The 50m freestyle world record is a fairly recent record — having only been tracked since 1976 by World Aquatics (formerly FINA). It’s short course counter-part has only been recorded since 1991.
The event is so new that there are only a half dozen Olympic winners in the event, as it has only been contested at the Games since the Seoul Olympics in 1988. (Although, to be fair, it was also competed at the 50 yard distance in the 1904 Olympics. The winner then was Hungary’s Zoltán Halmay.)
During the super-suit era the long course world record dropped by a mind-numbing 0.65 seconds in the span of less than 2 years by no fewer than 4 swimmers.
MEN 50m FREE RECORD HOLDERS
The current world record for the 50 freestyle long course is held by Australia’s Cam McEvoy, in a time of 20.88 seconds. The record was set at the China Open in Shezhen in March 2026.
The mark displaces the longstanding super-suit-era world record by Cesar Cielo (Brazil), who set the previous mark on December 18, 2009 at the CBDA Open – Brazilian Championships, in a time of 20.91.
That time was considered a “super suit” record as swimmers during that time competed using since-banned tech suits made primarily of polyurethane.
In short course meters the world record is held by the Cayman Islands’ Jordan Crooks, who swam a 19.90 at the World Aquatics Championships in December 2024. He is the first swimmer in history to break the 20-second barrier in the event.
WOMEN 50m FREE RECORD HOLDERS
In long course meters the current world record holder for the ladies is Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom, who swam a 23.61 at the World Aquatics Championships in July 2023.
The short course record is held by the United States’ Gretchen Walsh, who swam a 22.83 seconds at the World Aquatics Championships in 2024
SEE ALSO:
- 100m freestyle world records
- 200m freestyle world records
- 400m freestyle world records
- 10 Drills for a Faster Freestyle
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