The first world record in the men's 200 metres

breaststroke Breaststroke is a swimming style in which the swimmer is on their chest and the torso does not rotate. It is the most popular recreational style due to the swimmer's head being out of the water a large portion of the time, and that it can be s ...

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 1908 and the first world record in the women's 200 metres breaststroke was recognised in

1921 Events January * January 2 ** The Association football club Cruzeiro Esporte Clube, from Belo Horizonte, is founded as the multi-sports club Palestra Italia by Italian expatriates in First Brazilian Republic, Brazil. ** The Spanish lin ...

. In the short course (25 metres) swimming events the world's governing body recognizes world records since March 3, 1991. There have been two rule changes enacted by FINA for this event that have resulted in the nullification of world records. In the mid-1930s, many breaststroke swimmers began practicing an early variant of the

butterfly stroke The butterfly (colloquially shortened to fly) is a List of swimming styles, swimming stroke swum on the chest, with both arms moving symmetrically, accompanied by the butterfly kick (also known as the "dolphin kick"). While other styles like ...

that involved recovering the arms above the water in an effort to reduce drag. This technique was disallowed when the butterfly stroke was established as a distinct stroke with its own rules in 1953, and world records set using the technique were nullified. Another style was developed by the Japanese swimmer

Masaru Furukawa was a Japanese people, Japanese swimming (sport), swimmer and Olympic champion. He competed at the 1956 Summer Olympics, 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne, where he received a gold medal in the 200 m breaststroke swimming, breaststroke.

shortly after this rule change. It involved swimming underwater for as much of each pool length as possible without surfacing, as the act of breaking the water's surface created resistance, slowing a swimmer. This method of swimming the breaststroke was disallowed by FINA in 1956 and records set with the technique were nullified. (''see

History of swimming Swimming was part of the first modern Olympic games in 1896 in Athens. In 1908, the world swimming association, Fédération Internationale de Natation (FINA), was formed. Ancient times 10,000-year-old rock paintings of people swimming were ...

'')

Graphic data for World Record Progression in Men and Women Swimming 50m-100m-200m

Men

Long course

Note: 200 Meter World Record Prior to 1953

The world record for the 200-meter breaststroke prior to the bifurcation of the butterfly breaststroke into separate strokes in 1953 could be accomplished in either short or long course pools. FINA recognized only one world record for the 200-meter breaststroke. The 1952 US Olympic Book lists the 200-meter breaststroke world record as belonging to Herbert Klein with a time of 2:27.3 who swam it in a short course pool. FINA now recognizes and lists on their website Herbert Klein's long course world record of 2:34.4 for the 200-meter breaststroke set on August 13, 1950, in Göppingen, Germany rather than his world record of 2:27.3 set in a short course pool. John Davies tied Herbert Klein's long course world record of 2:34.4 for the 200-meter breaststroke at their 1952 Olympic final.

Bowen Stassforth Bowen Dow Stassforth (August 7, 1926 – November 22, 2019) was an American competition swimmer who won a silver medal in the 200 m breaststroke at the 1952 Olympics and set two world records in the 200-yard (long course) breaststroke. and one ...

's time of 2:34.7 in the 220 yard breaststroke (long course) at the 1952 AAU Outdoor Nationals correlates to a time of 2:33 in the 200 meter breaststroke (long course). This performance was the fastest all-time for the 220 yard breaststroke (long course) and would have been the fastest 200 meter breaststroke (long course) in history (pre-bifurcation of the breaststroke in 1953) as well if it had been dual timed. This is evidenced by the dual distance timed race in the 1950 National AAU Indoor Championships in the 220 yard breaststroke (short course) between

Joe Verdeur Joseph Thomas Verdeur (March 7, 1926 – August 6, 1991) was an American competition swimmer, Olympic champion, and former world record-holder. Career Verdeur was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He had a sister, Theresa, and a brother, Edwa ...

and

Robert Brawner Robert Lowry Brawner (November 22, 1929 – August 30, 2022) was an American swimmer for Princeton University who held a world record in the 200-yard (short course) breaststroke and held four American records. Biography Brawner was born on No ...

. During the race, Verdeur broke the world record for 200 meters with a time of 2:28.3 (short course). However, Brawner won the race with a time of 2:29.3 for the full 220 yards beating Verdeur who was second in 2:29.4.

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 2:07.62: *

Zac Stubblety-Cook Izaac Keith Stubblety-Cook (born 4 January 1999) is an Australian swimmer. He is a former world record holder in the long course 200 metre breaststroke. In 2021, Stubblety-Cook competed in the men's 100m and 200m breaststroke events at the 20 ...

also swam 2:06.28 (2021), 2:06.38 (2021), 2:06.72 (2022), 2:07.00 (2021, 2021), 2:07.07 (2022), 2:07.28 (2019), 2:07.35 (2021), 2:07.36 (2019), 2:07.37 (2021). *

Matthew Wilson Matthew Wilson (born 29 January 1987) is a British rally driver from Cockermouth in Cumbria. He is the son of M-Sport boss and former World Rally Championship driver Malcolm Wilson. Wilson competed in the WRC for the Stobart M-Sport Ford team. ...

also swam 2:06.68 (2019), 2:07.16 (2019), 2:07.29 (2019). * Ippei Watanabe also swam 2:06.73 (2019), 2:07.02 (2019), 2:07.08 (2020), 2:07.22 (2016), 2:07.44 (2017), 2:07.47 (2017), 2:07.54 (2021), 2:07.56 (2018), 2:07.60 (2017). *

Shoma Sato is a professional Japanese baseball player. He plays pitcher for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp The is a professional baseball team based in Hiroshima, Japan. They compete in the Central League of Nippon Professional Baseball. The team is pr ...

also swam 2:06.74 (2021), 2:06.78 (2021), 2:07.02 (2020), 2:07.58 (2020). *

Anton Chupkov Anton Mikhailovich Chupkov (russian: Антон Михайлович Чупков; born 22 February 1997) is a Russian competitive swimmer. He is the European record holder in the long course 200 metre breaststroke and the Russian record holde ...

also swam 2:06.80 (2018), 2:06.83 (2019), 2:06.96 (2017), 2:06.99 (2021), 2:07.00 (2019), 2:07.14 (2017), 2:07.19 (2022), 2:07.24 (2021), 2:07.32 (2020), 2:07.46 (2017), 2:07.48 (2019), 2:07.59 (2018). * Arno Kamminga also swam 2:07.01 (2021), 2:07.17 (2020) 2:07.18 (2020), 2:07.23 (2021), 2:07.35 (2021), 2:07.37 (2021), 2:07.39 (2021), 2:07.48 (2021), 2:07.54 (2020). *

Josh Prenot Joshua Prenot (born July 28, 1993) is an American competitive swimmer who specializes in breaststroke and individual medley events. Career In 2012, Josh Prenot began his freshman year at the University of California Berkeley. In 2016, Prenot ...

also swam 2:07.28 (2018), 2:07.53 (2016). *

Dániel Gyurta Dániel Gyurta (; born 4 May 1989) is a Hungarian former competitive swimmer who mainly competed in the 200-metre breaststroke. In 2016, Gyurta became a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), he is a member of the European Olympic ...

also swam 2:07.28 (2012). *

Yasuhiro Koseki is a Japanese competitive swimmer and breaststroke specialist. He won the 100-meter event at the 2013 Summer Universiade, 2013 East Asian Games, and the 2014 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships. He hold the Asian record in this event, set in Febr ...

also swam 2:07.29 (2017). *

Kirill Prigoda Kirill Gennadievich Prigoda (russian: Кирилл Геннадьевич Пригода; born 29 December 1995) is a Russian swimmer. He competed in the men's 100 metre breaststroke event at the 2016 Summer Olympics. Personal life Prigoda's ...

also swam 2:07.58 (2020). *

Marco Koch Marco Koch (born 25 January 1990) is a German competitive swimmer who specializes in breaststroke events. He is a former world record holder in the 200 meter breaststroke (short course). Career At the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, he compet ...

also swam 2:07.60 (2019).

Men short course

*Correct as of December 2022

Notes

Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 2:02.64: *

also swam 2:00.67 (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 2:01.30 (2017), 2:01.49 (2021), 2:01.65 (2021), 2:02.43 (2022), 2:02.48 (2021). *

Qin Haiyang Qin Haiyang ( zh, 覃海洋, born 17 May 1999) is a Chinese Swimming (sport), swimmer who specializes in the breaststroke and individual medley. He is the current world record holder in the World record progression 200 metres breaststroke, 200m ...

also swam 2:01.64 (2018), 2:02.22 (2022). *

also swam 2:01.65 (2017). * Anton McKee also swam 2:01.73 (2020). * Arno Kamminga also swam 2:01.74 (2021), 2:01.92 (2021), 2:02.13 (2021), 2:02.42 (2021), 2:02.54 (2021). *

Mikhail Dorinov Mikhail Vyacheslavovich Dorinov (russian: Михаил Вячеславович Доринов; born 9 August 1995) is a Russian swimmer. He competed in the men's 200 metre breaststroke event at the 2018 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m ...

also swam 2:02.07 (2021). *

Ilya Shymanovich Ilya Syarheyevich Shymanovich ( be, Ілья Сяргеевіч Шымановіч; born 2 August 1994) is a Belarusian swimmer. He is the world record holder in the short course 100 metre breaststroke and a former world record holder in the ...

also swam 2:02.10 (2021). *

Nic Fink Nicolas Fink (born July 3, 1993) is an American five-time world champion in breaststroke events. He is a world record holder in the short course 4×100 meter medley relay and 4×50 meter mixed medley relay. He is the Americas record holder i ...

also swam 2:02.20 (2020), 2:02.28 (2021). * Erik Persson also swam 2:02.39 (2021). * Ippei Watanabe also swam 2:02.53 (2022).

Women long course

*Correct as of July 2022

Notes

Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 2:22.00: *

Tatjana Schoenmaker Tatjana Schoenmaker (born 9 July 1997) is a South African swimmer specialising in breaststroke events. She won the gold medal and set the world record in the 200-metre breaststroke and also won the silver medal in the 100-metre breaststroke ...

also swam 2:19.16 (2021), 2:19.33 (2021), 2:20.17 (2021), 2:21.30 (2021), 2:21.76 (2022), 2:21.79 (2019), 2:21.92 (2022). * Rikke Moller Pedersen also swam 2:19.61 (2014), 2:19.67 (2014), 2:19.84 (2014), 2:19.94 (2014), 2:20.08 (2013), 2:20.53 (2013), 2:21.55 (2013), 2:21.58 (2015), 2:21.60 (2015), 2:21.65 (2012), 2:21.69 (2016), 2:21.99 (2015). *

Yuliya Yefimova Yuliya Andreyevna Yefimova (russian: Юлия Андреевна Ефимова, also romanized Efimova; born 3 April 1992) is a Russian competitive swimmer. She is the Russian record holder in the 200 metre individual medley (short course), ...

also swam 2:19.64 (2017), 2:19.83 (2017), 2:19.85 (2013), 2:20.15 (2017), 2:20.17 (2019), 2:20.72 (2018), 2:20.92 (2012), 2:21.20 (2019), 2:21.31 (2018), 2:21.35 (2017), 2:21.41 (2016), 2:21.49 (2017), 2:21.54 (2017), 2:21.59 (2019), 2:21.60 (2019), 2:21.86 (2021), 2:21.97 (2016). *

Rebecca Soni Rebecca Soni (born March 18, 1987) is an American former competition swimmer and breaststroke specialist who is a six-time Olympic medalist. She is a former world record-holder in the 100-meter breaststroke (short and long course) and the 200- ...

also swam 2:20.00 (2012), 2:20.22 (2008), 2:20.38 (2009), 2:20.69 (2010), 2:20.93 (2009), 2:21.03 (2011), 2:21.13 (2012), 2:21.40 (2012), 2:21.45 (2012), 2:21.46 (2011), 2:21.47 (2011), 2:21.60 (2010). * Rie Kaneto also swam 2:20.04 (2016), 2:20.30 (2016), 2:20.72 (2009), 2:20.93 (2016), 2:21.05 (2016), 2:21.58 (2014), 2:21.90 (2014, 2015), 2:21.92 (2014). *

Evgeniia Chikunova Evgeniia Igorevna Chikunova (russian: Евгения Игоревна Чикунова; born 17 November 2004) is a Russian swimmer. She competed in the women's 100 metre breaststroke, 200 metre breaststroke, and 4 × 100 metre medley relay a ...

also swam 2:20.57 (2021), 2:20.88 (2021), 2:21.07 (2019), 2:21.63 (2021), 2:21.87 (2020). *

Leisel Jones Leisel Marie Jones, OAM (born 30 August 1985) is an Australian former competition swimmer and Olympic gold medallist. A participant in the 2000 Summer Olympics – at just 15 years old – and 2004 Summer Olympics, she was part of gold-medal- ...

also swam 2:20.72 (2006), 2:21.34 (2008), 2:21.72 (2005), 2:21.84 (2007). * Annie Lazor also swam 2:20.84 (2021), 2:21.07 (2021), 2:21.40 (2019), 2:21.67 (2020), 2:21.91 (2022), 2:21.94 (2021). *

Kanako Watanabe is a Japanese competitive swimmer who specializes in the breaststroke. She competed in the 2012 London Olympics at the age of 15 for the 200m Women's Breaststroke event. She again competed in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio De Janeiro. Her sw ...

also swam 2:21.09 (2014), 2:21.15 (2015), 2:21.41 (2014), 2:21.82 (2014). *

Lilly King Lillia Camille King (born February 10, 1997) is an American swimmer who specializes in breaststroke. She currently represents the Cali Condors, a team that is part of the International Swimming League. At the 2016 Summer Olympics she won the ...

also swam 2:21.19 (2022), 2:21.39 (2019), 2:21.75 (2021), 2:21.82 (2021), 2:21.83 (2017). *

Molly Renshaw Molly Renshaw (born 6 May 1996) is an English breaststroke swimmer. In 2016, she won the 200 metres breaststroke at the 2016 FINA World Swimming Championships (25m). Career In 2012, she won the national 200 m title, but was not selected for ...

also swam 2:21.34 (2021), 2:21.55 (2021). *

Annamay Pierse Annamay Pierse (born December 5, 1983) is a former competitive swimmer who represented Canada in major international swimming championships including the Summer Olympics, FINA World Championships, Commonwealth Games and Pan Pacific Championshi ...

also swam 2:21.68 (2009), 2:21.84 (2009). *

Taylor McKeown Taylor McKeown (born 17 March 1995) is a former Australian competitive swimmer. She won a gold medal in the 200 metre breaststroke at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, and a silver medal at the 4 × 100 m medley relay during the 2016 Summer Oly ...

also swam 2:21.69 (2016). *

Bethany Galat Bethany Galat (born August 10, 1995) is an American swimmer specialising in breaststroke. She competed in the women's 200 metre breaststroke event at the 2017 World Aquatics Championships The 17th FINA World Championships ( hu, 2017-es � ...

also swam 2:21.84 (2019), 2:21.86 (2017). *

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 2:21.86 (2021). *

Micah Sumrall Micah Sumrall ( Lawrence, born July 20, 1990) is an American competition swimmer who specializes in the breaststroke. She was a member of the 2012 United States Olympic team, and finished sixth in the world in the 200-meter breaststroke even ...

also swam 2:21.88 (2018).

Women short course

*Correct as of December 2022

Notes

Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 2:18.09: *

Yuliya Efimova Yuliya Andreyevna Yefimova (russian: Юлия Андреевна Ефимова, also romanized Efimova; born 3 April 1992) is a Russian competitive swimmer. She is the Russian record holder in the 200 metre individual medley (short course), 5 ...

also swam 2:15.62 (2018), 2:16.05 (2018), 2:16.29 (2018). *

also swam 2:15.80 (2020), 2:16.04 (2020), 2:17.13 (2022), 2:17.56 (2022), 2:17.66 (2021). * Rie Kaneto also swam 2:15.91 (2016), 2:16.27 (2016), 2:16.30 (2016), 2:18.09 (2014). *

Rikke Pedersen Rikke is a name, notable people with this name are: * Rikke Broen (born 1972), Danish badminton player * Rikke Dybdahl (born 1997), Danish football player * Rikke Emma Niebuhr, Danish singer * Rikke Granlund (born 1989), Norwegian handball player * ...

also swam 2:15.93 (2013), 2:16.08 (2012). *

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 2:16.52 (2022). * Evgenia Chikunova also swam 2:16.88 (2021), 2:17.57 (2021), 2:17.88 (2021), 2:18.08 (2021). *

also swam 2:17.50 (2009). *

also swam 2:17.75 (2003). * Emily Escobedo also swam 2:17.85 (2021). *

also swam 2:17.96 (2021). * Kelsey Wog also swam 2:18.06 (2019).

References

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Zwemkroniek
*
Agenda Diana
{{World records in swimming Breaststroke 200 metres

World record progression 200 metres breaststroke The first world record in the men's 200 metres breaststroke in long course (50 metres) swimming was recognised by the International Swimming Federation (FINA) in 1908 and the first world record in the women's 200 metres breaststro ...