World record progression 1500 metres freestyle
The first world record in the men's 1500 metres freestyle in a long course (50 metres) swimming pool was recognised by the International Swimming Federation (FINA) in 1908 .[1] In short course (25 metres) pools, the world's governing body recognizes world records since March 3, 1991.
Men
Long course
#
Time
Name
Nationality
Date
Meet
Location
Ref
1
22:48.4
Henry Taylor
Great Britain
Jul 25, 1908
1908 Olympic Games
London , United Kingdom
[2]
2
22:00.0
George Hodgson
Canada
Jul 10, 1912
1912 Olympic Games
Stockholm , Sweden
3
21:35.3
Arne Borg
Sweden
Jul 8, 1923
-
Gothenburg , Sweden
4
21:15.0
Arne Borg
Sweden
Jan 30, 1924
-
Sydney , Australia
5
21:11.4
Arne Borg
Sweden
Jul 13, 1924
-
Paris , France
6
20:06.6
Boy Charlton
Australia
Jul 15, 1924
1924 Olympic Games
Paris , France
7
20:04.4
Arne Borg
Sweden
Aug 18, 1926
-
Budapest , Hungary
8
19:07.2
Arne Borg
Sweden
Sep 2, 1927
1927 European Aquatics Championships
Bologna , Italy
9
18:58.8
Tomikatsu Amano
Japan
Aug 10, 1938
-
Tokyo , Japan
10
18:35.7
Shiro Hashizume
Japan
Aug 16, 1949
-
Los Angeles , United States
11
18:19.0
Hironoshin Furuhashi
Japan
Aug 16, 1949
-
Los Angeles , United States
12
18:05.9
George Breen
United States
May 3, 1956
-
New Haven , United States
13
17:59.5
Murray Rose
Australia
Oct 30, 1956
-
Melbourne , Australia
14
17:52.9
George Breen
United States
Dec 5, 1956
-
Melbourne , Australia
15
17:28.7
John Konrads
Australia
Feb 22, 1958
-
Melbourne , Australia
16
17:11.0
John Konrads
Australia
Feb 27, 1960
-
Sydney , Australia
17
17:05.5
Roy Saari
United States
Aug 17, 1963
-
Tokyo , Japan
18
17:01.8
Murray Rose
Australia
Aug 2, 1964
-
Los Altos , United States
19
16:58.7
Roy Saari
United States
Sep 2, 1964
-
New York City , United States
20
16:58.6
Stephen Krause
United States
Aug 15, 1965
-
Maumee , United States
21
16:41.6
Michael Burton
United States
Aug 21, 1966
-
Lincoln , United States
22
16:34.1
Michael Burton
United States
Aug 13, 1967
AAU Nationals
Oak Park , United States
23
16:28.1
Guillermo Echevarria
Mexico
Jul 7, 1968
Santa Clara Invitational
Santa Clara , United States
24
16:08.57
Michael Burton
United States
Sep 3, 1968
USA Olympic Trials
Long Beach , United States
25
16:04.5
Michael Burton
United States
Aug 17, 1969
AAU Nationals
Louisville , United States
26
15:57.10
John Kinsella
United States
Aug 23, 1970
AAU Nationals
Los Angeles , United States
27
15:52.91
Rick DeMont
United States
Aug 6, 1972
USA Olympic Trials
Chicago , United States
28
15:52.58
Michael Burton
United States
Sep 4, 1972
1972 Olympic Games
Munich , West Germany
29
15:51.02
Rick DeMont
United States
Aug 25, 1973
AAU Nationals
Louisville , United States
30
15:37.80
Stephen Holland
Australia
Sep 5, 1973
Pre World Championship meet
Brisbane , Australia
31
15:31.85
Stephen Holland
Australia
Sep 8, 1973
1973 World Aquatics Championships
Belgrade , Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
32
15:31.75
Tim Shaw
United States
Aug 25, 1974
AAU Nationals
Concord , United States
33
15:27.79
Stephen Holland
Australia
Jan 25, 1975
New Zealand Games
Christchurch , New Zealand
34
15:20.91
Tim Shaw
United States
Jun 21, 1975
USA World Championship Trials
Long Beach , United States
35
15:10.89
Stephen Holland
Australia
Feb 27, 1976
AUS Olympic Trials
Sydney , Australia
36
15:06.66
Brian Goodell
United States
Jun 21, 1976
USA Olympic Trials
Long Beach , United States
37
15:02.40
Brian Goodell
United States
Jul 20, 1976
1976 Olympic Games
Montreal , Canada
38
14:58.27
Vladimir Salnikov
Soviet Union
Jul 22, 1980
1980 Olympic Games
Moscow , Soviet Union
39
14:56.35
Vladimir Salnikov
Soviet Union
Mar 13, 1982
URSvGDR Duel
Moscow , Soviet Union
40
14:54.76
Vladimir Salnikov
Soviet Union
Feb 22, 1983
URS Winter Nationals
Moscow , Soviet Union
Unofficial
14:53.59
Glen Housman
Australia
Dec 13, 1989
Australian Commonwealth Games Trials
Adelaide , Australia
[3]
41
14:50.36
Jörg Hoffmann
Germany
Jan 13, 1991
1991 World Aquatics Championships
Perth , Australia
42
14:48.40
Kieren Perkins
Australia
Apr 5, 1992
AUS Olympic Trials
Canberra , Australia
43
14:43.48
Kieren Perkins
Australia
Jul 31, 1992
1992 Olympic Games
Barcelona , Spain
44
14:41.66
Kieren Perkins
Australia
Aug 24, 1994
1994 Commonwealth Games
Victoria , Canada
[4]
45
14:34.56
Grant Hackett
Australia
Jul 29, 2001
2001 World Aquatics Championships
Fukuoka , Japan
[4]
46
14:34.14
Sun Yang
China
Jul 31, 2011
2011 World Aquatic Championships
Shanghai , China
[5] [6]
47
14:31.02
Sun Yang
China
Aug 4, 2012
2012 Olympic Games
London , United Kingdom
48
14:30.67
Bobby Finke
United States
Aug 4, 2024
2024 Olympic Games
Paris , France
Legend:
# – Record awaiting ratification by FINA ; 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
Short course
#
Time
Name
Nationality
Date
Meet
Location
Ref
1
14:32.40
Kieren Perkins
Australia
Feb 2, 1992
Grand Prix
Canberra , Australia
2
14:26.52
Kieren Perkins
Australia
Jul 14, 1993
-
Auckland , New Zealand
3
14:19.55
Grant Hackett
Australia
Sep 27, 1998
Australian SC Championships
Perth , Australia
[7]
4
14:10.10
Grant Hackett
Australia
Aug 7, 2001
Australian SC Championships
Perth , Australia
[7]
5
14:08.06
Gregorio Paltrinieri
Italy
Dec 4, 2015
European SC Championships
Netanya , Israel
[8]
6
14:06.88
Florian Wellbrock
Germany
21 December 2021
World Championships
Abu Dhabi , United Arab Emirates
[9]
Legend:
# – Record awaiting ratification by FINA ; 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
Women
Long course
#
Time
Name
Nationality
Date
Meet
Location
Ref
1
25:06.6
Helen Wainwright
United States
Aug 19, 1922
-
New York City , United States
2
24:07.6
Ethel McGary
United States
Dec 31, 1925
-
Coral Gables , United States
3
24:00.2
Edith Mayne
Great Britain
Sep 15, 1926
-
Exmouth , United Kingdom
4
23:44.6
Martha Norelius
United States
Jul 28, 1927
-
Massapequa , United States
5
23:17.2
Helene Madison
United States
Jul 15, 1931
-
New York City , United States
6
22:36.7
Grete Frederiksen
Denmark
Jun 26, 1936
-
Copenhagen , Denmark
7
21:45.7
Ragnhild Hveger
Denmark
Jul 3, 1938
-
Helsinki , Finland
8
21:10.1
Ragnhild Hveger
Denmark
Aug 11, 1940
-
Helsinki , Finland
9
20:57.0
Ragnhild Hveger
Denmark
Aug 20, 1941
-
Copenhagen , Denmark
10
20:46.5
Lenie de Nijs
Netherlands
Jul 23, 1955
-
Utrecht , Netherlands
11
20:22.8
Jans Koster
Netherlands
Aug 21, 1956
-
Utrecht , Netherlands
12
20:03.1
Jans Koster
Netherlands
Jul 27, 1957
-
Hilversum , Netherlands
13
19:25.7
Ilsa Konrads
Australia
Jan 13, 1960
-
Sydney , Australia
14
19:23.6
Jane Cederqvist
Sweden
Sep 8, 1960
-
Uppsala , Sweden
15
19:02.8
Margareta Rylander
Sweden
Jun 27, 1961
-
Uppsala , Sweden
16
18:44.0
Carolyn House
United States
Aug 16, 1962
-
Chicago , United States
17
18:30.5
Patty Caretto
United States
Jul 30, 1964
-
Los Altos , United States
18
18:23.7
Patty Caretto
United States
Aug 12, 1965
-
Los Altos , United States
19
18:12.9
Patty Caretto
United States
Aug 21, 1966
-
Lincoln , United States
20
18:11.1
Debbie Meyer
United States
Jul 9, 1967
Santa Clara Invitational
Santa Clara , United States
21
17:50.2
Debbie Meyer
United States
Aug 20, 1967
AAU Nationals
Philadelphia , United States
22
17:31.2
Debbie Meyer
United States
Aug 21, 1968
-
Los Angeles , United States
23
17:19.9
Debbie Meyer
United States
Aug 17, 1969
AAU Nationals
Louisville , United States
24
17:19.20
Cathy Calhoun
United States
Aug 28, 1971
AAU Nationals
Houston , United States
25
17:00.6
Shane Gould
Australia
Dec 12, 1971
-
Sydney , Australia
26
16:56.9
Shane Gould
Australia
Feb 11, 1973
AUS Nationals
Adelaide , Australia
27
16:54.14
Jo Harshbarger
United States
Aug 25, 1973
USA World Championship Trials
Louisville , United States
28
16:49.9
Jennifer Turrall
Australia
Dec 9, 1973
Top-level meet
Sydney , Australia
29
16:48.2
Jennifer Turrall
Australia
Jan 9, 1974
NSW State Championships
Sydney , Australia
30
16:43.4
Jennifer Turrall
Australia
Jul 13, 1974
-
Sydney , Australia
31
16:39.28
Jennifer Turrall
Australia
Aug 3, 1974
Los Angeles Invitational
Los Angeles , United States
32
16:33.94
Jennifer Turrall
Australia
Aug 25, 1974
AAU Nationals
Concord , United States
33
16:24.60
Alice Browne
United States
Aug 21, 1977
AAU Nationals
Mission Viejo , United States
34
16:14.93
Tracey Wickham
Australia
Feb 8, 1978
Invitational
Brisbane , Australia
35
16:06.63
Tracey Wickham
Australia
Feb 25, 1979
AUS Nationals
Perth , Australia
36
16:04.49
Kim Linehan
United States
Aug 19, 1979
AAU Nationals
Fort Lauderdale , United States
37
16:00.73
Janet Evans
United States
Jul 31, 1987
USA Nationals & Pan Pacific Trials
Orlando , United States
38
15:52.10
Janet Evans
United States
Mar 26, 1988
USA Spring Nationals
Orlando , United States
39
15:42.54
Kate Ziegler
United States
Jun 17, 2007
TYR Meet of Champions
Mission Viejo , United States
[10]
40
15:36.53
Katie Ledecky
United States
Jul 30, 2013
World Championships
Barcelona , Spain
[11]
41
15:34.23
Katie Ledecky
United States
Jun 19, 2014
Woodlands Senior Invitational Meet
Shenandoah , United States
[12]
42
15:28.36
Katie Ledecky
United States
Aug 24, 2014
Pan Pacific Championships
Gold Coast , Australia
[13]
43
15:27.71
h
Katie Ledecky
United States
Aug 3, 2015
World Championships
Kazan , Russia
[14] [15]
44
15:25.48
Katie Ledecky
United States
Aug 4, 2015
World Championships
Kazan , Russia
[16]
45
15:20.48
Katie Ledecky
United States
May 16, 2018
TYR Pro Swim Series
Indianapolis , United States
[17]
Legend:
# – Record awaiting ratification by FINA ; 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
Short course
#
Time
Name
Nationality
Date
Meet
Location
Ref
1
15:43.31
Petra Schneider
East Germany
Jan 10, 1982
-
Gainesville , United States
2
15:42.39
Laure Manaudou
France
Nov 20, 2004
Regional meet
La Roche-sur-Yon , France
[18]
3
15:32.90
Kate Ziegler
United States
Oct 12, 2007
Alex Athletics Jubiläums Challenge
Essen , Germany
[18]
4
15:28.65
Lotte Friis
Denmark
Nov 29, 2009
Local Club Meet
Copenhagen , Denmark
[19]
5
15:26.95
Mireia Belmonte
Spain
Nov 29, 2013
Spanish Championships
Castelló de la Plana , Spain
[20]
6
15:22.68
Lauren Boyle
New Zealand
Aug 9, 2014
Wellington Winter Championships
Wellington , New Zealand
[21]
7
15:19.71
Mireia Belmonte
Spain
Dec 12, 2014
Spanish Championships
Sabadell , Spain
[22]
8
15:18.01
Sarah Köhler
Germany
Nov 16, 2019
German Championships
Berlin , Germany
[23]
9
15:08.24
Katie Ledecky
United States
Oct 29, 2022
FINA World Cup
Toronto , Canada
[24]
Legend:
# – Record awaiting ratification by FINA ; 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
All-time top 25
Men long course
Correct as of July 2024[25]
Notes
Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 14:45.35:
Bobby Finke also swam 14:31.59 (2024), 14:36.70 (2022), 14:39.65 (2021), 14:40.28 (2024), 14:42.81 (2023), 14:43.06 (2023), 14:45.31 (2024).
Gregorio Paltrinieri also swam 14:33.10 (2020), 14:34.04 (2016), 14:34.55 (2024), 14:34.57 (2016), 14:35.85 (2017), 14:37.08 (2017), 14:38.34 (2019), 14:38.75 (2019), 14:39.67 (2015), 14:39.79 (2022), 14:39.93 (2014), 14:40.38 (2021), 14:40.61 (2016), 14:41.38 (2023), 14:42.56 (2024), 14:42.66 (2019), 14:42.85 (2018), 14:42.91 (2016, 2021), 14:43.87 (2015), 14:44.31 (2017), 14:44.39 (2022), 14:44.50 (2014), 14:44.51 (2016), 14:45.01 (2021), 14:45.02 (2020).
Sun Yang also swam 14:34.14 (2011), 14:35.43 (2010), 14:41.15 (2013), 14:42.30 (2012), 14:42.52 (2011), 14:43.25 (2012), 14:44.10 (2012).
Daniel Wiffen also swam 14:34.91 (2023), 14:35.79 (2023), 14:39.63 (2024), 14:40.34 (2024), 14:43.01 (2023), 14:43.50 (2023).
Florian Wellbrock also swam 14:36.15 (2018), 14:36.45 (2021), 14:36.54 (2019), 14:36.94 (2022), 14:40.18 (2023), 14:40.69 (2018), 14:40.91 (2021), 14:42.28 (2024), 14:42.91 (2019), 14:44.61 (2024), 14:44.80 (2019).
Mykhailo Romanchuk also swam 14:36.88 (2018), 14:37.14 (2017), 14:37.63 (2019), 14:39.89 (2021), 14:40.21 (2023), 14:40.66 (2021), 14:40.98 (2022), 14:41.39 (2023), 14:41.63 (2020), 14:44.11 (2017).
Oussama Mellouli also swam 14:38.01 (2009), 14:40.31 (2012), 14:40.84 (2008).
Grant Hackett also swam 14:38.92 (2008), 14:41.53 (2008), 14:41.65 (2002), 14:42.58 (2005), 14:43.14 (2003), 14:43.40 (2004), 14:44.94 (2005).
Ryan Cochrane also swam 14:40.84 (2008), 14:41.38 (2009), 14:42.48 (2013), 14:42.69 (2008), 14:44.03 (2014), 14:44.46 (2011).
Lukas Martens also swam 14:40.85 (2023), 14:40.89 (2022), 14:44.51 (2023).
Connor Jaeger also swam 14:41.20 (2015).
Kuzey Tuncelli also swam 14:41.89 (2024), 14:45.27 (2024).
Yuriy Prilukov also swam 14:43.21 (2008).
Kieren Perkins also swam 14:43.48 (1992).
Mack Horton also swam 14:44.09 (2015).
Ahmed Jaouadi 14:44.20 (2024).
David Aubry also swam 14:44.85 (2024), 14:44.90 (2024).
Men short course
Correct as of December 2023[34]
Notes
Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 14:24.54:
Gregorio Paltrinieri also swam 14:09.87 (2018), 14:13.07 (2021), 14:16.10 (2014), 14:16.88 (2022), 14:17.14 (2019), 14:18.10 (2019), 14:20.24 (2015), 14:21.00 (2021), 14:21.50 (2015), 14:21.94 (2016), 14:22.93 (2017), 14:24.39 (2016).
Florian Wellbrock also swam 14:09.88 (2021).
Mykhailo Romanchuk also swam 14:11.47 (2021), 14:14.59 (2017), 14:15.49 (2016), 14:18.53 (2016), 14:21.50 (2018), 14:21.58 (2019), 14:22.18 (2023).
Daniel Wiffen also swam 14:14.45 (2022).
Gabriele Detti also swam 14:18.33 (2017).
Grant Hackett also swam 14:19.55 (1998).
Henrik Christiansen also swam 14:21.53 (2017), 14:23.00 (2023), 14:23.60 (2015), 14:24.08 (2022).
Yuriy Prilukov also swam 14:22.98 (2008), 14:23.92 (2006).
David Aubry also swam 14:23.44 (2018).
Damien Joly also swam 14:24.00 (2018).
Oussama Mellouli also swam 14:24.16 (2010).
Women long course
Correct as of July 2024[45]
Notes
Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 15:54.48:
Katie Ledecky also swam 15:25.48 (2015), 15:26.27 (2023), 15:27.71 (2015), 15:28.36 (2014), 15:29.51 (2020), 15:29.64 (2023), 15:30.02 (2024), 15:30.15 (2022), 15:31.82 (2017), 15:34.23 (2014), 15:35.35 (2021), 15:35.65 (2017), 15:35.98 (2019), 15:36.53 (2013), 15:37.34 (2021), 15:37.35 (2024), 15:37.99 (2023), 15:38.25 (2024), 15:38.81 (2024), 15:38.97 (2018), 15:38.99 (2022), 15:39.45 (2022), 15:39.73 (2024), 15:40.50 (2021), 15:40.55 (2021), 15:40.63 (2022), 15:41.22 (2023), 15:42.23 (2015), 15:42.92 (2021), 15:43.10 (2021), 15:44.13 (2022), 15:45.32 (2021), 15:45.59 (2019), 15:46.38 (2023), 15:47.02 (2022), 15:47.15 (2013), 15:47.43 (2024), 15:47.54 (2017), 15:48.90 (2019), 15:49.26 (2013).
Simona Quadarella also swam 15:43.31 (2023), 15:46.99 (2024), 15:47.34 (2021), 15:48.27 (2024), 15:48.81 (2021), 15:48.84 (2019), 15:51.19 (2024), 15:51.59 (2019), 15:51.61 (2018), 15:53.24 (2023), 15:53.29 (2023), 15:53.59 (2021), 15:53.86 (2017), 15:53.97 (2021), 15:54.15 (2022).
Lauren Boyle also swam 15:44.71 (2013).
Wang Jianjiahe also swam 15:45.59 (2020), 15:46.37 (2021), 15:46.69 (2019), 15:49.07 (2021), 15:49.85 (2019), 15:51.00 (2019), 15:51.33 (2021), 15:53.01 (2018), 15:53.68 (2018)
Lotte Friis also swam 15:46.30 (2009), 15:49.00 (2015), 15:49.18 (2013), 15:49.59 (2011), 15:54.23 (2015).
Erica Sullivan also swam 15:46.67 (2021), 15:51.18 (2021).
Anastasiya Kirpichnikova also swam 15:48.53 (2024), 15:50.22 (2021), 15:52.46 (2024), 15:53.18 (2020).
Sarah Köhler also swam 15:48.83 (2019), 15:52.20 (2021), 15:52.67 (2021), 15:54.08 (2019).
Lani Pallister also swam 15:49.17 (2023), 15:49.94 (2023), 15:53.79 (2024).
Boglárka Kapás also swam 15:50.22 (2016).
Isabel Gose also swam 15:50.56 (2024), 15:52.02 (2024), 15:53.27 (2024).
Li Bingjie also swam 15:51.18 (2023), 15:51.21 (2023), 15:52.31 (2021), 15:52.87 (2017), 15:53.80 (2018).
Katie Grimes also swam 15:51.36 (2022), 15:52.12 (2021).
Kate Ziegler also swam 15:53.05 (2007).
Women short course
Correct as of December 2023[55]
Notes
Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 15:45.89:
References