The South African records in swimming in Swimming are the fastest times ever swum by a swimmer representing South Africa. These records are kept/maintained by South Africa's national swimming federation: Swimming South Africa (SSA). Records are recognized for long course (50m) and short course (25m) events:
All records were set in finals unless noted otherwise.
Event | Time | Name | Club | Date | Meet | Location | Ref | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
50 m freestyle | 21.67 | =, AF | Roland Schoeman | ![]() | 16 August 2008 | Olympic Games | Beijing, China | |
50 m freestyle | 21.67 | =, sf, AF | Roland Schoeman | ![]() | 2 August 2013 | World Championships | Barcelona, Spain | [1] |
100 m freestyle | 47.79 | h, AF | Lyndon Ferns | ![]() | 29 July 2009 | World Championships | Rome, Italy | [2] |
200 m freestyle | 1:45.20 | AF | Chad le Clos | ![]() | 8 August 2016 | Olympic Games | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | [3] |
400 m freestyle | 3:45.92 | h | Myles Brown | ![]() | 6 August 2016 | Olympic Games | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | [4] |
800 m freestyle | 7:53.97 | Myles Brown | KZNA-KZ | 13 April 2015 | South African Championships | Durban, South Africa | [5] | |
1500 m freestyle | 14:57.88 | Heerden Herman | MATI | 10 December 2010 | League WP Sasko Championships | South Africa | [6] | |
50m backstroke | 24.17 | AF | Pieter Coetze | ![]() | 3 August 2025 | World Championships | Singapore, Singapore | [7] |
100m backstroke | 51.85 | AF, CR | Pieter Coetze | ![]() | 29 July 2025 | World Championships | Singapore, Singapore | [8] |
200m backstroke | 1:53.36 | AF | Pieter Coetze | ![]() | 1 August 2025 | World Championships | Singapore, Singapore | [9] |
50m breaststroke | 26.54 | h, AF | Cameron van der Burgh | ![]() | 25 July 2017 | World Championships | Budapest, Hungary | [10] |
100m breaststroke | 58.46 | AF | Cameron van der Burgh | ![]() | 29 July 2012 | Olympic Games | London, United Kingdom | [11] [12] |
200m breaststroke | 2:09.61 | sf, AF | Neil Versfeld | ![]() | 30 July 2009 | World Championships | Rome, Italy | [13] |
50m butterfly | 22.90 | h | Roland Schoeman | ![]() | 26 July 2009 | World Championships | Rome, Italy | [14] |
100m butterfly | 50.56 | AF | Chad le Clos | ![]() | 8 August 2015 | World Championships | Kazan, Russia | [15] |
200m butterfly | 1:52.96 | AF | Chad le Clos | ![]() | 31 July 2012 | Olympic Games | London, United Kingdom | [16] |
200m individual medley | 1:57.03 | sf, AF | Darian Townsend | Lagardère Paris Racing | 25 April 2009 | French Championships | Montpellier, France | [17] |
400m individual medley | 4:11.11 | Sebastien Rousseau | ![]() | 1 August 2013 | US Open | Irvine, United States | [18] | |
4×50m freestyle relay | 1:28.78 |
| ![]() | 2 April 2003 | - | |||
4×100m freestyle relay | 3:11.93 | AF |
| ![]() | 26 July 2009 | World Championships | Rome, Italy | [19] |
4×200m freestyle relay | 7:08.01 | h, AF |
| ![]() | 31 July 2009 | World Championships | Rome, Italy | [20] |
4×100m medley relay | 3:31.53 | AF |
| ![]() | 2 August 2009 | World Championships | Rome, Italy | [21] |
Event | Time | Name | Club | Date | Meet | Location | Ref | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
50m freestyle | 24.64 | sf | Emma Chelius | ![]() | 31 July 2021 | Olympic Games | Tokyo, Japan | [22] |
100m freestyle | 54.23 | AF | Erin Gallagher | ![]() | 9 April 2018 | Commonwealth Games | Gold Coast, Australia | [23] |
200m freestyle | 1:56.80 | r, AF | Aimee Canny | Western Cape Aquatics | 12 April 2024 | South African Championships | Port Elizabeth, South Africa | [24] |
400m freestyle | 4:07.92 | Karin Prinsloo | ![]() | 31 January 2014 | Aquatic Super Series | Perth, Australia | [25] | |
800m freestyle | 8:25.71 | Wendy Trott | ![]() | 14 June 2012 | Trofeo Sette Colli | Rome, Italy | ||
1500m freestyle | 16:05.63 | h, AF | Wendy Trott | ![]() | 25 July 2011 | World Championships | Shanghai, China | [26] |
50m backstroke | 27.91 | AF | Olivia Nel | ![]() | 22 July 2025 | World University Games | Berlin, Germany | [27] |
100m backstroke | 1:00.33 | rh | Olivia Nel | ![]() | 3 August 2025 | World Championships | Singapore, Singapore | [28] |
200m backstroke | 2:10.03 | Melissa Corfe | KwaZulu-Natal | 3 April 2008 | South African Championships | Durban, South Africa | ||
50m breaststroke | 29.72 | h, AF, CR | Lara van Niekerk | Pretoria Aquatic Club | 6 April 2022 | South African Championships | Port Elizabeth, South Africa | [29] [30] |
100m breaststroke | 1:04.82 | h, AF, CR | Tatjana Schoenmaker | ![]() | 25 July 2021 | Olympic Games | Tokyo, Japan | [31] |
200m breaststroke | 2:18.95 | AF, CR | Tatjana Schoenmaker | ![]() | 30 July 2021 | Olympic Games | Tokyo, Japan | [32] |
50m butterfly | 25.39 | sf | Erin Gallagher | ![]() | 1 August 2025 | World Championships | Singapore, Singapore | [33] |
100m butterfly | 57.32 | AF | Erin Gallagher | Aquatics Gauteng Tshwane | 12 April 2024 | South African Championships | Port Elizabeth, South Africa | [34] |
200m butterfly | 2:09.41 | h, AF | Kathryn Meaklim | ![]() | 12 August 2008 | Olympic Games | Beijing, China | |
200m individual medley | 2:10.39 | Rebecca Meder | KwaZulu Natal | 10 April 2025 | South African Championships | Gqeberha, South Africa | [35] | |
400m individual medley | 4:37.11 | h | Kathryn Meaklim | ![]() | 9 August 2008 | Olympic Games | Beijing, China | |
4×50m freestyle relay | 1:45.66 |
| Tuks | 10 April 2014 | South African Championships | South Africa | ||
4×100m freestyle relay | 3:40.29 | AF, not ratified |
| KwaZulu Natal | 10 April 2021 | South African Championships | Port Elizabeth, South Africa | [36] |
4×200m freestyle relay | 8:01.56 | h, AF |
| ![]() | 28 July 2021 | Olympic Games | Tokyo, Japan | [37] |
4×100m medley relay | 3:59.47 | h, AF |
| ![]() | 3 August 2025 | World Championships | Singapore, Singapore | [28] |
Event | Time | Name | Club | Date | Meet | Location | Ref | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
4×100 m freestyle relay | 3:28.51 |
| ![]() | 21 July 2025 | World University Games | Berlin, Germany | [38] | |
4×100 m medley relay | 3:49.90 | h, AF |
| ![]() | 24 July 2019 | World Championships | Gwangju, South Korea | [39] |
4×100 m medley relay | 3:44.38 | AF, not ratified |
| ![]() | 2 August 2022 | Commonwealth Games | Birmingham, United Kingdom | [40] |
Event | Time | Name | Club | Date | Meet | Location | Ref | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
50m freestyle | 20.30 | AF, CR | Roland Schoeman | TuksSwimming | 8 August 2009 | South African Championships | Pietermaritzburg, South Africa | |
100m freestyle | 45.78 | AF | Chad le Clos | ![]() | 6 August 2017 | World Cup | Berlin, Germany | [41] |
200m freestyle | 1:40.65 | AF, not ratified | Matthew Sates | ![]() | 3 October 2021 | World Cup | Berlin, Germany | [42] |
400m freestyle | 3:36.30 | AF | Matthew Sates | ![]() | 21 October 2022 | World Cup | Berlin, Germany | [43] |
800m freestyle | 7:44.10 | Ryk Neethling | Arizona | 25 March 2000 | NCAA Division I Championships | Minneapolis, United States | ||
800m freestyle | 7:43.56 | '#' | Kris Mihaylov | Boksburg | 27 September 2024 | South African Championships | Durban, South Africa | [ citation needed ] |
1500m freestyle | 14:30.54 | Myles Brown | ![]() | 8 August 2013 | World Cup | Eindhoven, Netherlands | [44] | |
50m backstroke | 22.75 | AF | Pieter Coetze | ![]() | 1 November 2024 | World Cup | Singapore, Singapore | [45] |
100m backstroke | 49.35 | AF | Pieter Coetze | ![]() | 20 October 2024 | World Cup | Shanghai, China | [46] |
200m backstroke | 1:47.08 | AF | George Du Rand | ![]() | 7 November 2009 | World Cup | Moscow, Russia | |
50m breaststroke | 25.25 | AF, CR | Cameron van der Burgh | ![]() | 14 November 2009 | World Cup | Berlin, Germany | |
100m breaststroke | 55.61 | AF | Cameron van der Burgh | ![]() | 15 November 2009 | World Cup | Berlin, Germany | |
200m breaststroke | 2:02.56 | AF | Neil Versfeld | ![]() | 14 November 2009 | World Cup | Berlin, Germany | |
50m butterfly | 21.87 | AF, CR | Roland Schoeman | ![]() | 14 November 2009 | World Cup | Berlin, Germany | |
100m butterfly | 48.08 | AF, CR | Chad le Clos | ![]() | 8 December 2016 | World Championships | Windsor, Canada | [47] |
200m butterfly | 1:48.27 | AF, CR | Chad le Clos | ![]() | 15 December 2022 | World Championships | Melbourne, Australia | [48] |
100m individual medley | 51.05 | AF, CR | Gerhard Zandberg | ![]() | 14 November 2009 | World Cup | Berlin, Germany | |
200m individual medley | 1:50.15 | AF, CR | Matthew Sates | ![]() | 13 December 2022 | World Championships | Melbourne, Australia | [49] |
400m individual medley | 3:59.21 | Matthew Sates | ![]() | 17 December 2022 | World Championships | Melbourne, Australia | [50] | |
4×50m freestyle relay | 1:24.14 | AF |
| ![]() | 14 December 2018 | World Championships | Hangzhou, China | [51] |
4×100m freestyle relay | 3:12.87 | h, AF |
| ![]() | 3 December 2014 | World Championships | Doha, Qatar | [52] |
4×200m freestyle relay | 6:52.13 | AF |
| ![]() | 4 December 2014 | World Championships | Doha, Qatar | [53] |
4×50m medley relay | 1:34.31 | h, AF |
| ![]() | 4 December 2014 | World Championships | Doha, Qatar | [54] |
4×100m medley relay | 3:31.97 | h, AF |
| ![]() | 16 December 2012 | World Championships | Istanbul, Turkey | [55] |
Event | Time | Name | Club | Date | Meet | Location | Ref | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
50m freestyle | 24.33 | rh, AF | Caitlin De Lange | ![]() | 15 December 2022 | World Championships | Melbourne, Australia | [56] |
50m freestyle | 24.14 | h, AF, # | Caitlin De Lange | ![]() | 14 December 2024 | World Championships | Budapest, Hungary | [57] |
100m freestyle | 52.70 | sf, AF | Erin Gallagher | ![]() | 12 December 2018 | World Championships | Hangzhou, China | [58] |
200m freestyle | 1:54.48 | AF | Aimee Canny | Plymouth Leander | 5 December 2021 | Swim England National Winter Championships | Sheffield, United Kingdom | [59] |
200m freestyle | 1:54.13 | AF, # | Aimee Canny | University of Virginia | 18 October 2024 | Virginia vs Florida Dual Meet | Charlottesville, United States | [60] |
400m freestyle | 4:03.50 | AF | Melissa Corfe | ![]() | 11 April 2008 | World Championships | Manchester, United Kingdom | |
800m freestyle | 8:22.05 | AF | Jessica Pengelly | ![]() | 4 November 2011 | World Cup | Singapore, Singapore | |
1500m freestyle | 16:11.24 | AF | Jessica Pengelly | ![]() | 14 July 2010 | Australian Championships | Brisbane, Australia | |
1500m freestyle | 16:09.12 | AF, # | Stephanie Houtman | ![]() | 13 December 2024 | World Championships | Budapest, Hungary | [61] |
50m backstroke | 26.89 | Chanelle Van Wyk | ![]() | 6 November 2009 | World Cup | Moscow, Russia | ||
100m backstroke | 56.56 | AF | Chanelle Van Wyk | ![]() | 15 November 2009 | World Cup | Berlin, Germany | |
200m backstroke | 2:05.01 | Mandy Loots | ![]() | 21 November 2009 | World Cup | Singapore, Singapore | ||
50m breaststroke | 29.09 | AF | Lara van Niekerk | ![]() | 18 December 2022 | World Championships | Melbourne, Australia | [62] |
100m breaststroke | 1:03.89 | AF | Tatjana Schoenmaker | Tuks | 25 October 2020 | South African Championships | Pietermaritzburg, South Africa | [63] |
200m breaststroke | 2:18.02 | AF | Tatjana Schoenmaker | Tuks | 26 October 2020 | South African Championships | Pietermaritzburg, South Africa | [64] |
50m butterfly | 25.54 | Tayla Lovemore | ![]() | 16 November 2018 | World Cup | Singapore, Singapore | [65] | |
100m butterfly | 56.52 | Lize-Mari Retief | ![]() | 19 December 2007 | Vladimir Salnikov Cup | Saint Petersburg, Russia | ||
200m butterfly | 2:04.24 | AF | Mandy Loots | ![]() | 21 November 2009 | World Cup | Singapore, Singapore | |
100m individual medley | 58.46 | AF | Rebecca Meder | ![]() | 16 December 2022 | World Championships | Melbourne, Australia | [66] |
100m individual medley | 57.69 | sf, AF, # | Rebecca Meder | ![]() | 12 December 2024 | World Championships | Budapest, Hungary | [67] |
200m individual medley | 2:07.47 | h | Rebecca Meder | ![]() | 13 December 2022 | World Championships | Melbourne, Australia | [68] |
200m individual medley | 2:05.61 | AF, # | Rebecca Meder | ![]() | 10 December 2024 | World Championships | Budapest, Hungary | [69] |
400m individual medley | 4:22.88 | AF, # | Katheryn Meaklim | ![]() | 21 November 2009 | World Cup | Singapore, Singapore | |
4×50m freestyle relay | 1:42.78 | h, AF |
| ![]() | 7 December 2014 | World Championships | Doha, Qatar | [70] |
4×50m freestyle relay | 1:40.80 | h, AF, not ratified |
| ![]() | 15 December 2022 | World Championships | Melbourne, Australia | [71] |
4×100m freestyle relay | 3:41.80 | h, AF |
| ![]() | 15 December 2012 | World Championships | Istanbul, Turkey | [72] |
4×100m freestyle relay | 3:41.57 | h, AF, not ratified |
| ![]() | 13 December 2022 | World Championships | Melbourne, Australia | [73] |
4×200m freestyle relay | 8:02.49 | h, AF |
| ![]() | 12 December 2012 | World Championships | Istanbul, Turkey | [74] |
4×50m medley relay | 1:52.16 | h, AF |
| ![]() | 5 December 2014 | World Championships | Doha, Qatar | [75] |
4×100m medley relay | 4:00.73 | AF |
| ![]() | 11 April 2008 | World Championships | Manchester, United Kingdom | [76] |
4×100m medley relay | 3:59.64 | h, AF, not ratified |
| ![]() | 18 December 2022 | World Championships | Melbourne, Australia | [77] |
4×100m medley relay | 3:57.68 | h, AF, # |
| ![]() | 15 December 2024 | World Championships | Budapest, Hungary | [78] |
Event | Time | Name | Club | Date | Meet | Location | Ref | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
4×50 m freestyle relay | 1:33.19 | AF |
| ![]() | 6 December 2014 | World Championships | Doha, Qatar | [79] |
4×50 m medley relay | 1:42.53 | h |
| ![]() | 4 December 2014 | World Championships | Doha, Qatar | [80] |
4×50 m medley relay | 1:41.32 | h, AF, # |
| ![]() | 11 December 2024 | World Championships | Budapest, Hungary | [81] |
4×100 m medley relay | 3:37.71 | h, AF, # |
| ![]() | 14 December 2024 | World Championships | Budapest, Hungary | [82] |