List of South African records in swimming
The South African records in swimming in Swimming are the fastest times ever swum by a swimmer representing South Africa . These records are kept/maintained by South Africa's national swimming federation: Swimming South Africa (SSA). Records are recognized for long course (50m) and short course (25m) events:
All records were set in finals unless noted otherwise.
Long Course (50 m)
Men
Event
Time
Name
Club
Date
Meet
Location
Ref
50m freestyle
21.67
=, AF
Roland Schoeman
South Africa
16 August 2008
Olympic Games
Beijing , China
50m freestyle
21.67
=, sf, AF
Roland Schoeman
South Africa
2 August 2013
World Championships
Barcelona , Spain
[ 1]
100m freestyle
47.79
h, AF
Lyndon Ferns
South Africa
29 July 2009
World Championships
Rome , Italy
[ 2]
200m freestyle
1:45.20
AF
Chad le Clos
South Africa
8 August 2016
Olympic Games
Rio de Janeiro , Brazil
[ 3]
400m freestyle
3:45.92
h
Myles Brown
South Africa
6 August 2016
Olympic Games
Rio de Janeiro , Brazil
[ 4]
800m freestyle
7:53.97
Myles Brown
KZNA-KZ
13 April 2015
South African Championships
Durban , South Africa
[ 5]
1500m freestyle
14:57.88
Heerden Herman
MATI
10 December 2010
League WP Sasko Championships
South Africa
[ 6]
50m backstroke
24.34
AF
Gerhard Zandberg
South Africa
2 August 2009
World Championships
Rome , Italy
[ 7]
100m backstroke
52.78
AF
Pieter Coetze
Aquatics Gauteng Tshwane
12 April 2023
South African Championships
Gqeberha , South Africa
[ 8]
100m backstroke
52.58
AF, #
Pieter Coetze
South Africa
29 July 2024
Olympic Games
Paris , France
[ 9]
200m backstroke
1:55.75
sf, AF
George Du Rand
South Africa
30 July 2009
World Championships
Rome , Italy
[ 10]
200m backstroke
1:55.60
AF, #
Pieter Coetze
South Africa
1 August 2024
Olympic Games
Paris , France
[ 11]
50m breaststroke
26.54
h, AF
Cameron van der Burgh
South Africa
25 July 2017
World Championships
Budapest , Hungary
[ 12]
100m breaststroke
58.46
AF
Cameron van der Burgh
South Africa
29 July 2012
Olympic Games
London , United Kingdom
[ 13] [ 14]
200m breaststroke
2:09.61
sf, AF
Neil Versfeld
South Africa
30 July 2009
World Championships
Rome , Italy
[ 15]
50m butterfly
22.90
h, AF
Roland Schoeman
South Africa
26 July 2009
World Championships
Rome , Italy
[ 16]
100m butterfly
50.56
AF
Chad le Clos
South Africa
8 August 2015
World Championships
Kazan , Russia
[ 17]
200m butterfly
1:52.96
AF, CR
Chad le Clos
South Africa
31 July 2012
Olympic Games
London , United Kingdom
[ 18]
200m individual medley
1:57.03
sf, AF
Darian Townsend
Lagardère Paris Racing
25 April 2009
French Championships
Montpellier , France
[ 19]
400m individual medley
4:11.11
Sebastien Rousseau
South Africa
1 August 2013
US Open
Irvine , United States
[ 20]
4×50m freestyle relay
1:28.78
South Africa
2 April 2003
-
4×100m freestyle relay
3:11.93
AF
South Africa
26 July 2009
World Championships
Rome , Italy
[ 21]
4×200m freestyle relay
7:08.01
h, AF
South Africa
31 July 2009
World Championships
Rome , Italy
[ 22]
4×100m medley relay
3:31.53
AF
South Africa
2 August 2009
World Championships
Rome , Italy
[ 23]
Legend:
# – Record awaiting ratification by SSA ; WR – World record ; AF – African record ; CR – Commonwealth record ; Records not set in finals: h – heat; sf – semifinal; r – relay 1st leg; rh – relay heat 1st leg; b – B final; † – en route to final mark; tt – time trial
Women
Event
Time
Name
Club
Date
Meet
Location
Ref
50m freestyle
24.64
sf
Emma Chelius
South Africa
31 July 2021
Olympic Games
Tokyo , Japan
[ 24]
100m freestyle
54.23
AF
Erin Gallagher
South Africa
9 April 2018
Commonwealth Games
Gold Coast , Australia
[ 25]
200m freestyle
1:57.17
Karin Prinsloo
South Africa
7 June 2014
Mare Nostrum
Monte Carlo , Monaco
[ 26]
200m freestyle
1:56.80
r, AF, #
Aimee Canny
Western Cape Aquatics
12 April 2024
South African Championships
Port Elizabeth , South Africa
[ 27]
400m freestyle
4:07.92
Karin Prinsloo
South Africa
31 January 2014
Aquatic Super Series
Perth , Australia
[ 28]
800m freestyle
8:25.71
Wendy Trott
South Africa
14 June 2012
Trofeo Sette Colli
Rome , Italy
1500m freestyle
16:05.63
h, AF
Wendy Trott
South Africa
25 July 2011
World Championships
Shanghai , China
[ 29]
50m backstroke
28.39
Olivia Nel
Western Cape Aquatics
13 April 2023
South African Championships
Gqeberha , South Africa
[ 30]
50m backstroke
28.37
h, #
Tayla Jonker
South Africa
14 February 2024
World Championships
Doha , Qatar
[ 31] [ 32]
100m backstroke
1:00.78
Karin Prinsloo
South Africa
14 June 2014
Mare Nostrum
Barcelona , Spain
[ 33]
200m backstroke
2:10.03
Melissa Corfe
KwaZulu-Natal
3 April 2008
South African Championships
Durban , South Africa
50m breaststroke
29.72
h, AF, CR
Lara van Niekerk
Pretoria Aquatic Club
6 April 2022
South African Championships
Port Elizabeth , South Africa
[ 34] [ 35]
100m breaststroke
1:04.82
h, AF, CR
Tatjana Schoenmaker
South Africa
25 July 2021
Olympic Games
Tokyo , Japan
[ 36]
200m breaststroke
2:18.95
WR
Tatjana Schoenmaker
South Africa
30 July 2021
Olympic Games
Tokyo , Japan
[ 37]
50m butterfly
26.05
Erin Gallagher
South Africa
1 August 2022[ a]
Commonwealth Games
Birmingham , United Kingdom
[ 38]
50m butterfly
25.66
"#"
Erin Gallagher
South Africa
2 August 2023
World University Games
Chengdu , China
[ 39]
50m butterfly
25.59
"#"
Erin Gallagher
Aquatics Gauteng Tshwane
8 April 2024
South African Championships
Port Elizabeth , South Africa
[ 40]
100m butterfly
57.67
Erin Gallagher
KZNA
10 April 2019
South African Championships
Durban , South Africa
[ 41]
100m butterfly
57.64
AF, #
Erin Gallagher
South Africa
5 August 2023
World University Games
Chengdu , China
[ 42]
100m butterfly
57.59
h, AF, #
Erin Gallagher
South Africa
11 February 2024
World Championships
Doha , Qatar
[ 43]
100m butterfly
57.32
AF, #
Erin Gallagher
Aquatics Gauteng Tshwane
12 April 2024
South African Championships
Port Elizabeth , South Africa
[ 44]
200m butterfly
2:09.41
h
Kathryn Meaklim
South Africa
12 August 2008
Olympic Games
Beijing , China
200m individual medley
2:11.39
Rebecca Meder
KwaZulu Natal
13 April 2023
South African Championships
Gqeberha , South Africa
[ 45]
200m individual medley
2:10.95
h, '#'
Rebecca Meder
South Africa
23 July 2023
World Championships
Fukuoka , Japan
[ 46]
200m individual medley
2:10.67
sf, '#'
Rebecca Meder
South Africa
2 August 2024
Olympic Games
Paris , France
[ 47]
400m individual medley
4:37.11
h
Kathryn Meaklim
South Africa
9 August 2008
Olympic Games
Beijing , China
4×50m freestyle relay
1:45.66
L. Kemp K. Ross A. Peens V. Mohr
Tuks
10 April 2014
South African Championships
South Africa
4×100m freestyle relay
3:40.29
AF, not ratified
KwaZulu Natal
10 April 2021
South African Championships
Port Elizabeth , South Africa
[ 48]
4×200m freestyle relay
8:01.56
h, AF
South Africa
28 July 2021
Olympic Games
Tokyo , Japan
[ 49]
4×100m medley relay
4:01.92
AF, not ratified
KwaZulu Natal
12 April 2021
South African Championships
Port Elizabeth , South Africa
[ 50]
4×100m medley relay
3:59.63
AF, not ratified
South Africa
3 August 2022
Commonwealth Games
Birmingham , United Kingdom
[ 51]
Legend:
# – Record awaiting ratification by SSA ; WR – World record ; AF – African record ; CR – Commonwealth record ; Records not set in finals: h – heat; sf – semifinal; r – relay 1st leg; rh – relay heat 1st leg; b – B final; † – en route to final mark; tt – time trial
Mixed relay
Short Course (25 m)
Men
Event
Time
Name
Club
Date
Meet
Location
Ref
50m freestyle
20.30
AF, CR
Roland Schoeman
TuksSwimming
8 August 2009
South African Championships
Pietermaritzburg , South Africa
100m freestyle
45.78
AF
Chad le Clos
South Africa
6 August 2017
World Cup
Berlin , Germany
[ 56]
200m freestyle
1:40.65
AF, not ratified
Matthew Sates
South Africa
3 October 2021
World Cup
Berlin , Germany
[ 57]
400m freestyle
3:36.30
AF
Matthew Sates
South Africa
21 October 2022
World Cup
Berlin , Germany
[ 58]
800m freestyle
7:44.10
Ryk Neethling
Arizona
25 March 2000
NCAA Division I Championships
Minneapolis , United States
800m freestyle
7:43.56
'#'
Kris Mihaylov
Boksburg
27 September 2024
South African Championships
Durban , South Africa
[citation needed ]
1500m freestyle
14:30.54
Myles Brown
South Africa
8 August 2013
World Cup
Eindhoven , Netherlands
[ 59]
50m backstroke
22.84
AF
South Africa
16 December 2022
World Championships
Melbourne , Australia
[ 60]
50m backstroke
22.75
AF, #
Pieter Coetze
South Africa
1 November 2024
World Cup
Singapore , Singapore
[ 61]
100m backstroke
49.60
AF
South Africa
14 December 2022
World Championships
Melbourne , Australia
[ 62]
100m backstroke
49.35
AF, #
Pieter Coetze
South Africa
20 October 2024
World Cup
Shanghai , China
[ 63]
200m backstroke
1:47.08
AF
George Du Rand
South Africa
7 November 2009
World Cup
Moscow , Russia
50m breaststroke
25.25
AF, CR
Cameron van der Burgh
South Africa
14 November 2009
World Cup
Berlin , Germany
100m breaststroke
55.61
AF
Cameron van der Burgh
South Africa
15 November 2009
World Cup
Berlin , Germany
200m breaststroke
2:02.56
AF
Neil Versfeld
South Africa
14 November 2009
World Cup
Berlin , Germany
50m butterfly
21.87
AF, CR
Roland Schoeman
South Africa
14 November 2009
World Cup
Berlin , Germany
100m butterfly
48.08
AF, CR
Chad le Clos
South Africa
8 December 2016
World Championships
Windsor , Canada
[ 64]
200m butterfly
1:48.27
AF, CR
Chad le Clos
South Africa
15 December 2022
World Championships
Melbourne , Australia
[ 65]
100m individual medley
51.05
AF, CR
Gerhard Zandberg
South Africa
14 November 2009
World Cup
Berlin , Germany
200m individual medley
1:50.15
AF, CR
Matthew Sates
South Africa
13 December 2022
World Championships
Melbourne , Australia
[ 66]
400m individual medley
3:59.21
Matthew Sates
South Africa
17 December 2022
World Championships
Melbourne , Australia
[ 67]
4×50m freestyle relay
1:24.14
AF
South Africa
14 December 2018
World Championships
Hangzhou , China
[ 68]
4×100m freestyle relay
3:12.87
h, AF
South Africa
3 December 2014
World Championships
Doha , Qatar
[ 69]
4×200m freestyle relay
6:52.13
AF
South Africa
4 December 2014
World Championships
Doha , Qatar
[ 70]
4×50m medley relay
1:34.31
h, AF
South Africa
4 December 2014
World Championships
Doha , Qatar
[ 71]
4×100m medley relay
3:31.97
h, AF
South Africa
16 December 2012
World Championships
Istanbul , Turkey
[ 72]
Legend:
# – Record awaiting ratification by SSA ; WR – World record ; AF – African record ; CR – Commonwealth record ; Records not set in finals: h – heat; sf – semifinal; r – relay 1st leg; rh – relay heat 1st leg; b – B final; † – en route to final mark; tt – time trial
Women
Event
Time
Name
Club
Date
Meet
Location
Ref
50m freestyle
24.33
rh, AF
Caitlin De Lange
South Africa
15 December 2022
World Championships
Melbourne , Australia
[ 73]
50m freestyle
24.14
h, AF, #
Caitlin De Lange
South Africa
14 December 2024
World Championships
Budapest , Hungary
[ 74]
100m freestyle
52.70
sf, AF
Erin Gallagher
South Africa
12 December 2018
World Championships
Hangzhou , China
[ 75]
200m freestyle
1:54.13
AF
Aimee Canny
University of Virginia
18 October 2024
Virginia vs Florida Dual Meet
Charlottesville , United States
[ 76]
400m freestyle
4:03.50
AF
Melissa Corfe
South Africa
11 April 2008
World Championships
Manchester , United Kingdom
800m freestyle
8:22.05
AF
Jessica Pengelly
South Africa
4 November 2011
World Cup
Singapore , Singapore
1500m freestyle
16:11.24
AF
Jessica Pengelly
South Africa
14 July 2010
Australian Championships
Brisbane , Australia
1500m freestyle
16:09.12
AF, #
Stephanie Houtman
South Africa
13 December 2024
World Championships
Budapest , Hungary
[ 77]
50m backstroke
26.89
Chanelle Van Wyk
South Africa
6 November 2009
World Cup
Moscow , Russia
100m backstroke
56.56
AF
Chanelle Van Wyk
South Africa
15 November 2009
World Cup
Berlin , Germany
200m backstroke
2:05.01
Mandy Loots
South Africa
21 November 2009
World Cup
Singapore , Singapore
50m breaststroke
29.09
AF
Lara van Niekerk
South Africa
18 December 2022
World Championships
Melbourne , Australia
[ 78]
100m breaststroke
1:03.89
AF
Tatjana Schoenmaker
Tuks
25 October 2020
South African Championships
Pietermaritzburg , South Africa
[ 79]
200m breaststroke
2:18.02
AF
Tatjana Schoenmaker
Tuks
26 October 2020
South African Championships
Pietermaritzburg , South Africa
[ 80]
50m butterfly
25.54
Tayla Lovemore
South Africa
16 November 2018
World Cup
Singapore , Singapore
[ 81]
100m butterfly
56.52
Lize-Mari Retief
South Africa
19 December 2007
Vladimir Salnikov Cup
Saint Petersburg , Russia
200m butterfly
2:04.24
AF
Mandy Loots
South Africa
21 November 2009
World Cup
Singapore , Singapore
100m individual medley
58.46
AF
Rebecca Meder
South Africa
16 December 2022
World Championships
Melbourne , Australia
[ 82]
100m individual medley
57.69
sf, AF, #
Rebecca Meder
South Africa
12 December 2024
World Championships
Budapest , Hungary
[ 83]
200m individual medley
2:07.47
h
Rebecca Meder
South Africa
13 December 2022
World Championships
Melbourne , Australia
[ 84]
200m individual medley
2:05.61
AF, #
Rebecca Meder
South Africa
10 December 2024
World Championships
Budapest , Hungary
[ 85]
400m individual medley
4:22.88
AF, #
Katheryn Meaklim
South Africa
21 November 2009
World Cup
Singapore , Singapore
4×50m freestyle relay
1:42.78
h, AF
South Africa
7 December 2014
World Championships
Doha , Qatar
[ 86]
4×50m freestyle relay
1:40.80
h, AF, not ratified
South Africa
15 December 2022
World Championships
Melbourne , Australia
[ 87]
4×100m freestyle relay
3:41.80
h, AF
South Africa
15 December 2012
World Championships
Istanbul , Turkey
[ 88]
4×100m freestyle relay
3:41.57
h, AF, not ratified
South Africa
13 December 2022
World Championships
Melbourne , Australia
[ 89]
4×200m freestyle relay
8:02.49
h, AF
South Africa
12 December 2012
World Championships
Istanbul , Turkey
[ 90]
4×50m medley relay
1:52.16
h, AF
South Africa
5 December 2014
World Championships
Doha , Qatar
[ 91]
4×100m medley relay
4:00.73
AF
South Africa
11 April 2008
World Championships
Manchester , United Kingdom
[ 92]
4×100m medley relay
3:59.64
h, AF, not ratified
South Africa
18 December 2022
World Championships
Melbourne , Australia
[ 93]
4×100m medley relay
3:57.68
h, AF, #
South Africa
15 December 2024
World Championships
Budapest , Hungary
[ 94]
Legend:
# – Record awaiting ratification by SSA ; WR – World record ; AF – African record ; CR – Commonwealth record ; Records not set in finals: h – heat; sf – semifinal; r – relay 1st leg; rh – relay heat 1st leg; b – B final; † – en route to final mark; tt – time trial
Mixed relay
Legend:
# – Record awaiting ratification by SSA ; Records not set in finals: h – heat
Notes
^ by official result source; 28 and 29 July 2022 by SSA source, unclear why
References
General
Specific
External links
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