Caeleb Dressel before winning 100 fly (42769914221)

The world records in swimming are ratified by FINA, the international governing body of swimming. Records can be set in

long course An Olympic-size swimming pool conforms to regulated dimensions that are large enough for international competition. This type of swimming pool is used in the Olympic Games, where the race course is in length, typically referred to as "long cour ...

(50 metres) or

short course In swimming, the term short course (abbreviated SC) is used to identify a pool that is in length. The term is also often included in meet names when conducted in a short course pool. "Short course" is the second type of pool configuration curren ...

(25 metres) swimming pools. FINA recognizes world records in the following events for both men and women, except for the mixed relays, where teams consist of two men and two women, in any order. * Freestyle: 50m, 100m,

200m The 200 metres, or 200-meter dash, is a sprint running event. On an outdoor 400 metre racetrack, the race begins on the curve and ends on the home straight, so a combination of techniques is needed to successfully run the race. A slightl ...

, 400m,

800m The 800 metres, or meters ( US spelling), is a common track running event. It is the shortest commonly run middle-distance running event. The 800 metres is run over two laps of an outdoor (400-metre) track and has been an Olympic event since the ...

, 1500m * Backstroke: 50m, 100m,

* Breaststroke: 50m, 100m,

* Butterfly: 50m, 100m,

* Individual medley: 100m (short course only),

, 400m * Relays: 4×50m freestyle relay (short course only), 4×100m freestyle, 4×200m freestyle, 4×50m medley relay (short course only), 4×100m medley * Mixed relays: 4×50m mixed freestyle (short course only), 4×100m mixed freestyle (long course only), 4×50m mixed medley (short course only), 4×100m mixed medley (long course only) The ratification process is described in FINA Rule SW12, and involves submission of paperwork certifying the accuracy of the timing system and the length of the pool, satisfaction of FINA rules regarding swimwear and a negative doping test by the swimmer(s) involved. Records can be set at intermediate distances in an individual race and for the first leg of a relay race. Records which have not yet been fully ratified are marked with a '#' symbol in these lists. Many of the records below were established by swimmers wearing bodysuits or suits made of polyurethane or other non-textile materials allowed in the race pool from February 2008 until December 2009. On the eve of the

2009 FINA World Championships The 2009 World Aquatics Championships ( it, Campionati mondiali di nuoto 2009) or the XIII FINA World Championships were held in Rome, Italy from 18 July to 2 August 2009. The 2009 Championships featured competition in all 5 aquatics discipline ...

in Rome, the international governing body for five Olympic aquatic sports voted to ban the use of bodysuits and all suits made of non-textile materials starting 1 January 2010. The suits seemed to improve the performance in those with larger physiques, boosting performance in some athletes more than others, depending on morphology and physiology. Since then, best times set by swimmers wearing textile materials have once again overtaken more than half of the world records recognized by FINA. On 25 July 2013, FINA Technical Swimming Congress voted to allow world records in the long course mixed 400 free relay and mixed 400 medley relay, as well as in six events in short course meters: the mixed 200 medley and 200 free relays, as well as the men's and women's 200 free relays and the men's and women's 200 medley relays. In October 2013, FINA decided to establish "standards" before something can be recognized as the first World Record in these events. But later on 13 March 2014 FINA has officially ratified the eight world records set by Indiana University swimmers at the IU Relay Rally held on 26 September 2013 in Bloomington.

Long course (50m pool)

Men

''ss - supersuited/non-textile world record''

Men's records by race distance

Women

''ss - supersuited/non-textile world record''

Mixed relay

Short course (25m pool)

Men

Women

Mixed relay

Record holders' rankings

By nation

By athlete (men)

By athlete (women)

References

External links

FINA swimming world records
{{Records *

World In its most general sense, the term "world" refers to the totality of entities, to the whole of reality or to everything that is. The nature of the world has been conceptualized differently in different fields. Some conceptions see the worl ...

Swimming

World records A world record is usually the best global and most important performance that is ever recorded and officially verified in a specific skill, sport, or other kind of activity. The book '' Guinness World Records'' and other world records organizat ...