World’s Fastest 50m Breaststroke – Women’s Long Course

1. Ruta Meilutyte 29.16
2. Benedetta Pilato 29.30 
3. Lilly King 29.40
4. Yuliya Efimova 29.52
5. Molly Hannis 29.71
6. Jessica Hardy 29.80

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The chart below compares the World’s fastest 50m breaststroke 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 Ruta Meilutyte’s 29.16 WR swim to view. Here is Benedetta Pilato’s previous 50m Breaststroke World Record.

Ruta’s WR:

Benedetta’s Previous WR:

Here is the list of the  Women’s 100m Breaststroke Long Course and 200m Breaststroke Long Course lists.

Women's 50m Breaststroke - Long Course
	Ruta Meilutyte	Benedetta Pilato	Lilly King	Yuilya Efimova	Molly Hannis	Jessica Hardy
Height:	5 ft 8 in 173cm	5 ft 7 in 170cm	5 ft 8 in 174cm	5 ft 10 in 178cm	5 ft 7 in 170cm	6 ft 0 in 183cm
Weight:	163 Ib 74kg	154 Ib 70kg	154 Ib 70kg	141Ib 64kg	154 Ib 70kg	152 Ib 69kg
Country:	LTU	ITA	USA	RUS	USA	USA
DOB:	1997-03-19	2005-01-28	1997-02-10	1992-04-03	1992-03-13	1987-03-12
Meet:	World Aquatics Championships - Fukuoka 2023	European Championships 2021	17th FINA World Championships 2017	15th FINA World Championships 2013	Austin PSS 2018	15th FINA World Championships 2013
Strokes	26	27	25	29	26	28
Total Time:	29.16	29.30	29.40	29.52	29.71	29.8

1. Ruta Meilutyte (29.16):
   • Ruta Meilutyte’s time of 29.16 sets the benchmark for excellence in the 50m Breaststroke. Her performance is just 0.14 seconds ahead of Benedetta Pilato, indicating the razor-thin margin that separates the top swimmers in this event.
2. Benedetta Pilato (29.30):
   • Benedetta Pilato follows closely with a time of 29.30, only 0.14 seconds behind Meilutyte. This minimal difference underscores the intense competition at the highest level of sprint breaststroke, where the smallest details can determine victory.
3. Lilly King (29.40):
   • Lilly King’s time of 29.40 places her within 0.10 seconds of Benedetta Pilato. This slight gap demonstrates the competitiveness of the field, where hundredths of a second can separate medalists from the rest.
4. Yuliya Efimova (29.52):
   • Yuliya Efimova’s time of 29.52, while a bit farther behind, still emphasizes the tight contest. The gap between Efimova and the top finishers is merely 0.22 seconds, reinforcing the fierce nature of the 50m Breaststroke.
5. Molly Hannis (29.71):
   • Molly Hannis, with a time of 29.71, showcases the high level of performance in this event. Her difference from the top time is 0.55 seconds, demonstrating the challenge of excelling in a field where swimmers are separated by fractions of a second.
6. Jessica Hardy (29.80):
   • Jessica Hardy completes the list with a time of 29.80, highlighting the competitive nature of the 50m Breaststroke. Her difference from the top time is 0.64 seconds, showcasing the narrow margins that swimmers contend with in this sprint discipline.

In summary, the analysis of time differences among these elite 50m Breaststroke swimmers underscores the incredible closeness of competition in this event. With gaps as small as hundredths of a second, victory often hinges on perfect execution and split-second decisions. It is a testament to the skill, precision, and dedication of these athletes that they can consistently perform at such a high level in one of the most tightly contested sprint events in women’s long course swimming.

Note: World’s Fastest 50m Breaststroke Updated Sept 2023