World record progression 200 metres butterfly explained

See main article: List of world records in swimming.

This is a history of the progression of the World Record for the Swimming event: the 200 Butterfly. It is a listing of the fastest-time-ever swum in the event, in both long course (50m) and short course (25m) swimming pool. These records are maintained/recognized by FINA, which oversees international competitive Aquatics.

The long course records are historically older than the short course records: the long course records go back to at least the 1950s, whereas the short course marks having only been recognized since the early 1990s.

Men

Short course

Time	Swimmer	Date	Place
1:54.67	Franck Esposito	February 1, 1992	Paris, France
1:54.58	Danyon Loader	February 6, 1993	Paris, France
1:54.50	Danyon Loader	February 9, 1993	Malmö, Sweden
1:54.21	Danyon Loader	February 13, 1993	Gelsenkirchen, Germany
1:53.05	Franck Esposito	March 26, 1994	Paris, France
1:52.64	Denis Pankratov	February 2, 1997	Gelsenkirchen, Germany
1:51.76	James Hickman	March 28, 1998	Paris, France
1:51.58	Franck Esposito	January 14, 2001	Antibes, France
1:51.21	Thomas Rupprath	December 1, 2001	Rostock, Germany
1:50.73	Franck Esposito	December 8, 2002	Antibes, France
1:50.60	Nikolay Skvortsov	December 13, 2008	Rijeka, Croatia
1:50.53	Nikolay Skvortsov	February 15, 2009	Saint Petersburg, Russia
1:49.11	Kaio de Almeida	November 10, 2009	Stockholm, Sweden
1:49.04	Chad le Clos	August 7, 2013	Eindhoven, Netherlands
1:48.56	Chad le Clos	November 5, 2013	Singapore, Singapore
1:48.24	Daiya Seto	December 11, 2018	Hangzhou, China
1:46.85	Tomoru Honda	October 22, 2022	Tokyo, Japan

Women

Short course

Time	Swimmer	Date	Place
2:05.37	Susie O'Neill	February 17, 1999	Malmö, Sweden
2:04.43	Susie O'Neill	September 2, 1999	Canberra, Australia
2:04.16	Susie O'Neill	January 18, 2000	Sydney, Australia
2:04.04	Yang Yu	January 18, 2004	Berlin, Germany
2:03.53	Otylia Jędrzejczak	December 13, 2007	Debrecen, Hungary
2:03.12	Yuko Nakanishi	February 23, 2008	Tokyo, Japan
2:02.50	Liu Zige	November 11, 2009	Stockholm, Sweden
2:00.78	Liu Zige	November 15, 2009	Berlin, Germany
1:59.61	Mireia Belmonte	December 3, 2014	Doha, Qatar

All-time top 25

Men long course

• Correct as of July 2024^[1]

Pos	Time	Swimmer	Date	Venue	Ref
1	1:50.34		21 June 2022		^[2]
2	1:51.21		31 July 2024		^[3]
3	1:51.51		29 July 2009	Rome
4	1:52.53		18 January 2020	Beijing
5	1:52.70		13 August 2008	Beijing
			3 December 2022	Tokyo	^[4]
7	1:52.80		31 July 2024	Paris	^[5]
8	1:52.96		31 July 2012	London
9	1:52.97		13 August 2008	Beijing
10	1:53.23		29 July 2009	Rome
11	1:53.40		9 August 2016	Rio de Janeiro
12	1:53.42		27 March 2019	Debrecen
13	1:53.62		26 July 2023	Fukuoka	^[6]
14	1:53.64		8 July 2009	Indianapolis
15	1:53.67		7 July 2022	Austin
16	1:53.79		6 April 2018	Tokyo
17	1:53.82		26 July 2023	Fukuoka	^[7]
18	1:53.84		14 June 2019	Clovis
19	1:53.86		2 July 2008	Omaha
20	1:53.92		8 May 2009	Rio de Janeiro
21	1:54.07		21 March 2024	Tokyo	^[8]
22	1:54.10		5 August 2015	Kazan
23	1:54.14		30 July 2024	Paris	^[9]
			31 July 2024	Paris	^[10]
24	1:54.15		4 April 2009	Christchurch
25	1:54.16		6 May 2023	Hangzhou	^[11]

Notes

Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 1:54.16:

• Kristóf Milák also swam 1:50.73 (2019), 1:51.10 (2021), 1:51.25 (2021), 1:51.40 (2021), 1:51.75 (2024), 1:52.01 (2022), 1:52.22 (2021), 1:52.39 (2022), 1:52.50 (2021), 1:52.58 (2023), 1:52.71 (2018), 1:52.72 (2024), 1:52.79 (2018), 1:52.96 (2019), 1:53.18 (2021), 1:53.19 (2019), 1:53.58 (2021), 1:53.64 (2019), 1:53.75 (2019), 1:53.79 (2017), 1:53.87 (2017), 1:53.88 (2022), 1:53.89 (2022), 1:53.92 (2024), 1:53.94 (2018, 2024), 1:53.97 (2022), 1:54.10 (2022).
• Michael Phelps also swam 1:52.03 (2008), 1:52.09 (2007), 1:52.20 (2008), 1:52.76 (2009), 1:52.94 (2015) 1:53.01 (2012), 1:53.31 (2008), 1:53.34 (2011), 1:53.36 (2016), 1:53.48 (2009), 1:53.65 (2012), 1:53.70 (2008, 2008), 1:53.71 (2007), 1:53.80 (2006), 1:53.93 (2003), 1:54.02 (2008), 1:54.04 (2004), 1:54.11 (2010), 1:54.12 (2016).
• Léon Marchand also swam 1:52.43 (2023), 1:53.37 (2022), 1:53.50 (2024), 1:54.08 (2024).
• László Cseh also swam 1:52.91 (2016), 1:53.48 (2015), 1:53.53 (2015), 1:53.71 (2015), 1:53.72 (2017), 1:54.08 (2017).
• Tomoru Honda also swam 1:53.15 (2023), 1:53.30 (2023), 1:53.33 (2024), 1:53.34 (2023), 1:53.53 (2022), 1:53.61 (2022), 1:53.63 (2023), 1:53.66 (2023), 1:53.73 (2021), 1:53.76 (2023), 1:53.87 (2022), 1:53.88 (2024), 1:53.99 (2023), 1:54.01 (2022), 1:54.04 (2022), 1:54.06 (2022).
• Takeshi Matsuda also swam 1:53.21 (2012), 1:53.32 (2009), 1:53.35 (2009), 1:53.87 (2009), 1:54.01 (2011, 2012), 1:54.02 (2008, 2010), 1:54.12 (2011).
• Chad le Clos also swam 1:53.33 (2017), 1:53.68 (2015), 1:54.00 (2018), 1:54.06 (2016), 1:54.15 (2019), 1:54.18 (2015).
• Tamás Kenderesi also swam 1:53.62 (2016), 1:53.96 (2016), 1:54.14 (2018).
• Masato Sakai also swam 1:53.71 (2017).
• Paweł Korzeniowski also swam 1:53.75 (2009).
• Ilya Kharun also swam 1:53.82 (2023), 1:54.01 (2024), 1:54.06 (2024).
• Carson Foster also swam 1:53.85 (2023).
• Daiya Seto also swam 1:53.86 (2019), 1:54.03 (2017), 1:54.08 (2014), 1:54.14 (2016, 2016).
• Nao Horomura also swam 1:53.90 (2017).
• Krzysztof Chmielewski also swam 1:53.90 (2023).
• Luca Urlando also swam 1:54.10 (2022).

Men short course

• Correct as of December 2023^[12]

Pos	Time	Swimmer	Date	Venue	Ref
1	1:46.85		22 October 2022	Tokyo	^[13]
2	1:48.24		11 December 2018	Hangzhou
3	1:48.27		15 December 2022	Melbourne	^[14]
4	1:48.66		22 November 2020	Budapest
5	1:49.00		6 December 2015	Netanya
6	1:49.06		16 December 2021	Abu Dhabi	^[15]
7	1:49.11		10 November 2009	Sweden
8	1:49.42		15 December 2022	Melbourne	^[16]
9	1:49.46		12 December 2009	Istanbul
10	1:49.50		12 November 2011	Japan
11	1:49.61		28 October 2022	Beijing	^[17]
12	1:49.69		29 October 2022	Toronto	^[18]
13	1:49.86		16 November 2022	Kaposvár	^[19]
14	1:49.89		16 November 2020	Budapest
15	1:50.13		12 December 2009	Istanbul
16	1:50.23		8 December 2019	Glasgow
17	1:50.26		15 December 2022	Melbourne	^[20]
18	1:50.28		11 February 2012	Japan
19	1:50.32		12 December 2009	Istanbul
20	1:50.39		11 December 2018	Hangzhou
21	1:50.46		21 December 2019	Las Vegas
22	1:50.51		17 October 2020	Japan
			15 December 2022	Melbourne	^[21]
24	1:50.54		17 December 2017	Copenhagen
25	1:50.62		19 September 2021	Naples	^[22]

Notes

Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 1:50.62:

• Chad le Clos also swam 1:48.56 (2013), 1:48.57 (2020), 1:48.61 (2014), 1:48.67 (2017), 1:48.76 (2016), 1:48.88 (2014), 1:49.04 (2013), 1:49.07 (2013), 1:49.08 (2017), 1:49.10 (2016), 1:49.20 (2014), 1:49.25 (2017), 1:49.33 (2016), 1:49.59 (2017), 1:49.71 (2016), 1:49.73 (2014, 2014), 1:49.78 (2022), 1:49.82 (2016), 1:49.83 (2013), 1:49.84 (2021), 1:49.89 (2022), 1:49.90 (2013), 1:49.93 (2016), 1:49.95 (2016), 1:49.98 (2022), 1:50.15 (2011), 1:50.24 (2020), 1:50.28 (2017, 2020), 1:50.29 (2016, 2018), 1:50.32 (2021), 1:50.33 (2013), 1:50.35 (2016), 1:50.39 (2013), 1:50.48 (2020), 1:50.57 (2020).
• Daiya Seto also swam 1:48.77 (2019), 1:48.92 (2014), 1:49.22 (2022), 1:49.41 (2021), 1:49.53 (2016), 1:49.68 (2014), 1:49.76 (2021), 1:49.84 (2016), 1:49.87 (2018), 1:49.88 (2018), 1:49.93 (2016), 1:49.97 (2016), 1:49.99 (2022), 1:50.19 (2017), 1:50.28 (2021), 1:50.33 (2017), 1:50.36 (2021).
• Tom Shields also swam 1:49.02 (2020), 1:49.05 (2015), 1:49.26 (2017), 1:49.29 (2017), 1:49.50 (2016), 1:49.62 (2017), 1:49.78 (2020), 1:49.86 (2017), 1:50.08 (2014), 1:50.19 (2014), 1:50.24 (2021), 1:50.25 (2019), 1:50.28 (2020), 1:50.39 (2021), 1:50.43 (2020), 1:50.51 (2021), 1:50.55 (2020), 1:50.56 (2014), 1:50.60 (2017), 1:50.61 (2013).
• Kaio de Almeida also swam 1:49.11 (2009).
• Tomoru Honda also swam 1:49.24 (2022), 1:49.84 (2021).
• Noè Ponti also swam 1:49.71 (2023).
• Trenton Julian also swam 1:49.93 (2022), 1:50.01 (2021), 1:50.08 (2022), 1:50.32 (2021).
• Kristóf Milák also swam 1:49.98 (2019).
• Alberto Razzetti also swam 1:50.10 (2023), 1:50.12 (2022), 1:50.24 (2021).
• Kuan-Hung Wang also swam 1:50.14 (2020).
• Paweł Korzeniowski also swam 1:50.43 (2013).
• Teppei Morimoto also swam 1:50.44 (2021).
• Nikolay Skvortsov also swam 1:50.53 (2009), 1:50.58 (2009), 1:50.60 (2008).
• Hidemasa Sano also swam 1:50.58 (2011).

Women long course

• Correct as of August 2024^[23]

Pos	Time	Swimmer	Date	Venue	Ref
1	2:01.81		21 October 2009	Jinan
2	2:03.03		1 August 2024	Paris	^[24]
3	2:03.41		30 July 2009	Rome
4	2:03.84		1 August 2024	Paris	^[25]
5	2:03.86		29 July 2021	Tokyo	^[26]
6	2:04.06		1 August 2012	London
7	2:04.14		29 July 2009	Rome
8	2:04.27		29 July 2009	Rome
9	2:04.69		5 April 2012	Tokyo
10	2:04.78		1 August 2013	Barcelona
11	2:04.83		16 March 2009
12	2:04.88		10 August 2016	Rio de Janeiro
13	2:05.09		29 July 2009	Rome
14	2:05.20		18 April 2024	Gold Coast	^[27]
15	2:05.26		4 July 2015	Essen
16	2:05.36		14 June 2011	Sheffield
17	2:05.38		1 April 2012	Shaoxing
18	2:05.45		9 April 2018
19	2:05.61		28 July 2005	Montreal
20	2:05.62		30 August 2020	Tokyo
21	2:05.65		29 July 2021	Tokyo	^[28]
22	2:05.78		1 August 2012	London
23	2:05.81		13 May 2000	Sydney
24	2:05.88		20 September 2000	Sydney
25	2:05.90		10 August 2016	Rio de Janeiro

Notes

Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 2:05.90:

• Regan Smith also swam 2:03.87 (2023), 2:04.80 (2024), 2:04.91 (2024), 2:05.30 (2021), 2:05.39 (2024), 2:05.70 (2024), 2:05.79 (2023).
• Liu Zige also swam 2:03.90 (2009), 2:04.18 (2008), 2:04.40 (2011), 2:04.59 (2013), 2:04.65 (2009), 2:04.78 (2013), 2:05.29 (2009), 2:05.90 (2011).
• Summer McIntosh also swam 2:04.06 (2024), 2:04.33 (2024), 2:04.70 (2023), 2:04.87 (2024), 2:05.05 (2023), 2:05.20 (2022), 2:05.73 (2024), 2:05.79 (2022), 2:05.81 (2022).
• Katinka Hosszú also swam 2:04.28 (2009), 2:05.59 (2013).
• Mary Descenza also swam 2:04.33 (2009), 2:04.41 (2009).
• Jiao Liuyang also swam 2:04.44 (2011), 2:04.50 (2009), 2:04.54 (2013), 2:04.72 (2008), 2:04.96 (2009), 2:05.18 (2012), 2:05.22 (2009), 2:05.46 (2010), 2:05.55 (2011), 2:05.57 (2009), 2:05.61 (2010), 2:05.79 (2010), 2:05.87 (2013).
• Mireia Belmonte also swam 2:04.79 (2014), 2:04.85 (2016), 2:05.25 (2012), 2:05.26 (2017), 2:05.86 (2015).
• Jess Schipper also swam 2:04.87 (2009), 2:05.40 (2006), 2:05.50 (2009), 2:05.65 (2005).
• Zhang Yufei also swam 2:04.89 (2021), 2:05.09 (2024), 2:05.44 (2021), 2:05.49 (2021), 2:05.57 (2023), 2:05.65 (2023), 2:05.70 (2020), 2:05.84 (2021).
• Natsumi Hoshi also swam 2:05.20 (2016), 2:05.48 (2012), 2:05.56 (2015).
• Elizabeth Dekkers also swam 2:05.26 (2023), 2:05.46 (2023).
• Franziska Hentke also swam 2:05.39 (2017), 2:05.77 (2016).
• Madeline Groves also swam 2:05.41 (2015), 2:05.47 (2016), 2:05.66 (2016).
• Aurore Mongel also swam 2:05.48 (2009).
• Ellen Gandy also swam 2:05.59 (2011), 2:05.90 (2011).
• Otylia Jędrzejczak also swam 2:05.78 (2002).
• Hali Flickinger also swam 2:05.85 (2021), 2:05.87 (2018), 2:05.90 (2022).
• Kathleen Hersey also swam 2:05.90 (2012).

Women short course

• Correct as of December 2023^[29]

Pos	Time	Swimmer	Date	Venue	Ref
1	1:59.61		3 December 2014	Doha
2	2:00.78		15 November 2009	Berlin
3	2:01.12		3 December 2014	Doha
4	2:01.73		12 December 2018	Hangzhou
5	2:02.28		12 December 2012	Istanbul
6	2:02.88		22 August 2013	Australia
7	2:02.96		14 January 2017	Japan
8	2:03.01		4 December 2015	Netanya
			17 December 2021	Abu Dhabi	^[30]
10	2:03.08		28 November 2015	Australia
11	2:03.12		23 February 2008	Japan
12	2:03.19		12 December 2012	Istanbul
13	2:03.20		6 August 2009	Great Britain
14	2:03.22		10 December 2009	Istanbul
15	2:03.25		28 November 2015	Australia
16	2:03.27		22 November 2009	Singapore
17	2:03.30		7 December 2023	Otopeni	^[31]
18	2:03.35		22 November 2020	Budapest
			27 October 2022	Beijing
20	2:03.37		15 December 2022	Melbourne	^[32]
21	2:03.39		12 December 2015	United States
22	2:03.40		3 November 2022	Indianapolis	^[33]
23	2:03.49		16 December 2011	United States
24	2:03.53		13 December 2007	Budapest
25	2:03.55		16 October 2021	Tokyo	^[34]

Notes

Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 2:03.55:

• Mireia Belmonte also swam 2:01.52 (2013), 2:03.02 (2017), 2:03.17 (2014), 2:031.31 (2013), 2:03.37 (2011), 2:03.39 (2014).
• Katinka Hosszú also swam 2:01.60 (2018), 2:02.15 (2016), 2:02.20 (2012), 2:02.21 (2013), 2:02.40 (2013), 2:02.42 (2014), 2:02.75 (2017), 2:02.86 (2018), 2:02.87 (2018), 2:02.88 (2018), 2:02.99 (2014), 2:03.01 (2018), 2:03.05 (2013), 2:03.14 (2014, 2018), 2:03.21 (2019), 2:03.26 (2013), 2:03.34 (2016), 2:03.36 (2013).
• Zige Liu also swam 2:02.50 (2009).
• Kelsi Dahlia also swam 2:02.89 (2016), 2:03.31 (2018), 2:03.33 (2018), 2:03.51 (2018).
• Zhang Yufei also swam 2:03.09 (2018), 2:03.29 (2018), 2:03.33 (2018), 2:03.50 (2018).
• Suzuka Hasegawa also swam 2:03.12 (2020), 2:03.38 (2020), 2:03.53 (2020).
• Madeline Groves also swam 2:03.34 (2016).
• Franziska Hentke also swam 2:03.43 (2017), 2:03.47 (2013).

References

• World Records: Men - 200M Butterfly  - International Swimming Hall of Fame, archived July 16, 2010
• World Records: Women - 200M Butterfly  - International Swimming Hall of Fame, archived July 16, 2010

Notes and References

1. Web site: Men's 200m Butterfly Long Course All-Time Ranking. FINA. 26 April 2022. 26 April 2022.
2. Web site: Men's 200m Butterfly Final Results. Omega Timing. 21 June 2022. 1 July 2022.
3. Web site: Men's 200m Butterfly Final Results. olympics.com. 31 July 2024. 4 August 2024.
4. TOMORU HONDA ROCKS 1:52.70 200 FLY TO BECOME 4TH FASTEST EVER. SwimSwam. Retta Race. 3 December 2022. 4 December 2022.
5. Web site: Men's 200m Butterfly Final Results. olympics.com. 31 July 2024. 4 August 2024.
6. Web site: Men's 200m Butterfly Final Results. Omega Timing. 26 July 2023. 26 July 2023.
7. Web site: Men's 200m Butterfly Final Results. Omega Timing. 26 July 2023. 26 July 2023.
8. 2024 JAPANESE OLYMPIC TRIALS: DAY 5 FINALS LIVE RECAP. SwimSwam. Sean Griffin. 21 March 2024. 21 March 2024.
9. Web site: Men's 200m Butterfly Semifinals Results. olympics.com. 30 July 2024. 4 August 2024.
10. Web site: Men's 200m Butterfly Final Results. olympics.com. 31 July 2024. 4 August 2024.
11. CHEN JUNER TAKES DOWN WU PENG’S 2008 CHINESE RECORD IN 200 FLY. SwimSwam. Retta Race. 6 May 2023. 11 May 2023.
12. Web site: Men's 200m Butterfly Short Course All-Time Ranking. World Aquatics. 8 December 2023.
13. Web site: Men's 200m Butterfly Final Results. swim.seiko.co.jp. 22 October 2022. 22 October 2022.
14. Web site: Men's 200m Butterfly Final Results. Omega Timing. 15 December 2022. 18 December 2022.
15. Web site: Men's 200m Butterfly Final Results. Omega Timing. 16 December 2021. 16 December 2021.
16. Web site: Men's 200m Butterfly Final Results. Omega Timing. 15 December 2022. 18 December 2022.
17. Chinese Championships: Chen Juner Breaks World Junior Record; Li Bingjie Breaks Two More Records. Swimming World. Dan D'Addona. 28 October 2022. 30 October 2022.
18. Web site: Men's 200m Butterfly Results. Omega Timing. 29 October 2022. 30 October 2022.
19. MILAK GRABS SECOND GOLD IN AS MANY DAYS AT HUNGARIAN SC CHAMPIONSHIPS. SwimSwam. Retta Race. 17 November 2022. 22 November 2022.
20. Web site: Men's 200m Butterfly Heats Results. Omega Timing. 15 December 2022. 18 December 2022.
21. Web site: Men's 200m Butterfly Final Results. Omega Timing. 15 December 2022. 18 December 2022.
22. Web site: Men's 200m Butterfly Results. omegatiming.com. 19 September 2021. 1 October 2021.
23. Web site: Women's 200m Butterfly Long Course All-Time Ranking. FINA. 21 October 2021. 21 October 2021.
24. Web site: Women's 200m Butterfly Final Results. olympics.com. 1 August 2024. 17 August 2024.
25. Web site: Women's 200m Butterfly Final Results. olympics.com. 1 August 2024. 17 August 2024.
26. Web site: Women's 200m Butterfly Final Results. olympics.com. 29 July 2021. 16 August 2021. 29 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210729023955/https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/olympic-games/resOG2020-/pdf/OG2020-/SWM/OG2020-_SWM_C73A1_SWMW200MBF------------FNL-000100--.pdf. dead.
27. Web site: Women's 200m Butterfly Final Results. swimming.org.au. 18 April 2024. 18 April 2024.
28. Web site: Women's 200m Butterfly Final Results. olympics.com. 29 July 2021. 16 August 2021. 29 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210729023955/https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/olympic-games/resOG2020-/pdf/OG2020-/SWM/OG2020-_SWM_C73A1_SWMW200MBF------------FNL-000100--.pdf. dead.
29. Web site: Women's 200m Butterfly Short Course All-Time Ranking. World Aquatics. 7 December 2023.
30. Web site: Women's 200m Butterfly Final Results. Omega Timing. 17 December 2021. 17 December 2021.
31. Web site: Women's 200m Butterfly Final Results. Omega Timing. 7 December 2023. 7 December 2023.
32. Web site: Women's 200m Butterfly Final Results. Omega Timing. 15 December 2022. 11 January 2023.
33. Web site: Women's 200m Butterfly Final Results. Omega Timing. 3 November 2022. 4 November 2022.
34. Web site: Women's 200m Butterfly Final Results. seiko.co.jp. 16 October 2021. 30 December 2021.