World record progression 100 metres backstroke
This is a history of the 100 m backstroke world record as swum in both long-course pools and short-course pools—the two categories recognized/tracked by FINA.
All-time top 25
Men long course
- Correct as of August 2025
| Time | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place | |||
| 1 | 1 | 51.60 | Thomas Ceccon | 20 June 2022 | Budapest | ||
| 2 | 51.80 | Ceccon #2 | 3 August 2025 | Singapore | |||
| 2 | 3 | 51.82 | Kliment Kolesnikov | 26 July 2023 | Kazan | ||
| 3 | 4 | 51.85 | Ryan Murphy | 13 August 2016 | Rio de Janeiro | ||
| 3 | 4 | 51.85 | Pieter Coetze | 29 July 2025 | Singapore | ||
| 5 | 6 | 51.86 | Xu Jiayu | 12 April 2017 | Qingdao | ||
| 7 | 51.90 | Ceccon #3 | 29 July 2025 | Singapore | |||
| 6 | 8 | 51.92 | Yohann Ndoye Brouard | 29 July 2025 | Singapore | ||
| 9 | 51.93 | Ceccon #4 | 25 June 2022 | Budapest | |||
| 7 | 10 | 51.94 | Aaron Peirsol | 8 July 2009 | Indianapolis | ||
| 10 | 51.94 | Murphy #2 | 10 August 2018 | Tokyo | |||
| 12 | 51.97 | Murphy #3 | 8 August 2016 | Rio de Janeiro | |||
| 12 | 51.97 | Murphy #4 | 20 June 2022 | Budapest | |||
| 8 | 14 | 51.98 | Evgeny Rylov | 27 July 2021 | Tokyo | ||
| 8 | 14 | 51.98 | Hunter Armstrong | 20 June 2022 | Budapest | ||
| 16 | 51.99 | Coetze #2 | 19 July 2025 | Berlin | |||
| 17 | 52.00 | Kolesnikov #2 | 27 July 2021 | Tokyo | |||
| 17 | 52.00 | Ceccon #5 | 29 July 2024 | Paris | |||
| 19 | 52.02 | Xu #2 | 28 July 2024 | Paris | |||
| 20 | 52.04 | Murphy #5 | 30 July 2023 | Fukuoka | |||
| 20 | 52.04 | Kolesnikov #3 | 14 April 2025 | Kazan | |||
| 22 | 52.05 | Xu #3 | 26 September 2023 | Hangzhou | |||
| 10 | 23 | 52.08 | Matt Grevers | 25 June 2012 | Omaha | ||
| 10 | 23 | 52.08 | Miron Lifintsev | 28 July 2024 | Yekaterinburg | ||
| 12 | 25 | 52.09 | Apostolos Christou | 19 June 2022 | Budapest | ||
| 13 | 52.11 | Camille Lacourt | 10 August 2010 | Budapest | |||
| 13 | 52.11 | Mitch Larkin | 6 November 2015 | Dubai | |||
| 15 | 52.12 | David Plummer | 27 June 2016 | Omaha | |||
| 15 | 52.12 | Oliver Morgan | 17 April 2025 | London | |||
| 17 | 52.20 | Hubert Kós | 29 July 2025 | Singapore | |||
| 18 | 52.24 | Ryosuke Irie | 4 September 2009 | Kumamoto | |||
| 19 | 52.26 | Junya Koga | 28 July 2009 | Rome | |||
| 20 | 52.27 | Helge Meeuw | 2 August 2009 | Rome | |||
| 21 | 52.38 | Aschwin Wildeboer | 1 July 2009 | Pescara | |||
| 22 | 52.40 | Pavel Samusenko | 14 April 2025 | Kazan | |||
| 23 | 52.51 | Nick Thoman | 7 August 2009 | Federal Way | |||
| 23 | 52.51 | Shaine Casas | 8 July 2022 | Austin | |||
| 25 | 52.54 | Will Modglin | 19 July 2025 | Berlin |
Men short course
- Correct as of December 2025
| Time | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place | |||
| 1 | 1 | 48.16 | Hubert Kós | 25 October 2025 | Toronto | ||
| 2 | 2 | 48.33 | Coleman Stewart | 29 August 2021 | Naples | ||
| 3 | 3 | 48.50 | Ryan Murphy | 14 December 2022 | Melbourne | ||
| 4 | 4 | 48.58 | Kliment Kolesnikov | 21 November 2020 | Budapest | ||
| 5 | 48.59 | Kolesnikov #2 | 12 November 2025 | Kazan | |||
| 6 | 48.63 | Kolesnikov #3 | 14 December 2020 | Saint Petersburg | |||
| 6 | 48.63 | Kolesnikov #4 | 18 December 2023 | Saint Petersburg | |||
| 8 | 48.71 | Kolesnikov #5 | 15 December 2020 | Saint Petersburg | |||
| 5 | 9 | 48.76 | Miron Lifintsev | 11 December 2024 | Budapest | ||
| 10 | 48.78 | Kós #2 | 19 October 2025 | Westmont | |||
| 6 | 10 | 48.78 | Pavel Samusenko | / | 19 December 2025 | Saint Petersburg | |
| 12 | 48.79 | Kós #3 | 11 December 2024 | Budapest | |||
| 13 | 48.82 | Kolesnikov #6 | 22 November 2020 | Budapest | |||
| 13 | 48.82 | Kolesnikov #7 | 21 November 2022 | Kazan | |||
| 7 | 15 | 48.84 | Shaine Casas | 30 October 2022 | Toronto | ||
| 8 | 16 | 48.88 | Xu Jiayu | 11 November 2018 | Tokyo | ||
| 8 | 16 | 48.88 | Evgeny Rylov | 15 December 2020 | Saint Petersburg | ||
| 18 | 48.90 | Kolesnikov #8 | 22 December 2017 | Saint Petersburg | |||
| 19 | 48.91 | Stewart #2 | 28 August 2021 | Naples | |||
| 10 | 20 | 48.92 | Matt Grevers | 12 December 2015 | Indianapolis | ||
| 20 | 48.92 | Casas #2 | 15 December 2024 | Budapest | |||
| 11 | 22 | 48.94 | Nick Thoman | 18 December 2009 | Manchester | ||
| 22 | 48.94 | Rylov #2 | 4 December 2021 | Eindhoven | |||
| 12 | 24 | 48.95 | Stanislav Donets | 19 December 2010 | Dubai | ||
| 12 | 24 | 48.95 | Guilherme Guido | 3 September 2021 | Naples | ||
| 14 | 48.97 | Arkady Vyatchanin | 13 December 2009 | Istanbul | |||
| 15 | 49.03 | Mitch Larkin | 28 November 2015 | Sydney | |||
| 16 | 49.04 | Lorenzo Mora | 14 December 2022 | Melbourne | |||
| 17 | 49.05 | Aschwin Wildeboer | 13 December 2009 | Istanbul | |||
| 18 | 49.10 | Kacper Stokowski | 15 December 2024 | Budapest | |||
| 19 | 49.23 | Radosław Kawęcki | 20 December 2015 | Lublin | |||
| 20 | 49.25 | Mark Nikolaev | 12 November 2021 | Eindhoven | |||
| 21 | 49.29 | Peter Marshall | 10 November 2009 | Stockholm | |||
| 21 | 49.29 | Thomas Ceccon | 5 December 2025 | Lublin | |||
| 23 | 49.31 | Robert Glință | 5 November 2021 | Kazan | |||
| 24 | 49.35 | Pieter Coetze | 20 October 2024 | Shanghai | |||
| 25 | 49.39 | Blake Tierney | 11 December 2024 | Budapest | |||
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Women long course
- Correct as of August 2025
| Time | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place | |||
| 1 | 1 | 57.13 | Regan Smith | 18 June 2024 | Indianapolis | ||
| 2 | 2 | 57.16 | Kaylee McKeown | 29 July 2025 | Singapore | ||
| 3 | 57.28 | Smith #2 | 4 August 2024 | Paris | |||
| 4 | 57.33 | McKeown #2 | 21 October 2023 | Budapest | |||
| 4 | 57.33 | McKeown #3 | 30 July 2024 | Paris | |||
| 6 | 57.35 | Smith #3 | 29 July 2025 | Singapore | |||
| 7 | 57.41 | McKeown #4 | 11 June 2024 | Brisbane | |||
| 8 | 57.45 | McKeown #5 | 13 June 2021 | Adelaide | |||
| 9 | 57.46 | Smith #4 | 3 May 2025 | Fort Lauderdale | |||
| 10 | 57.47 | McKeown #6 | 27 July 2021 | Tokyo | |||
| 10 | 57.47 | Smith #5 | 17 June 2024 | Indianapolis | |||
| 12 | 57.50 | McKeown #7 | 14 June 2023 | Melbourne | |||
| 13 | 57.51 | Smith #6 | 26 May 2024 | Irvine | |||
| 14 | 57.53 | McKeown #8 | 25 July 2023 | Fukuoka | |||
| 15 | 57.57 | Smith #7 | 28 July 2019 | Gwangju | |||
| 15 | 57.57 | McKeown #9 | 16 March 2024 | Sydney | |||
| 15 | 57.57 | Smith #8 | 3 August 2025 | Singapore | |||
| 18 | 57.63 | McKeown #10 | 15 May 2021 | Sydney | |||
| 18 | 57.63 | McKeown #11 | 14 October 2023 | Athens | |||
| 20 | 57.64 | Smith #9 | 8 March 2024 | Westmont | |||
| 21 | 57.65 | Smith #10 | 19 June 2022 | Budapest | |||
| 21 | 57.65 | McKeown #12 | 22 April 2025 | Gold Coast | |||
| 23 | 57.66 | Smith #11 | 30 July 2024 | Paris | |||
| 24 | 57.68 | Smith #12 | 30 July 2023 | Fukuoka | |||
| 25 | 57.69 | Smith #13 | 6 June 2025 | Indianapolis | |||
| 25 | 57.69 | McKeown #13 | 3 August 2025 | Singapore | |||
| 3 | 57.70 | Kylie Masse | 19 June 2021 | Toronto | |||
| 4 | 57.83 | Katharine Berkoff | 17 June 2024 | Indianapolis | |||
| 5 | 57.88 | Mollie O'Callaghan | 11 June 2024 | Brisbane | |||
| 6 | 58.00 | Kathleen Baker | 28 July 2018 | Irvine | |||
| 7 | 58.08 | Kathleen Dawson | 23 May 2021 | Budapest | |||
| 8 | 58.12 | Gemma Spofforth | 28 July 2009 | Rome | |||
| 9 | 58.18 | Anastasia Fesikova | 28 July 2009 | Rome | |||
| 10 | 58.23 | Emily Seebohm | 29 July 2012 | London | |||
| 11 | 58.29 | Claire Curzan | 13 February 2024 | Doha | |||
| 12 | 58.31 | Olivia Smoliga | 15 May 2021 | Atlanta | |||
| 13 | 58.33 | Missy Franklin | 30 July 2012 | London | |||
| 14 | 58.43 | Rhyan White | 15 May 2021 | Atlanta | |||
| 14 | 58.43 | Rhyan White | 27 July 2021 | Tokyo | |||
| 14 | 58.43 | Iona Anderson | 11 June 2024 | Brisbane | |||
| 16 | 58.45 | Katinka Hosszú | 8 August 2016 | Rio de Janeiro | |||
| 17 | 58.53 | Leah Shackley | 17 May 2025 | Charlotte | |||
| 18 | 58.55 | Taylor Ruck | 3 April 2019 | Toronto | |||
| 18 | 58.55 | Kennedy Noble | 17 June 2024 | Indianapolis | |||
| 20 | 58.60 | Minna Atherton | 22 July 2019 | Gwangju | |||
| 21 | 58.63 | Phoebe Bacon | 6 December 2019 | Atlanta | |||
| 22 | 58.65 | Kira Toussaint | 11 April 2021 | Eindhoven | |||
| 23 | 58.70 | Aya Terakawa | 4 August 2013 | Barcelona | |||
| 24 | 58.72 | Fu Yuanhui | 8 April 2017 | Qingdao | |||
| 25 | 58.73 | Mie Nielsen | 19 May 2016 | London |
Women short course
- Correct as of October 2025
| Time | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place | |||
| 1 | 1 | 54.02 | Regan Smith | 15 December 2024 | Budapest | ||
| 1 | 1 | 54.02 | Regan Smith | 18 October 2025 | Westmont | ||
| 3 | 54.27 | Smith #3 | 1 November 2024 | Singapore | |||
| 4 | 54.41 | Smith #4 | 25 October 2024 | Incheon | |||
| 2 | 5 | 54.49 | Kaylee McKeown | 24 October 2025 | Toronto | ||
| 6 | 54.55 | Smith #5 | 11 December 2024 | Budapest | |||
| 7 | 54.56 | McKeown #2 | 26 September 2024 | Adelaide | |||
| 8 | 54.57 | Smith #6 | 24 October 2025 | Toronto | |||
| 3 | 9 | 54.89 | Minna Atherton | 27 October 2019 | Budapest | ||
| 3 | 9 | 54.89 | Gretchen Walsh | 18 October 2024 | Charlottesville | ||
| 9 | 54.89 | Smith #7 | 19 October 2024 | Shanghai | |||
| 12 | 54.92 | Smith #8 | 11 October 2025 | Carmel | |||
| 5 | 13 | 54.93 | Katharine Berkoff | 11 December 2024 | Budapest | ||
| 6 | 14 | 55.03 | Katinka Hosszú | 4 December 2014 | Doha | ||
| 7 | 15 | 55.04 | Olivia Smoliga | 22 November 2020 | Budapest | ||
| 15 | 55.04 | McKeown #3 | 18 October 2024 | Westmont | |||
| 17 | 55.05 | Smith #9 | 10 December 2024 | Budapest | |||
| 17 | 55.05 | McKeown #4 | 11 October 2025 | Carmel | |||
| 19 | 55.09 | Atherton #2 | 21 December 2019 | Las Vegas | |||
| 20 | 55.10 | Berkoff #2 | 24 October 2025 | Toronto | |||
| 21 | 55.12 | Atherton #3 | 27 October 2019 | Budapest | |||
| 8 | 22 | 55.17 | Kira Toussaint | 4 December 2019 | Glasgow | ||
| 9 | 23 | 55.20 | Louise Hansson | 17 December 2021 | Abu Dhabi | ||
| 10 | 24 | 55.22 | Kylie Masse | 17 December 2021 | Abu Dhabi | ||
| 11 | 25 | 55.23 | Shiho Sakai | 15 November 2009 | Berlin | ||
| 12 | 55.25 | Bella Sims | 11 October 2025 | Carmel | |||
| 13 | 55.31 | Emily Seebohm | 4 December 2014 | Doha | |||
| 14 | 55.36 | Ingrid Wilm | 18 December 2022 | Melbourne | |||
| 15 | 55.48 | Gao Chang | 28 February 2010 | Tokyo | |||
| 16 | 55.54 | Daryna Zevina | 4 December 2014 | Doha | |||
| 17 | 55.62 | Mollie O'Callaghan | 14 December 2022 | Melbourne | |||
| 18 | 55.72 | Beata Nelson | 1 November 2024 | Singapore | |||
| 19 | 55.74 | Claire Curzan | 14 December 2022 | Melbourne | |||
| 20 | 55.76 | Aya Terakawa | 23 February 2013 | Sagamihara | |||
| 21 | 55.79 | Iona Anderson | 26 September 2024 | Adelaide | |||
| 22 | 55.83 | Maria Kameneva | 18 December 2022 | Saint Petersburg | |||
| 23 | 55.86 | Maaike de Waard | 6 November 2021 | Kazan | |||
| 24 | 55.87 | Rhyan White | 17 December 2021 | Abu Dhabi | |||
| 25 | 55.89 | Ali DeLoof | 10 September 2021 | Naples | |||
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