World record progression 200 metres freestyle


This is a history of the progression of the World Record for the Swimming event: the 200 Freestyle. It is a listing of the fastest-time-ever swum in the event, in both long course and short course swimming pool. These records are maintained/recognized by FINA, which oversees international competitive swimming and Aquatics.
The drop in world record times in the 2008/2009 coincided with the introduction of polyurethane suits from Speedo in 2008 and by Arena, Adidas and Italian swimming suit manufacturer Jaked in 2009. FINA's ban on non-textile suit came into effect on January 2010. FINA also release a list of approved suits.
The long course records are historically older than the short course records; the latter having only been recognized since the early 1990s.

Men

Long course

Short course

Women

Long course

Short course

All-time top 25

Men

Correct as of August 2019
PosTimeSwimmerDateVenue
11:42.0028 July 2009Italy
21:42.9612 August 2008China
31:43.1430 July 2012Great Britain
41:43.9028 July 2009Italy
51:44.0625 July 2001Japan
61:44.3817 August 2019Singapore
71:44.3925 July 2017Hungary
81:44.4426 July 2011China
91:44.8013 November 2010China
101:44.892 August 2002Berlin
111:44.9022 July 2019Gwangju
121:44.9126 July 2019Gwangju
131:44.957 July 2009United States
131:44.9531 July 2009Italy
151:45.0328 June 2017United States
161:45.0824 July 2014Great Britain
171:45.1031 July 2009Italy
181:45.1412 August 2008China
181:45.144 August 2015Russia
201:45.208 August 2016Brazil
211:45.2223 July 2019Gwangju
221:45.2321 September 2014South Korea
221:45.238 August 2016Brazil
221:45.2325 July 2017Hungary
251:45.2428 July 2009Italy

Women

PosTimeSwimmerDateVenue
11:52.9829 July 2009Italy
21:53.6131 July 2012Great Britain
31:53.739 August 2016Brazil
41:54.089 August 2016Brazil
51:54.2725 July 2019South Korea
61:54.449 August 2018Japan
71:54.5511 June 2019Australia
81:54.666 June 2012France
91:54.683 April 2015Netherlands
101:54.8131 July 2013Spain
111:54.859 August 2018Japan
121:54.956 August 2018Great Britain
131:54.9713 August 2008China
141:54.9824 July 2019South Korea
141:54.9819 January 2020Beijing
161:55.0513 August 2008China
171:55.0825 July 2017Hungary
181:55.259 August 2016Brazil
181:55.259 August 2016Brazil
201:55.2928 July 2009Italy
201:55.2930 July 2009Italy
211:55.416 November 2015United Arab Emirates
221:55.4730 July 2009Italy
231:55.5228 March 2007Australia
241:55.5428 July 2009Italy
251:55.648 April 2017Sweden