World record progression 400 metres freestyle

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The first world record in the men's 400 metres freestyle in long course (50 metres) swimming was recognised by FINA (now World Aquatics) in 1908. In the short course (25 metres) swimming events the world's governing body recognizes world records since 3 March 1991.

The drop in world record times in 2008–2009 coincided with the introduction of polyurethane suits from Speedo (LZR, 50% polyurethane) in 2008 and by Arena (X-Glide), Adidas (Hydrofoil) and Italian swimming suit manufacturer Jaked (all 100% polyurethane) in 2009. FINA's ban on non-textile suit came into effect in January 2010.[1] FINA also released a list of approved suits.

Men

Long course

More information #, Time ...
# Time NameNationalityDateMeetLocation Ref
1 5:36.8 Henry Taylor Great Britain 16 July 1908Olympic Games London, United Kingdom
2 5:35.8 Sydney Battersby Great Britain 11 September 1911Local Meet (Kentish Town) London, United Kingdom [2]
3 5:29.0 Alajos Kenyery Hungary 21 April 1912- Magdeburg, Germany
4 5:28.4 Alajos Kenyery Hungary 5 June 1912- Budapest, Hungary
5 5:24.4 George Hodgson Canada 14 July 1912Olympic Games Stockholm, Sweden
6 5:21.6 Jack Hatfield Great Britain 26 September 1912Local Meet (Shoreditch) London, United Kingdom [3]
7 5:14.6 Norman Ross United States 9 October 1919- Los Angeles, United States
8 5:14.4 Norman Ross United States 25 September 1921- Brighton Beach, United States [4]
9 5:11.8 Arne Borg Sweden 9 April 1922Local Meet Stockholm, Sweden [5]
10 5:06.6 Johnny Weissmuller United States 22 June 1922- Honolulu, United States
11 4:57.0 Johnny Weissmuller United States 6 March 1923- New Haven, United States
12 4:54.7 Arne Borg Sweden 9 December 1924Local Meet Stockholm, Sweden [6]
13 4:50.3 Arne Borg Sweden 11 September 1925Local Meet Stockholm, Sweden [7]
14 4:47.0 Jean Taris France 16 April 1931Local Meet Paris, France [8]
15 4:46.4 Shozo Makino Japan 14 August 1933- Tokyo, Japan
16 4:38.7 Jack Medica United States 30 August 1934- Honolulu, United States
17 4:38.5 Bill Smith United States 13 May 1941- Honolulu, United States
18 4:35.2 Alex Jany France 12 September 1947European Championships Monte Carlo, Monaco [9]
19 4:34.6 Hironoshin Furuhashi Japan 24 July 1949Local Meet Tokyo, Japan [10]
20 4:33.3 Hironoshin Furuhashi Japan 18 August 1949US National Championships Los Angeles, United States [11]
21 4:33.1 John Marshall Australia 11 March 1950Intercollegiate Event New Haven, United States [12]
22 4:29.5 John Marshall Australia 1 April 1950US National Indoor Championships New Haven, United States [13]
- 4:26.9 [A]John Marshall Australia 24 March 1951Sanctioned Time Trial New Haven, United States [14]
- 4:26.7 [A]Ford Konno United States 3 April 1954Intercollegiate Event New Haven, United States [15]
- 4:25.9 [A]Murray Rose Australia 12 January 1957NSW Championships Sydney, Australia [16]
23 4:27.0 [A]Murray Rose Australia 27 October 1956Australian Championships Melbourne, Australia [17][18]
24 4:25.9 John Konrads Australia 15 January 1958NSW Championships Sydney, Australia [19]
25 4:21.8 John Konrads Australia 12 January 1959Australian Championships Melbourne, Australia [20]
26 4:19.0 John Konrads Australia 7 February 1959International Swim Meet Sydney, Australia [21]
27 4:16.6 Tsuyoshi Yamanaka Japan 26 July 1959Japan-USA Water Competition Osaka, Japan [22]
28 4:15.9 John Konrads Australia 23 February 1960Australian Championships Sydney, Australia [23]
29 4:13.4 Murray Rose Australia 17 August 1962International Invitational Chicago, United States
30 4:12.7 Don Schollander United States 31 July 1964US National Championships Los Altos, United States [24]
31 4:12.2 Don Schollander United States 15 October 1964Olympic Games Tokyo, Japan
32 4:11.8 John Nelson United States 18 August 1966US National Championships Lincoln, United States [25]
33 4:11.6 Don Schollander United States 18 August 1966US National Championships Lincoln, United States [26]
34 4:11.1 Frank Wiegand East Germany 25 August 1966European Championships Utrecht, Netherlands [27]
35 4:10.6 Mark Spitz United States 25 June 1967Local Event Haywood, United States [28]
35 4:10.6 =Alain Mosconi France 2 July 1967Local Event Monte Carlo, Monaco [29]
37 4:09.2 Alain Mosconi France 4 July 1967Local Event Monte Carlo, Monaco [30]
38 4:08.8 Mark Spitz United States 7 July 1967Santa Clara International Santa Clara, United States [31]
39 4:08.2 Greg Charlton United States 28 August 1967Summer Universiade Tokyo, Japan [32]
40 4:07.7 Mark Spitz United States 23 June 1968Annual Swimming Relays Haywood, United States
41 4:06.5 Ralph Hutton Canada 1 August 1968US National Championships Lincoln, United States
42 4:04.0 Hans-Joachim Fassnacht West Germany 14 August 1969US National Championships Louisville, United States
43 4:02.8 John Kinsella United States 20 August 1970US National Championships Los Angeles, United States
44 4:02.6 Gunnar Larsson United States 7 September 1970European Championships Barcelona, Spain
45 4:02.1 Tom McBreen United States 25 August 1971US National Championships Houston, United States
46 4:01.7 Brad Cooper Australia 12 February 1972Australian Championships Brisbane, Australia
47 4:00.11 Kurt Krumpholz United States 4 August 1972US Olympic Trials Chicago, United States
48 3:58.18 Rick DeMont United States 9 September 1973World Championships Belgrade, Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
49 3:56.96 hTim Shaw United States 22 August 1974US National Championships Concord, United States [33]
50 3:54.69 Tim Shaw United States 22 August 1974US National Championships Concord, United States [33]
51 3:53.95 Tim Shaw United States 19 June 1975US World Championship Trials Long Beach, United States
52 3:53.31 Tim Shaw United States 20 August 1975US National Championships Kansas City, United States
53 3:53.08 Brian Goodell United States 18 June 1976US Olympic Trials Long Beach, United States [34]
54 3:51.93 Brian Goodell United States 22 July 1976Olympic Games Montreal, Canada
55 3:51.56 Brian Goodell United States 27 August 1977USA vs East Germany Dual Meet West Berlin, West Germany
56 3:51.41 Vladimir Salnikov Soviet Union 6 April 1979Soviet Union vs East Germany Junior Meet Potsdam, East Germany
57 3:51.40 Vladimir Salnikov Soviet Union 19 August 1979Soviet Union vs Canada Dual Meet Moscow, Soviet Union
58 3:51.20 Vladimir Salnikov Soviet Union 29 February 1980Soviet Union Winter Championships Potsdam, East Germany
59 3:50.49 Peter Szmidt Canada 16 July 1980Canadian Championships Etobicoke, Canada [35]
60 3:49.57 Vladimir Salnikov Soviet Union 12 March 1982Soviet Union vs East Germany Dual Meet Moscow, Soviet Union
60 3:49.57 =Vladimir Salnikov Soviet Union 14 July 1982Soviet Union Championships Kiev, Soviet Union
62 3:48.32 Vladimir Salnikov Soviet Union 19 February 1983Soviet Union Winter Championships Moscow, Soviet Union
63 3:47.80 Michael Gross West Germany 27 June 1985West German Championships Wuppertal, West Germany
64 3:47.38 Artur Wojdat Poland 25 March 1988US National Championships Orlando, United States
65 3:46.95 Uwe Dassler East Germany 23 September 1988Olympic Games Seoul, South Korea
66 3:46.47 Kieren Perkins Australia 3 April 1992Australian Championships Canberra, Australia
67 3:45.00 Yevgeny Sadovyi Unified Team at the Olympics 29 July 1992Olympic Games Barcelona, Spain
68 3:43.80 Kieren Perkins Australia 5 September 1994World Championships Rome, Italy
69 3:41.83 Ian Thorpe Australia 22 August 1999Pan Pacific Championships Sydney, Australia
70 3:41.33 Ian Thorpe Australia 13 May 2000Australian Championships Sydney, Australia [36]
71 3:40.59 Ian Thorpe Australia 16 September 2000Olympic Games Sydney, Australia [37]
72 3:40.17 Ian Thorpe Australia 22 July 2001World Championships Fukuoka, Japan [38]
73 3:40.08 Ian Thorpe Australia 30 July 2002Commonwealth Games Manchester, United Kingdom [39]
74 3:40.07 Paul Biedermann Germany 26 July 2009World Championships Rome, Italy [40]
75 3:39.96 Lukas Märtens Germany 12 April 2025Stockholm Open Stockholm, Sweden [41]
Close
  1. ^As of 1 May 1957, World Aquatics required records to be set in a 50-metre pool. This resulted in the annulment of Murray Rose's world record of 4:25.9. As John Marshall's 4:26.9 and Ford Konno's 4:26.7 were also set in 25-metre pools, the world record was reverted to Rose's 4:27.0 from 1956.

Short course

More information #, Time ...
# Time NameNationalityDateMeetLocation Ref
1 3:41.74 Giorgio Lamberti Italy 13 February 1988German Invitational Bonn, West Germany
2 3:40.81 Anders Holmertz Sweden 4 February 1990World Cup Paris, France
3 3:40.46 Danyon Loader New Zealand 11 February 1995World Cup Sheffield, United Kingdom
4 3:39.82 Ian Thorpe Australia 25 September 1998Australian Championships Perth, Australia
5 3:35.01 Grant Hackett Australia 2 April 1999World Championships Hong Kong [42]
6 3:34.58 Grant Hackett Australia 18 July 2002Swimming Australia Grand Prix Sydney, Australia [43]
7 3:32.77 Paul Biedermann Germany 14 November 2009World Cup Berlin, Germany [44]
8 3:32.25 Yannick Agnel France 15 November 2012French Championships Angers, France [45]
Close

Women

Long course

More information #, Time ...
# Time NameNationalityDateMeetLocation Ref
1 6:30.2 Ethelda Bleibtrey United States 16 August 1919- New York City, United States
2 6:16.6 Hilda James Great Britain 29 July 1921- Leeds, United Kingdom
3 5:53.2 Gertrude Ederle United States 4 August 1922- Indianapolis, United States
4 5:51.4 Martha Norelius United States 23 January 1927- Coral Gables, United States
5 5:49.6 Martha Norelius United States 30 June 1928- New York City, United States
6 5:42.8 Martha Norelius United States 6 August 1928Olympic Games Amsterdam, Netherlands
7 5:39.2 Martha Norelius United States 27 August 1928- Vienna, Austria
8 5:31.0 Helene Madison United States 3 February 1931- Seattle, United States
9 5:28.5 Helene Madison United States 13 August 1932- Los Angeles, United States
10 5:16.0 Willy den Ouden Netherlands 12 July 1934- Rotterdam, Netherlands
11 5:14.2 Ragnhild Hveger Denmark 10 February 1937- Copenhagen, Denmark
12 5:14.0 Ragnhild Hveger Denmark 3 October 1937- Ghent, Belgium
13 5:12.4 Ragnhild Hveger Denmark 14 November 1937- Magdeburg, Germany
14 5:11.0 Ragnhild Hveger Denmark 12 December 1937- Copenhagen, Denmark
15 5:08.2 Ragnhild Hveger Denmark 16 January 1938- Copenhagen, Denmark
16 5:06.1 Ragnhild Hveger Denmark 1 August 1938- Copenhagen, Denmark
17 5:05.4 Ragnhild Hveger Denmark 8 September 1940- Svendborg, Denmark
18 5:00.1 Ragnhild Hveger Denmark 15 September 1940- Copenhagen, Denmark
19 4:50.8 Lorraine Crapp Australia 25 August 1956- Townsville, Australia
20 4:47.2 Lorraine Crapp Australia 20 October 1956- Sydney, Australia
21 4:45.4 Ilsa Konrads Australia 9 January 1960- Sydney, Australia
22 4:44.5 Chris von Saltza United States 5 August 1960US Olympic Trials Detroit, United States [46]
23 4:42.0 Marilyn Ramenofsky United States 11 July 1964- Los Altos, United States
24 4:41.7 Marilyn Ramenofsky United States 1 August 1964US National Championships Los Altos, United States
25 4:39.5 Marilyn Ramenofsky United States 31 August 1964- New York City, United States
26 4:39.2 Martha Randall United States 14 August 1965- Maumee, United States
27 4:38.0 Martha Randall United States 26 August 1965- Monaco
28 4:36.8 Pam Kruse United States 30 June 1967- Fort Lauderdale, United States
29 4:36.4 Pam Kruse United States 7 July 1967Santa Clara International Santa Clara, United States [47]
30 4:32.6 Debbie Meyer United States 27 July 1967Pan American Games Winnipeg, Canada
31 4:29.0 Debbie Meyer United States 18 August 1967US National Championships Philadelphia, United States
32 4:26.7 Debbie Meyer United States 1 August 1967US National Championships Lincoln, United States
33 4:24.6 Debbie Meyer United States 25 August 1968US Olympic Trials Los Angeles, United States [48]
34 4:24.3 Debbie Meyer United States 20 August 1970US National Championships Los Angeles, United States
35 4:22.6 Karen Moras Australia 30 April 1971Coca-Cola International London, United Kingdom
36 4:21.2 Shane Gould Australia 9 July 1971Santa Clara International Santa Clara, United States
37 4:19.04 Shane Gould Australia 30 August 1972Olympic Games Munich, West Germany
38 4:18.07 Keena Rothhammer United States 22 August 1973US National Championships Louisville, United States
39 4:17.33 Heather Greenwood United States 28 June 1974Santa Clara International Santa Clara, United States
40 4:15.77 Shirley Babashoff United States 22 August 1974US National Championships Concord, United States
41 4:14.76 Shirley Babashoff United States 20 June 1975US World Championships Trials Long Beach, United States
42 4:11.69 Barbara Krause East Germany 3 June 1976East German Championships East Berlin, East Germany
43 4:09.89 Petra Thümer East Germany 20 July 1976Olympic Games Montreal, Canada
44 4:08.91 Petra Thümer East Germany 17 August 1977European Championships Jönköping, Sweden
45 4:07.66 Kim Linehan United States 2 August 1978US National Championships The Woodlands, United States [49]
46 4:06.28 Tracey Wickham Australia 24 August 1978World Championships West Berlin, West Germany
47 4:05.45 Janet Evans United States 20 December 1987US Open Orlando, United States
48 4:03.85 Janet Evans United States 22 September 1988Olympic Games Seoul, South Korea
49 4:03.03 Laure Manaudou France 12 May 2006French Championships Tours, France
50 4:02.13 Laure Manaudou France 6 August 2006European Championships Budapest, Hungary [50]
51 4:01.53 Federica Pellegrini Italy 24 March 2008European Championships Eindhoven, Netherlands [51]
52 4:00.66 Joanne Jackson Great Britain 16 March 2009British Championships Sheffield, United Kingdom [52]
53 4:00.41 Federica Pellegrini Italy 27 June 2009Mediterranean Games Pescara, Italy [53]
54 3:59.15 Federica Pellegrini Italy 26 July 2009World Championships Rome, Italy [54]
55 3:58.86 Katie Ledecky United States 9 August 2014US National Championships Irvine, United States [55]
56 3:58.37 Katie Ledecky United States 23 August 2014Pan Pacific Championships Gold Coast, Australia [56]
57 3:56.46 Katie Ledecky United States 7 August 2016Olympic Games Rio de Janeiro, Brazil [57]
58 3:56.40 Ariarne Titmus Australia 22 May 2022Australian Championships Adelaide, Australia [58]
59 3:56.08 Summer McIntosh Canada 28 March 2023Canadian Trials Toronto, Canada [59]
60 3:55.38 Ariarne Titmus Australia 23 July 2023World Championships Fukuoka, Japan [60]
61 3:54.18 Summer McIntosh Canada 7 June 2025Canadian Trials Victoria, Canada [61]
Close

Short course

More information #, Time ...
# Time NameNationalityDateMeetLocation Ref
1 4:02.59 Cynthia Woodhead United States 1 April 1979- Austin, United States [62]
2 4:02.05 Astrid Strauss East Germany 8 February 1987Bonn Arena Festival Bonn, West Germany
3 4:00.03 Claudia Poll Costa Rica 18 April 1997World Championships Gothenburg, Sweden [63]
4 3:59.53 Lindsay Benko United States 26 January 2003World Cup Berlin, Germany [64]
5 3:56.79 Laure Manaudou France 10 December 2005European Championships Trieste, Italy [65]
6 3:56.09 Laure Manaudou France 9 December 2006European Championships Helsinki, Finland [66]
7 3:54.92 Joanne Jackson Great Britain 8 August 2009British Grand Prix Leeds, United Kingdom [67]
8 3:54.85 Camille Muffat France 24 November 2012European Championships Chartres, France [68]
9 3:54.52 Mireia Belmonte Spain 11 August 2013World Cup Berlin, Germany [69]
10 3:53.97 Wang Jianjiahe China 4 October 2018World Cup Budapest, Hungary [70]
11 3:53.92 Ariarne Titmus Australia 14 December 2018World Championships Hangzhou, China [71]
12 3:51.30 Li Bingjie China 27 October 2022Chinese National Championships Beijing, China [72]
13 3:50.25 Summer McIntosh Canada 10 December 2024World Championships Budapest, Hungary [73]
Close

All-time top 25

Tables show data for two definitions of "Top 25" - the top 25 400 m freestyle times and the top 25 athletes:
- denotes top performance for athletes in the top 25 400 m freestyle times
- denotes lesser performances, still in the top 25 400 m freestyle times, by repeat athletes
- denotes top performance (only) for other top 25 athletes who fall outside the top 25 400 m freestyle times

Men long course

  • Correct as of March 2026[74]
More information Ath.#, Perf.# ...
Ath.# Perf.# Time Athlete Nation Date Place Ref.
1 1 3:39.96 Lukas Märtens  Germany 12 April 2025 Stockholm [41]
2 2 3:40.07 Paul Biedermann  Germany 26 July 2009 Rome [40]
3 3 3:40.08 Ian Thorpe  Australia 30 July 2002 Manchester [39]
4 4 3:40.14 Sun Yang  China 28 July 2012 London [75]
5 3:40.17 Thorpe #2 22 July 2001 Fukuoka [38]
6 3:40.29 Sun #2 23 September 2011 Rizhao [76]
7 3:40.33 Märtens #2 25 April 2024 Berlin [77]
8 3:40.54 Thorpe #3 18 March 2002 Brisbane [78]
9 3:40.59 Thorpe #4 16 September 2000 Sydney [37]
10 3:40.61 Märtens #3 1 May 2025 Berlin [79]
5 11 3:40.68 Samuel Short  Australia 23 July 2023 Fukuoka [80]
6 12 3:40.70 Ahmed Hafnaoui  Tunisia 23 July 2023 Fukuoka [80]
13 3:40.76 Thorpe #5 24 March 2001 Hobart [81]
14 3:41.03 Short #2 9 June 2025 Adelaide [82]
7 15 3:41.11 Oussama Mellouli  Tunisia 26 July 2009 Rome [40]
8 16 3:41.22 Elijah Winnington  Australia 18 June 2022 Budapest [83]
17 3:41.33 Thorpe #6 13 May 2000 Sydney [36]
9 18 3:41.35 Zhang Lin  China 26 July 2009 Rome [40]
19 3:41.38 Sun #3 23 July 2017 Budapest [84]
20 3:41.41 Winnington #2 17 April 2024 Gold Coast [85]
21 3:41.48 Sun #4 5 April 2011 Wuhan [86]
10 22 3:41.53 Park Tae-hwan  South Korea 16 November 2010 Guangzhou [87]
11 23 3:41.55 Mack Horton  Australia 6 August 2016 Rio de Janeiro [88]
Zhang Zhanshuo  China 21 March 2026 Shenzhen [89]
25 3:41.59 Sun #5 28 July 2013 Barcelona [90]
13 3:42.42 Kim Woo-min  South Korea 1 June 2024 Monaco [91]
14 3:42.51 Grant Hackett  Australia 22 July 2001 Fukuoka [38]
15 3:42.76 Guilherme Costa  Brazil 27 July 2024 Paris [92]
16 3:42.78 Larsen Jensen  United States 10 August 2008 Beijing [93]
17 3:42.81 Oliver Klemet  Germany 19 April 2024 Magdeburg [94]
18 3:43.11 Peter Vanderkaay  United States 10 August 2008 Beijing [93]
19 3:43.23 Gabriele Detti  Italy 19 July 2019 Gwangju [95]
20 3:43.24 Felix Auböck  Austria 23 June 2024 Belgrade [96]
21 3:43.27 Jack McLoughlin  Australia 12 June 2021 Adelaide [97]
22 3:43.33 Rex Maurer  United States 6 June 2025 Indianapolis [98]
23 3:43.36 Danas Rapsys  Lithuania 12 May 2019 Budapest [99]
24 3:43.40 Massimiliano Rosolino  Italy 16 September 2000 Sydney [37]
25 3:43.42 Conor Dwyer  United States 6 August 2016 Rio de Janeiro [100]
Close

Men short course

  • Correct as of December 2025[101]
More information Ath.#, Perf.# ...
Ath.# Perf.# Time Athlete Nation Date Place Ref.
1 1 3:32.25 Yannick Agnel  France 15 November 2012 Angers [45]
2 2 3:32.77 Paul Biedermann  Germany 14 November 2009 Berlin [44]
3 3 3:33.20 Danas Rapšys  Lithuania 4 December 2019 Glasgow [102]
4 3:34.01 Rapšys #2 11 December 2018 Hangzhou [103]
4 5 3:34.32 Péter Bernek  Hungary 5 December 2014 Doha [104]
5 6 3:34.38 Kieran Smith  United States 15 December 2022 Melbourne [105]
6 7 3:34.46 Duncan Scott  Great Britain 31 October 2024 Singapore [106]
8 3:34.55 Biedermann #2 10 December 2009 Istanbul [107]
7 9 3:34.58 Grant Hackett  Australia 18 July 2002 Sydney [43]
8 10 3:34.59 Park Tae-hwan  South Korea 6 December 2016 Windsor [108]
9 11 3:34.63 Ian Thorpe  Australia 21 January 2003 Stockholm [109]
10 12 3:34.66 Zhang Lin  China 22 February 2009 Tokyo [110]
11 13 3:34.81 Peter Vanderkaay  United States 22 February 2009 Tokyo [110]
14 3:35.01 Hackett #2 2 April 1999 Hong Kong [42]
12 15 3:35.05 Thomas Neill  Australia 15 December 2022 Melbourne [105]
16 3:35.16 Hackett #3 19 July 2008 Melbourne [111]
13 17 3:35.30 Aleksandr Krasnykh  Russia 6 December 2016 Windsor [108]
18 3:35.36 Hackett #4 31 August 2007 Melbourne [112]
19 3:35.46 Bernek #2 2 December 2015 Netanya [113]
14 20 3:35.47 Daniel Wiffen  Ireland 5 December 2023 Otopeni [114]
21 3:35.49 Rapšys #3 1 November 2020 Budapest [115]
22 3:35.51 Krasnykh #2 13 December 2017 Copenhagen [116]
23 3:35.54 Vanderkaay #2 18 December 2009 Manchester [117]
24 3:35.64 Thorpe #2 2 April 1999 Hong Kong [42]
15 25 3:35.67 Luke Hobson  United States 26 August 2022 Sydney [118]
16 3:35.75 Nikita Lobintsev  Russia 10 December 2009 Istanbul [107]
17 3:35.89 Elijah Winnington  Australia 12 December 2024 Budapest [119]
18 3:35.90 Felix Auböck  Austria 16 December 2021 Abu Dhabi [120]
19 3:36.09 Tyler Melbourne-Smith  Great Britain 11 December 2025 Sheffield [121]
20 3:36.12 Samuel Short  Australia 1 October 2025 Melbourne [122]
21 3:36.30 Matthew Sates  South Africa 21 October 2022 Berlin [123]
22 3:36.31 Carson Foster  United States 12 December 2024 Budapest [119]
23 3:36.33 Jack McMillan  Great Britain 2 December 2025 Lublin [124]
24 3:36.35 James Guy  Great Britain 5 December 2014 Doha [104]
25 3:36.43 Pan Zhanle  China 24 October 2024 Incheon [125]
Close

Women long course

  • Correct as of December 2025[126]
More information Ath.#, Perf.# ...
Ath.# Perf.# Time Athlete Nation Date Place Ref.
1 1 3:54.18 Summer McIntosh  Canada 7 June 2025 Victoria [61]
2 3:55.37 McIntosh #2 4 December 2025 Austin [127]
2 3 3:55.38 Ariarne Titmus  Australia 23 July 2023 Fukuoka [60]
4 3:55.44 Titmus #2 10 June 2024 Brisbane [128]
5 3:56.08 McIntosh #3 28 March 2023 Toronto [59]
6 3:56.26 McIntosh #4 27 July 2025 Singapore [129]
7 3:56.40 Titmus #3 22 May 2022 Adelaide [58]
3 8 3:56.46 Katie Ledecky  United States 7 August 2016 Rio de Janeiro [57]
9 3:56.69 Titmus #4 26 July 2021 Tokyo [130]
10 3:56.81 Ledecky #2 1 May 2025 Fort Lauderdale [131]
11 3:56.90 Titmus #5 13 June 2021 Adelaide [132]
12 3:57.36 Ledecky #3 26 July 2021 Tokyo [130]
13 3:57.49 Titmus #6 27 July 2024 Paris [133]
14 3:57.94 Ledecky #4 27 May 2018 Indianapolis [134]
15 3:58.06 Titmus #7 3 August 2022 Birmingham [135]
16 3:58.15 Ledecky #5 18 June 2022 Budapest [136]
4 17 3:58.21 Li Bingjie  China 27 July 2025 Singapore [129]
18 3:58.28 McIntosh #5 1 May 2025 Fort Lauderdale [131]
19 3:58.34 Ledecky #6 23 July 2017 Budapest [137]
20 3:58.35 Ledecky #7 15 June 2024 Indianapolis [138]
21 3:58.37 Ledecky #8 23 August 2014 Gold Coast [56]
McIntosh #6 27 July 2024 Paris [133]
23 3:58.44 Ledecky #9 30 June 2017 Indianapolis [139]
24 3:58.47 Titmus #8 13 June 2023 Melbourne [140]
25 3:58.49 Ledecky #10 27 July 2025 Singapore [129]
5 3:58.87 Lani Pallister  Australia 27 July 2025 Singapore [129]
6 3:59.15 Federica Pellegrini  Italy 26 July 2009 Rome [54]
7 3:59.44 Erika Fairweather  New Zealand 11 February 2024 Doha [141]
8 4:00.05 Claire Weinstein  United States 6 June 2025 Indianapolis [142]
9 4:00.60 Joanne Jackson  Great Britain 26 July 2009 Rome [54]
10 4:00.65 Leah Smith  United States 27 June 2016 Omaha [143]
11 4:00.79 Rebecca Adlington  Great Britain 26 July 2009 Rome [54]
12 4:01.13 Camille Muffat  France 18 March 2012 Dunkirk [144]
13 4:01.23 Jazmin Carlin  Great Britain 7 August 2016 Rio de Janeiro [57]
14 4:01.31 Ajna Késely  Hungary 21 July 2019 Gwangju [145]
15 4:01.77 Allison Schmitt  United States 29 July 2012 London [146]
16 4:01.90 Yang Peiqi  China 10 November 2025 Shenzhen [147]
17 4:01.95 Tang Muhan  China 20 September 2021 Xi'an [148]
18 4:02.08 Paige Madden  United States 15 June 2024 Indianapolis [138]
19 4:02.13 Laure Manaudou  France 31 July 2006 Budapest [50]
20 4:02.14 Isabel Gose  Germany 27 July 2024 Paris [133]
21 4:02.20 Katie Hoff  United States 16 February 2008 Columbia [149]
22 4:02.35 Chen Qian  China 17 October 2009 Jinan [150]
23 4:02.37 Boglárka Kapás  Hungary 7 August 2016 Rio de Janeiro [57]
24 4:02.47 Melani Costa  Spain 28 July 2013 Barcelona [151]
25 4:02.57 Liu Yaxin  China 17 May 2025 Shenzhen [152]
Close

Women short course

  • Correct as of December 2025[153]
More information Ath.#, Perf.# ...
Ath.# Perf.# Time Athlete Nation Date Place Ref.
1 1 3:50.25 Summer McIntosh  Canada 10 December 2024 Budapest [73]
2 2 3:51.30 Li Bingjie  China 27 October 2022 Beijing [72]
3 3 3:51.87 Lani Pallister  Australia 23 October 2025 Toronto [154]
4 3:52.42 Pallister #2 17 October 2025 Westmont [155]
5 3:52.80 McIntosh #2 28 October 2022 Toronto [156]
4 6 3:52.88 Katie Ledecky  United States 28 October 2022 Toronto [156]
7 3:53.73 Pallister #3 10 December 2024 Budapest [73]
5 8 3:53.92 Ariarne Titmus  Australia 14 December 2018 Hangzhou [71]
6 9 3:53.97 Wang Jianjiahe  China 4 October 2018 Budapest [70]
10 3:54.04 Ledecky #2 3 November 2022 Indianapolis [157]
11 3:54.06 Ledecky #3 6 October 2019 Indianapolis [158]
12 3:54.16 Pallister #4 25 October 2025 Toronto [159]
7 13 3:54.33 Isabel Gose  Germany 2 December 2025 Lublin [160]
14 3:54.38 Pallister #5 10 October 2025 Carmel [161]
8 15 3:54.52 Mireia Belmonte  Spain 11 August 2013 Berlin [69]
16 3:54.56 Wang #2 14 December 2018 Hangzhou [71]
17 3:54.58 Titmus #2 27 October 2020 Brisbane [162]
18 3:54.63 Wang #3 28 September 2018 Eindhoven [163]
9 19 3:54.85 Camille Muffat  France 24 November 2012 Chartres [68]
10 20 3:54.88 Mary-Sophie Harvey  Canada 10 December 2024 Budapest [73]
11 21 3:54.92 Joanne Jackson  Great Britain 8 August 2009 Leeds [67]
22 3:54.93 Muffat #2 21 October 2012 Berlin [164]
23 3:55.04 Pallister #6 13 December 2022 Melbourne [165]
12 24 3:55.12 Paige Madden  United States 10 December 2024 Budapest [73]
13 25 3:55.16 Lauren Boyle  New Zealand 8 August 2013 Eindhoven [166]
14 3:55.89 Allison Schmitt  United States 18 December 2009 Manchester [167]
15 3:56.00 Erika Fairweather  New Zealand 13 December 2022 Melbourne [165]
16 3:56.09 Laure Manaudou  France 9 December 2006 Helsinki [66]
17 3:56.12 Claire Weinstein  United States 10 December 2024 Budapest [73]
18 3:56.24 Coralie Balmy  France 16 November 2008 Berlin [168]
19 3:56.52 Siobhán Haughey  Hong Kong 21 October 2022 Berlin [169]
20 3:56.70 Simona Quadarella  Italy 2 December 2025 Lublin [160]
21 3:56.71 Freya Colbert  Great Britain 2 December 2025 Lublin [160]
22 3:56.84 Melani Costa  Spain 8 August 2013 Eindhoven [166]
23 3:57.07 Katie Hoff  United States 17 December 2010 Dubai [170]
24 3:57.45 Holly Hibbott  Great Britain 21 December 2019 Las Vegas [171]
25 3:57.59 Federica Pellegrini  Italy 6 March 2011 Rome
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