Graphic data for World Record Progression in Men and Women Swimming 50m-100m-200m Long and Short Course Butterfly-Backstroke-Breaststroke-Freestyle
The first world record in the men's 200 metres breaststroke in long course (50 metres) swimming was recognised by the International Swimming Federation (FINA) in 1908 and the first world record in the women's 200 metres breaststroke was recognised in 1921. In the short course (25 metres) swimming events the world's governing body recognizes world records since March 3, 1991.
There have been two rule changes enacted by FINA for this event that have resulted in the nullification of world records.
In the mid-1930s, many breaststroke swimmers began practicing an early variant of the butterfly stroke that involved recovering the arms above the water in an effort to reduce drag. This technique was disallowed when the butterfly stroke was established as a distinct stroke with its own rules in 1953, and world records set using the technique were nullified.
Another style was developed by the Japanese swimmer Masaru Furukawa shortly after this rule change. It involved swimming underwater for as much of each pool length as possible without surfacing, as the act of breaking the water's surface created resistance, slowing a swimmer. This method of swimming the breaststroke was disallowed by FINA in 1956 and records set with the technique were nullified.
The world record for the 200-meter breaststroke prior to the bifurcation of the butterfly breaststroke into separate strokes in 1953 could be accomplished in either short or long course pools. FINA recognized only one world record for the 200-meter breaststroke. The 1952 US Olympic Book lists the 200-meter breaststroke world record as belonging to Herbert Klein with a time of 2:27.3 [18] who swam it in a short course pool. FINA now recognizes and lists on their website Herbert Klein's long course world record of 2:34.4 for the 200-meter breaststroke set on August 13, 1950, in Göppingen, Germany rather than his world record of 2:27.3 set in a short course pool. John Davies tied Herbert Klein's long course world record of 2:34.4 for the 200-meter breaststroke at their 1952 Olympic final.[19]Bowen Stassforth's time of 2:34.7 in the 220 yard breaststroke (long course) at the 1952 AAU Outdoor Nationals correlates to a time of 2:33[20] in the 200 meter breaststroke (long course). This performance was the fastest all-time for the 220 yard breaststroke (long course) and would have been the fastest 200 meter breaststroke (long course) in history (pre-bifurcation of the breaststroke in 1953) as well if it had been dual timed. This is evidenced by the dual distance timed race in the 1950 National AAU Indoor Championships in the 220 yard breaststroke (short course) between Joe Verdeur and Robert Brawner. During the race, Verdeur broke the world record for 200 meters with a time of 2:28.3 (short course). However, Brawner won the race with a time of 2:29.3 for the full 220 yards beating Verdeur who was second in 2:29.4.[21]
Short course
Women
Long course
Short course
All-time top 25
Men long course
Correct as of June 2024[26]
Notes
Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 2:07.49:
^Kapser, Daniela (November 20, 2016). "Marco Koch breaks 200 SCM breast world record at German nationals". Swimswam. Retrieved November 20, 2016.
^"Olympics-Swimming-Schoenmaker wins women's 200m breaststroke gold in world record time | Law-Order". Devdiscourse. Retrieved 2021-07-30.
^"Russian swimmer Yevgeniya Chikunova crushes world record in 200m breaststroke". NBC Sports. 21 April 2023. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
^unratified due to doping violation
^"Men's 200m Breaststroke Long Course All-Time Ranking". FINA. 20 October 2021. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
^"Men's 200m Breaststroke Final Results" (PDF). Omega Timing. 28 July 2023. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
^"Men's 200m Breaststroke Final Results". Swimming Australia. 19 May 2022. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
^"Men's 200m Breaststroke Final Results" (PDF). seiko.co.jp. 7 April 2021. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
^"Men's 200m Breaststroke Final Results" (PDF). Omega Timing. 19 June 2024. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
^"Men's 200m Breaststroke Final Results". liveffn.com. 11 June 2023. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
^Retta Race (17 February 2024). "YAMATO FUKASAWA FIRES OFF 2:07.07 200 BREAST AT KONAMI OPEN, WOULD HAVE WON DOHA". SwimSwam. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
^Sean Griffin (21 March 2024). "2024 JAPANESE OLYMPIC TRIALS: DAY 5 FINALS LIVE RECAP". SwimSwam. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
^"Men's 200m Breaststroke Final Results" (PDF). olympics.com. 29 July 2021. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 July 2021. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
^"Anton Chupkov Posts 2:07.19 200 Breast at the Russian olidarity Games". nwzwire.com. 22 July 2022. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
^"Men's 200m Breaststroke Short Course All-Time Ranking". World Aquatics. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
^"Men's 200m Breaststroke Final Results" (PDF). Omega Timing. 16 December 2022. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
^"Men's 200m Breaststroke Final Results" (PDF). Omega Timing. 16 December 2022. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
^"Men's 200m Breaststroke Final Results" (PDF). swim.seiko.co.jp. 23 October 2022. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
^"Men's 200m Breaststroke Final Results" (PDF). microplustiming.com. 6 November 2021. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
^"Men's 200m Breaststroke Final Results" (PDF). microplustiming.com. 6 November 2021. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
^"Men's 200m Breaststroke Final Results" (PDF). Omega Timing. 9 December 2023. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
^"Women's 200m Breaststroke Long Course All-Time Ranking". FINA. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
^"Women's 200m Breaststroke Results" (PDF). russwimming.ru. 21 April 2023. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
^"Women's 200m Breaststroke Final Results" (PDF). olympics.com. 30 July 2021. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 August 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
^"Women's 200m Breaststroke Final Results". swmeets.com. 13 January 2024. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
^"Women's 200m Breaststroke Final Results" (PDF). Omega Timing. 16 February 2024. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
^"Women's 200m Breaststroke Final Results" (PDF). olympics.com. 30 July 2021. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 August 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
^"Women's 200m Breaststroke Short Course All-Time Ranking". World Aquatics. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
^"Women's 200m Breaststroke Final Results" (PDF). russwimming.ru. 25 November 2022. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
^"Women's 200m Breaststroke Final Results" (PDF). Omega Timing. 16 December 2022. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
^"Women's 200m Breaststroke Final Results" (PDF). Omega Timing. 8 December 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
^"Women's 200m Breaststroke Results". Swimming Canada. Retrieved 31 January 2024.