The 100 metres freestyle is often considered to be the highlight (Blue Ribbon event) of the sport of swimming, like 100 metres in the sport of athletics, symbolizing the pinnacle of speed and athleticism in swimming competitions.
The first swimmer to break the one-minute barrier (long course) was Johnny Weissmuller, in 1922. The current world record holders (long course) are China's Pan Zhanle (since 2024) and the Netherlands' Marrit Steenbergen (since 2026).
Australian Dawn Fraser won the event a record three times at the Olympics, and she is the only woman to win it more than once. Four men, American Duke Kahanamoku, Weissmuller, Russian Alexander Popov, and Dutchman Pieter van den Hoogenband won the event at the Olympics twice. Popov was also world champion (held since 1973) three times.
All-time top 25 Tables show data for two definitions of "Top 25" - the top 25 100 m freestyle times and the top 25 athletes:- denotes top performance for athletes in the top 25 100 m freestyle times- denotes lesser performances, still in the top 25 100 m freestyle times, by repeat athletes- denotes top performance (only) for other top 25 athletes who fall outside the top 25 100 m freestyle times
Men long course
Correct as of August 2026 Time Athlete Nation Date Place 1 1 46.40 Pan Zhanle 31 July 2024 Paris 2 2 46.51 David Popovici 31 July 2025 Singapore 3 46.56Popovici #2 12 August 2026 Paris 4 46.71Popovici #3 28 June 2025 Šamorín 5 46.72Popovici #4 11 August 2026 Paris 3 6 46.74 Egor Kornev 12 August 2026 Paris 7 46.80Pan #2 11 February 2024 Doha 4 8 46.81 Jack Alexy 30 July 2025 Singapore 9 46.84Popovici #5 30 July 2025 Singapore 10 46.86Popovici #6 13 August 2022 Rome 5 11 46.87 Kristóf Milák 12 August 2026 Paris 12 46.88Popovici #7 19 June 2024 Belgrade 6 13 46.91 César Cielo 30 July 2009 Rome 1346.91Alexy #22 August 2025 Singapore 15 46.92Pan #3 27 July 2024 Paris Alexy #3 31 July 2025 Singapore 7 17 46.94 Alain Bernard 23 April 2009 Montpellier 8 18 46.96 Caeleb Dressel 25 July 2019 Gwangju 18 46.96 Kornev #2 11 June 2026 Kazan 20 46.97Pan #4 24 September 2023 Hangzhou Pan #5 23 April 2024 Shenzhen 22 46.98Popovici #8 12 August 2022 Rome 23 46.99Alexy #4 3 June 2025 Indianapolis Kornev #3 10 June 2026 Kazan 25 47.02 Dressel #2 29 July 2021 Tokyo 9 47.04 Cameron McEvoy 10 April 2016 Adelaide 10 47.05 Eamon Sullivan 13 August 2008 Beijing 11 47.08 Kyle Chalmers 25 July 2019 Gwangju 29 July 2021 Tokyo 12 47.09 Flynn Southam 24 July 2026 Glasgow 13 47.10 James Magnussen 19 March 2012 Adelaide Guilherme Caribé 23 April 2025 Rio de Janeiro 15 47.11 Kliment Kolesnikov 28 July 2021 Tokyo 16 47.15 Frédérick Bousquet 24 April 2009 Montpellier 17 47.16 Chris Guiliano 13 August 2026 Irvine 18 47.26 Luca Hoek 11 August 2026 Paris 19 47.27 Brent Hayden 30 July 2009 Rome 20 47.33 David Walters 30 July 2009 Rome Maxime Grousset 18 June 2024 Chartres 22 47.37 Stefan Nystrand 30 July 2009 Rome 23 47.39 Ryan Held 31 July 2019 Stanford Kim Youngbeom 22 October 2025 Busan 25 47.42 Jere Hribar 12 August 2026 Paris
Men short course Correct as of October 2026 Time Athlete Nation Date Place 1 1 44.84 Kyle Chalmers 29 October 2021 Kazan Egor Kornev 2 October 2026 Baku 3 3 44.94 Amaury Leveaux 13 December 2008 Rijeka 4 4 44.95 Vladimir Morozov 16 November 2018 Singapore FINA (16 November 2018). "FINA Swimming World Cup 2018 Singapore: Men's 100m Freestyle Final Results". Omega Timing. Retrieved 22 October 2021. Jordan Crooks 11 December 2024 Budapest 6 44.99 Kornev #2 9 November 2025 Kazan 7 45.03Chalmers #2 21 October 2021 Doha 6 8 45.04 Florent Manaudou 5 December 2013 Dijon 7 9 45.05 Jack Alexy 10 December 2024 Budapest 8 10 45.08 Nathan Adrian 19 December 2009 Manchester Caeleb Dressel 22 November 2020 Budapest 12 45.12Leveaux #2 12 December 2008 Rijeka 13 45.16Morozov #2 10 November 2018 Tokyo Chalmers #3 15 December 2022 Melbourne 10 15 45.17Maxime Grousset6 December 2025Lublin 16 45.18Dressel #2 21 November 2020 Budapest Kornev #3 19 December 2025 Saint Petersburg 18 45.20Dressel #3 16 November 2020 Budapest 19 45.21Kornev #4 8 November 2025 Kazan 20 45.22Dressel #4 20 December 2019 Las Vegas Crooks #2 11 December 2024 Budapest 22 45.23Morozov #3 5 August 2017 Berlin 23 45.29Alexy #2 11 December 2024 Budapest 24 45.30Morozov #4 4 October 2018 Budapest 11 24 45.30 Joshua Liendo 24 October 2025 Toronto 12 45.36 Evgeny Lagunov 11 December 2009 Istanbul Cameron McEvoy 2 October 2026 Baku 14 45.46 Matthew Abood 21 November 2009 Singapore 15 45.47 Guilherme Caribé 12 December 2024 Budapest 16 45.50 Chris Guiliano 11 October 2025 Carmel 17 45.51 Alessandro Miressi 10 December 2023 Otopeni 18 45.54 Stefan Nystrand 10 November 2009 Stockholm 19 45.56 Brent Hayden 14 November 2009 Berlin 20 45.58 Kliment Kolesnikov 7 November 2021 Kazan 21 45.60 James Magnussen 7 August 2013 Eindhoven 22 45.61 Flynn Southam 30 September 2026 Sydney 23 45.63 Ryan Held 21 December 2021 Abu Dhabi 24 45.64 David Popovici 15 December 2022 Melbourne Jere Hribar6 December 2025 Lublin
Women long course
Correct as of August 2026 Time Athlete Nation Date Place 1 1 51.68 Marrit Steenbergen 27 June 2026 Rome 2 2 51.69 Kate Douglass 14 August 2026 Irvine 3 3 51.71 Sarah Sjöström 23 July 2017 Budapest 4 51.82Steenbergen #2 4 July 2026 Eindhoven 5 51.86Steenbergen #3 27 May 2026 Canet-en-Roussillon 4 6 51.88 Anna Moesch 28 July 2026 Irvine 7 51.90Steenbergen #4 11 August 2026 Paris 8 51.93 Douglass #2 1 August 2026 Irvine 9 51.94 Moesch #2 25 May 2026 London 5 10 51.96 Emma McKeon 30 July 2021 Tokyo 11 51.97Steenbergen #5 30 May 2026 Barcelona 6 12 52.02 Siobhán Haughey 8 October 2023 Berlin 7 13 52.03 Cate Campbell 10 August 2018 Tokyo 8 14 52.04 Simone Manuel 26 July 2019 Gwangju 15 52.06C. Campbell #2 2 July 2016 Brisbane 9 16 52.07 Britta Steffen 31 July 2009 Rome 17 52.08Sjöström #2 18 June 2017 Canet-en-Roussillon 10 17 52.08 Mollie O'Callaghan 23 July 2023 Fukuoka 19 52.11Moesch #3 20 June 2026 Indianapolis 20 52.12C. Campbell #3 13 June 2019 Brisbane 21 52.13McKeon #2 28 July 2021 Tokyo Steenbergen #6 24 May 2026 Monaco 23 52.16O'Callaghan #2 28 July 2023 Fukuoka Sjöström #3 31 July 2024 Paris 25 52.17Haughey #2 26 September 2023 Hangzhou 11 52.27 Bronte Campbell 9 April 2018 Gold Coast 12 52.28 Shayna Jack 23 July 2023 Fukuoka 13 52.29 Torri Huske 31 July 2024 Paris 14 52.48 Yang Junxuan 27 July 2024 Paris 15 52.51 Meg Harris 14 August 2026 Irvine 16 52.57 Gretchen Walsh 13 August 2026 Irvine 17 52.59 Mallory Comerford 23 July 2017 Budapest Penny Oleksiak 30 July 2021 Tokyo 19 52.62 Libby Trickett 26 July 2009 Rome 20 52.69 Femke Heemskerk 5 April 2015 Eindhoven Pernille Blume 28 July 2017 Budapest Sara Curtis 27 June 2026 Rome 23 52.71 Milou van Wijk 11 August 2026 Paris 24 52.72 Taylor Ruck 10 August 2018 Tokyo 25 52.74 Charlotte Bonnet 26 May 2018 Saint-Raphaël
Women short course
Correct as of October 2026 Time Athlete Nation Date Place 1 1 49.93 Kate Douglass 25 October 2025 Toronto 2 50.19Douglass #2 19 October 2025 Westmont 2 3 50.25 Cate Campbell 26 October 2017 Adelaide 3 4 50.31 Gretchen Walsh 12 December 2024 Budapest 4 5 50.42Marrit Steenbergen6 December 2025Lublin 6 50.49Walsh #2 11 December 2024 Budapest 5 7 50.58 Sarah Sjöström 11 August 2017 Eindhoven Emma McKeon 9 October 2021 Budapest 7950.60Béryl Gastaldello6 December 2025 Lublin 10 50.63 Gastaldello #2 12 December 2024 Budapest 11 50.67McKeon #2 30 October 2021 Kazan 12 50.73Douglass #3 12 December 2024 Budapest 13 50.77Sjöström #2 3 August 2017 Moscow McKeon #3 15 December 2022 Melbourne 15 50.78Steenbergen #2 3 October 2026 Baku 8 16 50.79 Siobhán Haughey 4 December 2021 Eindhoven 17 50.82Douglass #4 2 November 2024 Singapore 9 17 50.82 Mollie O'Callaghan 25 October 2025 Toronto 19 50.83Douglass #5 12 October 2025 Carmel 20 50.85Campbell #2 18 November 2017 Singapore 21 50.87Haughey #2 15 December 2022 Melbourne 22 50.91Campbell #3 28 November 2015 Sydney 23 50.94Haughey #3 21 November 2020 Budapest 10 24 50.95 Ranomi Kromowidjojo 15 December 2017 Copenhagen 24 50.95Douglass #6 10 December 2024 Budapest 11 51.01 Libby Trickett 11 August 2009 Hobart 12 51.19 Fran Halsall 22 November 2009 Singapore 13 51.26 Abbey Weitzeil 10 November 2020 Budapest Sara Curtis6 December 2025Lublin 15 51.29 Femke Heemskerk 17 November 2018 Singapore 16 51.35 Inge Dekker 11 December 2009 Istanbul 17 51.40 Madison Wilson 25 August 2022 Sydney 18 51.43 Freya Anderson 31 October 2020 Budapest 15 November 2020 Budapest 21 November 2020 Budapest 22 November 2020Budapest 19 51.44 Katarzyna Wasick 17 September 2021 Naples 20 51.45 Kayla Sanchez 14 December 2018 Sheffield Marie Wattel 12 December 2019 Angers 22 51.47 Michelle Coleman 17 November 2019 Eskilstuna 23 51.48Eva Okaro5 December 2025 Lublin 24 51.58 Jeanette Ottesen 9 October 2016 Doha 25 51.62 Rikako Ikee 14 January 2018 Tokyo Daria Klepikova 12 December 2024 Budapest
Olympic champions Men
Edition Winner Time Notes Athens 1896 1:22.2 1900not included in the program 1904the event was held in yards, not metres London 1908 1:05.6 Stockholm 1912 1:03.4 Antwerp 1920 1:01.4 Paris 1924 59.0 Amsterdam 1928 58.6 Los Angeles 1932 58.2 Berlin 1936 57.6 London 1948 57.3 Helsinki 1952 57.4 Melbourne 1956 55.4 Rome 1960 55.2 Tokyo 1964 53.4 Mexico City 1968 52.2 Munich 1972 51.22 Montreal 1976 49.99 Moscow 1980 50.40 Los Angeles 1984 49.80 Seoul 1988 48.63 Barcelona 1992 49.02 Atlanta 1996 48.74 Sydney 2000 48.30 Athens 2004 48.17 Beijing 2008 47.21 London 2012 47.52 Rio de Janeiro 2016 47.58 Tokyo 2020 47.02 Paris 2024 46.40
Women
Edition Winner Time Notes Stockholm 1912 1:22.2 Antwerp 1920 1:13.6 Paris 1924 1:12.4 Amsterdam 1928 1:11.0 Los Angeles 1932 1:06.8 Berlin 1936 1:05.9 London 1948 1:06.3 Helsinki 1952 1:06.8 Melbourne 1956 1:02.0 Rome 1960 1:01.2 Tokyo 1964 59.5 Mexico City 1968 1:00.0 Munich 1972 58.59 Montreal 1976 55.65 Moscow 1980 54.79 Los Angeles 1984 55.92 Seoul 1988 54.93 Barcelona 1992 54.65 Atlanta 1996 54.50 Sydney 2000 53.83 Athens 2004 53.84 Beijing 2008 53.12 London 2012 53.00 Rio de Janeiro 2016 52.70 Tokyo 2020 51.96 Paris 2024 52.16
World champions (long course) Men
Edition Winner Time Notes Belgrade 1973 51.70 CR Cali 1975 51.25 CR Berlin 1978 50.24 CR Guayaquil 1982 50.18 CR Madrid 1986 48.94 CR Perth 1991 49.18 Rome 1994 49.12 Perth 1998 48.93 CR Fukuoka 2001 48.33 CR Barcelona 2003 48.42 Montreal 2005 48.12 CR Melbourne 2007 48.43 Rome 2009 46.91 Shanghai 2011 47.63 Barcelona 2013 47.71 Kazan 2015 47.84 Budapest 2017 47.17 Gwanju 2019 46.96 Budapest 2022 47.58 Fukuoka 2023 47.15 Doha 2024 47.53 Singapore 2025 46.51 CR
Women
Edition Winner Time Notes Belgrade 1973 57.54 Cali 1975 56.50 CR Berlin 1978 55.68 CR Guayaquil 1982 55.79 Madrid 1986 55.05 CR Perth 1991 55.17 Rome 1994 54.01 Perth 1998 54.95 Fukuoka 2001 54.18 Barcelona 2003 54.37 Montreal 2005 54.18 Melbourne 2007 53.40 =CR Rome 2009 52.07 Shanghai 2011 53.45 Barcelona 2013 52.34 Kazan 2015 52.52 Budapest 2017 52.27 Gwanju 2019 52.04 Budapest 2022 52.67 Fukuoka 2023 52.16 Doha 202452.26 Singapore 2025 52.55
World champions (short course) Men
Edition Winner Time Notes Palma de Mallorca 1993 48.38 Rio de Janeiro 1995 47.97 Gothenburg 1997 47.86 Hong Kong 1999 47.05 CR Athens 2000 46.80 Moscow 2002 46.99 Indianapolis 2004 47.97 Shanghai 2006 47.24 Manchester 2008 46.67 CR Dubai 2010 45.74 CR Istanbul 2012 45.65 Doha 2014 45.75 Windsor 2016 46.58 Hangzhou 2018 45.62 Abu Dhabi 2021 45.57 Melbourne 2022 45.16 CR Budapest 2024 45.38
Women
Edition Winner Time Notes Palma de Mallorca 1993 53.01 Rio de Janeiro 1995 53.23 Gothenburg 1997 53.46 Hong Kong 1999 53.24 Athens 2000 52.17 Moscow 2002 52.89 Indianapolis 2004 52.67 Shanghai 2006 52.33 Manchester 2008 52.17 =CR Dubai 2010 51.45 CR Istanbul 2012 52.31 Doha 2014 51.37 CR Windsor 2016 51.81 Hangzhou 2018 51.14 CR Abu Dhabi 2021 50.98 CR Melbourne 2022 50.77 CR Budapest 2024 50.31 CR
See also Freestyle swimming World record progression 100 metres freestyle
Notes