The first world record in the 200 metres individual medley in long course (50 metres) swimming was recognised by the International Swimming Federation (FINA) in 1956, followed by the women a year later. In the short course (25 metres) swimming events the world's governing body recognizes world records since March 3, 1991.
All-time top 25
Men long course
- Correct as of November 2023[4]
Notes
Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 1:56.91:
- Ryan Lochte also swam 1:54.10 (2009), 1:54.43 (2010), 1:54.56 (2009), 1:54.84 (2010), 1:54.90 (2012), 1:54.93 (2012), 1:54.98 (2013), 1:55.18 (2009), 1:55.22 (2008), 1:55.44 (2013), 1:55.51 (2012), 1:55.81 (2015), 1:56.02 (2014), 1:56.11 (2006), 1:56.13 (2012), 1:56.19 (2007), 1:56.22 (2016), 1:56.28 (2016), 1:56.50 (2014), 1:56.53 (2008), 1:56.71 (2016), 1:56.74 (2011), 1:56.78 (2006), 1:56.81 (2015).
- Michael Phelps also swam 1:54.23 (2008), 1:54.27 (2012), 1:54.66 (2016), 1:54.75 (2015), 1:54.80 (2008), 1:54.84 (2012), 1:54.98 (2007), 1:55.78 (2016), 1:55.84 (2006), 1:55.91 (2016), 1:55.94 (2003, 2010), 1:56.04 (2003, 2014), 1:56.32 (2012), 1:56.50 (2006), 1:56.55 (2014), 1:56.66 (2012), 1:56.68 (2005), 1:56.71 (2004), 1:56.88 (2011).
- Wang Shun also swam 1:55.00 (2021), 1:55.55 (2023), 1:56.16 (2017), 1:56.22 (2021), 1:56.27 (2020), 1:56.28 (2017), 1:56.33 (2021), 1:56.52 (2018), 1:56.57 (2018), 1:56.66 (2016, 2019), 1:56.78 (2021), 1:56.81 (2015, 2020), 1:56.83 (2020), 1:56.86 (2013).
- Léon Marchand also swam 1:55.22 (2022), 1:55.68 (2023), 1:55.75 (2022), 1:56.25 (2023), 1:56.34 (2023).
- László Cseh also swam 1:55.24 (2009), 1:56.22 (2012), 1:56.34 (2009), 1:56.52 (2008), 1:56.66 (2012), 1:56.74 (2012).
- Kosuke Hagino also swam 1:55.33 (2014), 1:55.34 (2014), 1:55.38 (2014), 1:55.74 (2013), 1:55.90 (2014), 1:55.98 (2016), 1:56.01 (2017, 2017), 1:56.02 (2014), 1:56.04 (2017), 1:56.13 (2016), 1:56.29 (2013), 1:56.30 (2015, 2017), 1:56.37 (2018), 1:56.46 (2017), 1:56.61 (2016), 1:56.66 (2018), 1:56.75 (2018), 1:56.82 (2015).
- Michael Andrew also swam 1:55.44 (2021), 1:56.25 (2021), 1:56.40 (2021), 1:56.83 (2020), 1:56.84 (2021).
- Chase Kalisz also swam 1:55.56 (2017), 1:55.73 (2018), 1:55.88 (2017), 1:56.21 (2022), 1:56.43 (2022), 1:56.48 (2017), 1:56.51 (2017), 1:56.52 (2022), 1:56.76 (2022), 1:56.78 (2019).
- Duncan Scott also swam 1:55.90 (2021), 1:55.95 (2023), 1:56.08 (2022), 1:56.50 (2023), 1:56.65 (2019), 1:56.69 (2021), 1:56.72 (2023), 1:56.88 (2022), 1:56.91 (2019).
- Eric Shanteau also swam 1:56.00 (2009).
- Shaine Casas also swam 1:56.06 (2023, 2023), 1:56.35 (2023), 1:56.70 (2022).
- Daiya Seto also swam 1:56.14 (2019), 1:56.22 (2021, 2022), 1:56.27 (2022), 1:56.62 (2023), 1:56.69 (2019), 1:56.70 (2023), 1:56.72 (2023), 1:56.74 (2022), 1:56.82 (2015), 1:56.85 (2018), 1:56.86 (2021), 1:56.90 (2016).
- Carson Foster also swam 1:56.19 (2023), 1:56.43 (2023), 1:56.44 (2022), 1:56.51 (2023), 1:56.55 (2023), 1:56.65 (2022), 1:56.80 (2023).
- Mitch Larkin also swam 1:56.21 (2018), 1:56.29 (2021), 1:56.32 (2020), 1:56.74 (2021), 1:56.83 (2019).
- Thiago Pereira also swam 1:56.30 (2013), 1:56.65 (2015), 1:56.74 (2012).
- Jérémy Desplanches also swam 1:56.56 (2019), 1:56.73 (2019), 1:56.86 (2017), 1:56.89 (2019, 2021).
- Hugo González also swam 1:56.58 (2023), 1:56.76 (2021).
- Philip Heintz also swam 1:56.59 (2017), 1:56.67 (2018), 1:56.86 (2019).
- Tom Dean also swam 1:56.65 (2023), 1:56.77 (2022).
- Max Litchfield also swam 1:56.70 (2017), 1:56.86 (2017).
- Leith Brodie also swam 1:56.75 (2009).
Men short course
- Correct as of December 2023[15]
Notes
Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 1:52.13:
- Ryan Lochte also swam 1:50.08 (2010), 1:51.31 (2014), 1:51.56 (2008).
- Daiya Seto also swam 1:50.76 (2019), 1:51.09 (2018), 1:51.12 (2021), 1:51.15 (2021), 1:51.39 (2022), 1:51.40 (2017), 1:51.76 (2022), 1:51.79 (2014), 1:51.80 (2021), 1:51.88 (2017).
- Andreas Vazaios also swam 1:51.15 (2021), 1:51.84 (2020), 1:51.94 (2021).
- Kosuke Hagino also swam 1:51.27 (2014), 1:51.50 (2013).
- Shaine Casas also swam 1:51.31 (2022).
- Carson Foster also swam 1:51.35 (2021), 1:51.89 (2022).
- Wang Shun also swam 1:51.45 (2018), 1:51.63 (2016), 1:51.74 (2016), 1:51.84 (2018), 1:52.08 (2018).
- Matthew Sates also swam 1:51.45 (2021).
- Duncan Scott also swam 1:51.53 (2023), 1:51.66 (2020), 1:51.85 (2019), 1:51.90 (2023), 1:51.96 (2020).
- Darian Townsend also swam 1:51.79 (2009).
- Philip Heintz also swam 1:52.03 (2016), 1:52.07 (2016), 1:52.08 (2016).
- Alberto Razzetti also swam 1:51.73 (2022), 1:52.10 (2021).
- Chad le Clos also swam 1:52.11 (2013).
Women long course
- Correct as of December 2023[25]
Notes
Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 2:08.95:
- Katinka Hosszú also swam 2:06.58 (2016), 2:06.84 (2015), 2:07.00 (2017), 2:07.02 (2019), 2:07.14 (2017), 2:07.17 (2019), 2:07.30 (2015, 2016), 2:07.45 (2016), 2:07.46 (2009), 2:07.49 (2017), 2:07.53 (2019), 2:07.69 (2016), 2:07.92 (2013, 2016), 2:08.11 (2014), 2:08.13 (2016), 2:08.15 (2019), 2:08.20 (2016), 2:08.28 (2019), 2:08.41 (2014), 2:08.45 (2013), 2:08.49 (2017), 2:08.50 (2019), 2:08.55 (2019), 2:08.57 (2019), 2:08.59 (2013), 2:08.60 (2016), 2:08.61 (2015), 2:08.63 (2019, 2019), 2:08.66 (2015), 2:08.72 (2019), 2:08.77 (2015), 2:08.81 (2019), 2:08.93 (2016, 2016).
- Ariana Kukors also swam 2:07.03 (2009), 2:08.53 (2009).
- Summer McIntosh also swam 2:07.16 (2024), 2:08.08 (2023), 2:08.70 (2022).
- Kate Douglass also swam 2:07.17 (2023), 2:08.29 (2023), 2:08.46 (2023).
- Kaylee McKeown also swam 2:07.54 (2023), 2:07.60 (2023), 2:08.16 (2023), 2:08.19 (2021), 2:08.23 (2020), 2:08.27 (2023), 2:08.57 (2022), 2:08.73 (2021).
- Siobhan-Marie O'Connor also swam 2:07.57 (2016), 2:08.21 (2014), 2:08.44 (2016), 2:08.45 (2015), 2:08.77 (2015), 2:08.82 (2015).
- Alex Walsh also swam 2:07.63 (2024), 2:07.84 (2022), 2:07.89 (2023), 2:07.97 (2023), 2:08.27 (2023), 2:08.65 (2021), 2:08.74 (2022), 2:08.87 (2021).
- Yui Ohashi also swam 2:08.16 (2018), 2:08.52 (2021), 2:08.80 (2019), 2:08.88 (2018), 2:08.92 (2018).
- Yu Yiting also swam 2:08.34 (2023), 2:08.74 (2023).
- Ye Shiwen also swam 2:08.39 (2012), 2:08.60 (2019), 2:08.90 (2011, 2012), 2:08.94 (2014).
- Stephanie Rice also swam 2:08.45 (2008), 2:08.68 (2009), 2:08.92 (2008).
- Kim Seo-yeong also swam 2:08.61 (2018).
- Alicia Coutts also swam 2:08.63 (2013), 2:08.89 (2014).
- Sydney Pickrem also swam 2:08.70 (2019), 2:08.71 (2019), 2:08.83 (2019), 2:08.89 (2023).
- Kathleen Baker also swam 2:08.75 (2020).
- Melanie Margalis also swam 2:08.84 (2019), 2:08.91 (2019).
- Maya DiRado also swam 2:08.91 (2016).
- Kirsty Coventry also swam 2:08.94 (2009).
Women short course
- Correct as of December 2023[34]
Notes
Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 2:05.63:
- Katinka Hosszú also swam 2:02.13 (2014), 2:02.53 (2015), 2:02.61 (2014), 2:02.90 (2016), 2:03.07 (2014), 2:03.20 (2013), 2:03.25 (2013, 2018), 2:03.60 (2014), 2:03.66 (2015), 2:04.13 (2018), 2:04.16 (2019), 2:04.31 (2013), 2:04.33 (2013), 2:04.37 (2017), 2:04.39 (2013), 2:04.43 (2017), 2:04.52 (2013), 2:04.56 (2016), 2:04.64 (2017), 2:04.65 (2018), 2:04.68 (2019), 2:04.72 (2012), 2:04.76 (2016, 2017), 2:04.79 (2018), 2:04.94 (2017), 2:04.98 (2017), 2:05.00 (2017), 2:05.01 (2017), 2:05.05 (2013), 2:05.06 (2018), 2:05.07 (2013), 2:05.11 (2019), 2:05.18 (2014), 2:05.25 (2018), 2:05.29 (2017, 2017), 2:05.33 (2013, 2016), 2:05.34 (2013), 2:05.39 (2016), 2:05.42 (2018), 2:05.45 (2013), 2:05.57 (2016), 2:05.60 (2016).
- Kaylee McKeown also swam 2:03.68 (2020).
- Melanie Margalis also swam 2:04.18 (2020), 2:04.32 (2020), 2:04.62 (2018), 2:04.65 (2018), 2;05.18 (2019), 2:05.32 (2019)).
- Sydney Pickrem also swam 2:04.29 (2021), 2:04.34 (2019), 2:04.40 (2020), 2:04.59 (2021), 2:04.85 (2019), 2:05.21 (2021),2:05.22 (2022), 2:05.23 (2022).
- Kate Douglass also swam 2:04.24 (2021), 2:04.39 (2022), 2:04.68 (2021).
- Yui Ohashi also swam 2:04.86 (2021), 2:05.04 (2020), 2:05.09 (2020), 2:05.10 (2020), 2:05.13 (2020), 2:05.26 (2020), 2:05.29 (2018), 2:05.45 (2021).
- Abbie Wood also swam 2:04.94 (2021), 2:05.08 (2021), 2:05.27 (2020), 2:05.36 (2020), 2:05.45 (2021), 2:05.56 (2020), 2:05.58 (2023), 2:05.63 (2021).
- Beata Nelson also swam 2:05.08 (2022).
- Anastasia Gorbenko also swam 2:05.17 (2021).
- Siobhan O'Connor also swam 2:05.19 (2015).
- Mary-Sophie Harvey also swam 2:05.30 (2021).
- Kayla Sanchez also swam 2:05.32 (2019).