This article includes the world record progression for the 4×100 metres freestyle relay, and it shows the chronological history of world record times in that competitive
swimming event. The 4×100 metres freestyle relay is a
relay
A relay
Electromechanical relay schematic showing a control coil, four pairs of normally open and one pair of normally closed contacts
An automotive-style miniature relay with the dust cover taken off
A relay is an electrically operated switch ...
event in which each of four swimmers on a team swims a 100-metre
freestyle leg in sequence. The world records are recognized by and maintained by
FINA
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 ...
(french: Fédération Internationale de Natation), the international competitive swimming and aquatics federation that overseas the sport in international competition.
World records in swimming were first recognized by FINA in 1908. The long course (50-metre pool) world records are historically older than the short course (25-metre pool) records. FINA amended its regulations governing the recognition of world records in 1956; specifically, FINA mandated that only record times that were contested in 50-metre (or 55-yard) pools were eligible for recognition after that time. The short-course world records have been separately recognized since 1991. On July 25, 2013 FINA Technical Swimming Congress voted to allow world records in the long course mixed 400 free relay and mixed 400 medley relay, as well as in six events in short course meters: the mixed 200 medley and 200 free relays, as well as the men's and women's 200 free relays and the men's and women's 200 medley relays. In October 2013 FINA decided to establish "standards" before something can be recognized as the first world record in these events. But later on March 13, 2014 FINA has officially ratified the eight world records set by Indiana University swimmers at the IU Relay Rally held on September 26, 2013 in Bloomington.
The women's 4×100-metre event was first contested at the
1912 Summer Olympics
The 1912 Summer Olympics ( sv, Olympiska sommarspelen 1912), officially known as the Games of the V Olympiad ( sv, Den V olympiadens spel) and commonly known as Stockholm 1912, were an international multi-sport event held in Stockholm, Sweden, bet ...
in Stockholm, but the men's 4×100-metre event did not appear until the
1964 Summer Olympics
The , officially the and commonly known as Tokyo 1964 ( ja, 東京1964), were an international multi-sport event held from 10 to 24 October 1964 in Tokyo, Japan. Tokyo had been awarded the organization of the 1940 Summer Olympics, but this ho ...
in Tokyo. Prior to 1964, the longer 4×200-metre freestyle relay was the only men's relay event staged.
The men's 4×100-metre freestyle is often considered "swimming’s indisputably best event at the Olympics", as "It is also the Alpha Dog moment in water. Our Country is faster than Your Country".
Nathan Adrian
Nathan Ghar-jun Adrian (born December 7, 1988) is an American competitive swimmer and five-time Olympic gold medalist who formerly held the American record in the long course 50-meter freestyle event.
In his Olympic debut at the 2008 Summer O ...
was quoted as saying “Every American swimmer dreams of getting up there in the 4x100 free relay and winning a gold medal.” The Australians won the event at the
2000 Summer Olympics
The 2000 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the XXVII Olympiad and also known as Sydney 2000 (Dharug: ''Gadigal 2000''), the Millennium Olympic Games or the Games of the New Millennium, was an international multi-sport event held from 1 ...
which they hosted and celebrated by playing air guitar, while the Australian relay team was dubbed "Weapons of Mass Destruction" after winning in the
2011 World Aquatics Championships
The 14th FINA World Championships () were held on 16–31 July 2011 in Shanghai, China at the Shanghai Oriental Sports Center. The 2011 World Championships featured five aquatics disciplines: swimming, water polo, diving, open water, and synchr ...
. At the
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics (), officially the Games of the XXIX Olympiad () and also known as Beijing 2008 (), were an international multisport event held from 8 to 24 August 2008, in Beijing, China. A total of 10,942 athletes from 204 Nat ...
, ; while the French team did beat the previous world record, they did it 0:00.08 after
Jason Lezak
Jason Edward Lezak (born November 12, 1975) is an American former competitive swimmer and swimming executive. As a swimmer, Lezak specialized in the 50-meter and 100-meter freestyle races. His pro career lasted for nearly fifteen years, spannin ...
had already edged out Bernard in the anchor leg, giving the Americans the gold and a new world record, which is still standing today.
Men
Men's long course
Men's short course
Women
Women's long course
Women's short course
Mixed
FINA recognizes only long-course world records for mixed relays in this event.
All-time top 10 by country
Men long course
*Correct as of June 2022
Men short course
*Correct as of December 2022
Women long course
*Correct as of October 2021
Women short course
*Correct as of December 2022
Mixed long course
*Correct as of 24 June 2022
All-time top 25
Men long course
*Correct as of August 2022
Men short course
*Correct as of December 2022
Women long course
*Correct as of 24 June 2022
Women short course
*Correct as of December 2022
Mixed long course
*Correct as of 10 August 2022
Mixed short course
*Correct as of December 2021
References
External links
Men's Event (long course) world progression at www.olympic.orgWomen's Event (long course) world progression at www.olympic.org
{{DEFAULTSORT:World record progression 4 x 100 metres freestyle relay
Freestyle relay 4x100 metres
4 × 100 metre freestyle relay