Men’s 200m Freestyle – Short Course World Record & Splits
World record history, all-time fastest performers, race splits, and technical comparisons for the men’s 200m freestyle in a 25m pool (SCM).
Updated September 2026
Current Records
| Record | Swimmer | Nation | Time | Meet / Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| World Record | Luke Hobson | United States | 1:38.61 | World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m), Budapest · 15 Dec 2024 |
| World Junior Record | Matthew Sates | South Africa | 1:40.65 | FINA Swimming World Cup, Berlin · 3 Oct 2021 |
| Commonwealth Record | Duncan Scott | Great Britain | 1:39.83 | World Aquatics Swimming World Cup, Singapore · 2 Nov 2024 |
Hobson first broke Paul Biedermann’s 1:39.37 with 1:38.91 on the 4×200m freestyle relay lead-off, then lowered the record to 1:38.61 in the individual final. That swim also replaced Sunwoo Hwang’s 1:39.72 as the World Championships record.
Top 10 All-Time Performers
| Rank | Swimmer | 50m Splits | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Luke Hobson | 23.18 / 24.69 / 25.09 / 25.65 | 1:38.61 |
| 2 | Paul Biedermann | 23.79 / 25.50 / 25.43 / 24.65 | 1:39.37 |
| 3 | Yannick Agnel | 23.13 / 25.26 / 25.72 / 25.59 | 1:39.70 |
| 4 | Sunwoo Hwang | 23.26 / 25.62 / 25.32 / 25.52 | 1:39.72 |
| 5 | Duncan Scott | 23.54 / 25.29 / 25.50 / 25.50 | 1:39.83 |
| 6 | Danila Izotov | 23.85 / 26.07 / 25.33 / 24.83 | 1:40.08 |
| 7 | Ed Sommerville | 23.20 / 24.93 / 25.74 / 26.29 | 1:40.16 |
| 8 | Chris Guiliano | — | 1:40.19 |
| 9 | Maximillian Giuliani | — | 1:40.36 |
| 10 | Townley Haas | 23.46 / 25.54 / 25.83 / 25.66 | 1:40.49 |
Sommerville’s 1:40.16 was swum at the Australian Short Course Championships, Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre, on 29 September 2026. It is the Australian record. His earlier 1:40.64 splits should not be attached to this swim. Chris Guiliano’s 1:40.19 was swum at the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup in Toronto on 25 October 2025.
Race Analysis & Comparison
Compare the fastest men’s SCM 200m freestyle performances through 50m splits, stroke counts, breakout speed, and the relationship between each swimmer’s opening 50m and his 50m freestyle personal best.
Results and split data are compiled from official results and reviewed race footage where available. Technical measures can vary with camera angle, lane position, and video quality.
Related Freestyle Analysis
Race Videos
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| Swim Time Converter | Convert times between SCY, SCM, and LCM using stroke-specific adjustments. |
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| Race Review Calculator | Review race splits and identify pacing strengths and opportunities. |
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| Average Speed Calculator | Calculate average speed from a distance and time. |