List of Olympic records in swimming

Michael Phelps holds five individual and three team Olympic swimming records.

The International Olympic Committee recognises the fastest performances in pool-based swimming events at the Olympic Games. Men's swimming has been part of the Summer Olympics since the Games' modern inception in 1896; it was not until 1912 that women competed against each other. The swimming events at the 1896 Olympic Games were held in a bay in the Aegean Sea with swimmers being required to swim to the shore—Hungarian swimmer Alfréd Hajós won two gold medals that year, saying "My will to live completely overcame my desire to win."^[1] The 1900 Games in Paris saw the swimming events take place in the River Seine while the 1908 events were hosted in a 100 m pool located within an athletics track in the White City Stadium in London.^[2]

Races are held in four swimming strokes: freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly, over varying distances and in either individual or relay race events. In the 2012 Olympic Games in London, both men and women competed in sixteen events in the pool, each sex in the same events with the exceptions of the 800 m freestyle (women-only) and the 1500 m freestyle (men-only).^[2] Of the 32 pool-based events, swimmers from the United States hold sixteen records, China five, Australia four, the Netherlands two, and one each to Brasil, France, Great Britain, Hungary, and South Africa.

Men's records

César Cielo Filho

Sun Yang

♦ denotes a performance that is also a current world record. Statistics are correct as of after the 2012 Summer Olympics in London and include only those events which are currently recognised by the IOC as Olympic events.

Event	Record	Name	Nation	Games	Date	Ref
50 m freestyle	21.30	Cielo, CésarCésar Cielo	Brazil (BRA)	2008 Beijing	August 16, 2008	[3]
100 m freestyle	47.05	Sullivan, EamonEamon Sullivan	Australia (AUS)	2008 Beijing	August 13, 2008	^[A]
200 m freestyle	1:42.96	Phelps, MichaelMichael Phelps	United States (USA)	2008 Beijing	August 12, 2008	[4]
400 m freestyle	3:40.14	Yang, SunSun Yang	China (CHN)	2012 London	July 28, 2012
1500 m freestyle	♦14:31.02	Yang, SunSun Yang	China (CHN)	2012 London	August 4, 2012
100 m backstroke	52.16	Grevers, MattMatt Grevers	United States (USA)	2012 London	July 30, 2012	[5]
200 m backstroke	1:53.41	Clary, TylerTyler Clary	United States (USA)	2012 London	August 2, 2012	[6]
100 m breaststroke	58.46	van der Burgh, CameronCameron van der Burgh	South Africa (RSA)	2012 London	July 29, 2012	[7]
200 m breaststroke	2:07.28	Gyurta, DánielDániel Gyurta	Hungary (HUN)	2012 London	August 1, 2012	[8]
100 m butterfly	50.58	Phelps, MichaelMichael Phelps	United States (USA)	2008 Beijing	August 16, 2008	[9]
200 m butterfly	1:52.03	Phelps, MichaelMichael Phelps	United States (USA)	2008 Beijing	August 13, 2008	[10]
200 m individual medley	1:54.23	Phelps, MichaelMichael Phelps	United States (USA)	2008 Beijing	August 15, 2008	[11]
400 m individual medley	♦4:03.84	Phelps, MichaelMichael Phelps	United States (USA)	2008 Beijing	August 10, 2008	[12]
4×100 m freestyle relay	♦3:08.24	Michael Phelps (47.51) Garrett Weber-Gale (47.02) Cullen Jones (47.65) Jason Lezak (46.06)	United States (USA)	2008 Beijing	August 11, 2008	[13]
4×200 m freestyle relay	6:58.56	Michael Phelps (1:43.31) Ryan Lochte (1:44.28) Ricky Berens (1:46.29) Peter Vanderkaay (1:44.68)	United States (USA)	2008 Beijing	August 13, 2008	[14]
4×100 m medley relay	3:29.34	Aaron Peirsol (53.16) Brendan Hansen (59.27) Michael Phelps (50.15) Jason Lezak (46.76)	United States (USA)	2008 Beijing	August 17, 2008	[15]

Women's records

Ranomi Kromowidjojo

Rebecca Adlington

♦ denotes a performance that is also a current world record. Statistics are correct as of after the 2012 Summer Olympics in London and include only those events which are currently recognised by the IOC as Olympic events.

Event	Record	Name	Nation	Games	Date	Ref
50 m freestyle	24.05	Kromowidjojo, RanomiRanomi Kromowidjojo	Netherlands (NED)	2012 London	August 4, 2012	[16]
100 m freestyle	53.00	Kromowidjojo, RanomiRanomi Kromowidjojo	Netherlands (NED)	2012 London	August 2, 2012	[17]
200 m freestyle	1:53.61	Schmitt, AllisonAllison Schmitt	United States (USA)	2012 London	July 31, 2012	[18]
400 m freestyle	4:01.45	Muffat, CamilleCamille Muffat	France (FRA)	2012 London	July 29, 2012	[19]
800 m freestyle	8:14.10	Adlington, RebeccaRebecca Adlington	Great Britain (GBR)	2008 Beijing	August 16, 2008	[20]
100 m backstroke	58.23	Seebohm, EmilyEmily Seebohm	Australia (AUS)	2012 London	July 29, 2012	^[B]
200 m backstroke	♦2:04.06	Franklin, MissyMissy Franklin	United States (USA)	2012 London	August 3, 2012	[21]
100 m breaststroke	1:05.17	Jones, LeiselLeisel Jones	Australia (AUS)	2008 Beijing	August 10, 2008	[22]
200 m breaststroke	2:19.59	Soni, RebeccaRebecca Soni	United States (USA)	2012 London	August 2, 2012	[23]
100 m butterfly	55.98	Vollmer, DanaDana Vollmer	United States (USA)	2012 London	July 29, 2012	[24]
200 m butterfly	2:04.06	Liuyang, JiaoJiao Liuyang	China (CHN)	2012 London	August 1, 2012	[25]
200 m individual medley	2:07.57	Shiwen, YeYe Shiwen	China (CHN)	2012 London	July 31, 2012	[26]
400 m individual medley	♦4:28.43	Shiwen, YeYe Shiwen	China (CHN)	2012 London	July 28, 2012	[27]
4×100 m freestyle relay	3:33.15	Coutts, AliciaAlicia Coutts (53.90) Cate Campbell (54.19) Brittany Elmslie (53.41) Melanie Schlanger (52.65)	Australia (AUS)	2012 London	July 28, 2012	[28]
4×200 m freestyle relay	7:42.92	Franklin, MissyMissy Franklin (1:55.96) Dana Vollmer (1:56.02) Shannon Vreeland (1:56.85) Allison Schmitt (1:54.09)	United States (USA)	2012 London	August 1, 2012	[29]
4×100 m medley relay	♦3:52.05	Franklin, MissyMissy Franklin (58.50) Rebecca Soni (1:04.82) Dana Vollmer (55.48) Allison Schmitt (53.25)	United States (USA)	2012 London	August 4, 2012

Footnotes

1. ^ Sullivan broke the Olympic and world record for the men's 100 m freestyle in the second semifinal of the 2008 Summer Olympics.^[30]
2. ^ Seebohm broke the Olympic record for the women's 100 m backstroke in the fourth heat of the 2012 Summer Olympics.^[30]

References

1. "Profiles -> Alfred Hajos". Official website of the Olympic Movement. Retrieved 2008-09-05.
2. "Aquatics – Swimming". Official website of the Olympic Movement. Retrieved 2008-09-03.
3. "Swimming 50m freestyle Progression". Olympic and World Records. IOC. Retrieved 2008-08-15.
4. Jason Stallman (2008-08-11). "Phelps wins third gold". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-09-07.
5. "2012 London Olympics: Matt Grevers Sets Olympic Record in 100 Back Win; Nick Thoman Gives U.S. 1-2 Finish". Swimming World Magazine. 30 July 2012. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
6. http://www.london2012.com/swimming/event/men-200m-backstroke/index.html
7. "2012 London Olympics: Cameron van der Burgh's World Record Ends Kosuke Kitajima's Threepeat Bid in 100 Breast". Swimming World Magazine. 29 July 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
8. "2012 London Olympics: Hungary's Daniel Gyurta Breaks World Record in 200 Breast Victory; Kosuke Kitajima Misses Podium in Threepeat Bid; Scott Weltz, Clark Burckle Fifth-Sixth". Swimming World Magazine. 1 August 2012. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
9. "Swimming – 100m butterfly – Progression". Official website of the Olympic Movement. Retrieved 2008-09-07.
10. Jason Stallman (2008-08-12). "Phelps captures 4th gold of games". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-09-07.
11. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-08/15/content_9331583.htm
12. Abrahamson, Alan (2008-08-09). "One down for Phelps". NBC. Retrieved 2008-08-09.
13. "Lezak tracks down French in relay". NBC. Retrieved 2008-08-09.
14. http://deportespe.terra.com.pe/olympics2008/interna/0,,OI3085345-EI12185,00.html
15. Karen Crouse (2004-08-16). "Phelps’s epic journey ends in perfection". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-08-18.
16. "Women's 50m Freestyle Results". www.london2012.com. 4 August 2012. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
17. http://www.london2012.com/swimming/event=swimming-women-100m-freestyle/
18. "2012 London Olympics: Allison Schmitt Torches 200 Free With Olympic, American Record; Missy Franklin Misses Podium". Swimming World Magazine. 31 July 2012. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
19. "2012 London Olympics: Camille Muffat Pips Allison Schmitt With Olympic Record in Women's 400 Free". Swimming World Magazine. 29 July 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
20. "Adlington storms to second gold". BBC Sport. 2008-08-16. Retrieved 2008-09-07.
21. "Womens 200m Backstroke Results". www.london2012.com. 3 August 2012. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
22. "Swimming – 100m breaststroke – Progression". Official website of the Olympic Movement. Retrieved 2008-09-07.
23. Nicole Auerbach (2012-08-02). "Rebecca Soni sets world record in winning gold". USA Today. Retrieved 2012-08-02.
24. "2012 London Olympics: Dana Vollmer Clears 56-Second Barrier, Sets World Record in 100 Fly". Swimming World Magazine. 29 July 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
25. "Women's 200m Butterfly Results". www.london2012.com. 1 August 2012. Retrieved 4 August 2012.
26. "2012 London Olympics: Ye Shiwen Uses Superb Freestyle Leg to Power to IM Sweep With Olympic Record in 200 IM; Alicia Coutts, Caitlin Leverenz 2-3; Ariana Kukors Fifth". Swimming World Magazine. 31 July 2012. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
27. "Women's 400m Individual Medley Results". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2012-07-29.
28. "Women's 4x100m Freestyle Relay Results". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2012-07-29.
29. "Women's 4x200m freestyle Relay – Final". NBC. Retrieved 2012-08-01.
30. "Olympics 2008: Aquatics". The Guardian. Retrieved 2008-09-07.

External links