World’s Fastest 50m Backstroke Women’s Long Course

1. Kaylee McKeown 26.86
2. Xiang Liu 26.98
3. Jing Zhao 27.06
4. Kira Toussaint 27.10 / Regan Smith 27.10
5. Yuanhui Fu 27.11
6. Katharine Berkoff 27.12
7. Etiene Medeiros 27.14 

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The chart below compares the World’s fastest 50m Backstroke swimmers. Swimmers and coaches can looks at the individual Splits, and Stroke Counts.. All swim data has been collected from our team reviewing race footage where possible. Here is Kaylee Mckeown’s new World Record set in Budapest at the 2023 World Aquatics Swimming World Cup.

 

Also here is Kira Toussaint’s Short Course 50m Backstroke World Record swim to view which was performed at the ISL 2020.

Here is the list for comparison for the Women’s 100m Backstroke Long Course.

Women's 50m Backstroke - Long Course
	Kaylee McKeown	Xiang Liu	Jing Zhao	Kira Toussaint	Regan Smith	Yuanhui Fu	Katharine Berkoff	Etiene Medeiros
Height:	5 ft 9 in 175cm	5 ft 11 in 180cm	5 ft 9 in 176cm	5 ft 7 in 174cm	5ft 7in 170cm	5 ft 10 in 177cm		5 ft 6 in 168cm
Weight:	132Ib 60kg	145 Ib 66kg	130 Ib 59kg	159 Ib 72kg	121lb 55kg	148 Ib 67kg		176 Ib 80kg
Country:	AUS	CHN	CHN	NED	USA	CHN	USA	BRA
DOB:	2001-07-12	1996-09-01	1990-12-31	1994-05-22	2002-02-09	1996-01-07	2001-01-28	1991-05-24
Meet:	World Aquatics Swimming World Cup - Budapest 2023	18th Asian Games 2018	13th FINA World Championships 2009	2021 Eindhoven Qualification Meet	World Aquatics Championships - Fukuoka 2023	16th FINA World Championships 2015	2022 USA World Trials	17th FINA World Championships 2017
Strokes	36			40			39
Total Time:	26.86	26.98	27.06	27.10	27.10	27.11	27.12	27.14

These swimmers represent the elite few who have surpassed the formidable 27.20 mark in the women’s 50m backstroke long course. Among these exceptional athletes are Xiang Liu, Jing Zhao, Kira Toussaint, Yuanhui Fu, Katharine Berkoff, Etiene Medeiros, and the record-breaking Kaylee McKeown, who now holds the world record with an astonishing time of 26.86 seconds.

When we delve into the world of the women’s 50m backstroke long course, we find an incredibly competitive arena characterized by mere fractions of a second separating the top performers. Kaylee McKeown has established herself as the new world record holder at 26.86 seconds, surpassing the previous record. Xiang Liu, once the record holder, now follows closely with a time of 26.98 seconds, while Jing Zhao and Kira Toussaint are in hot pursuit with times of 27.06 and 27.10 seconds, respectively.

What’s truly astonishing about these record times is the hair-thin margins that distinguish these athletes. For example, the gap between Kaylee McKeown at the top and Xiang Liu, who now ranks second, is a mere 0.12 seconds. This minute distinction not only underscores the extraordinary level of competition but also highlights the exceptional athleticism and precision required to excel at this elite level.

A closer look reveals a diverse array of swimmers from various corners of the globe. Notably, there’s a strong representation of Asian swimmers, including Xiang Liu, Jing Zhao, and Yuanhui Fu, signaling the growing prominence of competitive swimming in the region.

Remarkably, Kira Toussaint and Etiene Medeiros, non-Asian competitors, have managed to make a significant mark in this highly competitive field, underscoring the global nature of the sport. Furthermore, the tie between Etiene Medeiros and Regan Smith, both with a time of 27.14 seconds, emphasizes how razor-thin margins can lead to shared rankings in this sport.

When we analyze these data points, it becomes evident that with Kaylee McKeown now holding the world record, the competitive landscape remains dynamic and ever-changing. With such minuscule time differentials separating these top-tier athletes, the potential for new records being established in future competitions remains high. This level of competitive volatility makes women’s 50m backstroke long course an exhilarating event to follow, representing the pinnacle of swimming excellence.

Note: World’s Fastest 50m Backstroke Women’s Long Course Updated Oct 2023