World record progression 100 metres freestyle explained

See main article: List of world records in swimming.

The first world record in the 100 metres freestyle in long course (50 metres) swimming was recognised by the International Swimming Federation (FINA) in 1905.[1] In the short course (25 metres) swimming events, the world's governing body recognizes world records since 3 March 1991.

Times have consistently dropped over the years due to better training techniques, new developments in the sport and swimwear changes (e.g. goggles were not widely used until the 1970s, providing for considerable expansion of practice/training time).

In the first four Olympics, competitions were not held in pools, but rather in open water (1896 – The Mediterranean Sea, 1900 – The Seine River, 1904 – an artificial lake, 1906 – The Mediterranean Sea). The 1904 Olympics freestyle race was the only one ever measured at 100 yards, instead of the usual 100 metres. A 100-metre pool was built for the 1908 Olympics and sat in the centre of the main stadium's track and field oval. The 1912 Olympics, held in the Stockholm harbour, marked the beginning of electronic timing.

Male swimmers wore full body suits up until the 1940s, which caused more drag in the water than their modern swim-wear counterparts. Also, over the years, pool designs have lessened the drag. Some design considerations allow for the reduction of swimming resistance making the pool faster. Namely, proper pool depth, elimination of currents, increased lane width, energy absorbing racing lane lines and gutters, and the use of other innovative hydraulic, acoustic and illumination designs.

In 2008, leading up to the Olympics, Speedo introduced a 50% Polyurethane suit dubbed LZR. Pure polyurethane suits from Arena (X-Glide), Adidas (Hydrofoil) and Italian suit manufacturer, Jaked were thought to be largely responsible for the multiple World Records in 2009 including at the 2009 World Aquatics Championships (dubbed the "Plastic Games"). FINA announced a ban on non-textile suits that took effect in January 2010.[2]

The 1924 Summer Olympics were the first to use the standard 50 metre pool with marked lanes. In the freestyle, swimmers originally dived from the pool walls, but diving blocks were eventually incorporated at the 1936 Summer Olympics. The tumble turn ("flip-turn") was developed by the 1950s.

Men

Long course

Swim was never ratified by FINA as a world record since Bernard wore an unapproved swimsuit.[3]

Short course

Women

Short course

|-

All-time top 25

Men long course

PosTimeSwimmerDateVenueRef
146.40 31 July 2024 Paris [5]
246.8613 August 2022 Rome [6]
346.91 30 July 2009 Rome
446.94 [7] 23 April 2009 Montpellier
546.96 25 July 2019 Gwangju
647.04 10 April 2016
747.05 13 August 2008 Beijing
847.08 25 July 2019 Gwangju
29 July 2021 Tokyo
18 June 2024 Indianapolis [8]
1047.10 19 March 2012 Adelaide
1147.11 28 July 2021 Tokyo [9]
1247.15 24 April 2009 Montpellier
1347.25 18 June 2024 Indianapolis [10]
1447.27 30 July 2009 Rome
1547.33 30 July 2009 Rome
18 June 2024 [11]
1747.37 30 July 2009 Rome
1847.39 31 July 2019 Stanford
1947.43 9 April 2019 Moscow
2047.45 19 May 2021 [12]
27 July 2023 Fukuoka
2247.47 13 August 2022 Rome [13]
2347.49 19 June 2024 Belgrade [14]
2447.51 11 August 2008 Beijing
2547.52 1 August 2012 London

Notes

Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 47.52:

Men short course

PosTimeSwimmerDateVenueRef
144.84 29 October 2021 [16]
244.94 13 December 2008 Rijeka
344.95 16 November 2018 [17]
445.04 5 December 2013 France
545.08 19 December 2009 Great Britain
22 November 2020 Budapest
745.36 11 December 2009 Istanbul
845.41 14 December 2022 Melbourne [18]
945.46 21 November 2009 Singapore
1045.51 10 December 2023 Otopeni [19]
1145.54 10 November 2009 Stockholm
1245.55 14 December 2022 Melbourne [20]
1345.56 14 November 2009 Great Britain
1445.58 7 November 2021 Kazan [21]
1545.60 7 August 2013 Netherlands
1645.63 21 December 2021 Abu Dhabi [22]
1745.64 15 December 2022 Melbourne [23]
1845.68 11 December 2009Turkey
1945.69 7 December 2008 France
2045.70 28 November 2021 [24]
2145.72 15 December 2022 Melbourne [25]
2245.74 19 December 2010 Dubai
19 October 2020 Budapest
2345.75 11 December 2009 Istanbul
2445.77 15 December 2022 Melbourne [26]
2545.78 6 August 2017 Germany

Notes

Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 45.78:

Women long course

PosTimeSwimmerDateVenueRef
151.71 23 July 2017 Budapest
251.96 30 July 2021 Tokyo [28]
352.02 8 October 2023 [29]
452.03 10 August 2018 Tokyo
552.04 26 July 2019 Gwangju
652.07 31 July 2009 Rome
752.08 23 July 2023 Fukuoka [30]
852.26 16 February 2024 [31]
952.27 9 April 2018 Gold Coast
1052.28 23 July 2023 [32]
1152.29 31 July 2024 [33]
1252.48 27 July 2024 [34]
1352.52 14 June 2024 [35]
1452.56 19 June 2024 Indianapolis [36]
1552.5923 July 2017 Budapest
30 July 2021 Tokyo
1752.62 26 July 2009 Rome
1852.69 5 April 2015 Eindhoven
28 July 2017 Budapest
2052.72 10 August 2018 Tokyo
2152.74 26 May 2018 Saint-Raphaël
2252.75 12 April 2012 Eindhoven
28 July 2021 Tokyo [37]
2452.76 16 June 2021 Adelaide
2552.79 18 November 2018 Tokyo

Notes

Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 52.79:

Women short course

PosTimeSwimmerDateVenueRef
150.25 26 October 2017 Australia
250.58 11 August 2017 Eindhoven
3 October 2021 Budapest [39]
450.79 4 December 2021 Eindhoven [40]
550.95 15 December 2017 Denmark
651.01 11 August 2009 Australia
751.16 10 November 2020 Budapest
851.19 22 November 2009 Singapore
951.25 15 December 2022 Melbourne [41]
1051.26 10 November 2020 Budapest
1151.29 17 November 2018 Singapore
1251.35 11 December 2009 Istanbul
1351.40 25 August 2022 Sydney [42]
1451.4331 October 2020 Budapest
15 November 2020 Budapest
21 November 2020 Budapest [43]
22 November 2020 Budapest
1551.44 17 September 2021 Naples [44]
1651.45 14 December 2018 Great Britain
12 December 2019 France
1751.47 17 November 2019 Sweden
1851.50 25 August 2022 Sydney
1951.58 9 October 2016 Qatar
2051.62 14 January 2018 Japan
2151.63 15 December 2017 Denmark
13 December 2018 Hangzhou
2351.65 5 December 2014 Doha
15 December 2017 Denmark
21 November 2020 Budapest

Notes

Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 51.65:

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Swimming World Record progression – Men 100 m freestyle. 8 July 2004. International Olympic Committee. https://web.archive.org/web/20070926232546/http://multimedia.olympic.org/pdf/en_report_212.pdf. 26 September 2007.
  2. News: Hi-tech suits banned from January. BBC News. 2009-07-31 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120714234913/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/swimming/8161867.stm. 14 July 2012. 1 July 2012. bot: unknown.
  3. Web site: June 22, 2009 . Alain Bernard stripped of 100m freestyle world record because of swimsuit . February 16, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240216213500/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/swimming/5604748/Alain-Bernard-stripped-of-100m-freestyle-world-record-because-of-swimsuit.html. February 16, 2024 . cbsnews.com.
  4. Web site: Men's 100m Freestyle Long Course All-Time Ranking. FINA. 19 October 2021. 19 October 2021.
  5. Web site: Men's 100m Freestyle Final Results. olympics.com. 31 July 2024. 31 July 2024.
  6. Web site: Men's 100m Freestyle Final Results. Microplus Informatica. 13 August 2022. 1 September 2022.
  7. Officially, Alain Bernard's best time is 47.12
  8. Web site: Men's 100m Freestyle Heats Results Summary. Omega Timing. 18 June 2024. 18 June 2024.
  9. Web site: Men's 100m Freestyle Semifinals Results. olympics.com. 28 July 2021. 11 August 2021. 28 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210728014729/https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/olympic-games/resOG2020-/pdf/OG2020-/SWM/OG2020-_SWM_C74A_SWMM100MFR------------SFNL--------.pdf. dead.
  10. Web site: Men's 100m Freestyle Semifinal Results Summary. Omega Timing. 18 June 2024. 18 June 2024.
  11. Web site: Men's 100m Freestyle Final Results. liveffn.com. 18 June 2024. 19 June 2024.
  12. Web site: Men's 100m Freestyle Final Results. microplustiming.com. 19 May 2021. 13 June 2021.
  13. Web site: Men's 100m Freestyle Final Results. Microplus Informatica. 13 August 2022. 1 September 2022.
  14. Web site: Men's 100m Freestyle Final Results. 19 June 2024. 20 June 2024.
  15. Web site: Men's 100m Freestyle Short Course All-Time Ranking. World Aquatics. 10 December 2023.
  16. [FINA]
  17. [FINA]
  18. Web site: Men's 100m Freestyle Final Results. Omega Timing. 15 December 2022. 18 December 2022.
  19. Web site: Men's 100m Freestyle Final Results. Omega Timing. 10 December 2023. 12 December 2023.
  20. Web site: Men's 100m Freestyle Semi-Finals Results. Omega Timing. 14 December 2022. 18 December 2022.
  21. Web site: Men's 100m Freestyle Final Results. microplustiming.com. 7 November 2021. 25 November 2021.
  22. Web site: Men's 100m Freestyle Final Results. Omega Timing. 21 December 2021. 21 December 2021.
  23. Web site: Men's 100m Freestyle Final Results. Omega Timing. 15 December 2022. 18 December 2022.
  24. [International Swimming League|ISL]
  25. Web site: Men's 100m Freestyle Final Results. Omega Timing. 15 December 2022. 18 December 2022.
  26. Web site: Men's 100m Freestyle Final Results. Omega Timing. 15 December 2022. 18 December 2022.
  27. Web site: Women's 100m Freestyle Long Course All-Time Ranking. FINA. 19 October 2021. 19 October 2021.
  28. Web site: Women's 100m Freestyle Final Results. olympics.com. 30 July 2021. 9 August 2021. 19 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210819080448/https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/olympic-games/resOG2020-/pdf/OG2020-/SWM/OG2020-_SWM_C73A1_SWMW100MFR------------FNL-000100--.pdf. dead.
  29. Web site: Women's 100m Freestyle Final Results. Omega Timing. 8 October 2023. 9 October 2023.
  30. Web site: Women's 4x100m Freestyle Relay Final Results. Omega Timing. 23 July 2023. 24 July 2023.
  31. Web site: Women's 100m Freestyle Final Results. Omega Timing. 16 February 2024. 17 February 2024.
  32. Web site: Women's 4×100m Freestyle Relay Heats Results. Omega Timing. 23 July 2023. 23 July 2023.
  33. Web site: Women's 100m Freestyle Final Results. olympics.com. 31 July 2024. 31 July 2024.
  34. Web site: Women's 4x100m Freestyle Relay Final Results. olympics.com. 27 July 2024. 28 July 2024.
  35. Web site: Women's 100m Freestyle Heats Results. swimming.org.au. 14 June 2024. 14 June 2024.
  36. Web site: Women's 100m Freestyle Final Results. Omega Timing. 19 June 2023. 19 June 2023.
  37. Web site: Women's 100m Freestyle Heats Results. olympics.com. 28 July 2021. 9 August 2021. 28 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210728110520/https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/olympic-games/resOG2020-/pdf/OG2020-/SWM/OG2020-_SWM_C74A_SWMW100MFR------------HEAT--------.pdf. dead.
  38. Web site: Women's 100m Freestyle Short Course All-Time Ranking. World Aquatics. 8 December 2023.
  39. Web site: Women's 100m Freestyle Results. Omega Timing. 9 October 2021. 20 October 2021.
  40. Web site: Women's 100m Freestyle Results. Omega Timing. 4 December 2021. 5 December 2021.
  41. Web site: Women's 100m Freestyle Final Results. Omega Timing. 15 December 2022. 18 December 2022.
  42. Web site: Women's 100m Freestyle Results. Swimming Australia. 25 August 2022. 18 September 2022.
  43. Web site: Women's 4 × 100 m Freestyle Relay Results. omegatiming.com. 21 November 2020. 25 April 2021.
  44. Web site: Women's 100m Freestyle Results. omegatiming.com. 17 September 2021. 30 September 2021.

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