The Men’s World Records from Newest to Oldest
It’s been nearly two months since Australian sprint star Cameron McEvoy took down the world record in the 50-meter freestyle. Competing at the China Open, McEvoy clocked 20.88 in the one-lap sprint, an effort that cut .03 off Cesar Cielo’s longstanding global standard from the 2009 campaign. The reigning Olympic champion in the 50 freestyle, McEvoy chased Cielo’s world record for several years, and will now look to lower the mark even further.
The summer ahead is expected to produce fast racing, with multiple international competitions on tap. In addition to the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, the European Championships will unfold in Paris. Meanwhile, the Pan Pacific Championships are slated for Irvine, California.
Here is a look at the men’s world records in order of youth, led by McEvoy’s recent standard.
50 Freestyle
Owner: Cameron McEvoy
Time: 20.88
Date: March 20, 2026
Age of Record: 51 Days
200 Individual Medley
Owner: Leon Marchand
Time: 1:52.69
Date: July 30, 2025
Age of Record: Nine Months, 10 Days
400 Freestyle
Owner: Lukas Märtens
Time: 3:39.96
Date: April 12, 2025
Age of Record: One Year, 28 Days
1500 Freestyle
Owner: Bobby Finke
Time: 14:30.67
Date: August 4, 2024
Age of Record: One Year, Nine Months, Six Days
100 Freestyle
Owner: Pan Zhanle
Time: 46.40
Date: July 31, 2024
Age of Record: One Year, Nine Months, 10 Days
200 Breaststroke
Owner: Qin Haiyang
Time: 2:05.48
Date: July 28, 2023
Age of Record: Two Years, Nine Months, 12 Days
50 Backstroke
Owner: Kliment Kolesnikov
Time: 23.55
Date: July 27, 2023
Age of Record: Two Years, Nine Months, 13 Days
400 Individual Medley
Owner: Leon Marchand
Time: 4:02.50
Date: July 23, 2023
Age of Record: Two Years, Nine Months, 17 Days
200 Butterfly
Owner: Kristof Milak
Time: 1:50.34
Date: June 21, 2022
Age of Record: Three Years, 10 Months, 19 Days
100 Backstroke
Owner: Thomas Ceccon
Time: 51.60
Date: June 20, 2022
Age of Record: Three Years, 10 Months, 20 Days
100 Butterfly
Owner: Caeleb Dressel
Time: 49.45
Date: July 31, 2021
Age of Record: Four Years, Nine Months, 10 Days
100 Breaststroke
Owner: Adam Peaty
Time: 56.88
Date: July 21, 2019
Age of Record: Six Years, Nine Months, 19 Days
50 Butterfly
Owner: Andriy Govorov
Time: 22.27
Date: July 1, 2018
Age of Record: Seven Years, 10 Months, Nine Days
50 Breaststroke
Owner: Adam Peaty
Time: 25.95
Date: July 25, 2017
Age of Record: Eight Years, Nine Months, 15 Days
200 Backstroke
Owner: Aaron Peirsol
Time: 1:51.92
Date: July 31, 2009
Age of Record: 16 Years, Nine Months, 10 Days
800 Freestyle
Owner: Zhang Lin
Time: 7:32.12
Date: July 29, 2009
Age of Record: 16 Years, Nine Months, 11 Days
200 Freestyle
Owner: Paul Biedermann
Time: 1:42.00
Date: July 28, 2009
Age of Record: 16 Years, Nine Months, 12 Days