This is a history of the 100 m backstroke world record as swum in both long-course (50 m; Olympic) pools and short-course (25 m) pools—the two categories recognized/tracked by FINA .
Graphic data for World Record Progression in Men and Women Swimming 50m-100m-200m Long and Short Course Butterfly-Backstroke-Breaststroke-Freestyle Long course [ edit ] # Time Name Nationality Date Meet Location Ref 1 1:02.2 David Theile Australia 6 December 1956 Olympic Games Melbourne , Australia 2 1:01.5 John Monckton Australia 15 February 1958 Australian Championships Perth , Australia 3 1:01.3 Bob Bennett United States 19 August 1961 Men’s NAAA Championships Los Angeles , United States 4 1:01.0 h Tom Stock United States 11 August 1962 - Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio , United States 5 1:00.9 Tom Stock United States 12 August 1962 - Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio , United States 6 1:00.8 Ernst-Joachim Küppers West Germany 28 August 1964 - Dortmund , West Germany 7 1:00.0 Thompson Mann United States 3 September 1964 - New York City , United States 8 59.6 r Thompson Mann United States 16 October 1964 Olympic Games Tokyo , Japan 9 59.5 h Doug Russell United States 28 August 1967 Summer Universiade Tokyo , Japan 10 59.3 Charlie Hickcox United States 28 August 1967 Summer Universiade Tokyo , Japan 11 59.1 Charlie Hickcox United States 31 August 1967 Summer Universiade Tokyo , Japan 12 58.4 Roland Matthes East Germany 21 September 1967 - Leipzig , East Germany 13 58.0 Roland Matthes East Germany 26 October 1968 Olympic Games Mexico City , Mexico 14 57.8 Roland Matthes East Germany 23 August 1969 - Würzburg , West Germany 15 56.9 h Roland Matthes East Germany 8 September 1970 European Championships Barcelona , Spain 16 56.7 Roland Matthes East Germany 4 September 1971 - Leipzig , East Germany 17 56.3 Roland Matthes East Germany 8 April 1972 - Moscow , Soviet Union 17 56.30 =, r Roland Matthes East Germany 4 September 1972 Olympic Games Munich , West Germany 18 56.19 sf John Naber United States 18 July 1976 Olympic Games Montreal , Canada 19 55.49 John Naber United States 19 July 1976 Olympic Games Montreal , Canada 20 55.44 h Rick Carey United States 6 August 1983 US National Championships Clovis, California , United States 21 55.38 Rick Carey United States 6 August 1983 US National Championships Clovis, California , United States 22 55.19 Rick Carey United States 21 August 1983 Pan American Games Caracas , Venezuela 23 55.17 h Igor Polyansky Soviet Union 15 March 1988 - Tallinn , Soviet Union 24 55.16 Igor Polyansky Soviet Union 16 March 1988 - Tallinn , Soviet Union 25 55.00 Igor Polyansky Soviet Union 16 July 1988 USSR National Championships Moscow , Soviet Union 26 54.95 h David Berkoff United States 12 August 1988 US Olympic Trials Austin, Texas , United States 27 54.91 David Berkoff United States 12 August 1988 US Olympic Trials Austin, Texas , United States 28 54.51 h David Berkoff United States 16 September 1988 Olympic Games Seoul , South Korea 29 53.93 Jeff Rouse United States 25 August 1991 Pan Pacific Championships Edmonton , Canada 30 53.86 r Jeff Rouse United States 31 July 1992 Olympic Games Barcelona , Spain 31 53.60 Lenny Krayzelburg United States 24 August 1999 Pan Pacific Championships Sydney , Australia 32 53.45 r Aaron Peirsol United States 21 August 2004 Olympic Games Athens , Greece 33 53.17 Aaron Peirsol United States 2 April 2005 US Spring National Championships Indianapolis , United States 34 52.98 Aaron Peirsol United States 27 March 2007 World Championships Melbourne , Australia 35 52.89 Aaron Peirsol United States 1 July 2008 US Olympic Trials Omaha, Nebraska , United States 36 52.54 Aaron Peirsol United States 12 Aug 2008 Olympic Games Beijing , China 37 52.38 r Aschwin Wildeboer Spain 1 July 2009 Mediterranean Games Pescara , Italy 38 51.94 Aaron Peirsol United States 8 July 2009 US National Championships Indianapolis , United States 39 51.85 r Ryan Murphy United States 13 Aug 2016 Olympic Games Rio de Janeiro , Brazil 40 51.60 Thomas Ceccon Italy 20 June 2022 World Championships Budapest , Hungary
Short course [ edit ] Time Swimmer[1] Date Place 52.71 [2] Mark Tewksbury March 16, 1991 Bonn , Germany 52.58 [2] Mark Tewksbury March 29, 1991 Sheffield , Great Britain 52.52 [2] Mark Tewksbury February 20, 1992 Winnipeg , Canada 52.50 Mark Tewksbury February 22, 1992 Winnipeg , Canada 51.43 Jeff Rouse April 12, 1993 Sheffield , Great Britain 51.28 Lenny Krayzelburg February 5, 2000 Berlin, Germany[3] 50.75 Neil Walker March 19, 2000 Athens , Greece 50.58 Thomas Rupprath December 8, 2002 Melbourne , Australia 50.32 Peter Marshall March 26, 2004 New York City, United States 49.99 Ryan Lochte April 9, 2006 Shanghai , China 49.94 Peter Marshall November 11, 2008 Stockholm , Sweden 49.63 Peter Marshall November 15, 2008 Berlin, Germany 49.32 Stanislav Donets December 14, 2008 Rijeka , Croatia 49.20 Aschwin Wildeboer December 21, 2008 Madrid , Spain 49.17 Arkady Vyatchanin December 12, 2009 Istanbul, Turkey 48.97 Arkady Vyatchanin Stanislav Donets December 13, 2009 Istanbul, Turkey 48.94 (r) Nick Thoman December 18, 2009 Manchester, England 48.92 [4] Matt Grevers December 12, 2015 Indianapolis , USA 48.90 [5] Kliment Kolesnikov December 22, 2017 Saint Petersburg , RUS 48.88 [6] Xu Jiayu November 11, 2018 Tokyo, JPN 48.58 [7] Kliment Kolesnikov November 21, 2020 Budapest , HUN 48.33 [8] Coleman Stewart August 29, 2021 Naples , Italy
Long course [ edit ] Time Swimmer Date Meet Place 1:07.7 Cathy Ferguson October 14, 1964 Olympic Games Tokyo, Japan 1:07.4 Ann Farlie July 23, 1966 Béziers , France 1:07.3 Elaine Tanner July 27, 1967 Winnipeg , Canada 1:07.1 Elaine Tanner July 30, 1967 Winnipeg , Canada 1:06.7 Karen Muir January 30, 1968 Kimberley , South Africa 1:06.4 Karen Muir April 6, 1968 Paris, France 1:06.2 Kaye Hall October 23, 1968 Olympic Games Mexico City , Mexico 1:05.6 Karen Muir July 6, 1969 Utrecht , Netherlands 1:05.39 Ulrike Richter August 18, 1973 Utrecht , Netherlands 1:04.99 (r) Ulrike Richter September 4, 1973 World Championships Belgrade , Yugoslavia 1:04.78 (r) Wendy Cook January 31, 1974 Commonwealth Games Christchurch , New Zealand 1:04.43 Ulrike Richter July 8, 1974 Rostock , East Germany 1:04.09 Ulrike Richter August 22, 1974 Vienna , Austria 1:03.30 Ulrike Richter August 23, 1974 Vienna , Austria 1:02.98 Ulrike Richter September 1, 1974 Concord, California , USA 1:02.60 Ulrike Richter March 14, 1976 Tallinn , USSR 1:01.62 Kornelia Ender June 3, 1976 Berlin, East Germany 1:01.51 (r) Ulrike Richter June 5, 1976 Berlin, East Germany[9] 1:01.51 (e) Rica Reinisch July 20, 1980 Olympic Games Moscow, USSR 1:01.50 Rica Reinisch July 22, 1980 Olympic Games Moscow, USSR 1:00.86 Rica Reinisch July 23, 1980 Olympic Games Moscow, USSR 1:00.59 (r) Ina Kleber August 24, 1984 Friendship Games Moscow, USSR 1:00.31 Krisztina Egerszegi August 22, 1991 European Championships Athens , Greece 1:00.16 (r) He Cihong September 10, 1994 World Championships Rome, Italy 59.58 Natalie Coughlin August 13, 2002 U.S. National Swimming Championships Fort Lauderdale, Florida , USA 59.44 Natalie Coughlin March 27, 2007 World Championships Melbourne , Australia 59.21 Natalie Coughlin February 17, 2008 Missouri Grand Prix Columbia, Missouri , United States 59.15 Hayley McGregory June 30, 2008 USA Olympic Trials Omaha, Nebraska , United States 59.03 Natalie Coughlin June 30, 2008 USA Olympic Trials Omaha, Nebraska , United States 58.97 Natalie Coughlin July 1, 2008 USA Olympic Trials Omaha, Nebraska , United States 58.77 Kirsty Coventry August 11, 2008 Olympic Games Beijing, China 58.48 Anastasia Zuyeva July 27, 2009 World Championships Rome, Italy 58.12 Gemma Spofforth July 28, 2009 World Championships Rome, Italy 58.10 Kylie Masse July 25, 2017 World Championships Budapest , Hungary 58.00 Kathleen Baker July 28, 2018 USA Championships Irvine, California , United States 57.57 (r) Regan Smith July 28, 2019 World Championships Gwangju , South Korea 57.45 Kaylee McKeown June 13, 2021 Australian Trials Adelaide , Australia 57.33 Kaylee McKeown October 21, 2023 World Cup Budapest , Hungary
Short course [ edit ] Time Swimmer[10] Date Place 59.41 Angel Martino November 21, 1993 Stavanger , Norway 58.50 Angel Martino December 3, 1993 Palma de Mallorca , Spain 58.45 Reiko Nakamura March 4, 2001 Sagamihara , Japan 57.08 Natalie Coughlin November 29, 2001 East Meadow, New York , United States 56.71 Natalie Coughlin November 23, 2002 East Meadow, New York, United States[11] 56.51 Natalie Coughlin October 28, 2007 Singapore 56.15 Shiho Sakai February 22, 2009 Tokyo, Japan 55.23 Shiho Sakai November 15, 2009 Berlin, Germany 55.03 Katinka Hosszú December 4, 2014 Doha , Qatar 54.89 Minna Atherton October 27, 2019 Budapest , Hungary
All-time top 25 [ edit ] Men long course [ edit ] Correct as of April 2024[12] Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 52.70:
Thomas Ceccon also swam 51.93 (2022), 52.12 (2022), 52.16 (2023), 52.21 (2022), 52.27 (2023, 2023), 52.30 (2021), 52.49 (2021), 52.52 (2021), 52.58 (2023). Ryan Murphy also swam 51.94 (2018), 51.97 (2016, 2022), 52.04 (2023), 52.19 (2018, 2021), 52.22 (2021, 2023), 52.24 (2021), 52.26 (2016), 52.28 (2016), 52.31 (2021), 52.33 (2021), 52.39 (2023), 52.44 (2019), 52.46 (2022), 52.49 (2016), 52.51 (2018, 2022), 52.56 (2023), 52.57 (2016), 52.59 (2017), 52.69 (2017), 52.70 (2018). Kliment Kolesnikov also swam 52.00 (2021), 52.13 (2021), 52.15 (2021), 52.24 (2021), 52.29 (2021), 52.32 (2021), 52.42 (2021), 52.44 (2021), 52.53 (2018), 52.54 (2023), 52.63 (2021). Xu Jiayu also swam 52.05 (2023), 52.17 (2019), 52.23 (2023), 52.26 (2023), 52.27 (2019), 52.31 (2016), 52.34 (2014, 2018), 52.37 (2020), 52.42 (2023), 52.43 (2019), 52.44 (2017, 2017), 52.47 (2023), 52.51 (2021), 52.60 (2017, 2018, 2020), 52.64 (2023), 52.70 (2021). Evgeny Rylov also swam 52.12 (2021), 52.44 (2019), 52.57 (2019), 52.66 (2018), 52.67 (2018, 2019). Matt Grevers also swam 52.16 (2012), 52.26 (2017), 52.48 (2017), 52.54 (2015), 52.55 (2015), 52.58 (2012), 52.64 (2016), 52.66 (2012, 2015). Aaron Peirsol also swam 52.19 (2009), 52.54 (2008). Hunter Armstrong also swam 52.20 (2022), 52.33 (2023), 52.37 (2022), 52.45 (2023), 52.48 (2021), 52.58 (2023), 52.59 (2023), 52.67 (2021), 52.68 (2023, 2024). Apostolos Christou also swam 52.24 (2022), 52.57 (2022). Mitch Larkin also swam 52.26 (2015), 52.37 (2015), 52.38 (2015, 2019), 52.40 (2015), 52.41 (2015), 52.43 (2016), 52.48 (2015, 2016), 52.50 (2015), 52.54 (2016), 52.70 (2016). David Plummer also swam 52.28 (2016), 52.40 (2016, 2016), 52.50 (2016), 52.51 (2015), 52.70 (2016). Ryosuke Irie also swam 52.34 (2014), 52.45 (2014), 52.50 (2009, 2009), 52.53 (2018, 2018), 52.56 (2009), 52.57 (2014), 52.59 (2020), 52.60 (2009), 52.61 (2018), 52.62 (2009), 52.69 (2014). Junya Koga also swam 52.39 (2009). Camille Lacourt also swam 52.44 (2011), 52.46 (2010), 52.48 (2015), 52.58 (2010), 52.70 (2015, 2016). Helge Meeuw also swam 52.46 (2009), 52.49 (2009), 52.54 (2009). Miron Lifintsev also swam 52.62 (2024). Aschwin Wildeboer also swam 52.64 (2009), 52.70 (2009). Men short course [ edit ] Correct as of November 2023[22] Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 49.62:
Kliment Kolesnikov also swam 48.82 (2020), 48.90 (2017), 49.12 (2023), 49.13 (2021), 49.22 (2023), 49.46 (2021), 49.47 (2021), 49.57 (2021). Evgeny Rylov also swam 48.94 (2021), 48.98 (2021), 49.58 (2021). Coleman Stewart also swam 49.13 (2021), 49.62 (2021). Ryan Murphy also swam 49.23 (2018), 49.29 (2020), 49.36 (2020), 49.49 (2021), 49.51 (2021), 49.61 (2021). Shaine Casas also swam 49.23 (2021), 49.40 (2022), 49.54 (2022), 49.57 (2021). Guilherme Guido also swam 49.29 (2021), 49.39 (2021), 49.40 (2020), 49.45 (2021), 49.59 (2020). Lorenzo Mora also swam 49.37 (2022). Mark Nikolaev also swam 49.40 (2021), 49.43 (2021). Robert Glință also swam 49.60 (2021). Women long course [ edit ] Correct as of April 2024[35] Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 58.80:
Kaylee McKeown also swam 57.45 (2021), 57.47 (2021), 57.50 (2023), 57.53 (2023), 57.57 (2024), 57.63 (2021, 2023), 57.79 (2023), 57.84 (2023), 57.88 (2021), 57.90 (2023), 57.91 (2023), 57.93 (2020, 2023), 57.95 (2023), 58.01 (2021), 58.11 (2020, 2021), 58.14 (2021), 58.19 (2024), 58.31 (2022), 58.33 (2023), 58.35 (2022), 58.42 (2021), 58.48 (2023), 58.49 (2022), 58.52 (2020), 58.57 (2021), 58.60 (2021, 2022), 58.66 (2022), 58.69 (2021), 58.73 (2022), 58.77 (2022), 58.79 (2022). Regan Smith also swam 57.64 (2024), 57.65 (2022), 57.68 (2023), 57.71 (2023), 57.74 (2024), 57.76 (2022), 57.78 (2023), 57.83 (2023), 57.86 (2021), 57.90 (2023), 57.92 (2021, 2023), 57.95 (2022), 57.96 (2021), 58.04 (2023), 58.05 (2021, 2021), 58.16 (2023), 58.18 (2020), 58.22 (2022), 58.26 (2020), 58.29 (2022), 58.31 (2022), 58.33 (2023), 58.35 (2021, 2021), 58.40 (2022), 58.45 (2019), 58.47 (2023, 2023), 58.54 (2023), 58.55 (2019), 58.63 (2023), 58.65 (2022), 58.68 (2019), 58.69 (2021), 58.75 (2024), 58.77 (2021), 58.79 (2020). Kylie Masse also swam 57.72 (2021), 57.90 (2021), 58.09 (2021), 58.10 (2017), 58.13 (2021), 58.16 (2019), 58.17 (2021), 58.18 (2017), 58.19 (2019), 58.21 (2017), 58.29 (2018), 58.31 (2017), 58.39 (2022), 58.40 (2022), 58.41 (2022), 58.42 (2017), 58.48 (2021, 2022), 58.50 (2019), 58.54 (2018), 58.57 (2022, 2022), 58.60 (2019), 58.61 (2018), 58.62 (2017), 58.63 (2018, 2018), 58.66 (2016, 2018), 58.70 (2018), 58.73 (2022), 58.74 (2023), 58.76 (2016), 58.77 (2016). Kathleen Dawson also swam 58.24 (2021), 58.44 (2021), 58.49 (2021), 58.56 (2021), 58.65 (2021), 58.69 (2021), 58.70 (2021). Katharine Berkoff also swam 58.25 (2023), 58.39 (2023), 58.56 (2023), 58.60 (2023), 58.61 (2022, 2023), 58.62 (2021), 58.77 (2024). Emily Seebohm also swam 58.26 (2015), 58.34 (2015), 58.37 (2015), 58.39 (2012), 58.45 (2021), 58.51 (2015), 58.53 (2017), 58.56 (2015), 58.57 (2012), 58.59 (2015, 2017, 2021, 2021), 58.62 (2017), 58.66 (2018), 58.68 (2012), 58.70 (2015), 58.72 (2015, 2018), 58.73 (2016), 58.79 (2013, 2018). Claire Curzan also swam 58.35 (2023), 58.39 (2023), 58.59 (2023), 58.67 (2022), 58.73 (2022, 2024). Missy Franklin also swam 58.39 (2013), 58.42 (2013), 58.50 (2012), 58.67 (2013). Kathleen Baker also swam 58.41 (2018), 58.54 (2017), 58.56 (2020), 58.57 (2017), 58.58 (2017), 58.75 (2016), 58.77 (2018). Mollie O'Callaghan also swam 58.42 (2023, 2023). Rhyan White also swam 58.46 (2021), 58.59 (2022), 58.60 (2021). Anastasia Fesikova also swam 58.48 (2009). Olivia Smoliga also swam 58.50 (2021), 58.72 (2021), 58.73 (2019), 58.75 (2018), 58.77 (2017), 58.79 (2019). Kira Toussaint also swam 58.73 (2021), 58.74 (2021). Gemma Spofforth also swam 58.74 (2009), 58.78 (2009). Mie Nielsen also swam 58.75 (2016), 58.80 (2016). Fu Yuanhui also swam 58.76 (2016). Katinka Hosszú also swam 58.78 (2015), 58.80 (2017). Women short course [ edit ] Correct as of December 2023[43] Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 55.97:
Minna Atherton also swam 55.09 (2019), 55.12 (2019), 55.29 (2019), 55.35 (2019), 55.43 (2019), 55.45 (2019), 55.55 (2019). Kira Toussaint also swam 55.26 (2019), 55.42 (2021), 55.53 (2021), 55.58 (2019), 55.68 (2020), 55.71 (2019), 55.72 (2021), 55.74 (2019), 55.76 (2021), 55.79 (2021), 55.88 (2023), 55.90 (2020), 55.92 (2018), 55.94 (2020), 55.95 (2021). Katinka Hosszú also swam 55.34 (2014), 55.38 (2014), 55.42 (2015), 55.52 (2017), 55.54 (2016), 55.56 (2014), 55.59 (2016), 55.60 (2016), 55.65 (2017), 55.66 (2017), 55.70 (2014), 55.71 (2015), 55.77 (2014), 55.80 (2016), 55.93 (2016)). Emily Seebohm also swam 55.46 (2015), 55.47 (2014), 55.81 (2018). Olivia Smoliga also swam 55.47 (2018), 55.60 (2020), 55.62 (2020), 55.66 (2020), 55.86 (2018), 55.92 (2020), 55.97 (2019). Kaylee McKeown also swam 55.68 (2020), 55.74 (2022), 55.81 (2022). Ingrid Wilm also swam 55.68 (2021), 55.74 (2022), 55.92 (2022), 55.94 (2021). Gao Chang also swam 55.72 (2009). Kylie Masse also swam 55.76 (2021), 55.83 (2021), 55.95 (2021). Mollie O'Callaghan also swam 55.80 (2022), 55.81 (2022). Louise Hansson also swam 55.85 (2021), 55.89 (2022). Beata Nelson also swam 55.90 (2022). Katharine Berkoff also swam 55.92 (2021). References [ edit ]