World record progression 4 × 100 metres freestyle relay
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 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 (French : Fédération Internationale de Natation ), the international competitive swimming and aquatics federation that oversees 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.[ 1] 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.[ 2] In October 2013 FINA decided to establish "standards" before something can be recognized as the first world record in these events.[ 3] 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.[ 4]
The women's 4×100-metre event was first contested at the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm, but the men's 4×100-metre event did not appear until the 1964 Summer Olympics 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",[ 5] as "It is also the Alpha Dog moment in water. Our Country is faster than Your Country". Nathan Adrian was quoted as saying “Every American swimmer dreams of getting up there in the 4x100 free relay and winning a gold medal.”[ 6] The Australians won the event at the 2000 Summer Olympics 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 . At the 2008 Summer Olympics , Frenchman Alain Bernard famously said he would "smash the Americans" [citation needed ] ; while the French team did beat the previous world record, they did it 0:00.08 after Jason Lezak 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
#
Time
Name
Nationality
Date
Meet
Location
Ref
1
4:10.2
Hungary
June 26, 1937
-
Budapest , Hungary
2
4:06.6
Hungary
August 15, 1937
-
Budapest , Hungary
3
4:03.6
Germany
March 5, 1938
-
Bremen , Germany
4
4:02.4
Germany
April 1, 1938
-
Copenhagen , Denmark
5
4:02.0
Hungary
July 14, 1938
-
Budapest , Hungary
6
3:59.2
United States
August 20, 1938
-
Berlin , Nazi Germany
7
3:54.4
United States
March 8, 1940
-
New Haven, CT , United States
8
3:50.8
United States
March 18, 1942
-
New Haven, CT , United States
9
3:48.6
United States
June 29, 1948
-
New Haven, CT , United States
10
3:47.9
United States
March 19, 1951
-
New Haven, CT , United States
11
3:46.8
Japan
August 6, 1955
-
Tokyo , Japan
12
3:46.3
Australia
May 3, 1958
-
Brisbane , Australia
13
3:44.4
United States
July 21, 1959
-
Tokyo , Japan
14
3:42.5
France
August 10, 1962
-
Thionville , France
15
3:39.9
United States
July 4, 1963
-
Los Altos, CA , United States
16
3:36.1
United States
August 18, 1963
-
Tokyo , Japan
17
3:33.2
United States
October 14, 1964
-
Tokyo , Japan
18
3:32.6
United States
August 28, 1967
-
Tokyo , Japan
19
3:32.5
United States
September 3, 1968
U.S. Olympic Trials
Long Beach, CA , United States
20
3:31.7
United States
October 17, 1968
1968 Summer Olympics
Mexico City , Mexico
21
3:28.8
United States
August 23, 1970
AAU Nationals
Los Angeles , United States
22
3:28.84
h
United States
August 28, 1972
1972 Summer Olympics
Munich , West Germany
23
3:26.42
United States
August 28, 1972
1972 Summer Olympics
Munich , West Germany
24
3:25.17
United States
September 1, 1974
United States–East Germany dual meet
Concord, CA , United States
25
3:24.85
United States
July 25, 1975
World Championships
Cali , Colombia
26
3:21.11
United States
August 28, 1977
United States–East Germany dual meet
East Berlin , East Germany
27
3:19.74
United States
August 22, 1978
World Championships
West Berlin , West Germany
28
3:19.26
United States
August 5, 1982
World Championships
Guayaquil , Ecuador
29
3:19.03
United States
August 2, 1984
1984 Summer Olympics
Los Angeles , United States
30
3:17.08
United States
August 17, 1985
1985 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships
Tokyo , Japan
31
3:16.53
United States
September 23, 1988
1988 Summer Olympics
Seoul , South Korea
32
3:15.11
United States
August 12, 1995
1995 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships
Atlanta, GA , United States
33
3:13.67
Australia
September 16, 2000
2000 Summer Olympics
Sydney , Australia
34
3:13.17
South Africa
August 15, 2004
2004 Summer Olympics
Athens , Greece
35
3:12.46
United States
August 19, 2006
Pan Pacific Championships
Victoria, British Columbia , Canada
36
3:12.23
h
United States
August 10, 2008
2008 Summer Olympics
Beijing , China
37
3:08.24
United States
August 11, 2008
2008 Summer Olympics
Beijing , China
[ 7]
Legend:
# – Record awaiting ratification by FINA ; yd – set in a pool measured in yards; 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
Men's short course
Time
Nationality
Name
Date
Place
3:14.00
Sweden
Tommy Werner (48.33)Anders Holmertz (49.07)Michael Söderlund (49.10)Joakim Holmqvist (47.50)
March 19, 1989
Malmö , Sweden
3:13.97
Brazil
Gustavo Borges (48.19)Fernando Scherer (47.95)José Carlos Souza (49.37)Teófilo Ferreira (48.46)
July 7, 1993
Santos , Brazil
3:12.11
Brazil
Fernando Scherer (48.27)Teófilo Ferreira (48.28)José Carlos Souza (48.90)Gustavo Borges (46.66)
December 5, 1993
Palma de Mallorca , Spain
3:10.45
Brazil
Fernando Scherer (47.27)Carlos Jayme (48.49)Alexandre Massura (47.93)Gustavo Borges (46.76)
December 20, 1998
Rio de Janeiro , Brazil
3:09.57
Sweden
Johan Nyström (49.04)Lars Frölander (45.69)Mattias Ohlin (47.87)Stefan Nystrand (46.97)
March 16, 2000
Athens , Greece
3:08.44
United States
Ryan Lochte (47.09)Bryan Lundquist (46.64)Nathan Adrian (46.57)Doug Van Wie (48.14)
April 9, 2008
Manchester , United Kingdom
3:04.98
CN Marseille
Grégory Mallet (47.41)Fabien Gilot (44.92)William Meynard (47.65)Frédérick Bousquet (45.00)
December 20, 2008
Istres , France
3:03.30
United States
Nathan Adrian (45.08)Matt Grevers (44.68)Garrett Weber-Gale (47.43)Michael Phelps (46.11)
December 19, 2009
Manchester , United Kingdom
3:03.03
United States
Caeleb Dressel (45.66)Blake Pieroni (45.75)Michael Chadwick (45.86)Ryan Held (45.76)
December 11, 2018
Hangzhou , China
3:02.75
Italy
Alessandro Miressi (46.15)Paolo Conte Bonin (45.93)Leonardo Deplano (45.54)Thomas Ceccon (45.13)
December 13, 2022
Melbourne , Australia
3:01.66
United States
Jack Alexy (45.05)Luke Hobson (45.18)Kieran Smith (46.01)Chris Guiliano (45.42)
December 14, 2024
Budapest , Hungary
Women
Women's long course
Time
Nationality
Name
Date
Place
5:52.8
Great Britain
Belle Moore (?)Jennie Fletcher (?)Annie Speirs (?)Irene Steer (?)
July 15, 1912
Stockholm , Sweden
5:11.6
United States
Margaret Woodbridge (?)Frances Schroth (?)Irene Guest (?)Ethelda Bleibtrey (?)
August 29, 1920
Antwerp , Belgium
4:58.8
United States
Gertrude Ederle (?)Euphrasia Donnelly (?)Ethel Lackie (?)Mariechen Wehselau (?)
July 20, 1924
Paris , France
4:55.6
United States
Adelaide Lambert (?)Josephine McKim (?)Susan Laird (?)Albina Osipowich (?)
August 9, 1928
Amsterdam , Netherlands
4:47.6
United States
Adelaide Lambert (?)Eleanor Garatti (?)Albina Osipowich (?)Martha Norelius (?)
August 9, 1928
Amsterdam , Netherlands
4:38.0
United States
Josephine McKim (?)Helen Johns (?)Eleanor Garatti (?)Helene Madison (?)
August 12, 1932
Los Angeles , United States
4:33.3
Netherlands
Jopie Selbach (?)Annie Timmermans (?)Rie Mastenbroek (?)Willy den Ouden (?)
April 14, 1934
Rotterdam , Netherlands
4:32.8
Netherlands
Jopie Selbach (?)Rie Mastenbroek (?)Catherina Wagner (?)Willy den Ouden (?)
May 24, 1936
Rotterdam , Netherlands
4:29.7
Denmark
Elvi Svendsen (?)Gunvor Kraft (?)Birte Ove-Petersen (?)Ragnhild Hveger (?)
February 8, 1938
Copenhagen , Denmark
4:27.6
Denmark
Eva Arndt (?)Gunvor Kraft (?)Birte Ove-Petersen (?)Ragnhild Hveger (?)
August 7, 1938
Copenhagen , Denmark
4:27.2
Hungary
Mária Littomericzky (?)Éva Novák (?)Éva Székely (?)Katalin Szőke (?)
April 27, 1952
Moscow , Soviet Union
4:24.4
Hungary
Ilona Novák (1:07.8)Judit Temes (1:05.8)Éva Novák (1:05.1)Katalin Szőke (1:05.7)
August 1, 1952
Helsinki , Finland
4:22.3
Australia
Lorraine Crapp (?)Dawn Fraser (?)Margaret Gibson (?)Barbara Jackson (?)
October 20, 1956
Sydney , Australia
4:19.7
Australia
Lorraine Crapp (?)Dawn Fraser (?)Faith Leech (?)Margaret Gibson (?)
October 25, 1956
Melbourne , Australia
4:17.1
Australia
Dawn Fraser (?)Faith Leech (?)Sandra Morgan (?)Lorraine Crapp (1:03.1)
December 6, 1956
Melbourne , Australia
4:16.2
Australia
Dawn Fraser (?)Alva Colquhoun (?)Ilsa Konrads (?)Lorraine Crapp (?)
August 6, 1960
Townsville , Australia
4:08.9
United States
Joan Spillane (?)Shirley Stobs (?)Carolyn Wood (?)Chris von Saltza (?)
September 3, 1960
Rome , Italy
4:08.5
Santa Clara Swim Club
Terri Stickles (?)Donna de Varona (?)Pokey Watson (?)Judy Haroun (?)
July 31, 1964
Los Altos , United States
4:07.6
United States
Lynne Allsup (?)Terri Stickles (?)Kathy Seidel (?)Eleanor Bricker (?)
September 28, 1964
Los Angeles , United States
4:03.8
United States
Sharon Stouder (?)Donna de Varona (?)Pokey Watson (?)Kathy Ellis (?)
October 15, 1964
Tokyo , Japan
4:03.5
Santa Clara Swim Club
Linda Gustavson (?)Nancy Ryan (?)Laura Fritz (?)Pokey Watson (?)
August 19, 1967
Philadelphia , United States
4:01.1
Santa Clara Swim Club
Linda Gustavson (?)Pokey Watson (?)Pam Carpinelli (?)Jan Henne (?)
July 6, 1968
Santa Clara , United States
4:00.8
East Germany
Gabriele Wetzko Iris Komar Elke Sehmisch Sabine Schulze
September 11, 1970
Barcelona , Spain
4:00.7
United States
Shirley Babashoff (?)Kim Peyton (?)Linda Johnson (?)Deena Deardurff (?)
September 9, 1971
Minsk , Soviet Union
3:58.11
United States
Kim Peyton (?)Sandy Neilson (?)Jane Barkman (?)Shirley Babashoff (?)
August 18, 1972
Knoxville , United States
3:58.11
East Germany
Sylvia Eichner (?)Elke Sehmisch (?)Andrea Eife (?)Kornelia Ender (?)
August 30, 1972
Munich , West Germany
3:55.19
United States
Sandy Neilson (?)Jenny Kemp (?)Jane Barkman (?)Shirley Babashoff (?)
August 30, 1972
Munich , West Germany
3:52.45
East Germany
Andrea Eife (?)Andrea Hubner (?)Sylvia Eichner (?)Kornelia Ender (?)
September 8, 1973
Belgrade , Yugoslavia
3:51.99
United States
Ann Marshall (?)Kim Peyton (?)Kathy Heddy (?)Shirley Babashoff (?)
August 31, 1974
Concord , United States
3:49.37
East Germany
Kornelia Ender (56.22 WR)Barbara Krause (57.41)Claudia Hempel (57.97)Ute Bruckner (57.77)
July 26, 1975
Cali , Colombia
3:48.80
SC Dynamo Berlin
Rosemarie Kother (?)Andrea Pollack (?)Monika Seltmann (?)Barbara Krause (?)
June 2, 1976
East Berlin , East Germany
3:44.82
United States
Kim Peyton (56.95)Wendy Boglioli (55.81)Jill Sterkel (55.78)Shirley Babashoff (56.28)
July 25, 1976
Montreal , Canada
3:43.43
United States
Tracy Caulkins (56.57)Stephanie Elkins (55.92)Jill Sterkel (55.70)Cynthia Woodhead (55.24)
August 26, 1978
West Berlin
3:42.71
East Germany
Barbara Krause (54.90)Caren Metschuck (55.61)Ines Diers (55.90)Sarina Hülsenbeck (56.30)
July 27, 1980
Moscow , Soviet Union
3:42.41
East Germany
Birgit Meineke (?)Kristin Otto (?)Karen König (?)Heike Friedrich (?)
August 21, 1984
Moscow , Soviet Union
3:40.57
East Germany
Kristin Otto (54.73 WR)Manuela Stellmach (54.96)Sabina Schulze (55.52)Heike Friedrich (55.36)
August 19, 1986
Madrid , Spain
3:39.46
United States
Nicole Haislett (55.33)Dara Torres (55.33)Angel Martino (54.79)Jenny Thompson (54.01)
July 28, 1992
Barcelona , Spain
3:37.91
China
Le Jingyi (54.31)Shan Ying (54.38)Le Ying (55.09)Lü Bin (54.13)
September 7, 1994
Rome , Italy
3:36.61
United States
Amy Van Dyken (55.08)Dara Torres (53.51)Courtney Shealy (54.40)Jenny Thompson (53.62)
September 16, 2000
Sydney , Australia
3:36.00
Germany
Katrin Meissner (54.82)Petra Dallmann (53.95)Sandra Völker (53.59)Franziska van Almsick (53.64)
July 29, 2002
Berlin , Germany
3:35.94
Australia
Alice Mills (54.75)Libby Lenton (53.57)Petria Thomas (54.67)Jodie Henry (52.95)
August 14, 2004
Athens , Greece
3:35.22
Germany
Petra Dallmann (54.53)Daniela Götz (53.87)Britta Steffen (52.66)Annika Liebs (54.16)
July 31, 2006
Budapest , Hungary
3:33.62
Netherlands
Inge Dekker (53.77)Ranomi Kromowidjojo (53.61)Femke Heemskerk (53.62)Marleen Veldhuis (52.62)
March 18, 2008
Eindhoven , Netherlands
3:31.72
Netherlands
Inge Dekker (53.61)Ranomi Kromowidjojo (52.30)Femke Heemskerk (53.03)Marleen Veldhuis (52.78)
July 26, 2009
Rome , Italy
3:30.98
Australia
Bronte Campbell (53.15)Melanie Schlanger (52.76)Emma McKeon (52.91)Cate Campbell (52.16)
July 24, 2014
Glasgow , Scotland
3:30.65
Australia
Emma McKeon (53.41)Brittany Elmslie (53.12)Bronte Campbell (52.15)Cate Campbell (51.97)
August 6, 2016
Rio de Janeiro , Brazil
3:30.05
Australia
Shayna Jack (54.03)Bronte Campbell (52.03)Emma McKeon (52.99)Cate Campbell (51.00)
April 5, 2018
Gold Coast , Australia
3:29.69
Australia
Bronte Campbell (53.01)Meg Harris (53.09)Emma McKeon (51.35)Cate Campbell (52.24)
July 25, 2021
Tokyo , Japan
3:27.96
Australia
Mollie O'Callaghan (52.08)Shayna Jack (51.69)Meg Harris (52.29)Emma McKeon (51.90)
July 23, 2023
Fukuoka , Japan
Women's short course
Time
Nationality
Name
Date
Place
3:35.97
China
Lü Bin (-)Shan Ying (-)Jia Yuanyuan (-)Le Jingyi (-)
December 4, 1993
Palma de Mallorca , Spain
3:34.55
China
Le Jingyi (53.32)Chao Na (54.33)Shan Ying (53.55)Nian Yin (52.55)
April 19, 1997
Gothenburg , Sweden
3:33.32
Netherlands
Inge Dekker (53.52)Hinkelien Schreuder (53.63)Chantal Groot (54.00)Marleen Veldhuis (52.17)
April 8, 2006
Shanghai , China
3:31.66
Australia
Libby Lenton (51.91)Melanie Schlanger (53.23)Shayne Reese (53.27)Alice Mills (53.25)
September 2, 2007
Melbourne , Australia
3:30.85
Netherlands
Hinkelien Schreuder (53.40)Femke Heemskerk (52.95)Ranomi Kromowidjojo (52.97)Marleen Veldhuis (51.53)
September 9, 2007
Eindhoven , Netherlands
3:29.42
Netherlands
Hinkelien Schreuder (53.62)Femke Heemskerk (52.61)Inge Dekker (51.76)Marleen Veldhuis (51.43)
April 12, 2008
Manchester , United Kingdom
3:28.22
Netherlands
Hinkelien Schreuder (52.88)Inge Dekker (52.24)Ranomi Kromowidjojo (52.12)Marleen Veldhuis (50.98)
December 19, 2008
Amsterdam , Netherlands
3:26.53
Netherlands
Inge Dekker (52.39)Femke Heemskerk (50.58)Maud van der Meer (52.55)Ranomi Kromowidjojo (51.01)
December 5, 2014
Doha , Qatar
3:25.43
Australia
Mollie O'Callaghan (52.19)Madison Wilson (51.28)Meg Harris (52.00)Emma McKeon (49.96)
December 13, 2022
Melbourne , Australia
3:25.01
United States
Kate Douglass (50.95)Katharine Berkoff (51.38)Alex Shackell (52.01)Gretchen Walsh (50.67)
December 10, 2024
Budapest , Hungary
Mixed
FINA recognizes only long-course world records for mixed relays in this event.
Legend:
# – Record awaiting ratification by FINA ; Records not set in finals: h – heat
All-time top 10 by country
Men long course
Correct as of September 2023[ 17]
Men short course
Correct as of December 2022[ 23]
Women long course
Correct as of July 2024[ 29]
Women short course
Correct as of December 2024[ 35]
Mixed long course
Correct as of February 2024[ 42]
All-time top 25
Men long course
Correct as of July 2024[ 48]
Men short course
Correct as of December 2022[ 59]
Women long course
Correct as of July 2024[ 76]
Women short course
Correct as of December 2024[ 85]
Mixed long course
Correct as of February 2024[ 89]
Mixed short course
Correct as of December 2021[ 105]
References
External links