This is a history of the progression of the World Record for the Swimming event: the 200 Butterfly . It is a listing of the fastest-time-ever swum in the event, in both long course (50m) and short course (25m) swimming pool. These records are maintained/recognized by FINA , which oversees international competitive Aquatics.
Graphs of the progression of the World Records in all four strokes (50m, 100m and 200m distances).
The long course records are historically older than the short course records: the long course records go back to at least the 1950s, whereas the short course marks having only been recognized since the early 1990s.
#
Time
Name
Nationality
Date
Meet
Location
Ref
1
2:19.0
Mike Troy
United States
11 July 1959
-
Los Altos , United States
2
2:16.4
Mike Troy
United States
11 July 1959
-
Los Altos , United States
3
2:15.0
Mike Troy
United States
10 July 1960
-
Evansville , United States
4
2:13.4
Mike Troy
United States
23 July 1960
-
Toledo , United States
5
2:13.2
Mike Troy
United States
4 August 1960
US Olympic Trials
Detroit , United States
6
2:12.8
Mike Troy
United States
2 September 1960
Olympic Games
Rome , Italy
7
2:12.6
Carl Robie
United States
19 August 1961
Men’s NAAA Championships
Los Angeles , United States
8
2:12.5
Kevin Berry
Australia
20 February 1962
-
Melbourne , Australia
9
2:12.4
h
Carl Robie
United States
11 August 1962
Men’s National Outdoor Championships
Cuyahoga Falls , United States
10
2:10.8
Carl Robie
United States
11 August 1962
Men’s National Outdoor Championships
Cuyahoga Falls , United States
11
2:09.7
Kevin Berry
Australia
23 October 1962
Australian British Empire & Commonwealth Games Trials
Melbourne , Australia
12
2:08.4
Kevin Berry
Australia
12 January 1963
-
Sydney , Australia
13
2:08.2
Carl Robie
Netherlands
18 March 1963
-
Tokyo , Japan
14
2:06.9
Kevin Berry
Australia
29 March 1964
-
Sydney , Australia
15
2:06.6
Kevin Berry
Australia
18 October 1964
Olympic Games
Tokyo , Japan
16
2:06.4
Mark Spitz
United States
26 July 1967
Pan American Games
Winnipeg , Canada
17
2:06.0
John Ferris
United States
30 August 1967
Summer Universiade
Tokyo , Japan
18
2:05.7
Mark Spitz
United States
8 October 1967
-
West Berlin , West Germany
19
2:05.4
Mark Spitz
United States
22 August 1970
AAU Nationals
Los Angeles , United States
20
2:05.0
Gary Hall Sr.
United States
22 August 1970
AAU Nationals
Los Angeles , United States
21
2:03.9
Mark Spitz
United States
27 August 1971
AAU Nationals
Houston , United States
22
2:03.3
Hans-Joachim Fassnacht
West Germany
31 August 1971
-
Landskrona , Sweden
23
2:01.87
h
Mark Spitz
United States
2 August 1972
US Olympic Trials
Chicago , United States
24
2:01.53
Mark Spitz
United States
2 August 1972
US Olympic Trials
Chicago , United States
25
2:00.70
Mark Spitz
United States
28 August 1972
Olympic Games
Munich , West Germany
26
2:00.21
h
Roger Pyttel
East Germany
3 June 1976
GDR Olympic Trials & National Championships
East Berlin , East Germany
27
1:59.63
Roger Pyttel
East Germany
3 June 1976
GDR Olympic Trials & National Championships
East Berlin , East Germany
28
1:59.23
Mike Bruner
United States
18 July 1976
Olympic Games
Montreal , Canada
29
1:58.21
Craig Beardsley
United States
30 July 1980
-
Irvine , United States
30
1:58.01
Craig Beardsley
United States
22 August 1981
-
Kyiv , Soviet Union
31
1:57.05
Michael Gross
West Germany
26 August 1983
European Championships
Rome , Italy
32
1:57.04
Jon Sieben
Australia
3 August 1984
Olympic Games
Los Angeles , United States
33
1:57.01
Michael Gross
West Germany
29 June 1985
FRG Nationals & European Championship Trials
Wuppertal , West Germany
34
1:56.65
Michael Gross
West Germany
10 August 1985
European Championships
Sofia , Bulgaria
35
1:56.24
Michael Gross
West Germany
28 June 1986
West German Championships
Hanover , West Germany
36
1:55.69
Melvin Stewart
United States
12 January 1991
World Championships
Perth , Australia
37
1:55.22
Denis Pankratov
Russia
14 June 1995
Mare Nostrum
Canet-en-Roussillon , France
38
1:55.18
Tom Malchow
United States
17 June 2000
Charlotte UltraSwim
Charlotte , United States
39
1:54.92
Michael Phelps
United States
30 March 2001
US National Championships
Austin , United States
40
1:54.58
Michael Phelps
United States
24 July 2001
World Championships
Fukuoka , Japan
41
1:53.93
sf
Michael Phelps
United States
22 July 2003
World Championships
Barcelona , Spain
42
1:53.80
Michael Phelps
United States
17 August 2006
Pan Pacific Championships
Victoria , Canada
43
1:53.71
Michael Phelps
United States
17 February 2007
Missouri Grand Prix
Columbia , United States
44
1:52.09
Michael Phelps
United States
28 March 2007
World Championships
Melbourne , Australia
45
1:52.03
Michael Phelps
United States
13 August 2008
Olympic Games
Beijing , China
46
1:51.51
Michael Phelps
United States
29 July 2009
World Championships
Rome , Italy
47
1:50.73
Kristóf Milák
Hungary
24 July 2019
World Championships
Gwangju , South Korea
48
1:50.34
Kristóf Milák
Hungary
21 June 2022
World Championships
Budapest , Hungary
[ 1] [ 2]
Time
Swimmer
Date
Place
1:54.67
Franck Esposito
February 1, 1992
Paris, France
1:54.58
Danyon Loader
February 6, 1993
Paris, France
1:54.50
Danyon Loader
February 9, 1993
Malmö , Sweden
1:54.21
Danyon Loader
February 13, 1993
Gelsenkirchen , Germany
1:53.05
Franck Esposito
March 26, 1994
Paris, France
1:52.64
Denis Pankratov
February 2, 1997
Gelsenkirchen , Germany
1:51.76
James Hickman
March 28, 1998
Paris, France
1:51.58
Franck Esposito
January 14, 2001
Antibes , France
1:51.21
Thomas Rupprath
December 1, 2001
Rostock, Germany
1:50.73
Franck Esposito
December 8, 2002
Antibes , France
1:50.60
Nikolay Skvortsov
December 13, 2008
Rijeka , Croatia
1:50.53
Nikolay Skvortsov
February 15, 2009
Saint Petersburg , Russia
1:49.11
Kaio de Almeida
November 10, 2009
Stockholm , Sweden
1:49.04
Chad le Clos
August 7, 2013
Eindhoven , Netherlands
1:48.56
Chad le Clos
November 5, 2013
Singapore , Singapore
1:48.24
Daiya Seto
December 11, 2018
Hangzhou , China
1:46.85
Tomoru Honda
October 22, 2022
Tokyo, Japan
#
Time
Name
Nationality
Date
Meet
Location
Ref
1
2:40.5
Nancy Ramey
United States
29 June 1958
-
Los Angeles , United States
2
2:38.9
Tineke Lagerberg
Netherlands
13 September 1958
-
Naarden , Netherlands
3
2:37.0
Becky Collins
United States
19 July 1959
-
Redding , United States
4
2:34.4
Marianne Heemskerk
Netherlands
12 June 1960
-
Leipzig , East Germany
5
2:32.8
Becky Collins
United States
13 August 1961
-
Philadelphia , United States
6
2:31.2
Sharon Finneran
United States
19 August 1962
-
Chicago , United States
7
2:30.7
Sharon Finneran
United States
25 August 1962
-
Los Altos , United States
8
2:29.1
Susan Pitt
United States
27 July 1963
-
Philadelphia , United States
9
2:28.1
Sharon Stouder
United States
12 July 1964
-
Los Angeles , United States
10
2:26.4
Sharon Stouder
United States
2 August 1964
-
Los Angeles , United States
11
2:26.3
Kendis Moore
United States
15 August 1965
-
Maumee , United States
12
2:25.8
Ada Kok
Netherlands
21 August 1965
-
Leiden , Netherlands
13
2:25.3
Ada Kok
Netherlands
12 September 1965
-
Groningen , Netherlands
14
2:22.5
Ada Kok
Netherlands
2 August 1967
-
Groningen , Netherlands
15
2:21.0
Ada Kok
Netherlands
25 August 1967
-
Blackpool , United Kingdom
16
2:20.7
Karen Moe
United States
11 July 1970
-
Santa Clara , United States
17
2:19.3
Alice Jones
United States
22 August 1970
AAU Nationals
Los Angeles , United States
18
2:18.6
Karen Moe
United States
7 August 1971
-
Santa Clara , United States
19
2:18.4
Ellie Daniel
United States
28 August 1971
AAU Nationals
Houston , United States
20
2:16.62
Karen Moe
United States
6 August 1972
US Olympic Trials
Chicago , United States
21
2:15.57
Karen Moe
United States
4 September 1972
Olympic Games
Munich , West Germany
22
2:15.45
h
Rosemarie Kother
East Germany
8 September 1973
World Championships
Belgrade , Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
23
2:13.76
Rosemarie Kother
East Germany
8 September 1973
World Championships
Belgrade , Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
24
2:13.60
Rosemarie Gabriel
East Germany
14 March 1976
URS vs GDR Duel
Tallinn , Soviet Union
25
2:12.84
Rosemarie Gabriel
East Germany
4 June 1976
GDR Olympic Trials & National Championships
East Berlin , East Germany
26
2:11.22
Rosemarie Gabriel
East Germany
5 June 1976
GDR Olympic Trials & National Championships
East Berlin , East Germany
27
2:11.20
Andrea Pollack
East Germany
9 April 1978
-
Leningrad , Soviet Union
28
2:09.87
Andrea Pollack
East Germany
4 July 1978
GDR National Championships & World Championship Trials
East Germany , East Germany
28
2:09.87
=
Tracy Caulkins
United States
26 July 1978
World Championships
West Berlin , West Germany
29
2:09.77
Mary T. Meagher
United States
7 July 1979
Pan American Games
San Juan , Puerto Rico
30
2:08.41
h
Mary T. Meagher
United States
16 August 1979
AAU Nationals
Fort Lauderdale , United States
31
2:07.01
Mary T. Meagher
United States
16 August 1979
AAU Nationals
Fort Lauderdale , United States
32
2:06.37
Mary T. Meagher
United States
30 July 1980
-
Irvine, California , United States
33
2:05.96
Mary T. Meagher
United States
13 August 1981
-
Brown Deer , United States
34
2:05.81
Susie O'Neill
Australia
17 May 2000
Australian Championships
Sydney , Australia
35
2:05.78
Otylia Jędrzejczak
Poland
4 August 2002
European Championships
Berlin , Germany
36
2:05.61
Otylia Jędrzejczak
Poland
28 July 2005
World Championships
Montreal , Canada
37
2:05.40
Jessicah Schipper
Australia
17 August 2006
Pan Pacific Championships
Victoria , Canada
38
2:04.18
Liu Zige
China
18 August 2008
Olympic Games
Beijing , China
39
2:04.14
h
Mary Descenza
United States
29 July 2009
World Championships
Rome , Italy
40
2:03.41
Jessicah Schipper
Australia
30 July 2009
World Championships
Rome , Italy
41
2:01.81
Liu Zige
China
21 October 2009
Chinese National Games
Jinan , China
[ 3] [ 4]
Time
Swimmer
Date
Place
2:05.37
Susie O'Neill
February 17, 1999
Malmö , Sweden
2:04.43
Susie O'Neill
September 2, 1999
Canberra, Australia
2:04.16
Susie O'Neill
January 18, 2000
Sydney, Australia
2:04.04
Yang Yu
January 18, 2004
Berlin, Germany
2:03.53
Otylia Jędrzejczak
December 13, 2007
Debrecen , Hungary
2:03.12
Yuko Nakanishi
February 23, 2008
Tokyo, Japan
2:02.50
Liu Zige
November 11, 2009
Stockholm , Sweden
2:00.78
Liu Zige
November 15, 2009
Berlin, Germany
1:59.61
Mireia Belmonte
December 3, 2014
Doha , Qatar
Correct as of July 2024[ 5]
Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 1:54.16:
Kristóf Milák also swam 1:50.73 (2019), 1:51.10 (2021), 1:51.25 (2021), 1:51.40 (2021), 1:51.75 (2024), 1:52.01 (2022), 1:52.22 (2021), 1:52.39 (2022), 1:52.50 (2021), 1:52.58 (2023), 1:52.71 (2018), 1:52.72 (2024), 1:52.79 (2018), 1:52.96 (2019), 1:53.18 (2021), 1:53.19 (2019), 1:53.58 (2021), 1:53.64 (2019), 1:53.75 (2019), 1:53.79 (2017), 1:53.87 (2017), 1:53.88 (2022), 1:53.89 (2022), 1:53.92 (2024), 1:53.94 (2018, 2024), 1:53.97 (2022), 1:54.10 (2022).
Michael Phelps also swam 1:52.03 (2008), 1:52.09 (2007), 1:52.20 (2008), 1:52.76 (2009), 1:52.94 (2015) 1:53.01 (2012), 1:53.31 (2008), 1:53.34 (2011), 1:53.36 (2016), 1:53.48 (2009), 1:53.65 (2012), 1:53.70 (2008, 2008), 1:53.71 (2007), 1:53.80 (2006), 1:53.93 (2003), 1:54.02 (2008), 1:54.04 (2004), 1:54.11 (2010), 1:54.12 (2016).
Léon Marchand also swam 1:52.43 (2023), 1:53.37 (2022), 1:53.50 (2024), 1:54.08 (2024).
László Cseh also swam 1:52.91 (2016), 1:53.48 (2015), 1:53.53 (2015), 1:53.71 (2015), 1:53.72 (2017), 1:54.08 (2017).
Tomoru Honda also swam 1:53.15 (2023), 1:53.30 (2023), 1:53.33 (2024), 1:53.34 (2023), 1:53.53 (2022), 1:53.61 (2022), 1:53.63 (2023), 1:53.66 (2023), 1:53.73 (2021), 1:53.76 (2023), 1:53.87 (2022), 1:53.88 (2024), 1:53.99 (2023), 1:54.01 (2022), 1:54.04 (2022), 1:54.06 (2022).
Takeshi Matsuda also swam 1:53.21 (2012), 1:53.32 (2009), 1:53.35 (2009), 1:53.87 (2009), 1:54.01 (2011, 2012), 1:54.02 (2008, 2010), 1:54.12 (2011).
Chad le Clos also swam 1:53.33 (2017), 1:53.68 (2015), 1:54.00 (2018), 1:54.06 (2016), 1:54.15 (2019), 1:54.18 (2015).
Tamás Kenderesi also swam 1:53.62 (2016), 1:53.96 (2016), 1:54.14 (2018).
Masato Sakai also swam 1:53.71 (2017).
Paweł Korzeniowski also swam 1:53.75 (2009).
Ilya Kharun also swam 1:53.82 (2023), 1:54.01 (2024), 1:54.06 (2024).
Carson Foster also swam 1:53.85 (2023).
Daiya Seto also swam 1:53.86 (2019), 1:54.03 (2017), 1:54.08 (2014), 1:54.14 (2016, 2016).
Nao Horomura also swam 1:53.90 (2017).
Krzysztof Chmielewski also swam 1:53.90 (2023).
Luca Urlando also swam 1:54.10 (2022).
Correct as of December 2023[ 16]
Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 1:50.62:
Chad le Clos also swam 1:48.56 (2013), 1:48.57 (2020), 1:48.61 (2014), 1:48.67 (2017), 1:48.76 (2016), 1:48.88 (2014), 1:49.04 (2013), 1:49.07 (2013), 1:49.08 (2017), 1:49.10 (2016), 1:49.20 (2014), 1:49.25 (2017), 1:49.33 (2016), 1:49.59 (2017), 1:49.71 (2016), 1:49.73 (2014, 2014), 1:49.78 (2022), 1:49.82 (2016), 1:49.83 (2013), 1:49.84 (2021), 1:49.89 (2022), 1:49.90 (2013), 1:49.93 (2016), 1:49.95 (2016), 1:49.98 (2022), 1:50.15 (2011), 1:50.24 (2020), 1:50.28 (2017, 2020), 1:50.29 (2016, 2018), 1:50.32 (2021), 1:50.33 (2013), 1:50.35 (2016), 1:50.39 (2013), 1:50.48 (2020), 1:50.57 (2020).
Daiya Seto also swam 1:48.77 (2019), 1:48.92 (2014), 1:49.22 (2022), 1:49.41 (2021), 1:49.53 (2016), 1:49.68 (2014), 1:49.76 (2021), 1:49.84 (2016), 1:49.87 (2018), 1:49.88 (2018), 1:49.93 (2016), 1:49.97 (2016), 1:49.99 (2022), 1:50.19 (2017), 1:50.28 (2021), 1:50.33 (2017), 1:50.36 (2021).
Tom Shields also swam 1:49.02 (2020), 1:49.05 (2015), 1:49.26 (2017), 1:49.29 (2017), 1:49.50 (2016), 1:49.62 (2017), 1:49.78 (2020), 1:49.86 (2017), 1:50.08 (2014), 1:50.19 (2014), 1:50.24 (2021), 1:50.25 (2019), 1:50.28 (2020), 1:50.39 (2021), 1:50.43 (2020), 1:50.51 (2021), 1:50.55 (2020), 1:50.56 (2014), 1:50.60 (2017), 1:50.61 (2013).
Kaio de Almeida also swam 1:49.11 (2009).
Tomoru Honda also swam 1:49.24 (2022), 1:49.84 (2021).
Noè Ponti also swam 1:49.71 (2023).
Trenton Julian also swam 1:49.93 (2022), 1:50.01 (2021), 1:50.08 (2022), 1:50.32 (2021).
Kristóf Milák also swam 1:49.98 (2019).
Alberto Razzetti also swam 1:50.10 (2023), 1:50.12 (2022), 1:50.24 (2021).
Kuan-Hung Wang also swam 1:50.14 (2020).
Paweł Korzeniowski also swam 1:50.43 (2013).
Teppei Morimoto also swam 1:50.44 (2021).
Nikolay Skvortsov also swam 1:50.53 (2009), 1:50.58 (2009), 1:50.60 (2008).
Hidemasa Sano also swam 1:50.58 (2011).
Correct as of August 2024[ 27]
Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 2:05.90:
Regan Smith also swam 2:03.87 (2023), 2:04.80 (2024), 2:04.91 (2024), 2:05.30 (2021), 2:05.39 (2024), 2:05.70 (2024), 2:05.79 (2023).
Liu Zige also swam 2:03.90 (2009), 2:04.18 (2008), 2:04.40 (2011), 2:04.59 (2013), 2:04.65 (2009), 2:04.78 (2013), 2:05.29 (2009), 2:05.90 (2011).
Summer McIntosh also swam 2:04.06 (2024), 2:04.33 (2024), 2:04.70 (2023), 2:04.87 (2024), 2:05.05 (2023), 2:05.20 (2022), 2:05.73 (2024), 2:05.79 (2022), 2:05.81 (2022).
Katinka Hosszú also swam 2:04.28 (2009), 2:05.59 (2013).
Mary Descenza also swam 2:04.33 (2009), 2:04.41 (2009).
Jiao Liuyang also swam 2:04.44 (2011), 2:04.50 (2009), 2:04.54 (2013), 2:04.72 (2008), 2:04.96 (2009), 2:05.18 (2012), 2:05.22 (2009), 2:05.46 (2010), 2:05.55 (2011), 2:05.57 (2009), 2:05.61 (2010), 2:05.79 (2010), 2:05.87 (2013).
Mireia Belmonte also swam 2:04.79 (2014), 2:04.85 (2016), 2:05.25 (2012), 2:05.26 (2017), 2:05.86 (2015).
Jess Schipper also swam 2:04.87 (2009), 2:05.40 (2006), 2:05.50 (2009), 2:05.65 (2005).
Zhang Yufei also swam 2:04.89 (2021), 2:05.09 (2024), 2:05.44 (2021), 2:05.49 (2021), 2:05.57 (2023), 2:05.65 (2023), 2:05.70 (2020), 2:05.84 (2021).
Natsumi Hoshi also swam 2:05.20 (2016), 2:05.48 (2012), 2:05.56 (2015).
Elizabeth Dekkers also swam 2:05.26 (2023), 2:05.46 (2023).
Franziska Hentke also swam 2:05.39 (2017), 2:05.77 (2016).
Madeline Groves also swam 2:05.41 (2015), 2:05.47 (2016), 2:05.66 (2016).
Aurore Mongel also swam 2:05.48 (2009).
Ellen Gandy also swam 2:05.59 (2011), 2:05.90 (2011).
Otylia Jędrzejczak also swam 2:05.78 (2002).
Hali Flickinger also swam 2:05.85 (2021), 2:05.87 (2018), 2:05.90 (2022).
Kathleen Hersey also swam 2:05.90 (2012).
Correct as of October 2024[ 33]
Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 2:03.37:
Mireia Belmonte also swam 2:01.52 (2013), 2:03.02 (2017), 2:03.17 (2014), 2:031.31 (2013), 2:03.37 (2011).
Katinka Hosszú also swam 2:01.60 (2018), 2:02.15 (2016), 2:02.20 (2012), 2:02.21 (2013), 2:02.40 (2013), 2:02.42 (2014), 2:02.75 (2017), 2:02.86 (2018), 2:02.87 (2018), 2:02.88 (2018), 2:02.99 (2014), 2:03.01 (2018), 2:03.05 (2013), 2:03.14 (2014, 2018), 2:03.21 (2019), 2:03.26 (2013), 2:03.34 (2016), 2:03.36 (2013).
Liu Zige also swam 2:02.50 (2009).
Chen Luying also swam 2:02.71 (2024).
Kelsi Dahlia also swam 2:02.89 (2016), 2:03.31 (2018), 2:03.33 (2018).
Zhang Yufei also swam 2:03.09 (2018), 2:03.29 (2018), 2:03.33 (2018).
Suzuka Hasegawa also swam 2:03.12 (2020).
Regan Smith also swam 2:03.21 (2024).
Madeline Groves also swam 2:03.34 (2016).