World record progression 200 metres backstroke


This is a history of the progression of the world record for the 200-meter backstroke event. It is a listing of the fastest-time-ever swum in the event, in both long course and short course swimming pools. These records are maintained/recognized by FINA, which oversees international competitive swimming and aquatics.
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

Old regulations

NoTimeNameNationalityDateLocation
13'04"4Oscar Schiele Germany27 June 1909Berlin, Germany
22'59"8George Arnold Germany3 January 1910Magdeburg, Germany
32'56"4Maurice Wechesser18 October 1910Schaerbeek, Belgium
42'50"6Hermann Pentz Germany11 March 1911Magdeburg, Germany
52'48"4Otto Fahr Germany3 April 1912Magdeburg, Germany
62'47"1Walter Laufer24 June 1926Bremen, Germany
72'44"9Walter Laufer11 July 1926Nuremberg, Germany
82'38"8Walter Laufer13 July 1926Magdeburg, Germany
92'37"8Toshio Irie14 October 1928Tamagawa, Japan
102'32"2George Kojac16 June 1930New Haven, United States
112'27"8Al Vande Weghe30 August 1934Honolulu, Hawaii
122'24"0Adolph Kiefer11 April 1935Chicago, United States
132'23"0Adolph Kiefer23 May 1941Honolulu, Hawaii
142'22"9Harry Holiday18 May 1943Detroit, United States
152'19"3Adolph Kiefer4 March 1944Annapolis, United States
162'18"5Allen Stack4 May 1949New Haven, United States
172'18"3Gilbert Bozon26 June 1953Algiers, Algeria

New regulations

Short course

Women

Long course

Old Regulations

New Regulations

Short course

All-time top 25

Men

PosTimeSwimmerDateVenue
11:51.9231 July 2009Italy
21:52.5131 July 2009Italy
31:52.9629 July 2011China
41:53.177 November 2015United Arabic Emirates
51:53.368 August 2018Great Britain
61:53.412 August 2012Great Britain
71:53.579 August 2018Japan
81:53.9923 August 2018Indonesia
91:54.2310 April 2014Japan
101:54.242 August 2013Spain
111:54.595 August 2009United States
121:54.6531 July 2007United States
131:54.7531 July 2009Italy
141:54.771 July 2016United States
151:54.9231 July 2009Italy
161:55.1428 July 2017Hungary
171:55.2530 July 2009Italy
181:55.4710 July 2013Russia
191:55.4915 August 2008China
201:55.538 April 2017China
211:55.5423 August 2018Indonesia
221:55.5623 July 2016United States
231:55.578 July 2019Italy
241:55.584 October 2010India
241:55.5828 July 2017Hungary

Women

PosTimeSwimmerDateVenue
12:03.3526 July 2019South Korea
22:04.063 August 2012Great Britain
32:04.811 August 2009Italy
42:04.941 August 2009Italy
52:05.6829 July 2017Hungary
62:05.726 April 2019Italy
72:05.8529 July 2017Hungary
82:05.945 April 2019Canada
92:05.9912 August 2016Brazil
102:06.0630 July 2011China
112:06.0929 June 2008United States
122:06.149 August 2018Japan
132:06.182 August 2012Great Britain
142:06.2627 July 2019South Korea
152:06.2925 June 2013United States
162:06.362 March 2018United States
172:06.4613 November 2010China
182:06.5514 October 2017China
192:06.6225 August 1991Greece
202:06.6426 April 2008France
212:06.661 August 2009Italy
222:06.792 April 2010Great Britain
232:06.803 August 2013Spain
242:06.8214 June 2019Australia
252:06.9222 April 2016Russia