World record progression 100 metres backstroke

This is a history of the 100 m backstroke world record as swum in both long-course (50 m; Olympic) pools and short-course (25 m) pools—the two categories recognized/tracked by FINA.

Graphic data for World Record Progression in Men and Women Swimming 50m-100m-200m Long and Short Course Butterfly-Backstroke-Breaststroke-Freestyle

Men

Long course

Time	Swimmer	Date	Place
1:02.2	David Theile	December 6, 1956	Melbourne, Australia
1:01.5	John Monckton	February 15, 1958	Melbourne, Australia
1:01.3	Bob Bennett	August 19, 1961	Los Angeles, USA
1:01.0	Tom Stock	August 11, 1962	Cuyahoga Falls, USA
1:00.9	Tom Stock	August 12, 1962	Cuyahoga Falls, USA
1:00.8	Ernst-Joachim Küppers	August 28, 1964	Dortmund, West Germany
1:00.0	Thompson Mann	September 3, 1964	New York City, USA
59.6	Thompson Mann	October 16, 1964	Tokyo, Japan
59.5	Doug Russell	August 28, 1967	Tokyo, Japan
59.3	Charlie Hickcox	August 28, 1967	Tokyo, Japan
59.1	Charlie Hickcox	August 31, 1967	Tokyo, Japan
58.4	Roland Matthes	September 21, 1967	Leipzig, East Germany
58.0	Roland Matthes	October 26, 1968	Mexico City, Mexico
57.8	Roland Matthes	August 23, 1969	Würzburg, West Germany
56.9	Roland Matthes	September 8, 1970	Barcelona, Spain
56.7	Roland Matthes	September 4, 1971	Leipzig, East Germany
56.3	Roland Matthes	April 8, 1972	Moscow, USSR
56.30	Roland Matthes	September 4, 1972	Munich, West Germany
56.19	John Naber	July 18, 1976	Montreal, Canada
55.49	John Naber	July 19, 1976	Montreal, Canada
55.44	Rick Carey	August 6, 1983	Clovis, California, USA
55.38	Rick Carey	August 6, 1983	Clovis, California, USA
55.19	Rick Carey	August 21, 1983	Caracas, Venezuela
55.17	Igor Polyansky	March 15, 1988	Tallinn, USSR
55.16	Igor Polyansky	March 16, 1988	Tallinn, USSR
55.00	Igor Polyansky	July 16, 1988	Moscow, USSR
54.95	David Berkoff	August 12, 1988	Austin, Texas, USA
54.91	David Berkoff	August 12, 1988	Austin, Texas, USA
54.51	David Berkoff	September 24, 1988	Seoul, South Korea
53.93	Jeff Rouse	August 25, 1991	Edmonton, Canada
53.86 (r)	Jeff Rouse	July 31, 1992	Barcelona, Spain
53.60	Lenny Krayzelburg	August 24, 1999	Sydney, Australia
53.45 (r)	Aaron Peirsol	August 21, 2004	Athens, Greece
53.17	Aaron Peirsol	April 2, 2005	Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
52.98	Aaron Peirsol	March 27, 2007	Melbourne, Australia
52.89	Aaron Peirsol	July 1, 2008	Omaha, Nebraska, USA
52.54	Aaron Peirsol	August 12, 2008	Beijing, China
52.38	Aschwin Wildeboer	July 1, 2009	Pescara, Italy
51.94	Aaron Peirsol	July 8, 2009	Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
51.85 (r)	Ryan Murphy	August 13, 2016	Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Short course

Time	Swimmer[1]	Date	Place
52.71 [2]	Mark Tewksbury	March 16, 1991	Bonn, Germany
52.58 [2]	Mark Tewksbury	March 29, 1991	Sheffield, Great Britain
52.52[2]	Mark Tewksbury	February 20, 1992	Winnipeg, Canada
52.50	Mark Tewksbury	February 22, 1992	Winnipeg, Canada
51.43	Jeff Rouse	April 12, 1993	Sheffield, Great Britain
51.28	Lenny Krayzelburg	February 5, 2000	Berlin, Germany[3]
50.75	Neil Walker	March 19, 2000	Athens, Greece
50.58	Thomas Rupprath	December 8, 2002	Melbourne, Australia
50.32	Peter Marshall	March 26, 2004	New York City, United States
49.99	Ryan Lochte	April 9, 2006	Shanghai, China
49.94	Peter Marshall	November 11, 2008	Stockholm, Sweden
49.63	Peter Marshall	November 15, 2008	Berlin, Germany
49.32	Stanislav Donets	December 14, 2008	Rijeka, Croatia
49.20	Aschwin Wildeboer	December 21, 2008	Madrid, Spain
49.17	Arkady Vyatchanin	December 12, 2009	Istanbul, Turkey
48.97	Arkady Vyatchanin Stanislav Donets	December 13, 2009	Istanbul, Turkey
48.94 (r)	Nick Thoman	December 18, 2009	Manchester, England
48.92[4]	Matt Grevers	December 12, 2015	Indianapolis, USA
48.90[5]	Kliment Kolesnikov	December 22, 2017	Saint Petersburg, RUS
48.88[6]	Xu Jiayu	November 11, 2018	Tokyo, JPN
48.58[7]	Kliment Kolesnikov	November 21, 2020	Budapest, HUN

Women

Long course

Time	Swimmer	Date	Meet	Place
1:07.7	Cathy Ferguson	October 14, 1964	Olympic Games	Tokyo, Japan
1:07.4	Ann Farlie	July 23, 1966		Béziers, France
1:07.3	Elaine Tanner	July 27, 1967		Winnipeg, Canada
1:07.1	Elaine Tanner	July 30, 1967		Winnipeg, Canada
1:06.7	Karen Muir	January 30, 1968		Kimberley, South Africa
1:06.4	Karen Muir	April 6, 1968		Paris, France
1:06.2	Kaye Hall	October 23, 1968	Olympic Games	Mexico City, Mexico
1:05.6	Karen Muir	July 6, 1969		Utrecht, Netherlands
1:05.39	Ulrike Richter	August 18, 1973		Utrecht, Netherlands
1:04.99 (r)	Ulrike Richter	September 4, 1973	World Championships	Belgrade, Yugoslavia
1:04.78 (r)	Wendy Cook	January 31, 1974	Commonwealth Games	Christchurch, New Zealand
1:04.43	Ulrike Richter	July 8, 1974		Rostock, East Germany
1:04.09	Ulrike Richter	August 22, 1974		Vienna, Austria
1:03.30	Ulrike Richter	August 23, 1974		Vienna, Austria
1:02.98	Ulrike Richter	September 1, 1974		Concord, California, USA
1:02.60	Ulrike Richter	March 14, 1976		Tallinn, USSR
1:01.62	Kornelia Ender	June 3, 1976		Berlin, East Germany
1:01.51 (r)	Ulrike Richter	June 5, 1976		Berlin, East Germany[8]
1:01.51 (e)	Rica Reinisch	July 20, 1980	Olympic Games	Moscow, USSR
1:01.50	Rica Reinisch	July 22, 1980	Olympic Games	Moscow, USSR
1:00.86	Rica Reinisch	July 23, 1980	Olympic Games	Moscow, USSR
1:00.59 (r)	Ina Kleber	August 24, 1984	Friendship Games	Moscow, USSR
1:00.31	Krisztina Egerszegi	August 22, 1991	European Championships	Athens, Greece
1:00.16 (r)	He Cihong	September 10, 1994	World Championships	Rome, Italy
59.58	Natalie Coughlin	August 13, 2002	U.S. National Swimming Championships	Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA
59.44	Natalie Coughlin	March 27, 2007	World Championships	Melbourne, Australia
59.21	Natalie Coughlin	February 17, 2008	Missouri Grand Prix	Columbia, Missouri, United States
59.15	Hayley McGregory	June 30, 2008	USA Olympic Trials	Omaha, Nebraska, United States
59.03	Natalie Coughlin	June 30, 2008	USA Olympic Trials	Omaha, Nebraska, United States
58.97	Natalie Coughlin	July 1, 2008	USA Olympic Trials	Omaha, Nebraska, United States
58.77	Kirsty Coventry	August 11, 2008	Olympic Games	Beijing, China
58.48	Anastasia Zuyeva	July 27, 2009	World Championships	Rome, Italy
58.12	Gemma Spofforth	July 28, 2009	World Championships	Rome, Italy
58.10	Kylie Masse	July 25, 2017	World Championships	Budapest, Hungary
58.00	Kathleen Baker	July 28, 2018	USA Championships	Irvine, California, United States
57.57 (r)	Regan Smith	July 28, 2019	World Championships	Gwangju, South Korea

Short course

Time	Swimmer[9]	Date	Place
59.41	Angel Martino	November 21, 1993	Stavanger, Norway
58.50	Angel Martino	December 3, 1993	Palma de Mallorca, Spain
58.45	Reiko Nakamura	March 4, 2001	Sagamihara, Japan
57.08	Natalie Coughlin	November 29, 2001	East Meadow, New York, United States
56.71	Natalie Coughlin	November 23, 2002	East Meadow, New York, United States[10]
56.51	Natalie Coughlin	October 28, 2007	Singapore
56.15	Shiho Sakai	February 22, 2009	Tokyo, Japan
55.23	Shiho Sakai	November 15, 2009	Berlin, Germany
55.03	Katinka Hosszú	December 4, 2014	Doha, Qatar
54.89	Minna Atherton	October 27, 2019	Budapest, Hungary

All-time top 25

Men long course

• Correct as of December 2020

Pos	Time	Swimmer	Date	Venue
1	51.85	Ryan Murphy (USA)	13 August 2016	Brazil
2	51.86	Xu Jiayu (CHN)	8 April 2017	China
3	51.94	Aaron Peirsol (USA)	8 July 2009	United States
4	52.08	Matt Grevers (USA)	25 June 2012	United States
5	52.11	Camille Lacourt (FRA)	10 August 2010	Hungary
		Mitch Larkin (AUS)	6 November 2015	United Arabic Emirates
7	52.12	David Plummer (USA)	27 June 2016	United States
8	52.24	Ryosuke Irie (JPN)	4 September 2009	Japan
9	52.26	Junya Koga (JPN)	28 July 2009	Italy
10	52.27	Helge Meeuw (GER)	2 August 2009	Italy
11	52.38	Aschwin Wildeboer (ESP)	27 June 2009	Italy
12	52.44	Evgeny Rylov (RUS)	22 July 2019	South Korea
13	52.51	Nick Thoman (USA)	7 August 2009	United States
		Kliment Kolesnikov (RUS)	6 August 2018	Great Britain
15	52.57	Arkady Vyatchanin (RUS)	2 August 2009	Italy
16	52.59	Randall Bal (USA)	5 December 2008	Netherlands
17	52.72	Shaine Casas (USA)	3 August 2019	United States
18	52.73	Liam Tancock (GBR)	28 July 2009	Italy
19	52.76	Jeremy Stravius (FRA)	25 July 2011	China
20	52.78	Kosuke Hagino (JPN)	5 September 2014	Japan
21	52.84	Thomas Ceccon (ITA)	17 December 2020	Italy
22	52.88	Chris Walker-Hebborn (GBR)	14 April 2015	Great Britain
23	52.95	Jacob Pebley (USA)	28 June 2016	United States
		Guilherme Guido (BRA)	21 July 2019	South Korea
25	52.97	Hayden Stoeckel (AUS)	11 August 2008	China

Notes

Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 52.97:

• Ryan Murphy also swam 51.94 (2018), 51.97 (2016), 52.19 (2018), 52.26 (2016), 52.28 (2016), 52.44 (2019), 52.49 (2016), 52.51 (2018), 52.59 (2017), 52.69 (2017), 52.70 (2018), 52.76 (2016), 52.78 (2019), 52.79 (2020), 52.92 (2019), 52.95 (2017).
• Xu Jiayu also swam 52.17 (2019), 52.27 (2019), 52.31 (2016), 52.34 (2014, 2018), 52.37 (2020), 52.43 (2019), 52.44 (2017, 2017), 52.60 (2017, 2018), 52.72 (2018), 52.73 (2016), 52.77 (2017), 52.79 (2019), 52.81 (2014), 52.85 (2019), 52.89 (2015, 2017), 52.97 (2019, 2020).
• Aaron Peirsol also swam 52.19 (2009), 52.54 (2008), 52.89 (2008).
• Matt Grevers also swam 52.16 (2012), 52.26 (2017), 52.48 (2017), 52.54 (2015), 52.55 (2015), 52.58 (2012), 52.64 (2016), 52.66 (2012, 2015), 52.71 (2017), 52.73 (2015), 52.75 (2015), 52.76 (2016), 52.82 (2009, 2019, 2019), 52.85 (2015), 52.89 (2019), 52.91 (2014), 52.92 (2012), 52.93 (2013), 52.94 (2012), 52.97 (2013, 2017).
• Camille Lacourt also swam 52.44 (2011), 52.46 (2010), 52.48 (2015), 52.58 (2010), 52.70 (2015, 2016), 52.72 (2016), 52.75 (2012), 52.76 (2011), 52.81 (2015), 52.96 (2016), 52.97 (2016).
• Mitch Larkin also swam 52.26 (2015), 52.37 (2015), 52.38 (2015, 2019), 52.40 (2015), 52.41 (2015), 52.43 (2016), 52.48 (2015), 52.50 (2015), 52.54 (2016), 52.70 (2016), 52.77 (2019), 52.85 (2016), 52.88 (2018), 52.91 (2019).
• David Plummer also swam 52.28 (2016), 52.40 (2016, 2016), 52.50 (2016), 52.51 (2016), 52.70 (2016), 52.83 (2015), 52.85 (2015).
• Ryosuke Irie also swam 52.34 (2014), 52.45 (2014), 52.50 (2009), 52.53 (2018, 2018), 52.57 (2014), 52.60 (2009), 52.61 (2018), 52.73 (2009, 2009), 52.75 (2009), 52.78 (2018), 52.80 (2017), 52.83 (2011), 52.86 (2017), 52.91 (2012), 52.92 (2012), 52.94 (2011), 52.97 (2012, 2020).
• Junya Koga also swam 52.39 (2009), 52.90 (2009).
• Helge Meeuw also swam 52.46 (2009), 52.49 (2009), 52.54 (2009), 52.94 (2009).
• Aschwin Wildeboer also swam 52.38 (2009), 52.64 (2009), 52.70 (2009), 52.76 (2009), 52.93 (2009).
• Evgeny Rylov also swam 52.57 (2019), 52.66 (2018), 52.67 (2018, 2019), 52.74 (2016, 2018), 52.81 (2019), 52.84 (2016, 2019), 52.89 (2017), 52.90 (2016), 52.91 (2018).
• Nick Thoman also swam 52.86 (2012), 52.91 (2008), 52.92 (2012).
• Kliment Kolesnikov also swam 52.53 (2018), 52.77 (2018), 52.95 (2018), 52.97 (2018).
• Arkady Vyatchanin also swam 52.87 (2009).
• Jeremy Stravius also swam 52.76 (2011).

Men short course

• Correct as of November 2020

Pos	Time	Swimmer	Date	Venue
1	48.58	Kliment Kolesnikov (RUS)	21 November 2020	Budapest
2	48.88	Xu Jiayu (CHN)	11 November 2018	Tokyo
3	48.92	Matt Grevers (USA)	12 December 2015	Indianapolis
8	49.29	Ryan Murphy (USA)	22 November 2020	Budapest
12	49.40	Guilherme Guido (BRA)	14 November 2020	Budapest
15	49.57	Jérémy Stravius (FRA)	7 December 2013	Dijon
20	49.62	Coleman Stewart (USA)	22 November 2020	Budapest
25	49.91	Dylan Carter (TRI)	22 November 2020	Budapest

Notes

Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 49.83:

• Kliment Kolesnikov also swam 48.82 (2020), 48.90 (2017).
• Ryan Murphy also swam 49.36 (2020).
• Guilherme Guido also swam 49.59 (2020).
• Coleman Stewart also swam 49.83 (2020).

Women long course

• Correct as of December 2020

Pos	Time	Swimmer	Date	Venue
1	57.57	Regan Smith (USA)	28 July 2019	South Korea
2	57.93	Kaylee McKeown (AUS)	13 December 2020	Australia
3	58.00	Kathleen Baker (USA)	28 July 2018	United States
4	58.10	Kylie Masse (CAN)	25 July 2017	Hungary
5	58.12	Gemma Spofforth (GBR)	28 July 2009	Italy
6	58.18	Anastasia Fesikova (RUS)	28 July 2009	Italy
7	58.23	Emily Seebohm (AUS)	29 July 2012	Great Britain
8	58.33	Missy Franklin (USA)	30 July 2012	Great Britain
9	58.45	Katinka Hosszu (HUN)	8 August 2016	Brazil
10	58.55	Taylor Ruck (CAN)	3 April 2019	Canada
11	58.60	Minna Atherton (AUS)	22 July 2019	South Korea
12	58.63	Phoebe Bacon (USA)	6 December 2019	United States
13	58.70	Aya Terakawa (JPN)	4 August 2013	Spain
14	58.72	Fu Yuanhui (CHN)	8 April 2017	China
15	58.73	Mie Nielsen (DEN)	19 May 2016	Great Britain
		Olivia Smoliga (USA)	12 April 2019	United States
17	58.75	Madison Wilson (AUS)	4 August 2015	Russia
18	58.77	Kirsty Coventry (ZIM)	11 August 2008	China
19	58.91	Kira Toussaint (NED)	6 December 2020	Rotterdam
20	58.92	Margherita Panziera (ITA)	4 April 2019	Italy
21	58.94	Natalie Coughlin (USA)	17 August 2008	China
		Zhao Jing (CHN)	13 November 2010	China
23	59.04	Gao Chang (CHN)	17 October 2009	China
24	59.08	Anastasiya Shkurdai (BLR)	17 July 2020	Brest
25	59.10	Rachel Bootsma (USA)	25 June 2012	United States

Notes

Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 59.10:

• Regan Smith also swam 58.18 (2020), 58.26 (2020), 58.45 (2019), 58.55 (2019), 58.68 (2019), 58.79 (2020), 58.82 (2019), 58.83 (2018), 58.95 (2018), 58.96 (2019), 59.00 (2020), 59.09 (2018).
• Kaylee McKeown also swam 58.11 (2020), 58.52 (2020), 58.69 (2021), 58.84 (2020), 59.10 (2019).
• Kathleen Baker also swam 58.41 (2018), 58.54 (2017), 58.56 (2020), 58.57 (2017), 58.58 (2017), 58.75 (2016), 58.77 (2018), 58.83 (2018), 58.84 (2016), 59.00 (2016), 59.03 (2017, 2019), 59.05 (2019).
• Kylie Masse also swam 58.16 (2019), 58.18 (2017), 58.19 (2019), 58.21 (2017), 58.29 (2018), 58.31 (2017), 58.42 (2017), 58.50 (2019), 58.54 (2018), 58.60 (2019), 58.61 (2018), 58.62 (2017), 58.63 (2018, 2018), 58.66 (2016, 2018), 58.70 (2018), 58.76 (2016), 58.77 (2016), 58.86 (2017), 58.91 (2019), 58.98 (2019), 59.02 (2018), 59.05 (2018, 2018), 59.06 (2016, 2016), 59.07 (2016).
• Gemma Spofforth also swam 58.74 (2009), 58.78 (2009), 58.96 (2009), 59.05 (2008).
• Anastasia Fesikova also swam 58.48 (2009), 58.83 (2017), 58.96 (2017), 58.96 (2012), 59.00 (2012), 59.01 (2009), 59.06 (2011).
• Emily Seebohm also swam 58.26 (2015), 58.34 (2015), 58.37 (2015), 58.39 (2012), 58.51 (2015), 58.53 (2017), 58.56 (2015), 58.57 (2012), 58.59 (2015, 2017), 58.62 (2017), 58.66 (2018), 58.68 (2012), 58.70 (2015), 58.72 (2015, 2018), 52.73 (2016), 58.79 (2013, 2018), 58.81 (2015), 58.83 (2016), 58.84 (2014), 58.85 (2017), 58.88 (2009, 2015, 2015), 58.89 (2015), 58.90 (2015, 2018), 58.91 (2015, 2015, 2018), 58.92 (2014), 58.95 (2017, 2018), 58.96 (2016), 58.99 (2016, 2017), 59.01 (2012), 59.02 (2017), 59.03 (2016), 59.04 (2015), 59.06 (2013).
• Missy Franklin also swam 58.39 (2013), 58.41 (2013), 58.50 (2012), 58.67 (2013), 58.85 (2012), 59.06 (2012).
• Katinka Hosszu also swam 58.78 (2015), 58.80 (2017), 58.94 (2016, 2016).
• Taylor Ruck also swam 58.83 (2019), 58.96 (2019), 58.97 (2018).
• Minna Atherton also swam 58.85 (2019), 59.06 (2019).
• Phoebe Bacon also swam 58.86 (2020), 59.02 (2019).
• Aya Terakawa also swam 58.83 (2012), 58.84 (2013), 58.99 (2012), 59.08 (2012), 59.10 (2012).
• Fu Yuanhui also swam 58.76 (2016), 58.95 (2016), 59.02 (2015).
• Olivia Smoliga also swam 58.79 (2019), 58.91 (2019), 58.95 (2016), 59.02 (2016), 59.07 (2017).
• Mie Nielsen also swam 58.75 (2016), 58.80 (2016), 58.84 (2015), 58.86 (2015).
• Madison Wilson also swam 58.94 (2015), 59.03 (2015), 59.05 (2015), 59.09 (2015).
• Kirsty Coventry also swam 59.00 (2008).
• Natalie Coughlin also swam 58.96 (2008), 58.97 (2008), 59.03 (2008), 59.05 (2015).
• Zhao Jing also swam 58.98 (2009), 59.05 (2011).

Women short course

• Correct as of November 2020

Pos	Time	Swimmer	Date	Venue
1	54.89	Minna Atherton (AUS)	27 October 2019	Budapest
2	55.03	Katinka Hosszú (HUN)	4 December 2014	Doha
3	55.23	Shiho Sakai (JPN)	15 November 2009	Berlin
8
12	56.87	Anastasiya Shkurdai (BLR)	19 December 2020	Brest
20	56.98	Aliaksandra Herasimenia (BLR)	10 December 2009	Istanbul
25	57.16	Laure Manaudou (FRA)	12 December 2008	Rijeka

Notes

Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 56.15:

• Shiho Sakai also swam 56.15 (2009).

References

1. Sports123.com tracking page of men's short-course World Record in the 100 back.
2. https://espaestad.wordpress.com/2014/08/06/records-del-mundo-de-los-espanoles-aschwin-wildeboer-en-100-m-espalda-de-piscina-corta/. Missing or empty |title= (help)
3. "ESPN.com - MORESPORTS - Krayzelburg breaks Rouse's world record". www.espn.com.
4. Lord, Craig (December 12, 2015). "Duel In The Pool Over Before Over: WRS For Grevers, Kromowidjojo; USA Keeps Crown". Swimvortex. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
5. "Men's 100m Backstroke Results" (PDF). salnikovcup.ru. 22 December 2017. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
6. "Men's 100m Backstroke Final Results". omegatiming.com. 11 November 2018. Retrieved 11 November 2018.
7. "Men's 4x100m Medley Relay Results" (PDF). omegatiming.com. 21 November 2020. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
8. "E. German Women Set 4 Swim Marks". The New York Times. 1976-06-06.
9. Sport123.com's tracking Archived 2011-05-18 at the Wayback Machine of the women's short-course 100m back World Record.
10. Denman, Elliott (2002-11-23). "SWIMMING; Coughlin Sets Two Records and Collects Three Victories". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2016-08-07.