The first world record in the

200 metres individual medley The 200-metre individual medley is a race in competitive swimming in which swimmers compete in all 4 strokes (butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, and freestyle) in one race, with each leg being 50 metres in length. The stroke order is different ...

in long course (50 metres)

swimming Swimming is the self-propulsion of a person through water, or other liquid, usually for recreation, sport, exercise, or survival. Locomotion is achieved through coordinated movement of the limbs and the body to achieve hydrodynamic thrust that r ...

was recognised by the

International Swimming Federation FINA (french: Fédération internationale de natation, en, International Swimming Federation, link=yes) (to be renamed as World Aquatics by ) is the international federation recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for administer ...

(FINA) in

1956 Events January * January 1 – The Anglo-Egyptian Condominium ends in Sudan. * January 8 – Operation Auca: Five U.S. evangelical Christian missionaries, Nate Saint, Roger Youderian, Ed McCully, Jim Elliot and Pete Fleming, ar ...

, followed by the women a year later. In the short course (25 metres) swimming events the world's governing body recognizes world records since March 3, 1991.

Men

Long course

Short course

Women

Long course

Short course

All-time top 25

Men long course

*Correct as of July 2022

Notes

Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 1:56.99: * Ryan Lochte also swam 1:54.10 (2009), 1:54.43 (2010), 1:54.56 (2009), 1:54.84 (2010), 1:54.90 (2012), 1:54.93 (2012), 1:54.98 (2013), 1:55.18 (2009), 1:55.22 (2008), 1:55.44 (2013), 1:55.51 (2012), 1:55.81 (2015), 1:56.02 (2014), 1:56.11 (2006), 1:56.13 (2012), 1:56.19 (2007), 1:56.22 (2016), 1:56.28 (2016), 1:56.50 (2014), 1:56.53 (2008), 1:56.71 (2016), 1:56.74 (2011), 1:56.78 (2006), 1:56.81 (2015), 1:56.95 (2007). *

Michael Phelps Michael Fred Phelps II (born June 30, 1985) is an American former competitive swimmer. He is the most successful and most decorated Olympian of all time with a total of 28 medals. Phelps also holds the all-time records for Olympic gold med ...

also swam 1:54.23 (2008), 1:54.27 (2012), 1:54.66 (2016), 1:54.75 (2015), 1:54.80 (2008), 1:54.84 (2012), 1:54.98 (2007), 1:55.78 (2016), 1:55.84 (2006), 1:55.91 (2016), 1:55.94 (2003, 2010), 1:56.04 (2003, 2014), 1:56.32 (2012), 1:56.50 (2006), 1:56.55 (2014), 1:56.66 (2012), 1:56.68 (2005), 1:56.88 (2011). *

László Cseh László Cseh (; born 3 December 1985) is a retired Hungarian competitive swimmer and six-time Olympic medalist. He is a 33-time European Champion. His father, László Cseh Sr., also represented Hungary at the Olympics in swimming. In 2020 ...

also swam 1:55.24 (2009), 1:56.22 (2012), 1:56.34 (2009), 1:56.52 (2008), 1:56.66 (2012), 1:56.74 (2012), 1:56.92 (2007). *

Kosuke Hagino is a Japanese former competitive swimmer who specialized in the individual medley and 200 m freestyle. He is a four-time Olympic medalist, most notably winning gold in the 400 m individual medley at the 2016 Summer Olympics. Hagino holds the ...

also swam 1:55.33 (2014), 1:55.34 (2014), 1:55.38 (2014), 1:55.74 (2013), 1:55.90 (2014), 1:55.98 (2016), 1:56.01 (2017, 2017), 1:56.02 (2014), 1:56.04 (2017), 1:56.13 (2016), 1:56.29 (2013), 1:56.30 (2015, 2017), 1:56.37 (2018), 1:56.46 (2017), 1:56.61 (2016), 1:56.66 (2018), 1:56.75 (2018), 1:56.82 (2015). * Michael Andrew also swam 1:55.44 (2021), 1:56.25 (2021), 1:56.40 (2021), 1:56.83 (2020), 1:56.84 (2021). *

Chase Kalisz ] Chase Tyler Kalisz ( ; born March 7, 1994) is an American Swimming (sport), swimmer who specializes in individual medley events. He is an Olympic gold medalist in the 400-meter individual medley at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, an Olympi ...

also swam 1:55.56 (2017), 1:55.73 (2018), 1:55.88 (2017), 1:56.21 (2022), 1:56.43 (2022), 1:56.48 (2017), 1:56.51 (2017), 1:56.52 (2022), 1:56.76 (2022), 1:56.78 (2019), 1:56.97 (2021). * Leon Marchand also swam 1:55.75 (2022), 1:56.95 (2022). * Duncan Scott also swam 1:55.90 (2021), 1:56.08 (2022), 1:56.65 (2019), 1:56.69 (2021), 1:56.88 (2022), 1:56.91 (2019). *

Eric Shanteau Eric Lee Shanteau (born October 1, 1983) is an American former competition swimmer who won two gold medals as a member of winning United States relay teams at the World Championships. He was a member of the 2008 and 2012 U.S. Olympic teams, and ...

also swam 1:56.00 (2009). *

Daiya Seto is a Japanese professional swimmer who specializes in individual medley, butterfly, breaststroke, and freestyle events. He won the gold medal in the 400-metre individual medley at the 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2021 world short course cham ...

also swam 1:56.14 (2019), 1:56.22 (2021, 2022), 1:56.27 (2022), 1:56.69 (2019), 1:56.74 (2022), 1:56.82 (2015), 1:56.85 (2018), 1:56.86 (2021), 1:56.90 (2016), 1:56.92 (2017), 1:56.97 (2017), 1:56.98 (2019). *

Wang Shun Wang Shun (; born 11 February 1994) is a Chinese competitive swimmer. A versatile medley swimmer, he became the first Asian male swimmer to win a gold medal at the men's 200m individual medley at the Olympic Games when he came in first at the ...

also swam 1:56.16 (2017), 1:56.22 (2021), 1:56.27 (2020), 1:56.28 (2017), 1:56.33 (2021), 1:56.52 (2018), 1:56.57 (2018), 1:56.66 (2016, 2019), 1:56.78 (2021), 1:56.81 (2015, 2020), 1:56.83 (2020), 1:56.86 (2013), 1:56.97 (2019). *

Mitch Larkin Mitchell James Larkin (born 9 July 1993) is an Australian competitive swimmer who specialises in backstroke events. He currently represents the Cali Condors which is part of the International Swimming League. Larkin competed for Australia at th ...

also swam 1:56.21 (2018), 1:56.29 (2021), 1:56.32 (2020), 1:56.74 (2021), 1:56.83 (2019). *

Thiago Pereira Thiago Machado Vilela Pereira (born 26 January 1986) is a retired Brazilian international competition swimmer. One of the greatest swimmers in the history of Brazil, Pereira won the silver medal in the 400-meter individual medley at the 2012 ...

also swam 1:56.30 (2013), 1:56.65 (2015), 1:56.74 (2012). * Carson Foster also swam 1:56.44 (2022), 1:56.65 (2022). *

Jérémy Desplanches Jérémy Desplanches (born 7 August 1994) is a Swiss breaststroke and medley swimmer. He competed at the 2015 World Aquatics Championships, at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and was finalist at the 2017 World Aquatics Championships. ...

also swam 1:56.56 (2019), 1:56.73 (2019), 1:56.86 (2017), 1:56.89 (2019, 2021), 1:56.95 (2021). *

Philip Heintz Philip Heintz (born 21 February 1991) is a German swimmer. He competed in the 200 m individual medley event at the 2012 Summer Olympics and was eliminated after the qualifying heats. At the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janei ...

also swam 1:56.59 (2017), 1:56.67 (2018), 1:56.86 (2019), 1:56.95 (2019). *

Max Litchfield Max Robert Litchfield (born 4 March 1995) is a British competitive swimmer who represented Great Britain in the 2016 Olympics, and the LEN European Aquatics Championships. He also swam for England in the 2014 Commonwealth Games. He competes int ...

also swam 1:56.70 (2017), 1:56.86 (2017). *

Shaine Casas Shaine Casas (born December 25, 1999) is an American professional swimmer. He is an Americas record holder in the short course 4×50 meter medley relay, swimming the butterfly leg of the relay. At the 2021 World Short Course Championships, he ...

also swam 1:56.70 (2022). *

Leith Brodie Leith Brodie (born 16 July 1986) is an Australian sprint freestyle and medley swimmer who is an Olympic bronze medalist and was trained by John Robinson at Albany Creek Swim Club. At the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, Brodie won a pair of ...

also swam 1:56.75 (2009). * Hugo González also swam 1:56.76 (2021).

Men short course

*Correct as of December 2022

Notes

Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 1:52.16: * Ryan Lochte also swam 1:50.08 (2010), 1:51.31 (2014), 1:51.56 (2008). *

also swam 1:50.76 (2019), 1:51.09 (2018), 1:51.12 (2021), 1:51.15 (2021), 1:51.39 (2022), 1:51.40 (2017), 1:51.76 (2022), 1:51.79 (2014), 1:51.80 (2021), 1:51.88 (2017). *

Andreas Vazaios Andreas Vazaios ( el, Ανδρέας Βαζαίος; born 9 May 1994 in Athens) is a Greek swimmer. He competed in the 200 m individual medley event at the 2012 Summer Olympics and was eliminated after the qualifying heats. At the 2016 Summer ...

also swam 1:51.15 (2021), 1:51.84 (2020), 1:51.94 (2021). *

also swam 1:51.27 (2014), 1:51.50 (2013). *

also swam 1:51.31 (2022). * Carson Foster also swam 1:51.35 (2021), 1:51.89 (2022). * Shun Wang also swam 1:51.45 (2018), 1:51.63 (2016), 1:51.74 (2016), 1:51.84 (2018), 1:52.08 (2018). * Matthew Sates also swam 1:51.45 (2021). * Duncan Scott also swam 1:51.66 (2020), 1:51.85 (2019), 1:51.96 (2020). *

Darian Townsend Darian Roy Townsend (born 28 August 1984) is a competition swimmer and Olympic gold medalist who competed for South Africa. He became a U.S. citizen during the summer of 2014, and has subsequently represented the United States in international ...

also swam 1:51.79 (2009). *

also swam 1:52.03 (2016), 1:52.07 (2016), 1:52.08 (2016). *

Alberto Razzetti Alberto Razzetti (born 2 June 1999) is an Italian swimmer. He won the gold medal in the men's 200 metre butterfly event at both the 2021 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m) held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates and the 2021 European Short ...

also swam 1:51.73 (2022), 1:52.10 (2021). *

Chad le Clos Chad Guy Bertrand le Clos, OIS (born 12 April 1992) is a South African competitive swimmer who is an Olympic, World and Commonwealth Games champion. He is the African record, Commonwealth record, and South African record holder in the short ...

also swam 1:52.11 (2013).

Women long course

*Correct as of August 2022

Notes

Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 2:09.34: *

Katinka Hosszú Katinka Hosszú (; born 3 May 1989) is a Hungarian competitive swimmer specialized in individual medley events. She is a three-time Olympic champion and a nine-time long-course world champion. She is owner of a Budapest based swim school and swi ...

also swam 2:06.58 (2016), 2:06.84 (2015), 2:07.00 (2017), 2:07.02 (2019), 2:07.14 (2017), 2:07.17 (2019), 2:07.30 (2015, 2016), 2:07.45 (2016), 2:07.46 (2009), 2:07.49 (2017), 2:07.53 (2019), 2:07.69 (2016), 2:07.92 (2013, 2016), 2:08.11 (2014), 2:08.13 (2016), 2:08.15 (2019), 2:08.20 (2016), 2:08.28 (2019), 2:08.41 (2014), 2:08.45 (2013), 2:08.49 (2017), 2:08.50 (2019), 2:08.55 (2019), 2:08.57 (2019), 2:08.59 (2013), 2:08.60 (2016), 2:08.61 (2015), 2:08.63 (2019, 2019), 2:08.66 (2015), 2:08.72 (2019), 2:08.77 (2015), 2:08.81 (2019), 2:08.93 (2016, 2016), 2:09.01 (2019), 2:09.07 (2019), 2:09.11 (2016), 2:09.12 (2009), 2:09.19 (2015, 2019). * Ariana Kukors also swam 2:07.03 (2009), 2:08.53 (2009), 2:09.12 (2011). *

Siobhan-Marie O'Connor Siobhan-Marie O'Connor (born 29 November 1995) is a former English competitive swimmer who has represented Great Britain at the Olympic Games, the FINA World Aquatics Championships and the LEN European Aquatics Championships, and England at th ...

also swam 2:07.57 (2016), 2:08.21 (2014), 2:08.44 (2016), 2:08.45 (2015), 2:08.77 (2015), 2:08.82 (2015), 2:09.03 (2016). * Alex Walsh also swam 2:07.84 (2022), 2:08.65 (2021), 2:08.74 (2022), 2:08.87 (2021), 2:09.01 (2019), 2:09.30 (2021). *

Yui Ohashi is a Japanese swimmer, specializing in the medley events. She became the first Japanese woman to dip beneath the 2:08-barrier in the women's 200 metre individual medley event at the 2017 World Aquatics Championships, finishing with a silver-m ...

also swam 2:08.16 (2018), 2:08.52 (2021), 2:08.80 (2019), 2:08.88 (2018), 2:08.92 (2018), 2:09.00 (2019), 2:09.14 (2019), 2:09.17 (2018), 2:09.27 (2019). *

Kaylee McKeown Kaylee Rochelle McKeown (born 12 July 2001) is an Australian swimmer and triple Olympic gold medalist. She is a world record holder in the long course 100 metre backstroke and the short course 200 metre backstroke.Hanson, Ian (27 November 20 ...

also swam 2:08.23 (2020), 2:08.57 (2022), 2:08.73 (2021), 2:09.15 (2022). * Ye Shiwen also swam 2:08.39 (2012), 2:08.60 (2019), 2:08.90 (2011, 2012), 2:08.94 (2014), 2:09.08 (2013), 2:09.12 (2013), 2:09.24 (2019), 2:09.33 (2016). * Stephanie Rice also swam 2:08.45 (2008), 2:08.68 (2009), 2:08.92 (2008). *

Kim Seo-yeong Kim Seo-yeong (; born January 19, 1977) is a South Korean voice artist who started her career in 1999 at Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation, as an in-house voice artist. In 2002 she received attention in the South Korean entertainment district fo ...

also swam 2:08.61 (2018). * Alicia Coutts also swam 2:08.63 (2013), 2:08.89 (2014), 2:09.00 (2011). *

Sydney Pickrem Sydney Pickrem (born May 21, 1997) is a Canadian competitive swimmer. Pickrem won a bronze medal in the 400m individual medley at the 2017 World Aquatics Championships. At the 2015 Pan American Games, she won a silver in the 400m and bronze in t ...

also swam 2:08.70 (2019), 2:08.71 (2019), 2:08.83 (2019), 2:09.07 (2018), 2:09.17 (2017), 2:09.24 (2021), 2:09.26 (2020). *

Kathleen Baker Kathleen Baker (born February 28, 1997) is an American competition swimming (sport), swimmer who specializes in freestyle swimming, freestyle and backstroke swimming, backstroke events. At the 2016 Summer Olympics, she won a gold medal in the Sw ...

also swam 2:08.75 (2020). *

Melanie Margalis Melanie Margalis (born December 30, 1991) is an American competitive swimmer who specializes in the freestyle, breaststroke and individual medley events. She currently represents the Cali Condors which is part of the International Swimming Le ...

also swam 2:08.84 (2019), 2:08.91 (2019), 2:09.03 (2020), 2:09.14 (2019), 2:09.21 (2016). * Maya DiRado also swam 2:08.91 (2016), 2:08.99 (2015). *

Kirsty Coventry Kirsty Leigh Coventry Seward (born 16 September 1983) is a Zimbabwean swimmer and politician currently serving as the Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation in the Cabinet of Zimbabwe since September 2018. A former Olympic swimmer and wo ...

also swam 2:08.94 (2009). *

Madisyn Cox Madisyn Cox (born May 30, 1995) is an American former swimmer specialising in individual medley events. College career For the Texas Longhorns she was named the 2015 and 2017 Big 12 Conference Swimmer of the Year. She is a 10-time All-Americ ...

also swam 2:09.03 (2020), 2:09.34 (2021). *

Kate Douglass Katherine Cadwallader Douglass (born November 17, 2001) is an American swimmer who is currently on the USA National Team. In 2021 she placed second in the 200m meter individual medley at the 2020 Olympic Swimming Trials, qualifying for the US Oly ...

also swam 2:09.16 (2021), 2:09.21 (2021), 2:09.32 (2021). *

Abbie Wood Abbie Wood (born 2 March 1999) is a British swimmer from Buxton. Biography Wood was born in 1999 and she is from Buxton in Derbyshire. She is a student of Loughborough University. She competed in the women's 4 × 100 metre freestyle relay event ...

also swam 2:09.23 (2021), 2:09.24 (2021). *

Rika Omoto is a Japanese swimmer. She competed in the women's 200 metre individual medley at the 2019 World Aquatics Championships held in Gwangju, South Korea. She also competed in the women's 50 metre freestyle and women's 100 metre freestyle events. ...

also swam 2:09.32 (2019).

Women short course

*Correct as of December 2022

Notes

Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 2:05.63: *

also swam 2:02.13 (2014), 2:02.53 (2015), 2:02.61 (2014), 2:02.90 (2016), 2:03.07 (2014), 2:03.20 (2013), 2:03.25 (2013, 2018), 2:03.60 (2014), 2:03.66 (2015), 2:04.13 (2018), 2:04.16 (2019), 2:04.31 (2013), 2:04.33 (2013), 2:04.37 (2017), 2:04.39 (2013), 2:04.43 (2017), 2:04.52 (2013), 2:04.56 (2016), 2:04.64 (2017), 2:04.65 (2018), 2:04.68 (2019), 2:04.72 (2012), 2:04.76 (2016, 2017), 2:04.79 (2018), 2:04.94 (2017), 2:04.98 (2017), 2:05.00 (2017), 2:05.01 (2017), 2:05.05 (2013), 2:05.06 (2018), 2:05.07 (2013), 2:05.11 (2019), 2:05.18 (2014), 2:05.25 (2018), 2:05.29 (2017, 2017), 2:05.33 (2013, 2016), 2:05.34 (2013), 2:05.39 (2016), 2:05.42 (2018), 2:05.45 (2013), 2:05.57 (2016), 2:05.60 (2016). *

also swam 2:03.68 (2020). *

also swam 2:04.18 (2020), 2:04.32 (2020), 2:04.62 (2018), 2:04.65 (2018), 2;05.18 (2019), 2:05.32 (2019)). *

also swam 2:04.29 (2021), 2:04.34 (2019), 2:04.40 (2020), 2:04.59 (2021), 2:04.85 (2019), 2:05.21 (2021)，2:05.22 (2022), 2:05.23 (2022). *

also swam 2:04.24 (2021), 2:04.39 (2022), 2:04.68 (2021). *

also swam 2:04.86 (2021), 2:05.04 (2020), 2:05.09 (2020), 2:05.10 (2020), 2:05.13 (2020), 2:05.26 (2020), 2:05.29 (2018), 2:05.45 (2021). *

also swam 2:04.94 (2021), 2:05.08 (2021), 2:05.27 (2020), 2:05.36 (2020), 2:05.45 (2021), 2:05.56 (2020), 2:05.63 (2021). * Beata Nelson also swam 2:05.08 (2022). * Anastasia Gorbenko also swam 2:05.17 (2021). * Siobhan O'Connor also swam 2:05.19 (2015). *

Mary-Sophie Harvey Mary-Sophie Harvey (born 11 August 1999) is a Canadian swimmer who competed as part of Team Canada at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Career Harvey first appeared on the international junior swimming circuit, representing Canada at two edit ...

also swam 2:05.30 (2021). *

Kayla Sanchez Kayla Noelle Sanchez (born 7 April 2001) is a Filipina-Canadian swimmer. A member of the Canadian national team until 2022, she has represented Canada at the Olympic and World championship level, and is a two-time Olympic medalist. She is one ...

also swam 2:05.32 (2019).

References

Zwemkroniek

Agenda Diana
{{World records in swimming Individual medley 200 metres

World record progression 200 metres individual medley The first world record in the 200 metres individual medley in long course (50 metres) swimming was recognised by the International Swimming Federation (FINA) in 1956, followed by the women a year later. In the short course (25 metres) ...