24)July 25, 2021Tokyo, Japan3:27.96Mollie O'Callaghan (52.08)Shayna Jack (51.69)Meg Harris (52.29)Emma McKeon (51.90)July 23, 2023Fukuoka, Japan

Women short course TimeNationalityNameDatePlace3:35.97Lü Bin (-)Shan Ying (-)Jia Yuanyuan (-)Le Jingyi (-)December 4, 1993Palma de Mallorca, Spain3:34.55Le Jingyi (53.32)Chao Na (54.33)Shan Ying (53.55)Nian Yin (52.55)April 19, 1997Gothenburg, Sweden3:33.32Inge Dekker (53.52)Hinkelien Schreuder (53.63)Chantal Groot (54.00)Marleen Veldhuis (52.17)April 8, 2006Shanghai, China3:31.66Libby Lenton (51.91)Melanie Schlanger (53.23)Shayne Reese (53.27)Alice Mills (53.25)September 2, 2007Melbourne, Australia3:30.85Hinkelien Schreuder (53.40)Femke Heemskerk (52.95)Ranomi Kromowidjojo (52.97)Marleen Veldhuis (51.53)September 9, 2007Eindhoven, Netherlands3:29.42Hinkelien Schreuder (53.62)Femke Heemskerk (52.61)Inge Dekker (51.76)Marleen Veldhuis (51.43)April 12, 2008Manchester, United Kingdom3:28.22Hinkelien Schreuder (52.88)Inge Dekker (52.24)Ranomi Kromowidjojo (52.12)Marleen Veldhuis (50.98)December 19, 2008Amsterdam, Netherlands3:26.53Inge Dekker (52.39)Femke Heemskerk (50.58)Maud van der Meer (52.55)Ranomi Kromowidjojo (51.01)December 5, 2014Doha, Qatar3:25.43Mollie O'Callaghan (52.19)Madison Wilson (51.28)Meg Harris (52.00)Emma McKeon (49.96)December 13, 2022Melbourne, Australia3:25.01Kate Douglass (50.95)Katharine Berkoff (51.38)Alex Shackell (52.01)Gretchen Walsh (50.67)December 10, 2024Budapest, Hungary

Mixed long course

All-time rankings Tables show data for the top 25 4 × 100 m freestyle relay times and the top 10 national records:- denotes top 10 national record by teams in the top 25 4 × 100 m freestyle relay times- denotes lesser performances, still in the top 25 4 × 100 m freestyle relay times, by repeat nations- denotes performances in the top 25 4 × 100 m freestyle relay times by a team with multiple nationalities- denotes top 10 national record for other teams who fall outside the top 25 4 × 100 m freestyle relay times Men long course Correct as of September 2026