World record progression 400 metres individual medley

The first world record in the 400 metres individual medley in long course (50 metres) swimming was recognized by the International Swimming Federation (FINA) in 1957, 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.

Men

Long course

Short course

Women

Long course

Short course

All-time top 25

Men long course

• Correct as of April 2024

Notes

Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 4:10.18:

• Léon Marchand also swam 4:04.28 (2022), 4:07.80 (2023), 4:09.09 (2022), 4:09.65 (2021), 4:10.09 (2021).
• Michael Phelps also swam 4:05.25 (2008), 4:06.22 (2007), 4:07.82 (2008), 4:07.89 (2012), 4:08.26 (2004), 4:08.41 (2004), 4:09.09 (2003), 4:09.28 (2012), 4:10.16 (2006).
• Ryan Lochte also swam 4:06.08 (2008), 4:06.40 (2009), 4:07.01 (2009), 4:07.06 (2012), 4:07.13 (2011), 4:07.59 (2010), 4:08.09 (2008), 4:08.77 (2010), 4:09.74 (2007), 4:09.98 (2010).
• Chase Kalisz also swam 4:06.75 (2016), 4:06.99 (2017), 4:07.47 (2022), 4:07.95 (2018), 4:08.12 (2016), 4:08.22 (2023), 4:08.25 (2018), 4:08.92 (2018), 4:09.09 (2021), 4:09.22 (2013), 4:09.42 (2021), 4:09.43 (2017), 4:09.54 (2016), 4:09.62 (2014), 4:09.65 (2021), 4:09.67 (2017), 4:09.79 (2017), 4:10.05 (2015), 4:10.09 (2022).
• Tyler Clary also swam 4:07.31 (2009), 4:09.03 (2014), 4:09.20 (2010), 4:09.51 (2014), 4:09.55 (2010), 4:09.92 (2012), 4:10.04 (2009).
• László Cseh also swam 4:07.37 (2009), 4:07.96 (2008), 4:09.26 (2008), 4:09.59 (2008), 4:09.63 (2005), 4:09.86 (2006), 4:10.10 (2005).
• Kosuke Hagino also swam 4:07.61 (2013), 4:07.75 (2014), 4:07.88 (2014), 4:08.31 (2014), 4:08.54 (2015), 4:08.85 (2016), 4:08.90 (2016), 4:08.94 (2012), 4:09.06 (2016), 4:09.52 (2016), 4:09.62 (2014), 4:09.80 (2016), 4:09.82 (2014), 4:10.00 (2016), 4:10.01 (2012).
• Daiya Seto also swam 4:07.92 (2023), 4:07.95 (2019), 4:07.99 (2017), 4:08.47 (2016), 4:08.50 (2015), 4:08.69 (2013), 4:08.79 (2018), 4:08.95 (2019), 4:08.98 (2018), 4:09.02 (2021), 4:09.07 (2022), 4:09.14 (2017), 4:09.25 (2019), 4:09.41 (2023), 4:09.62 (2019), 4:09.71 (2016), 4:09.88 (2021), 4:09.98 (2019), 4:10.04 (2015, 2019), 4:10.10 (2012), 4:10.14 (2022), 4:10.17 (2016), 4:10.18 (2017).
• Carson Foster also swam 4:08.14 (2023), 4:08.46 (2021), 4:09.33 (2022), 4:09.60 (2022), 4:09.69 (2023), 4:09.83 (2023).
• Dávid Verrasztó also swam 4:08.38 (2017), 4:09.57 (2021), 4:09.80 (2021), 4:09.90 (2015), 4:10.01 (2017).
• Lewis Clareburt also swam 4:08.71 (2024), 4:09.49 (2021), 4:09.72 (2024), 4:09.87 (2021).
• Ilya Borodin also swam 4:09.12 (2023), 4:09.80 (2023), 4:09.86 (2022), 4:10.02 (2021).
• Jay Litherland also swam 4:09.31 (2017), 4:09.91 (2021).
• Thiago Pereira also swam 4:09.48 (2013).
• Max Litchfield also swam 4:09.62 (2017).
• Alberto Razzetti also swam 4:09.91 (2021).
• Brendon Smith also swam 4:10.04 (2021), 4:10.15 (2022).
• Wang Shun also swam 4:10.13 (2019).

Men short course

• Correct as of December 2023

Notes

Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 4:01.63:

• Daiya Seto also swam 3:55.53 (2019), 3:55.75 (2022), 3:56.26 (2021), 3:56.33 (2014), 3:56.43 (2018), 3:57.25 (2018), 3:57.66 (2017), 3:57.85 (2021), 3:58.20 (2017), 3:58.65 (2021), 3:58.84 (2013), 3:59.01 (2021), 3:59.15 (2012), 3:59.20 (2014), 3:59.24 (2016), 4:00.35 (2022), 4:00.49 (2021), 4:00.84 (2021).
• Carson Foster also swam 3:57.99 (2021), 4:01.34 (2022).
• Thomas Fraser-Holmes also swam 3:58.69 (2014).
• Ilya Borodin also swam 3:58.83 (2021), 3:59.57 (2021).
• László Cseh also swam 3:59.33 (2007), 4:00.37 (2005).
• Alberto Razzetti also swam 3:59.57 (2021), 4:00.34 (2021), 4:00.45 (2022), 4:01.57 (2021).
• Duncan Scott also swam 4:00.17 (2023).
• Brendon Smith also swam 4:01.11 (2022).
• Kosuke Hagino also swam 4:01.17 (2014).

Women long course

• Correct as of May 2024

Notes

Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 4:33.96:

• Summer McIntosh also swam 4:25.87 (2023), 4:27.11 (2023), 4:28.61 (2022), 4:29.01 (2022), 4:29.12 (2022), 4:29.96 (2023), 4:32.04 (2022).
• Katinka Hosszú also swam 4:28.58 (2016), 4:29.33 (2017), 4:29.89 (2016), 4:30.31 (2009), 4:30.39 (2015, 2019), 4:30.41 (2013), 4:30.75 (2016), 4:30.90 (2016), 4:30.97 (2016), 4:31.03 (2014), 4:31.07 (2015), 4:31.53 (2014), 4:31.93 (2015), 4:32.25 (2016), 4:32.30 (2019), 4:32.33 (2016), 4:32.52 (2019), 4:32.68 (2016), 4:32.72 (2013), 4:32.78 (2015), 4:32.83 (2012), 4:32.87 (2019), 4:33.06 (2019), 4:33.49 (2012), 4:33.71 (2017), 4:33.76 (2012), 4:33.77 (2012, 2019), 4:33.80 (2014), 4:33.81 (2017), 4:33.83 (2019), 4:33.88 (2009, 2015), 4:33.90 (2017).
• Ye Shiwen also swam 4:30.84 (2014), 4:31.59 (2013), 4:31.73 (2012), 4:32.07 (2019), 4:32.97 (2014), 4:33.66 (2011), 4:33.79 (2010).
• Yui Ohashi also swam 4:31.42 (2017), 4:32.08 (2021), 4:32.33 (2019), 4:32.57 (2019), 4:32.60 (2018), 4:33.02 (2019), 4:33.77 (2018), 4:33.81 (2019).
• Stephanie Rice also swam 4:31.46 (2008), 4:32.29 (2009), 4:33.45 (2012).
• Elizabeth Beisel also swam 4:31.68 (2012), 4:31.69 (2013), 4:31.74 (2012), 4:31.78 (2011), 4:31.99 (2014), 4:32.87 (2008), 4:32.98 (2014), 4:33.52 (2014), 4:33.55 (2016).
• Kaylee McKeown also swam 4:31.68 (2023), 4:31.74 (2022), 4:32.73 (2020).
• Maya DiRado also swam 4:31.71 (2015), 4:32.70 (2013), 4:33.50 (2016), 4:33.73 (2016).
• Katie Hoff also swam 4:31.71 (2008), 4:32.89 (2007).
• Hannah Miley also swam 4:31.76 (2014), 4:32.16 (2015), 4:32.54 (2016), 4:32.67 (2012), 4:32.72 (2009), 4:33.09 (2010), 4:33.24 (2008), 4:33.25 (2014), 4:33.40 (2016), 4:33.51 (2015), 4:33.74 (2016).
• Katie Grimes also swam 4:31.81 (2023), 4:32.45 (2024), 4:32.67 (2022), 4:33.80 (2023).
• Kirsty Coventry also swam 4:32.12 (2009), 4:32.15 (2009).
• Mireia Belmonte also swam 4:32.17 (2017), 4:32.39 (2016), 4:32.75 (2016), 4:32.92 (2014), 4:33.13 (2014), 4:33.42 (2016), 4:33.91 (2012).
• Li Xuanxu also swam 4:32.91 (2012).
• Emma Weyant also swam 4:33.55 (2021), 4:33.81 (2021).
• Aimee Willmott also swam 4:33.64 (2014), 4:33.66 (2015).

Women short course

• Correct as of December 2022

Notes

Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 4:26.52:

• Katinka Hosszú also swam 4:19.75 (2015), 4:19.82 (2017), 4:20.83 (2014), 4:20.85 (2013), 4:21.05 (2014), 4:21.21 (2015), 4:21.40 (2018), 4:21.67 (2016), 4:21.91 (2018), 4:22.05 (2017), 4:22.06 (2014), 4:22.18 (2013), 4:22.94 (2014), 4:23.55 (2018), 4:23.59 (2018), 4:23.66 (2014), 4:23.67 (2014), 4:23.91 (2012), 4:24.02 (2018), 4:24.37 (2011), 4:24.69 (2013), 4:24.78 (2017), 4:25.03 (2016), 4:25.10 (2019), 4:25.13 (2016), 4:25.15 (2018), 4:25.18 (2017), 4:25.24 (2019), 4:25.33 (2014), 4:25.66 (2014), 4:25.68 (2018), 4:25.69 (2016), 4:25.88 (2017), 4:25.95 (2012), 4:25.97 (2013), 4:26.32 (2019).
• Mireia Belmonte also swam 4:19.86 (2014), 4:21.23 (2013), 4:22.55 (2017), 4:22.68 (2014), 4:24.21 (2010), 4:24.55 (2011), 4:24.58 (2013), 4:25.06 (2008), 4:25.23 (2013), 4:25.85 (2014), 4:26.16 (2014).
• Yui Ohashi also swam 4:23.25 (2020), 4:24.03 (2017), 4:24.87 (2020), 4:25.53 (2020), 4:25.84 (2020), 4:26.13 (2020).
• Hannah Miley also swam 4:23.47 (2012), 4:24.51 (2009), 4:24.74 (2014), 4:25.66 (2009), 4:26.06 (2011).
• Melanie Margalis also swam 4:24.46 (2019), 4:25.48 (2020), 4:25.84 (2018).
• Ye Shiwen alsow swam 4:24.55 (2010).
• Sydney Pickrem also swam 4:24.84 (2020), 4:25.90 (2020).
• Julia Smit also swam 4:25.87 (2008).
• Bailey Andison also swam 4:26.39 (2021).
• Summer McIntosh also swam 4:26.44 (2021).
• Hali Flickinger also swam 4:26.51 (2022).

References

External links

• (in Dutch) Zwemkroniek
• (in Italian) Agenda Diana