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50 metres butterfly

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 50 metres butterfly is an event in competitive swimming. World records are ratified by World Aquatics (formerly FINA). The current long course world record holders are Ukraine's Andriy Govorov and Sweden's Sarah Sjöström, while the current short course world record holders are Switzerland's Noè Ponti and the US' Gretchen Walsh.

Graphs of the progression of the World Records in all four strokes (50m, 100m and 200m distances).

The men's and women's events have been contested at the World Aquatics Championships since 2001; the current world champions (long course) are France's Maxime Grousset, and Walsh. The men's and women's events have been contested at the World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) since 1999; the current world champions (short course) are Ponti and Walsh.

World record progression

Main article: List of world records in swimming
See also: High-technology swimwear

Men long course

More information #, Time ...
# Time NameNationalityDateMeetLocation Ref
WB 23.68 Denis Pankratov Russia 10 Aug 1996Meet of Champions Mulhouse, France
1 23.60 Geoff Huegill Australia 14 May 2000Australia Championships Sydney, Australia
2 23.44 sfGeoff Huegill Australia 27 Jul 2001World Championships Fukuoka, Japan
3 23.43 Matt Welsh Australia 21 Jul 2003World Championships Barcelona, Spain
4 23.30 Ian Crocker United States 29 Feb 2004Big 12 Time Trials Austin, United States [1]
5 23.01 sfRoland Schoeman South Africa 24 Jul 2005World Championships Montreal, Canada
6 22.96 Roland Schoeman South Africa 25 Jul 2005World Championships Montreal, Canada [2]
7 22.43 sfRafael Muñoz Spain 5 April 2009Spanish Championships Málaga, Spain [3]
8 22.27 Andriy Govorov Ukraine 1 July 2018Sette Colli Trophy Rome, Italy [4]
Close
Legend: # – Record awaiting ratification by FINA;
Records not set in finals: h – heat; sf – semifinal; r – relay 1st leg; rh – relay heat 1st leg; b – B final; † – en route to final mark; so – swim-off; tt – time trial

Men short course

More information #, Time ...
# Time NameNationalityDateMeetLocation Ref
1 24.11 Marcel Gery Canada 23 February 1990World Cup Leicester, United Kingdom
2 24.05 Nils Rudolph Germany 29 March 1991World Cup Sheffield, United Kingdom
3 23.72 Mark Foster Great Britain 13 February 1993World Cup Gelsenkirchen, Germany [5]
3 23.72 =Mark Foster Great Britain 19 March 1994World Cup Gelsenkirchen, Germany
5 23.68 Mark Foster Great Britain 22 March 1994World Cup Sheffield, United Kingdom [6]
6 23.55 Mark Foster Great Britain 11 February 1995World Cup Sheffield, United Kingdom
7 23.45 Mark Foster Great Britain 15 December 1995- Sheffield, United Kingdom
8 23.35 Denis Pankratov Russia 8 February 1997World Cup Paris, France
9 23.30 Miloš Milošević Croatia 12 December 1998European Championships Sheffield, United Kingdom
10 23.21 Michael Klim Australia 5 September 1999Australian Championships Canberra, Australia
11 23.19 hLars Frölander Sweden 19 March 2000World Championships Athens, Greece
12 23.11 ttMichael Klim Australia 19 June 2000AIS Meet Canberra, Australia
13 22.87 Mark Foster Great Britain 17 January 2001World Cup Sheffield, United Kingdom
14 22.84 Geoff Huegill Australia 7 December 2001World Cup Melbourne, Australia
14 22.84 =Geoff Huegill Australia 22 January 2002World Cup Stockholm, Sweden
16 22.74 hGeoff Huegill Australia 26 January 2002World Cup Berlin, Germany
17 22.71 Ian Crocker United States 10 October 2004World Championships Indianapolis, United States
18 22.60 Kaio de Almeida Brazil 17 December 2005Brazilian Championships Santos, Brazil
19 22.50 Matt Jaukovic Australia 25 October 2008World Cup Sydney, Australia [7]
20 22.29 Amaury Leveaux France 6 December 2008French Championships Angers, France [8]
21 22.18 hAmaury Leveaux France 14 December 2008European Championships Rijeka, Croatia [9]
22 22.06 Steffen Deibler Germany 24 October 2009International Festival Aachen, Germany [10]
23 21.80 Steffen Deibler Germany 14 November 2009World Cup Berlin, Germany [11]
24 21.75 Nicholas Santos  Brazil 6 October 2018World Cup Budapest, Hungary [12]
24 21.75 =Szebasztián Szabó  Hungary 6 November 2021European Championships Kazan, Russia [13]
26 21.67 hNoè Ponti  Switzerland 20 October 2024World Cup Shanghai, China [14]
27 21.50 hNoè Ponti  Switzerland 2 November 2024World Cup Singapore [15][16]
28 21.43 sfNoè Ponti  Switzerland 10 December 2024World Championships Budapest, Hungary [17]
29 21.32 Noè Ponti  Switzerland 11 December 2024World Championships Budapest, Hungary [18][19]
Close
Legend: # – Record awaiting ratification by FINA;
Records not set in finals: h – heat; sf – semifinal; r – relay 1st leg; rh – relay heat 1st leg; b – B final; † – en route to final mark; so – swim-off; tt – time trial

Women long course

More information #, Time ...
# Time NameNationalityDateMeetLocation Ref
1 26.54 Inge de Bruijn Netherlands 18 Jun 1999Netherlands Championships Amersfoort, Netherlands
2 26.39 Anna-Karin Kammerling Sweden 1 Jul 1999Sweden Championships Halmstad, Sweden
3 26.29 Anna-Karin Kammerling Sweden 27 Jul 1999European Championships Istanbul, Turkey
4 25.83 hInge de Bruijn Netherlands 20 May 2000Mare Nostrum Monte Carlo, Monaco
5 25.64 hInge de Bruijn Netherlands 26 May 2000Super Speedo Grand Prix Sheffield, United Kingdom
6 25.57 Anna-Karin Kammerling Sweden 30 Jul 2002European Championships Berlin, Germany
7 25.46 Therese Alshammar Sweden 13 Jun 2007Mare Nostrum Barcelona, Spain [20]
8 25.33 Marleen Veldhuis Netherlands 19 April 2009Swim Cup Amsterdam Amsterdam, Netherlands [21]
9 25.28 sfMarleen Veldhuis Netherlands 31 July 2009World Championships Rome, Italy [22]
10 25.07 sfTherese Alshammar Sweden 31 July 2009World Championships Rome, Italy [22]
11 24.43 Sarah Sjöström Sweden 5 July 2014Swedish Championships Borås, Sweden [23]
Close
Legend: # – Record awaiting ratification by FINA;
Records not set in finals: h – heat; sf – semifinal; r – relay 1st leg; rh – relay heat 1st leg; b – B final; † – en route to final mark; so – swim-off; tt – time trial

Women short course

More information #, Time ...
# Time NameNationalityDateMeetLocation Ref
1 27.54 Christiane Sievert East Germany 10 Feb 1990World Cup meet Bonn, Germany
2 27.25 Inge de Bruijn Netherlands 6 Dec 19911991 European Sprint Swimming Championships Gelsenkirchen, Germany [24]
3 27.11 Kristin Topham Canada 20 Feb 1992Canadian Winter Nationals Winnipeg, Canada [25]
4 26.73 Amy Van Dyken United States 1 Feb 1995World Cup meet Espoo, Finland
5 26.56 hAngela Kennedy Australia 12 Feb 1995World Cup meet Sheffield, United Kingdom
6 26.55 †Misty Hyman United States 19 Apr 1997World SC Championships Gothenburg, Sweden
7 26.48 Jenny Thompson United States 29 Nov 1997Canada Open Toronto, Canada
8 26.05 hJenny Thompson United States 2 Dec 1998World Cup meet College Station, United States
9 26.00 Jenny Thompson United States 18 Nov 1999World Cup meet College Park, United States
10 25.64 Anna-Karin Kammerling Sweden 10 Dec 1999European SC Championships Lisbon, Portugal [26]
11 25.60 Anna-Karin Kammerling Sweden 15 Dec 2000European SC Championships Valencia, Spain
12 25.36 Anna-Karin Kammerling Sweden 25 Jan 2001World Cup meet Stockholm, Sweden
13 25.33 Anna-Karin Kammerling Sweden 12 Mar 2005Sweden 25m Championships Gothenburg, Sweden
14 25.32 Felicity Galvez Australia 11 Apr 2008World SC Championships Manchester, United Kingdom [27]
15 25.31 Therese Alshammar Sweden 12 Nov 2008World Cup meet Stockholm, Sweden [28]
16 24.99 Marieke Guehrer Australia 15 Nov 2008World Cup meet Berlin, Germany [29]
17 24.75 Therese Alshammar Sweden 17 Oct 2009World Cup Durban, South Africa [30]
18 24.46 Therese Alshammar Sweden 11 Nov 2009World Cup meet Stockholm, Sweden [31]
19 24.38 Therese Alshammar Sweden 22 Nov 2009World Cup Singapore [32]
20 24.02 hGretchen Walsh  United States 10 December 2024World Championships Budapest, Hungary [33]
21 23.94 sfGretchen Walsh  United States 10 December 2024World Championships Budapest, Hungary [34]
22 23.72 Gretchen Walsh  United States 11 October 2025World Cup Carmel, United States [35]
Close
Legend: # – Record awaiting ratification by FINA;
Records not set in finals: h – heat; sf – semifinal; r – relay 1st leg; rh – relay heat 1st leg; b – B final; † – en route to final mark; so – swim-off; tt – time trial

All-time top 25

Tables show data for two definitions of "Top 25" - the top 25 50 m butterfly times and the top 25 athletes:
- denotes top performance for athletes in the top 25 50 m butterfly times
- denotes lesser performances, still in the top 25 50 m butterfly times, by repeat athletes
- denotes top performance (only) for other top 25 athletes who fall outside the top 25 50 m butterfly times

Men long course

  • Correct as of August 2026[36]
More information Ath.#, Perf.# ...
Ath.# Perf.# Time Athlete Nation Date Place Ref.
1 1 22.27 Andriy Govorov  Ukraine 1 July 2018 Rome [4]
2 2 22.35 Caeleb Dressel  United States 22 July 2019 Gwangju [37]
3 3 22.36 Egor Kornev  Russia 10 August 2026 Paris [38]
4 4 22.43 Rafael Muñoz  Spain 5 April 2009 Málaga [3]
5 22.45 Muñoz #2 5 April 2009 Málaga
6 22.48 Muñoz #3 22 April 2009 Montpellier [39]
Govorov #2 7 August 2018 Glasgow [40]
5 6 22.48 Maxime Grousset  France 28 July 2025 Singapore [41]
9 22.49 Muñoz #4 22 April 2009 Montpellier [39]
Grousset #2 10 August 2026 Paris [42]
Grousset #3 10 August 2026 Paris [38]
6 12 22.51 Noè Ponti  Switzerland 28 July 2025 Singapore [41]
13 22.52 Kornev #2 11 August 2026 Paris [43]
14 22.53 Govorov #3 16 June 2018 Monaco [44]
Ponti #2 10 August 2026 Paris [38]
16 22.54 Grousset #4 11 August 2026 Paris [43]
17 22.57 Dressel #2 21 July 2019 Gwangju [45]
Dressel #3 19 June 2022 Budapest [46]
19 22.59 Kornev #3 10 June 2026 Kazan [47]
7 19 22.59 Ilya Kharun [a] 29 July 2026 Irvine [48]
8 21 22.60 Nicholas Santos  Brazil 11 May 2019 Budapest [49]
22 22.61 Santos #2 3 May 2017 Rio de Janeiro [50]
Grousset #5 27 July 2025 Singapore [51]
9 24 22.62 Oleg Kostin  Russia 19 April 2023 Kazan [52]
25 22.64 Kharun #2 24 May 2026 Monaco [53]
10 22.67 Milorad Čavić  Serbia 27 July 2009 Rome [54]
Thomas Ceccon  Italy 28 July 2025 Singapore [41]
12 22.68 Diogo Ribeiro  Portugal 10 August 2026 Paris [38]
Hryhory Pekarski  Belarus 11 August 2026 Paris [43]
14 22.69 Sean Niewold  Netherlands 2 July 2026 Eindhoven [55]
15 22.70 Henrique Martins  Brazil 26 June 2017 Belo Horizonte [56]
16 22.71 Luca Armbruster  Germany 10 August 2026 Paris [38]
17 22.72 Nyls Korstanje  Netherlands 26 May 2025 London [57]
18 22.73 Matt Targett  Australia 27 July 2009 Rome [54]
Ben Armbruster  Australia 29 July 2026 Glasgow [58]
Kyle Chalmers  Australia 29 July 2026 Glasgow [58]
21 22.74 Ben Proud  Great Britain 27 July 2025 Singapore [51]
22 22.75 Kristóf Milák  Hungary 10 August 2026 Paris [38]
23 22.76 César Cielo  Brazil 24 April 2012 Rio de Janeiro [59]
24 22.79 Michael Andrew  United States 19 June 2022 Budapest [46]
Dare Rose  United States 23 July 2023 Fukuoka [60]
Stergios Bilas  Greece 10 August 2026 Paris [38]
Close

Men short course

  • Correct as of October 2026[61]
More information Ath.#, Perf.# ...
Ath.# Perf.# Time Athlete Nation Date Place Ref.
1 1 21.32 Noè Ponti  Switzerland 11 December 2024 Budapest [18]
2 21.43 Ponti #2 10 December 2024 Budapest [17]
3 21.50 Ponti #3 2 November 2024 Singapore [15]
4 21.51 Ponti #4 2 December 2025 Lublin [62]
5 21.53 Ponti #5 10 December 2024 Budapest [63]
6 21.54 Ponti #6 3 December 2025 Lublin [64]
2 7 21.62 Nyls Korstanje  Netherlands 10 December 2024 Budapest [63]
8 21.64 Ponti #7 2 November 2024 Singapore [65]
3 8 21.64 Egor Kornev  Russia 3 October 2026 Baku [66]
10 21.65 Ponti #8 12 April 2025 Uster
11 21.67 Ponti #9 20 October 2024 Shanghai [14]
4 11 21.67 Ilya Kharun  Canada[a] 11 December 2024 Budapest [18]
13 21.68 Ponti #10 20 October 2024 Shanghai [67]
Korstanje #2 11 December 2024 Budapest [18]
15 21.69 Kharun #2 19 October 2025 Westmont [68]
16 21.73 Kornev #2 7 November 2025 Kazan [69]
17 21.74 Korstanje #3 2 November 2024 Singapore [65]
5 18 21.75 Nicholas Santos  Brazil 6 October 2018 Budapest [12]
Szebasztián Szabó  Hungary 6 November 2021 Kazan [13]
20 21.76 Ponti #11 26 October 2024 Incheon [70]
21 21.78 Santos #2 10 November 2020 Budapest [71]
Santos #3 14 December 2022 Melbourne
23 21.79 Ponti #12 9 December 2023 Otopeni [72]
7 24 21.80 Steffen Deibler  Germany 14 November 2009 Berlin [11]
24 21.80 Santos #4 16 November 2020 Budapest [73]
Ponti #13 19 October 2025 Westmont [68]
Kharun #3 25 October 2025 Toronto [74]
8 21.86 Guilherme Caribé  Brazil 3 September 2026 São Paulo [75]
9 21.87 Roland Schoeman  South Africa 14 November 2009 Berlin [11]
10 21.90 Ben Armbruster  Australia 29 September 2025 Sydney
11 21.91 Joshua Liendo  Canada 25 October 2025 Toronto [74]
12 21.93 Teong Tzen Wei  Singapore 25 October 2025 Toronto [74]
13 21.95 Chad le Clos  South Africa 6 December 2014 Doha [76]
Maxime Grousset  France 2 December 2025 Lublin [62]
15 21.96 Sun Jiajun  China 24 September 2024 Wuhan [77]
16 21.98 Dylan Carter  Trinidad and Tobago 20 December 2021 Abu Dhabi [78]
17 21.99 Tom Shields  United States 9 October 2021 Budapest [79]
Marius Kusch  Germany 10 December 2024 Budapest [17]
19 22.01 Michele Busa  Italy 11 December 2024 Budapest [18]
20 22.02 Matteo Rivolta  Italy 20 December 2021 Abu Dhabi [78]
21 22.04 Caeleb Dressel  United States 16 November 2020 Budapest [73]
22 22.05 Hryhory Pekarski  Belarus 10 December 2024 Budapest [17]
23 22.06 Daniel Zaitsev  Estonia 2 December 2025 Lublin [62]
24 22.07 Johannes Dietrich  Germany 13 December 2009 Istanbul
Oleg Kostin  Russia 9 November 2019 Kazan
Close

Women long course

  • Correct as of August 2026[80]
More information Ath.#, Perf.# ...
Ath.# Perf.# Time Athlete Nation Date Place Ref.
1 1 24.43 Sarah Sjöström  Sweden 5 July 2014 Borås [23]
2 2 24.51 Gretchen Walsh  United States 26 June 2026 Rome [81]
3 24.60 Sjöström #2 29 July 2017 Budapest [82]
4 24.63 Sjöström #3 17 February 2024 Doha [83]
5 24.65 Walsh #2 12 August 2026 Irvine [84]
6 24.66 Walsh #3 4 June 2025 Indianapolis [85]
7 24.69 Sjöström #4 5 April 2015 Eindhoven [86]
8 24.73 Sjöström #5 21 June 2024 Rome [87]
9 24.74 Sjöström #6 28 July 2023 Fukuoka [88]
10 24.76 Sjöström #7 14 June 2017 Barcelona [89]
11 24.77 Sjöström #8 29 July 2023 Fukuoka [90]
12 24.79 Sjöström #9 26 July 2019 Gwangju [91]
13 24.83 Walsh #4 2 August 2025 Singapore [92]
14 24.87 Sjöström #10 18 August 2014 Berlin [93]
15 24.88 Sjöström #11 16 February 2024 Doha [94]
16 24.89 Sjöström #12 21 May 2023 Monaco
17 24.90 Sjöström #13 11 June 2017 Monaco
18 24.91 Walsh #5 26 June 2026 Rome [95]
Walsh #6 12 August 2026 Irvine [96]
20 24.92 Sjöström #14 25 April 2024 Stockholm
21 24.93 Walsh #7 2 May 2025 Fort Lauderdale [97]
22 24.95 Sjöström #15 18 June 2017 Canet-en-Roussillon
Sjöström #16 24 June 2022 Budapest [98]
Sjöström #17 2 June 2024 Monaco
25 24.96 Sjöström #18 8 August 2015 Kazan [99]
Sjöström #19 8 April 2017 Stockholm
Sjöström #20 13 August 2022 Rome
3 24.99 Kate Douglass  United States 12 August 2026 Irvine [96]
4 25.05 Zhang Yufei  China 29 July 2023 Fukuoka [90]
5 25.07 Therese Alshammar  Sweden 31 July 2009 Rome [22]
6 25.11 Rikako Ikee  Japan 10 June 2018 Canet-en-Roussillon
7 25.12 Roos Vanotterdijk  Belgium 12 August 2026 Paris [100]
8 25.17 Mélanie Henique  France 19 June 2021 Chartres [101]
9 25.20 Fran Halsall  Great Britain 24 July 2014 Glasgow [102]
10 25.23 Taylor Ruck  Canada 12 August 2026 Irvine [84]
11 25.24 Jeanette Ottesen  Denmark 3 August 2013 Barcelona [103]
Ranomi Kromowidjojo  Netherlands 13 March 2021 Amsterdam
13 25.28 Marleen Veldhuis  Netherlands 31 July 2009 Rome [22]
14 25.30 Arina Surkova  Russia 19 April 2023 Kazan [104]
15 25.31 Holly Barratt  Australia 16 August 2019 Singapore [105]
Alexandria Perkins  Australia 2 August 2025 Singapore [92]
17 25.33 Marie Wattel  France 13 August 2022 Rome [106]
Torri Huske  United States 28 June 2023 Indianapolis [107]
19 25.37 Lu Ying  China 8 August 2015 Kazan [99]
20 25.38 Farida Osman  Egypt 24 June 2022 Budapest [98]
21 25.39 Erin Gallagher  South Africa 1 August 2025 Singapore [108]
22 25.43 Claire Curzan  United States 24 June 2022 Budapest [98]
Hazel Ouwehand  New Zealand 23 May 2025 Auckland [109]
24 25.47 Cate Campbell  Australia 1 March 2018 Gold Coast [110]
25 25.48 Marieke Guehrer  Australia 1 August 2009 Rome [111]
Kelsi Dahlia  United States 29 July 2017 Budapest [82]
26 July 2018 Irvine
27 July 2019 Gwangju [112]
Wu Qingfeng  China 20 June 2026 Hangzhou [113]
Close

Women short course

  • Correct as of December 2025[114]
More information Ath.#, Perf.# ...
Ath.# Perf.# Time Athlete Nation Date Place Ref.
1 1 23.72 Gretchen Walsh  United States 11 October 2025 Carmel [35]
2 23.90 Walsh #2 18 October 2025 Westmont [115]
3 23.91 Walsh #3 24 October 2025 Toronto [116]
4 23.94 Walsh #4 10 December 2024 Budapest [34]
5 24.01 Walsh #5 11 December 2024 Budapest [117]
6 24.02 Walsh #6 10 December 2024 Budapest [33]
7 24.13 Walsh #7 11 October 2025 Carmel [118]
8 24.18 Walsh #8 14 December 2024 Budapest [119]
9 24.19 Walsh #9 24 October 2025 Toronto [120]
10 24.26 Walsh #10 18 October 2025 Westmont [121]
11 24.37 Walsh #11 13 December 2024 Budapest [122]
2 12 24.38 Therese Alshammar  Sweden 22 November 2009 Singapore [32]
3 13 24.42 Kate Douglass  United States 1 November 2024 Singapore [123]
4 14 24.43 Béryl Gastaldello  France 11 December 2024 Budapest [117]
5 15 24.44 Ranomi Kromowidjojo  Netherlands 19 December 2021 Abu Dhabi [124]
16 24.46 Alshammar #2 11 November 2009 Stockholm [31]
17 24.47 Kromowidjojo #2 14 December 2018 Hangzhou [125]
18 24.49 Kromowidjojo #3 12 December 2020 Eindhoven [126]
Walsh #12 25 October 2025 Toronto [127]
6 20 24.50 Sarah Sjöström  Sweden 7 November 2021 Kazan [128]
21 24.51 Kromowidjojo #4 10 November 2018 Tokyo [129]
Sjöström #2 19 December 2021 Abu Dhabi [124]
Walsh #13 19 October 2025 Westmont [130]
24 24.52 Sjöström #3 6 August 2017 Berlin [131]
25 24.53 Kromowidjojo #5 20 October 2017 Amsterdam [132]
7 24.55 Claire Curzan  United States 19 December 2021 Abu Dhabi [124]
8 24.56 Mélanie Henique  France 5 December 2019 Glasgow [133]
9 24.58 Arina Surkova  Russia 22 November 2023 Saint Petersburg [134]
10 24.59 Inge Dekker  Netherlands 1 September 2014 Dubai [135]
11 24.60 Alexandria Perkins  Australia 18 October 2025 Westmont [115]
12 24.61 Martine Damborg  Denmark 3 December 2025 Lublin [136]
13 24.64 Torri Huske  United States 14 December 2022 Melbourne [137]
Maggie Mac Neil  Canada 14 December 2022 Melbourne [137]
15 24.68 Tessa Giele  Netherlands 10 December 2024 Budapest [34]
16 24.69 Marieke Guehrer  Australia 15 November 2009 Berlin [138]
17 24.71 Jeanette Ottesen  Denmark 5 December 2014 Doha [139]
Rikako Ikee  Japan 13 January 2018 Tokyo [140]
Zhang Yufei  China 14 December 2022 Melbourne [137]
20 24.75 Holly Barratt  Australia 29 October 2021 Kazan [141]
21 24.76 Maaike de Waard  Netherlands 10 December 2024 Budapest [34]
22 24.80 Madeline Banic  United States 22 November 2020 Budapest [142]
23 24.84 Roos Vanotterdijk  Belgium 3 December 2025 Lublin [136]
24 24.86 Kelsi Dahlia  United States 21 November 2021 Eindhoven [143]
25 24.90 Felicity Galvez  Australia 17 December 2010 Dubai [144]
Close

World champions (long course)

Men

See also: List of World Aquatics Championships medalists in swimming (men) § 50 metre butterfly
More information Edition, Winner ...
Edition Winner Time Notes Ref.
Japan Fukuoka 2001  Geoff Huegill (AUS) 23.50 [b]
Spain Barcelona 2003  Matt Welsh (AUS) 23.43 WR
Canada Montreal 2005  Roland Schoeman (RSA) 22.96 WR
Australia Melbourne 2007  Roland Schoeman (RSA) 23.18
Italy Rome 2009  Milorad Čavić (SRB) 22.67 CR
China Shanghai 2011  César Cielo (BRA) 23.10
Spain Barcelona 2013  César Cielo (BRA) 23.01
Russia Kazan 2015  Florent Manaudou (FRA) 22.97
Hungary Budapest 2017  Ben Proud (GBR) 22.75
South Korea Gwangju 2019  Caeleb Dressel (USA) 22.35 CR
Hungary Budapest 2022  Caeleb Dressel (USA) 22.57
Japan Fukuoka 2023  Thomas Ceccon (ITA) 22.68
Qatar Doha 2024  Diogo Ribeiro (POR) 22.97
Singapore Singapore 2025  Maxime Grousset (FRA) 22.48
Close

Women

See also: List of World Aquatics Championships medalists in swimming (women) § 50 metre butterfly
More information Edition, Winner ...
Edition Winner Time Notes Ref.
Japan Fukuoka 2001  Inge de Bruijn (NED) 25.90 CR
Spain Barcelona 2003  Inge de Bruijn (NED) 25.84 CR
Canada Montreal 2005  Danni Miatke (AUS) 26.11
Australia Melbourne 2007  Therese Alshammar (SWE) 25.91 [c]
Italy Rome 2009  Marieke Guehrer (AUS) 25.48 [d]
China Shanghai 2011  Inge Dekker (NED) 25.71
Spain Barcelona 2013  Jeanette Ottesen (DEN) 25.24
Russia Kazan 2015  Sarah Sjöström (SWE) 24.96 CR
Hungary Budapest 2017  Sarah Sjöström (SWE) 24.60 CR
South Korea Gwangju 2019  Sarah Sjöström (SWE) 25.02
Hungary Budapest 2022  Sarah Sjöström (SWE) 24.95
Japan Fukuoka 2023  Sarah Sjöström (SWE) 24.77
Qatar Doha 2024  Sarah Sjöström (SWE) 24.63
Singapore Singapore 2025  Gretchen Walsh (USA) 24.83
Close

World champions (short course)

Men

See also: List of World Swimming Championships (25 m) medalists (men) § 50 metre butterfly
More information Edition, Winner ...
Edition Winner Time Notes Ref.
Hong Kong Hong Kong 1999  Mark Foster (GBR) 23.61 CR
Greece Athens 2000  Mark Foster (GBR) 23.30 [e]
Russia Moscow 2002  Geoff Huegill (AUS) 22.89 CR
United States Indianapolis 2004  Ian Crocker (USA) 22.71 WR
China Shanghai 2006  Matt Welsh (AUS) 23.05
United Kingdom Manchester 2008  Adam Pine (AUS) 22.78 [f]
United Arab Emirates Dubai 2010  Albert Subirats (VEN) 22.40 CR
Turkey Istanbul 2012  Nicholas Santos (BRA) 22.22 CR
Qatar Doha 2014  Chad le Clos (RSA) 21.95 CR
Canada Windsor 2016  Chad le Clos (RSA) 21.98
China Hangzhou 2018  Nicholas Santos (BRA) 21.81 CR
United Arab Emirates Abu Dhabi 2021  Nicholas Santos (BRA) 21.93
Australia Melbourne 2022  Nicholas Santos (BRA) 21.78 CR
Hungary Budapest 2024  Noè Ponti (SUI) 21.32 WR
Close

Women

See also: List of World Swimming Championships (25 m) medalists (women) § 50 metre butterfly
More information Edition, Winner ...
Edition Winner Time Notes Ref.
Hong Kong Hong Kong 1999  Jenny Thompson (USA) 26.18 [g]
Greece Athens 2000  Jenny Thompson (USA) 26.13 CR
Russia Moscow 2002  Anna-Karin Kammerling (SWE) 25.55 CR
United States Indianapolis 2004  Jenny Thompson (USA) 25.89
China Shanghai 2006  Therese Alshammar (SWE) 25.76
United Kingdom Manchester 2008  Felicity Galvez (AUS) 25.32 WR
United Arab Emirates Dubai 2010  Therese Alshammar (SWE) 24.87 CR
Turkey Istanbul 2012  Lu Ying (CHN) 25.14
Qatar Doha 2014  Sarah Sjöström (SWE) 24.58 CR
Canada Windsor 2016  Jeanette Ottesen (DEN) 24.92
China Hangzhou 2018  Ranomi Kromowidjojo (NED) 24.47 CR
United Arab Emirates Abu Dhabi 2021  Ranomi Kromowidjojo (NED) 24.44 CR
Australia Melbourne 2022  Torri Huske (USA) 24.64
 Maggie Mac Neil (CAN)
Hungary Budapest 2024  Gretchen Walsh (USA) 24.01 [h]
Close

Notes

  1. [a]
    Ilya Kharun initially represented Canada before announcing in January 2026 his intention to switch sporting citizenship to the US. Under World Aquatics rules, athletes must cease representing their former nation for 12 months before they can represent their new nation; Kharun becomes eligible to represent the US in October 2026. The attributed nation (or lack thereof) indicates which team he represented at the time.
  2. [b]
    Geoff Huegill set a world record of 23.44 in the semifinals.
  3. [c]
    Therese Alshammar set a championship record of 25.82 in the semifinals.
  4. [d]
    Therese Alshammar set a world record of 25.07 in the semifinals.
  5. [e]
    Lars Frölander set a championship record of 23.19 in the heats.
  6. [f]
    Adam Pine set a championship record of 22.70 in the semifinals.
  7. [g]
    Inge de Bruijn set a world record of 26.16 in the heats.
  8. [h]
    Gretchen Walsh set a world record of 23.94 in the semifinals.

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