100 years ago, today Johnny Weissmuller of the United States broke the 1:00 mark in the long course meters (LCM) men’s 100 freestyle for the first time. In this post, we will look at where the men’s 100 freestyle has gone since.
On July 9th, 1922, Weissmuller swam a time of 58.6 to become the first man under the 1:00 mark in the 100 freestyle. Weissmuller broke the previous world record of 1:00.4 held by fellow countryman Duke Kahanamoku.
Weissmuller would go on to break his own world record in the event swimming a 57.4 in February 1924. Later that year, Weissmuller won gold in the event at the Paris Summer Olympics. Notably, Weissmuller beat Kahanamoku for gold.
Since Weissmuller’s first swim of 58.6, the World Record in the event has now dropped an additional 11.69 seconds as it now stands at a 46.91. That time was set by Brazil’s Cesar Cielo at the 2009 World Championships.
Another barrier that was crossed during the time of this World Record progression was the 50-second mark. That barrier was broken by Jim Montgomery of the United States at the 1976 Montreal Olympics. Montgomery had set the world record twice, once swimming a 50.59 and then a 50.39, before breaking the 50-second barrier swimming a 49.99.
Notably, it took about 54 years for the minute to the 50-second barrier to be broken. From 1976 to 2009 (a span of 33 years) the record has now only dropped by 3.08 seconds.
Since Cielo’s record was set in 2009, the closest person to breaking it has been Caeleb Dressel of the United States. Dressel swam a time of 46.96 at the 2019 World Championships. Only three people have ever broken the 47 second mark: Cielo, Bernard, and Dressel.
See the full World Record Progression in the LCM Men’s 100 Freestyle below:
| # | Time | Name | Nationality | Date | Meet | Location |
| 1 | 01:05.8 | Zoltán Halmay | Hungary | 12/3/05 | – | Vienna, Austria |
| 2 | 01:05.6 | Charles Daniels | United States | 7/20/08 | Olympic Games | London, United Kingdom |
| 3 | 01:02.8 | Charles Daniels | United States | 4/15/10 | Special record attempt by the New York AC | New York City, United States |
| 4 | 01:02.4 | Kurt Bretting | Germany | 4/6/12 | – | Brussels, Belgium |
| 5 | 01:01.6 | Duke Kahanamoku | United States | 7/20/12 | German Championships | Hamburg, Germany |
| 6 | 01:01.4 | Duke Kahanamoku | United States | 8/9/18 | International exhibition | New York City, United States |
| 7 | 01:00.4 | Duke Kahanamoku | United States | 8/24/20 | Olympic Games | Antwerp, Belgium |
| 8 | 58.6 | Johnny Weissmuller | United States | 7/9/22 | – | Alameda, California, United States |
| 9 | 57.4 | Johnny Weissmuller | United States | 2/17/24 | – | Miami, United States |
| 10 | 56.8 | Peter Fick | United States | 3/2/34 | Yale University Swimming Carnival | New Haven, United States |
| 11 | 56.6 | Peter Fick | United States | 3/5/35 | Yale University Swimming Carnival | New Haven, United States |
| 12 | 56.4 | Peter Fick | United States | 2/11/36 | Yale Benefit Event for the United States Olympic team | New Haven, United States |
| 13 | 55.9 | Alan Ford | United States | 4/13/44 | Special record attempt | New Haven, United States |
| 14 | 55.8 | Alex Jany | France | 9/15/47 | – | Menton, France |
| 15 | 55.4 | Alan Ford | United States | 6/29/48 | New Haven Swim Club team time trial | New Haven, United States |
| 16 | 54.8 | Dick Cleveland | United States | 4/1/54 | AAU Championships | New Haven, United States |
| 17 | 55.4 | Jon Henricks | Australia | 11/30/56 | Olympic Games | Melbourne, Australia |
| 18 | 55.2 | John Devitt | Australia | 1/19/57 | New South Wales State Championships | Sydney, Australia |
| 19 | 54.6 | John Devitt | Australia | 1/28/57 | Queensland State Championships | Brisbane, Australia |
| 20 | 54.4 | Steve Clark | United States | 8/18/61 | Men’s NAAA Championships | Los Angeles, United States |
| 21 | 53.6 | Manuel dos Santos | Brazil | 9/20/61 | Special record attempt by the CR Guanabara | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
| 22 | 52.9 | Alain Gottvallès | France | 9/13/64 | – | Budapest, Hungary |
| 22= | 52.9 | Steve Clark | United States | 10/14/64 | Olympic Games | Tokyo, Japan |
| 23 | 52.6 | Ken Walsh | United States | 7/27/67 | Pan American Games | Winnipeg, Canada |
| 23= | 52.6 | Zac Zorn | United States | 9/2/68 | USA Olympic Trials (elec. 52.58) | Los Angeles, United States |
| 24 | 52.2 | Michael Wenden | Australia | 10/19/68 | Olympic Games | Mexico City, Mexico |
| 25 | 51.94 | Mark Spitz | United States | 8/23/70 | AAU Championships | Los Angeles, United States |
| 26 | 51.47 | Mark Spitz | United States | 8/5/72 | USA Olympic Trials | Chicago, United States |
| 27 | 51.22 | Mark Spitz | United States | 9/3/72 | Olympic Games | Munich, West Germany |
| 28 | 51.12 | Jim Montgomery | United States | 6/21/75 | AAU World Championship Trials | Long Beach, United States |
| 29 | 51.11 | Andy Coan | United States | 8/3/75 | An Amateur Athletic Union Region Four meet | Fort Lauderdale, United States |
| 30 | 50.59 | Jim Montgomery | United States | 8/23/75 | AAU Championships | Kansas City, United States |
| 31 | 50.39 | Jim Montgomery | United States | 7/24/76 | Olympic Games | Montreal, Canada |
| 32 | 49.99 | Jim Montgomery | United States | 7/25/76 | Olympic Games | Montreal, Canada |
| 33 | 49.44 | Jonty Skinner | South Africa | 8/14/76 | AAU Championships | Philadelphia, United States |
| 34 | 49.36 | Rowdy Gaines | United States | 4/3/81 | Longhorn Invitational | Austin, United States |
| 35 | 49.24 | Matt Biondi | United States | 8/6/85 | USA Summer Nationals | Mission Viejo, United States |
| 36 | 48.95 | Matt Biondi | United States | 8/6/85 | USA Summer Nationals | Mission Viejo, United States |
| 37 | 48.74 | Matt Biondi | United States | 6/24/86 | USA World Championships Trials | Orlando, United States |
| 38 | 48.42 | Matt Biondi | United States | 8/10/88 | USA Olympic Trials | Austin, United States |
| 39 | 48.21 | Alexander Popov | Russia | 6/18/94 | International Swimming Meeting of Monte Carlo | Monte-Carlo, Monaco |
| 40 | 48.18 | Michael Klim | Australia | 9/16/00 | Olympic Games | Sydney, Australia |
| 41 | 47.84 | Pieter van den Hoogenband | Netherlands | 9/19/00 | Olympic Games | Sydney, Australia |
| 42 | 47.6 | Alain Bernard | France | 3/21/08 | European Championships | Eindhoven, Netherlands |
| 43 | 47.5 | Alain Bernard | France | 3/22/08 | European Championships | Eindhoven, Netherlands |
| 44 | 47.24 | Eamon Sullivan | Australia | 8/11/08 | Olympic Games | Beijing, China |
| 45 | 47.2 | Alain Bernard | France | 8/13/08 | Olympic Games | Beijing, China |
| 46 | 47.05 | Eamon Sullivan | Australia | 8/13/08 | Olympic Games | Beijing, China |
| 47 | 46.94# | Alain Bernard | France | 4/23/09 | French National Championships | Montpellier, France |
| 48 | 46.91 | César Cielo | Brazil | 7/30/09 | World Championships | Rome, Italy |
Would be interesting to see someone like a Nathan Adrian do a “era for era” comparison. No goggles, swim suit from the era, I’m guessing there are a few older pools still around that might adequately represent something from the 1920s. I’m sure he’d still crack a quick time, but my guess would be that record from 1922 looks even more impressive
Please give us a table comparing men’s 100 free record progression with women’s 100 free record progression.
FUN HISTORICAL FACT: Until January 1, 1965, freestyle swimmers had to HAND-TOUCH the wall even on flip turns. Thus, all swims up through the 1964 Olympics had this extra burden placed on them.
What do you think that hand-touch cost a swimmer in the 100 free? Three-tenths?
Extremely cool to see this data.. I’d like two things: first, a graph showing the progression (with important dates marked: flip turn adopted, swimmers start training with circle swim, goggles allowed, etc).
I also request extrapolation showing when someone will break 45.
I’m impressed that those are two legendary names. Just for the heck of it I looked up the 100 meter dash record holder as of 1922. It was Charley Paddock, who was the first man to run 10.4, in April 1921. Paddock held the record solo for 8 years. It was tied by Eddie Tolan on two occasions in 1929. Percy Williams of Canada was first to 10.3, in August 1930.
Those times would hardly be embarrassing today.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sx50JTFqS2M
forgot to mention: the link above is his 1925 world record swim.
Except the video is of backstroke…?
Other interesting facts: Matt Biondi was the first person to go 47.XX off a flying split – he went 47.66 (!) off a flying split in 1985. First person to go 46.XX off a flying split was PVDH in 2003, going 46.70 at World Champs. PVDH was also the only person to go under 48 flat start before the suits era, and the only swimmers to have gone under 48 flat start both during and after the suits era were Cesar Cielo and Brent Hayden.
phelps for some reason got really close to. he went like 48 flat in 2011 world champs free relay
Maybe I’m thinking of his SC time of 48.5 at age 36 that wasn’t accepted.